《The Healing Solaris Cleric》


 Chapter 1: Ending for the Good-Hearted (1)

    <h4>Chapter 1: Ending for the Good-Hearted (1)</h4>


    <strong>Prologue</strong>


    The quest waspleted. It was a quest that no one had bothered with due to its unimpressive rewards.


    "Wow. Someone finally managed toplete that quest."


    "Wasn''t that the quest that was bound to be a waste of time because of its trash rewards?"


    "Yeah, it was. I don''t understand why anyone would bother with it... Is he a pushover?"


    "Let''s not worry about others and just go."


    As the voices faded behind him, Kai nced back at them.


    <i>A pushover? Not true.</i>


    A smile curled at the corner of his mouth as a message window appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have performed a good deed for an NPC in trouble.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your Benevolence stat has increased by 1.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your overall stats will increase in proportion to your Benevolence stat.]</strong>


    .


    .


    .


    <strong>Chapter 1: Ending for the Good-Hearted (1)</strong>


    Han Jung-Woo enjoyed helping people, and the reason was simple. He remembered helping a fallen ssmate in kindergarten and receiving candy from the teacher.


    <i>Helping others results in rewards.</i>


    This simple equation resonated in his heart, and since then, Jung-Woo had been helping people in trouble and receiving small rewards. This hobby of Jung-Woo''s continued even in games.


    Shortened to MID Online, <i>Miracle Dream Online</i> was the ultimate game where all five senses were perfectly simted. With its release, it broke all existing records in the shortest time and set records that seemed unbreakable until the end of the world.


    Jung-Woopleted quests in the form of helping NPCs in the game and received rewards; he considered it his greatest joy. Naturally, he never once regretted this hobby of his.


    "...It wasn''t there just a while ago."


    He let out a light sigh, reminiscing about something that had happened just a few hours before.


    At the time, he had been forming a party in the vige and heading to a hunting ground. The target was the red gnoll, known for giving good XP and rewards. However, coincidentally, someone had copsed at the entrance to the hunting ground, and Kai didn¡¯t just pass by because it seemed like a quest.


    "<i>Mmm</i>."


    "Are you alright?"


    "Where is this...?" The man, revived by Kai''s treatment, first bowed his head. "Thank you for saving me. My name is Teru, a Cleric of the Church of Sris."


    "It''s just what anyone would do."


    The man who introduced himself as Teru looked around at the party members and then said, "Excuse me for suddenly asking, but... are you adventurers?"


    "Yes, we are."


    "Oh, this must also be divine revtion! Please, could you spare me a moment of your time?"


    "Hm..."


    Sensing a troublesome situation, the party members secretly whispered behind.


    "Um, Kai? Suddenly taking up a quest like this is a bit... We were on our way to hunt red gnolls, weren¡¯t we?"


    "Right, and we don''t even know what kind of quest this is. Don''t just ept it rashly. Remember, if one of us takes a quest, it gets shared with the whole party."


    "Oh, that''s right."


    Just as Kai was about to decline the request, Teru knelt and eximed, "Please, I beg you! I must hurry or it will be toote!"


    A quest window popped up simultaneously.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[<u>Teru''s Request</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: A</strong>


    <strong>Teru, a Cleric of the Church of Sris, came across the Temple of Evil by chance. He tried to get rid of the malevolent energy there by himself, but ended up severely injured. Help him destroy the dark energy lurking within the temple.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Significant increase in contribution and affinity with the Church of Sris,rge XP gain, substantial increase in fame.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Significant decrease in contribution and affinity with the Church of Sris,rge loss of XP, substantial decrease in fame.</strong>


    The party members were shocked as they read the quest window that popped up.


    "A-an A-level quest!?"


    "That''s crazy. Why would an A-level quest appear in a level 40 area?"


    "Hmm... It seems too difficult for just the four of us. We need more people."


    "Wait, if it''s an A-level difficulty, the rewards must be amazing... This is an opportunity for us four to share."


    The party couldn''te to a unanimous decision.


    Seeing this, Teru, looking desperate, said, "Brothers, we don''t have time to argue. A malevolent ritual is currently being performed at the Temple of Evil. If we miss this chance, a Demon King might descend upon the continent. Please hurry!"


    <strong>[Teru''s Request quest has been forcibly epted.]</strong>


    <strong>[The status of Teru''s Request quest has been changed to time-limited.]</strong>


    <strong>[Stop the ritual being performed at the Temple of Evil within two hours and purify the order.]</strong>


    "Two hours!? For an A-level quest?"


    "Oh, this makes gathering more people tricky..."


    As the party members expressed their concerns, Teru reassured them with a gentle voice, "Brothers, it''s not as difficult as it seems. I just need to recite a spell to stop the malevolent ritual for 5 minutes. Just protect me during that time."


    Confronted with Teru''s confident gaze, the party members looked at each other and slowly nodded.


    "Well... if it''s just for about 5 minutes..."


    "Aren''t we capable enough on our own?"


    Finally making a decision, they followed Teru deep into the forest. After an hour, the entrance to a cleverly hidden temple greeted them.


    "So there was a temple in a ce like this."


    "Hmm, a Temple of Evil... That''s quite worrisome."


    "Don''t worry too much. Kai''s a cleric, right?"


    Kai nodded at the archer¡¯s question, who was a part of the party. "If it''s a Temple of Evil, we''ll likely face undead, ghosts, and corrupted priests. They''re all weak against holy power, so don''t worry too much."


    "Great. Let''s go then!"


    Only one hour remained until the quest failed.


    They followed Teru, who skillfully moved through the temple.


    "Brothers, this is the ce."


    The party members followed him into the room and looked around.


    "Where is this?"


    "Didn''t you say there was some ritual happening?"


    "Come to think of it, it''s a bit strange that we didn''t see any monsters on the way here..."


    "Let''s set aside the doubts, brothers, and look over there."


    Teru directed their attention to a particr spot. There stood a human-shaped stone statue, continuously emitting dark energy.


    "I will now purify the darkness from that statue. Please block all attacks directed at me during this time."


    Teru began chanting an iprehensible spell. As he started, the statue''s eyes shed and emitted light.


    <i>Bzzzz!</i>


    A white beam shot from the statue''s eyes.


    Akan, who was the tank, hastily raised his shield in shock to block the white beam. "Ugh! What''s this all of a sudden...!"


    "Hold on for just five minutes!"


    Kai continuously healed the tank, while the Wizard and Archer relentlessly attacked to diminish the beam''s power.


    When the promised five minutes passed, Teru shouted, "The spell isplete! Now, please remove the gem embedded in the statue''s forehead!"


    The tank protested, "Are you crazy? How are we supposed to get through that!?"


    "We don''t have time! Hurry...!"


    Teru suddenly coughed and started bleeding ck blood from his ears and nose.


    "Dang it, if Teru falls, we all die!"


    "Damn it... damn it!"


    Eventually, the party¡¯s tank cursed and advanced toward the statue, step by step. As he got closer to the statue, the beam pounding on his shield grew more intense.


    "Argghhh! My shield''s durability is melting like snow! You better cover the repair costs after this quest!"


    Struggling forward, the tank finally managed to remove the shining gem from the statue''s forehead. Then the statue began to crumble, and as it did, the statue emitting the beam copsed powerlessly.


    Finally rxed, the party members let out their held breath.


    "Phew, is it over?"


    "That was tough. Never heard of such a monster."


    "But for an A-level quest, it seemed too easy..."


    "Maybe because it¡¯s in a level 40 section.¡±


    "How much do you think our levels will increase?"


    "I''m more excited about the contribution points with the Church of Sris than the XP. If we use them, we can even get unique weapons."


    As they excitedly discussed their sess inpleting the A-level quest, Teru slowly approached the tank. He then picked up the gem that had fallen to the ground, smiling.


    "Thank you for your help. It was a brave advance."


    "Ah, don''t mention it. We did it for the quest rewards."


    "Haha. Nevertheless, I am still grateful."


    "No need to mention it..."


    <i>sh!</i>


    Before the tank could finish his sentence, a scythe swept past his throat.


    "...?"


    The tank touched his neck in confusion but only managed to produce a wheezing sound as his vocal cords were severed. He then disintegrated into white polygons[1].


    Witnessing this, Kai abruptly stood up and shouted, "What have you done!"


    "Muahahaha!" Teru burst into maniacalughter and slowly turned around.


    When they locked eyes with him, the party members involuntarily stepped back, feeling a chill.


    <i>Wh-what kind of look is that in his eyes...</i>


    <i>Is that guy really a Cleric of the Church of Sris?</i>


    <i>...He''s definitely not a Cleric.</i>


    Kai, who was the only Cleric here, shook his head.


    At that moment, ckish-red letters appeared above Teru''s head.


    <strong>[Zirukan LV.???]</strong>


    There was only one situation when an NPC''s name appeared above their head.


    "Th-that''s a hostile NPC!"


    "And if it''s Zirukan...?"


    "Zirukan of the Grinning Scythes?"


    The party realized his true identity and their faces turned pale.


    Zirukan was a named NPC. ording to the game''s lore, he was a Dark Magician dered a public enemy of the continent, who dreamt of resurrecting the Demon King.


    <i>How much higher is his level that it doesn''t even disy properly?</i>


    While Kai gulped nervously, the other party members drew their weapons.


    "You bastard! You deceived us?"


    "Ice Arrow."


    The Archer and Wizard attacked Zirukan, but they were no match for him.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    <strong>[Party member ¡°Diffon¡± has been eliminated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Party member ¡°Akan¡± has been eliminated.]</strong>


    Kai¡¯spanions, too weak to withstand a single attack, were logged out. Kai furrowed his eyebrows, looking at the scattered polygons on the ground.


    "So the copse at the beginning was all an act."


    "Hahaha. Wasn¡¯t my acting quite splendid? I needed someone to remove the gem, as I couldn''t do it myself."


    That was the reason.


    Kai let out a soft sigh.


    <i>I''ve beenpletely tricked.</i>


    Just like the three party members who had died earlier, he too was likely to meet the same fate. As expected, Zirukan slowly approached Kai.


    Then at that moment...


    "Hm? Oh no..."


    Zirukan suddenly furrowed his eyebrows.


    "A spell that activates upon breaking the seal... I must hurry and leave."


    As Zirukan muttered to himself, he waved his hand and a teleportation gate appeared.


    He looked at Kai with a sly smile. "You''re unlucky. It would have been easier for you to just die... Take care."


    "What?" Kai asked back, bewildered, but Zirukan had already disappeared through the gate.


    "...What is going on?"


    As Kai tilted his head to the side in confusion, a notification sounded.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Teru''s Request quest has expired.]</strong>


    <strong>[Defense system of the Forgotten Temple has been activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[From this point forward, nothing can enter or exit the Forgotten Temple.]</strong>


    A death sentence had been announced.


    1. In some games, monsters/characters will disintegrate into the original modeling fragments and the pieces fall off. ?

 Chapter 2: Ending for the Good-Hearted (2)

    <h4>Chapter 2: Ending for the Good-Hearted (2)</h4>


    <i>Nobody can enter or leave?</i>


    In a panic, Kai rushed toward the entrance through which he had entered.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "Ugh!"


    However, an invisible barrier blocked his path. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t break through the barrier.


    "In that case..."


    Rubbing his sore nose from bumping into the invisible wall, Kai pulled out a magic scroll from his inventory. It was a teleport scroll worth a whopping 3 gold. Considering the current exchange rate where one silver was equivalent to 1,000 won, a scroll worth 3 gold (300 silver) amounted to 300,000 won.


    <i>But it''s better than being trapped here.</i>


    Without hesitation, Kai tore the teleport scroll. Or at least, he attempted to.


    <i>Rustle! Rustle!</i>


    However, the high-quality scroll refused to tear, only making a crinkling sound.


    "Why won''t it tear?"


    His question filled with anxiety was answered by a notification.


    <strong>[You can not use a teleport scroll in your current location.]</strong>


    "...I can¡¯t log out either?"


    Growing anxious, Kai cautiously attempted to log out.


    <strong>[Would you like to log out?]</strong>


    <strong>[When you log back in, you will start at your current location.]</strong>


    Fortunately, it seemed he could log out, but that didn''t change the fact that the situation was desperate.


    <i>Logging out won''t solve the problem.</i>


    He then thought of something and summoned a virtual keyboard.


    <i>Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap.</i>


    He typed diligently,posing a lengthy email. The email was promptly sent to the customer service of the game''s developer, Pegasus.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    The response came quickly.


    <strong>[Hello, this is Pegasus Customer Support. We have received your message and are sorry to hear that you¡¯re having problems.</strong>


    <strong>However, as this is not a bug, we are unfortunately not able to help you at this time.</strong>


    <strong>If you would like to delete your character to reset your progress, we will be able to assist you in that regard.</strong>


    <strong>We will continue to do our best to improve Miracle Dream Online.</strong>


    <strong>If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact our customer support again...]</strong>


    "...."


    He hadn''t expected such a lengthy response simply to say they couldn''t help.


    <i>What do I do now?</i>


    Kai pressed his throbbing forehead. The saying ¡®better alive than dead'' no longer seemed true. If he had just died surely as Zirukan suggested, he would have only lost some XP points.


    Kai sighed. After taking a deep breath to clear his head, Kai reread the response.


    <i>They can''t help unless it''s a bug... This sentence is what catches my attention. Does that mean Pegasus doesn''t consider this situation a bug?</i>


    A user was trapped in a location by an NPC, unable to do anything except log out. Yet, it wasn¡¯t a bug. Kai''s mind raced.


    <i>That must mean there''s a way out of this ce, right?</i>


    His eyes caught sight of a stone statue at the end of the room.


    <i>The statue of the Srian God.</i>


    It wasn''t hard to recognize it.


    The Church of Sris was exerting prominence in MID Online, more than any other order, and Kai himself was a Sris Cleric.


    "It looks exactly like the ones I''ve always seen."


    The statue portrayed a dignified middle-aged figure.


    "But... what is this?"


    Kai''s gaze shifted to something beside it. There stood a statue of an unknown young girl.


    <i>Why would there be such a statue in a temple?</i>


    Kai approached the girl''s statue and examined it closely.


    "Who is this? She looks cute but I have no idea who she is. Was she the daughter of the temple''s keeper?"


    After a brief moment of curiosity, Kai turned his attention back to the god''s statue.


    "Srian God, please exert your power. Your sheep is in trouble right now."


    Of course, no magical event like the statue speaking urred. Kai hadn''t expected it either. That''s why the surprise was even greater.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Srian God, Helik, takes interest as his existence was mentioned.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik is watching over you.]</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    It was natural to be stunned when the unexpected became reality.


    <i>The Srian God Helik is watching over me?</i>


    Kai double-checked the message log just to be sure, but it was urate.


    <i>Why would a god be watching me...?</i>


    Kai''s throat bobbed noticeably. It couldn''t be helped. This was nothing short of an unbelievable turn of events for a mere level 46 Cleric. Of course, someone unfamiliar with MID Online could say, ''Isn''t it just a god in the game?'' Or ''It''s just a bunch of data, right?''


    Those were statements only someone who didn''t understand the essence of the game MID Online could make. Even now, hundreds of millions of users wouldn''t dare to look up at a digital noble, let alone a god.


    <i>...Why would a Srian God suddenly take notice of me?</i>


    A statue entered Kai''s blurred vision. It was the statue of Helik.


    <i>Could it be because of this? Because I prayed to this statue?</i>


    It seemed unbelievable, but there was no other exnation.


    <i>Then what I need to do now is...</i>


    Persuade the Srian God, Helik.


    Kai immediately knelt down.


    "Srian God, I beg of you. Please listen to my plea and let me out of here."


    Kai spoke in a soft and sincere voice. He briefly exined everything that had happened since he met Teru.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Helik heard your prayer and has taken pity on you.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik is offering you a chance to escape this ce.]</strong>


    <strong>[Will you ept his trial?]</strong>


    <i>A trial?</i>


    Kai hesitated for a moment, but he had no other choice.


    "Thank you, O Srian God."


    <strong>[The Trial of Helik has started.]</strong>


    As the trial started, a portal formed before him.


    <i>I don''t know why I''m being put through a trial instead of being sent out directly...but I should be grateful for the opportunity.</i>


    Kai entered the portal.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    "Hmm..."


    It was a dark ce. Therefore, Kai refrained from acting rashly, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. After a while, he realized he was in a space big enough for five or six people to lie downfortably.


    <i>Does the cold stone floor and walls mean it''s a cave? There doesn''t seem to be anything else... Hm?</i>


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    As Kai stepped forward, he felt an unpleasant sensation under his foot. It was as if he had stepped on something alive.


    <i>A monster?</i>


    Kai hastily stepped back and looked at the ground. Therey a person, seemingly dead.


    <i>Could it be because of me? No, that can''t be.</i>


    Kai stopped himself from rushing to give aid, reminded of his encounter with Zirukan.


    <i>I was too hasty before.</i>


    Over the past 22 years, Kai had performed countless acts of kindness. If there were a Nobel Prize for Kindness, he thought it would undoubtedly be his. He helped so many people, but not all the oues of his help were pleasant. Among those he helped, some were genuinely nice people, some were difficult, and some were extremely difficult. Those who screamed for more even after being helped belonged to the extremely difficult category, and Zirukan, for instance, had set a new standard in this category beyond extremely difficult, hell difficult.


    <i>Let''s see...</i>


    Kai squinted and flicked his finger.


    ¡°Sacred re.¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    A faint light emerged from the tip of Kai''s index finger, softly lighting the surroundings.


    <i>The person''s wearing rags, not even proper clothes. Are they a beggar or something?</i>


    The hair was also greasy and matted, and the skin was grimy, as if they hadn''t bathed in a long time. Kai also took a sniff. There was a strong odor.


    <i>Okay. The appearance passes the test.</i>


    People often thought that helping beggars once would lead them to cling annoyingly. However, Kai, who had helped many beggars, knew this wasn''t true.


    <i>Actually, beggars are easygoing. They know how to be genuinely thankful.</i>


    It was rare to find a beggar without a story. While not all were like this, most beggars appreciated kindness genuinely and feared being close to others, worrying they might cause others harm because they were well aware of how society viewed them.


    <i>Alright, let''s help.</i>


    Kai, having perfectly assessed the situation, shook the body of the beggar.


    "Hey, wake up. Are you dead? If you''re dead, at least say so."


    "Uuugh..."


    After several shakes, the beggar groaned and slowly got up. They were so dirty that it was impossible to distinguish whether they were male or female. The beggar, having regained consciousness, looked at Kai with wide, surprised eyes.


    "Who... who... How did you...?"


    The voice was thin and high-pitched, indicating she was a woman.


    Kai calmed her down, saying, "First, calm down, and then tell me who you are and where we are."


    "M-my name is Amy, and this ce is...!"


    Just as Amy introduced herself while shedding tears like chicken droppings, the cave suddenly started to vibrate.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    "Ahhh! It''sing! We''re going to be eaten!"


    "I don''t understand what you''re saying, but try to calm down! Cure! Heal!"


    After casting a buff on Amy, her heavy breathing gradually steadied.


    "Whoo, whoo... Thank you. I''m calmer now."


    "No problem. But as I asked before, what exactly is this ce?"


    "...You really don''t know?"


    "I wouldn''t ask if I did."


    "Poor soul..."


    Amy looked at Kai with a pitying expression and then said, "This is the nest of a wyrm lizard."


    "...I must have misheard, what did you say?"


    "Wyrm Lizard."


    "One more time, please."


    "Wyrm Lizard!"


    "...."


    Although Kai''s hearing was fine, his horrified expression didn''t lighten. After all, this ce was the nest of a wyrm lizard.


    <i>Wyrm Lizard means...</i>


    A Wyrm Lizard was a giant worm characterized by a thick shell of reptilian scales. However, such appearance was of little concern. The most important part was that the creature''s level was over 65.

 Chapter 3: Ending for the Good-Hearted (3)

    <h4>Chapter 3: Ending for the Good-Hearted (3)</h4>


    <i>Wyrm Lizard. A field boss monster with a minimum level of 65... Why is something like that here?</i>


    The Frica Vige where Kai was usually active was an area for adventurers between levels 40 and 50. A Red Gnoll Chief at level 51 was known as the strongest monster in that area, but there was suddenly a Wyrm Lizard.


    <i>Ugh. Did I get transported to apletely different ce when I entered Helik''s test?</i>


    Kai¡¯s head throbbed.


    He massaged his unusually aching head and said, "What about the exit? Is there no exit?"


    "Well... there is, but..." Amy trailed off.


    "Then it¡¯s settled. Let''s get out of here together. If you guide me, I''ll protect us with holy magic."


    Kai had faith in his Sacred Barrier skill that had a very high level. It wouldn¡¯t block the Wyrm Lizard''s attacks forever, but it should be enough for a few times.


    "Sorry, but I can''t because my leg is like this... You''ll have to go on your own," Amy showed a bitter expression as she pointed to her leg.


    Kai now noticed she had bandages wrapped around one of her legs.


    While looking at her leg he said, "Are you worried about being a burden?"


    "I can''t walk on my own. I can''t be... a burden to you."


    "...."


    After considering her words seriously, Kai shook his head and then rolled up his sleeves to lift her onto his back.


    "Here we go."


    "Ahh! W-wait...! What are you doing?!"


    "What does it look like? I''m carrying you. Stop squirming and sit tight on my back. You''re heavy."


    "I-I¡¯m not heavy!"


    "Yes, you are."


    Kai calmly carried the smelly woman on his back. It wasn''t a sudden burst of heroism he hadn''t known he had.


    <i>I can''t just leave her here and then lose sleep over it.</i>


    Considering the possibility of escaping a Wyrm Lizard with a broken leg was zero percent, leaving her here in her current state was as good as killing her.


    "I need someone to guide me, and you need a leg. Isn''t this mutual aid, a win-win situation?"


    "Why are you going to such lengths... I should tell you, I don''t have any money."


    As Amy showed signs of fear, Kai chuckled.


    "Who asks a beggar for money?"


    "Umm..."


    Kai took an old nket from his inventory and held it over his shoulder, offering it to her.


    "Wrap this around yourself. I saw you shivering earlier. It''s cold."


    "Th-thank you. I''ll ept it despite being ashamed..." Amy obediently wrapped herself in the nket. She felt her body warm up and began to guide the way. "Turn left at the fork up ahead..."


    As Amy directed, Kai silently walked on. After about ten minutes, they reached a ce where a campfire was lit. Someone was sitting on the ground near the fire, leaning against the wall.


    "Huh? How did you...?"


    It was a stern-looking old man. He was startled when he noticed Amy and awkwardly got up. His attire was simrly grubby like Amy¡¯s, but his was made of fine material.


    The old man looked at Kai and his eyes widened. "A man? I¡¯ve never seen you before!" Then the old man''s eyes lit up as he gestured to Kai, saying, "Well, either way, good. Hey, you. If you¡¯re on your way out, take me with you."


    "...."


    Kai then furrowed his eyebrows and observed the old man.


    <i>Who is this old man?</i>


    Kai carefully set Amy down on the ground. He felt her flinch, but she didn¡¯t try to hold onto Kai as he let her go.


    "Oh,e on over,¡± the old man said.


    As Kai approached him, the old man revealed his yellowed gold teeth with a smile. "Indeed, there''s now against surviving. Who would''ve thought I''d meet a reliable young man in this cave."


    "Enough of that. I need to check something." Grabbing the old man''s thick outerwear, Kai forcibly stripped it off.


    "H-hey! What in the world are you doing...?"


    <i>Clunk, clonk, clunk.</i>


    As Kai shook the coat upside down, food and jewels hidden in various pockets poured out endlessly. Moreover, severalyers of nketsy where the old man had been sitting.


    Seeing this, Kai''s gaze turned cold. "You have plenty of food and more than enough nkets. Why didn''t you share any with Amy?"


    "What, what are you talking about? I did share. S-she must have eaten all the food already!"


    "That''s not true," Kai firmly denied.


    If one carried someone on their back and their stomach growled, then that sound was as loud as thunder in a quiet cave.


    As Kai''s gaze became even colder, the old man hastily continued, "A-alright! I thought she was already dead!"


    "That''s different from what you said before."


    "Well... I''m old, it can''t be helped."


    Kai took his eyes off the old man and looked at Amy. "What''s the truth?"


    "...After I hurt my leg, he stole three nkets from me."


    Hearing this, the old man spat out his words in defense, "Now, are you really believing that crippled woman''s words? Listen up. I''m Deyrok, the vice-chairman of the Milo Trading Company. I''m of a different social status than such a lowly woman to begin with! Oh, right! If you help me get out of this cave, I''ll pay you. How much do you want? 50... no, I''ll give you 100 gold!"


    "100 gold you say..." That was a tremendous amount offered, equivalent to 10 million won in cash. "It''s definitely a lot of money."


    "Of course! I''m the vice-chairman of the Milo Trading Company..."


    "But it''s a pittance for buying my self-respect." Kai naturally dropped his formalities. "Besides, you seem to be under a big misconception. I''m not really someone desperate for money."


    "What do you mean... More money is always better, isn''t it?"


    "That''s true, but it''s not necessary to sell out what''s important to get it."


    "I can¡¯t believe someone would reject such wealth... Are you crazy?"


    "I''m sane, that''s why I''m making this choice. I don''t call someone who''s lost their mind over money sane."


    Deyrok trembled at those words. Regardless, Kai''s thoughts remained consistent.


    <i>I don''t help those who aren''t worth helping.</i>


    Kai''s motivation to help others started with a candy he received in kindergarten. He liked the moment of helping someone and receiving a reward for it. The feeling of aplishment made him feel alive.


    <i>Especially since I started ying MID Online...even more so.</i>


    NPCs always asked for help, and when their requests were fulfilled, XP points or items were rewarded.


    <i>A world exactly as I had wished for.</i>


    As long as quests existed, MID Online was paradise for Kai.


    <i>Roooaar!</i>


    ¡°Aghh!¡±


    From the other end of the cave''s passage, a thunderous roar simr to a dinosaur echoed.


    Amy and Deyrok immediately turned pale.


    Overwhelmed with fear, Deyrok frantically pulled out gold coins from his pocket, eximing, "W-we can''t dy any longer! If we do, not only us but you too will die! I know a shortcut! Protect me, and I''ll guide you to it. Those of us who can survive should, shouldn''t we?! And I''m willing to pay any amount. I¡¯ll give you 150.. no, 200 gold!"


    "...."


    Not being tempted would be a lie. Though Kai wasn''t desperate for money, 20 million won was a significant amount. However, Kai had a principle he had lived by for 22 years.


    "I only help those who are worth helping. That''s my rule."


    His gaze was stubborn yet upright, as if he didn''t know the existence of negotiations or shortcuts.


    After seeing Kai¡¯s eyes and realizing he couldn''t persuade Kai, Deyrok''s expression turned venomous as he said, "So, you choose death? Fool! May you fall into hell!"


    Despite the curse hurled at him, Kai just smiled. "It''s just a game after all, so why not experience it for once. Perhaps demons will appear."


    There was nothing more futile than showing kindness to those who didn¡¯t deserve it. They mistook kindness as a right. Kai had seen too many such people and never wanted to repeat those annoying experiences. The time and effort spent on such unworthy people seemed a waste.


    "K-Kai... It''s okay for you to leave me here..."


    How could two people as different as night and day coexist in the same ce? One begs to be saved in exchange for money, while the other selflessly tells him to leave. Of course, Kai rejected both offers.


    "Forget it. If I leave you here, I won''t be able to sleep at night."


    Just as Kai firmly decided, the roaring sound grew closer.


    <i>The Trial of Helik or whatever, looks like I''m going to die before it even starts.</i>


    The next moment, as the cave shook as if hit by an earthquake, a message appeared.


    <strong>[Are you confident you won''t regret your decision?]</strong>


    "What''s this?"


    Even Kai was taken aback at this moment. He had never seen such a message since he started the game.


    <i>Am I confident I won''t regret my decision?</i>


    The answer came easily. There was no need to ponder. As long as he followed his set principles, he wouldn''t regret the oue.


    "No regrets."


    Simultaneously with Kai''s resolute answer, the scenery changed.


    ***


    <i>What''s this now?</i>


    Kai tilted his head. The gloomy cave had vanished, and a bright, lively garden came into view. From a fountain with angels carved with tinum, rainbows sprouted instead of water, and turning his head, he saw stairs made of clouds. It was a ce that perfectly fit the description of paradise.


    "Cool."


    It was a sight only possible in a game. Kai couldn''t help but admire the view.


    At that moment, another message popped up.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Job Change Quest: You have sessfullypleted Helik¡¯s quest.]</strong>


    <strong>[Linked Quest: Connecting to Certification of Eligibility.]</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Certificate of Eligibility</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: S</strong>


    <strong>Helik, God of the Sun, is the greatest in thend. But forces of darkness stronger than one could imagine lie in wait to make their move. Having long anticipated their n, Helik has been searching for a vassal to enact his will.</strong>


    <strong>Be his envoy to protect this world against evil and bring prosperity to its people.</strong>


    <strong>Quest requirements: Pass the Trial of Helik.</strong>


    <strong>Quest reward: Acquire Sris Cleric (Mythic rank) job ss.</strong>


    "...What?"


    Kai doubted his eyes.


    <i>What rank?</i>


    Until now, there had only been one rank for hidden sses revealed in the game. That was the Hero Rank. Being promoted to that job meant one could follow in the footsteps of the heroes recorded in the continent''s history.


    <i>But... this isn''t Hero Rank.</i>


    It was a Mythic Rank, and not just any Mythic Rank, but a hidden ss of the Church of Sris, a faction known as the strongest in the continent.


    <i>Mythic Rank. That''s undoubtedly a higher ss than Hero Rank.</i>


    As his thoughts reached this point, Kai didn''t hesitate to respond.


    "I ept."


    <strong>[To proceed with the Job Change, you will be transported to a specific location. Do you ept?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[Transporting to the Room of Confirmation.]</strong>


    The next moment, Kai found himself in a pure white space with nothing around.

 Chapter 4: Ending for the Good-Hearted (4)

    <h4>Chapter 4: Ending for the Good-Hearted (4)</h4>


    Kai looked around. Why was it called pure white? Because it was exactly that. Literally, the space was entirely white. The sky, the ground, even the distant horizon, all white.


    "I''ve heard of a white house on a hill, but this..."


    As Kai stood there, a message appeared before him once again.


    <strong>[Helik, God of the Sun, does not grant just anyone the authority to act on his behalf on the earthly ne. ce your hand upon the Marble of Mana to prove your worth.]</strong>


    "Marble of Mana?"


    As Kai tilted his head, a pir suddenly rose from the ground to waist height. On top of the pir was a red-glowing Marble of Mana, the only object in this white world that possessed color.


    <i>I¡¯m supposed to put my hand on this?</i>


    He ced his hand on the Marble of Mana without much thought, and the moment he did so, hundreds of videos appeared before his eyes, flowing like a panorama.


    "These videos are..."


    They were moments of kindness that Kai had performed in MID Online. Saving a beginner surrounded by Wolves after getting lost in the forest. Bringing a crying girl in the bustling market back to her mother. Caring for an elderly NPC who lived alone so they could pass away peacefully. Even collecting herbs from a swamp to save a merchant''s dying wife! All these were acts of kindness Kai had voluntarily performed while ying MID Online.


    <i>All of this was recorded?</i>


    These were memories he hadpletely forgotten himself. As thest video passed, text appeared above the Marble of Mana.


    <strong>[Scoring yer Kai''s trial performance...]</strong>


    <strong>[yer Kai''s heart: Pure, Good, Logical.]</strong>


    <strong>[yer Kai has gained the favor of a total of 458 NPCs.]</strong>


    <strong>[yer Kai has gained the absolute trust of a total of 47 NPCs.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik¡¯s trial: 250%plete.]</strong>


    <strong>[Achievement rate exceeded 100%. You will receive additional rewards.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have met all of the requirements for the ss Sris Cleric.]</strong>


    <strong>[Would you like to change your ss to Sris Cleric?]</strong>


    "...."


    Kai clenched his mouth shut.


    Some friends in real life called him a pushover for helping others, but their rtionship wasn''t bad. In fact, he was quite popr, but he had few friends with whom he shared a deep connection. As he grew older, Kai understood why.


    <i>Well, being around me must be exhausting.</i>


    It would befortable to be moderately friendly with someone who could be useful sometimes, but too deep a rtionship would be tiring. People thought of him that way.


    Kai even considered stopping his acts of kindness once, but he couldn''t bring himself to do it.


    <i>...Flowers.</i>


    When Kai helped someone, it seemed like a flower bloomed brightly on their faces¡ªa flower of smile. The moment he saw those smile flowers was the most joyful, and it made him feel alive. Unknowingly, Kai had be deeply enchanted by the fragrant aromas emitted by those flowers.


    Suddenly, in the white space where he stood alone, a surge of self-esteem sprang from his eyes.


    "So what?"


    What was wrong with helping others? It was foolish? Frustrating? Then why didn¡¯t people who thought such ways just help people in trouble themselves? However, those who belittled the Benevolences of others never took initiative to act first. Then, who would help those who are in need of assistance from others?


    "In the end, it''s the frustrated ones who take action."


    Kai steadied his breathing and looked at the message window again.


    "See. I wasn''t wrong."


    The message window showed the results of the kindness he had spread. Even the strict, data-driven world made of zeros and ones acknowledged him.


    The path Kai took was called foolish by some and pointless by others. Yet, the system acknowledged his Benevolence, affirming that what he had done was correct and good.


    "I haven¡¯t... lived my life wrong."


    Kai nodded heavily.


    Feeling like he would cry if he didn''t smile, he instead smiled widely and said, "I''ll change my ss to a Sris Cleric."


    At the same time he dered, a beam of sunlight from the sky surrounded him entirely. He felt the coziness of spring, the passion of summer, the loneliness of autumn, and the warmth of winter. It was as if he was basking in various kinds of sunlight all at once.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Your job ss has changed from Cleric to Sric Cleric.]</strong>


    <strong>[With the ss change to Sris Cleric, ss-specific stats and skills have been generated.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Benevolence stat is now unlocked.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Sunlight¡¯s Warmth skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Sris Blessing skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Sris Armor skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[As an additional reward, you have acquired the Friendly Brother skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[With the acquisition of the Mythic rank ss, all stats have increased by 10.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the title, Envoy of God.]</strong>


    "Why are there so many?"


    There were so many message windows that he could barely see all of them in one nce.


    Kai, looking bewildered, opened his stats window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 46</strong>


    <strong>Title: Apprentice Cleric</strong>


    <strong>HP: 9,100</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 17,600</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 21 Stamina: 91</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 21 Agility: 21</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 176 Benevolence: 0</strong>


    ¡°All my stats really increased by 10."


    Just as the system message indicated, after his ss changed to Sris Cleric, all his stats had risen by 10 points each.


    <i>Indeed, a Mythic rank ss.</i>


    In MID Online, changing to a standard ss typically increased each stat by one point. asionally, hidden sses unveiled in themunity or game news increased about three points.


    <i>But mine increased by ten.</i>


    At the start of the game, all stats began at 10. After that, each level-up granted five stat points to be distributed to one¡¯s stats as desired. This was how MID Online''s system worked.


    <i>Essentially, a 10 point increase in each stat is as if I''ve leveled up ten times at once.</i>


    Kai felt a thrill and reviewed his stats window again.


    <i>Now that I think about it, didn''t all my stats increase by one when I first became a Cleric?</i>


    In simple words, he had undergone two ss changes, resulting in 11 point stat increases in total! That exined why his stats that he hadn¡¯t invested in like Strength, Intelligence, and Agility were now at 21. It was an unexpected bonus, but he wasn¡¯tining.


    Kai focused on the newly added stat. "What is this Benevolence stat? Why is this the only stat that didn''t increase?"


    He lightly touched the Benevolence stat with his finger.


    <strong>[Benevolence]</strong>


    <strong>[This stat can only be increased by performing acts of service.]</strong>


    <strong>(You cannot spend points on this stat upon leveling up.)</strong>


    "So, I can only perform acts of service to increase this stat?"


    That part made sense, but its purpose was still unclear.


    Kai shook off the lingering confusion and opened his skill window.


    <strong><u>[Sunlight¡¯s Warmth Lv.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Restore HP and remove any negative status effects.</strong>


    <strong>Does damage to Undead/Demonic enemies.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 0/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sris Blessing Lv.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>[Increases physical and magical attack power. Also increased holy damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[Proficiency 0/100]</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sris Armor Lv.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases physical and magical defense.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 0/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Holy Explosion Lv.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Release the judgment of the Gods upon your enemies through a holy st of light.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 0/100</strong>


    "Hmm."


    At a nce, these skills didn''t seem different from the basic Cleric skills like Heal, Blessing, Shield of Light, or Ray of Light.


    <i>Well, I guess I''ll find out when I use them. At least the skills I learned as a Cleric didn''t disappear.</i>


    Kai saw his frequently used skills still present below the newly added ones and smiled contently.


    "I would''ve been disappointed if all the effort I put into increasing my skill proficiency was gone."


    There was even a new title acquired during the ss change.


    "Title Book."


    <i>Poof!</i>


    A thick book was summoned out of thin air. Kai held the book with one hand and opened the book to a sparkling, glowing page. The sparkling page indicated that a new title was added.


    <strong>[<u>Envoy of God</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Mythic</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to those who represent God.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: All stats increase by the amount of the Benevolence stat.</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    Kai, with a dazed expression, was unable to continue speaking easily. After a moment, as his wandering mind returned, Kai took a big gulp of air.


    <i>What in the world is this?</i>


    Kai, with his eyes widened, examined the title''s effect once again. His concentration was so intense, it was as if he could have passed the Korean University entrance exam if he had studied textbooks this way!


    <i>I want to experiment to see if this is true, but I don''t have any Benevolence stats.</i>


    First, he would have to umte Benevolence stats.


    "Then I should leave this ce. Which way is the exit?"


    In the Room of Confirmation, made entirely of pure white, there was naturally nothing that could be called a door. However, the moment Kai thought about leaving, a message window appeared.


    <strong>[Would you like to exit the Room of Confirmation?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[Please select a destination.]</strong>


    "It can do this too?"


    As usual, customer satisfaction really came from after-sales service! Slightly touched, Kai selected the area where he had originally been active.


    <strong>[Moving to the Frica Vige.]</strong>


    "Alright."


    With a burst of bright white light, Kai was enveloped. Swamped with his recent ss change to Sris Cleric, Kai failed to read a few lines of text that appeared beneath the numerous message windows that had popped up.


    <strong>[You have acquired a ss through an incorrect method.]</strong>


    <strong>[Some skills of the Sris Cleric (Mythic) will be sealed.]</strong>


    <strong>[The sealed skills can be unsealedter by meeting with a ss-rted NPC.]</strong>


    ***


    "Looking for party members! Seeking a Cleric or Druid above level 45!"


    "Looking for a Tank! Need someone sturdy with at least 5 pieces of the Red Gnoll set!"


    "Need one more dealer for the Red Gnoll Chief Raid! We''re ready to go once you join!"


    "Freshly baked bread for sale at Maron''s Bakery for adventurers! Five soft bread with sweet red bean filling for three silver!"


    Regaining his senses, Kai found himself in a bustling ce.


    He had arrived at Frica''s central square, where he had been looking for party members just a few hours earlier. In the square, NPCs and yers were mingling, forming parties, and trading items.


    "Now then... Oh,e to think of it, I haven''t checked the additional rewards yet."


    Kai, wearing the title of Envoy of God, checked the additional rewards.


    <strong>[Friendly Brother]</strong>


    <strong>[NPCs who believe in the Srian God will feel a sense of closeness with you.]</strong>


    "Feeling closeness? Seems a bit vague for an additional reward..."


    Kai tilted his head, then immediately activated the skill.


    <i>Is it working, or is it not?</i>


    He checked his body, but there were no noticeable changes. After a moment of thought, Kai thought of a good idea.


    <i>The Lorady at the vegetable store was a follower of the Church of Sris, so if I go to the vegetable store I should be able to confirm...?</i>


    As Kai continued his thought, he felt a change in the air around him and looked around.

 Chapter 5: The Power of Good Deeds (1)

    <h4>Chapter 5: The Power of Good Deeds (1)</h4>


    The air, or the atmosphere, changed in an instant. yers in the square tilted their heads to this subtle feeling.


    "Doesn''t it feel like it suddenly got really quiet around here?"


    "Yeah. What''s going on? It doesn''t seem like there''s been any ident."


    "This happens at school sometimes, right?"


    Except for a few yers who didn¡¯t notice the change in the atmosphere, everyone looked around trying to find the cause.


    As one yer mentioned, there were moments in school when everyone became quiet as if they had been cued to do so. The square was simr to such instances.


    <i>Something is certainly odd....</i>


    Kai, who was quick to notice things, also realized that something had changed. He was even quicker than anyone else to find the cause.


    <i>Is it... because of me?</i>


    To the left and right, NPCs were sending him longing nces. They slowly closed the distance.


    "Kai, I previously said I wouldn''t ask for your help due to yourck of skills. I was short-sighted. I''m sure you can help me." A quest he had previously been rejected for due to being at a low level suddenly became avable.


    "Kai, here''s some freshly baked bread from this morning. This is the best quality bread I''ve made today, having worked with flour for 30 years. Please try it!" He also received several pieces of bread, each costing three silver, for free.


    "Hehe, Kai, you look a bit more handsome today. Would you like to go for a walk by theke with me?" A beautiful NPC, who normally showed no interest in him, smiled and asked him on a date.


    <i>...What is this situation?</i>


    Kai, furrowing his eyebrows, instinctively knew why they were acting this way.


    <i>It''s because of the Friendly Brother skill.</i>


    If his guess was right, the effect was truly exceptional. In MID Online, raising favorability wasn''t different from reality. To be closer to NPCs, one had to make a good impression and act in a way they liked, gradually increasing favorability.


    <i>But I can skip that process and make them feel friendly towards me. I''m not sure to what extent though.</i>


    At least, he was sure it was a useful skill. Moreover, the Church of Sris was a powerful force on the continent. The number of NPCs believing in them was countless, making the skill seem even more useful.


    "What? Who is that user?"


    "I don¡¯t know. Maybe a famous yer? Or a ranker?"


    "Nah, I know almost all the faces of rankers... This one''spletely new."


    <i>Dang it.</i>


    Kai quickly pulled the hood of his cleric robe deep over his head and deactivated the Friendly Brother skill. At the same time he did so, as if a tight knot had been loosened, the atmosphere in the square rxed.


    "Um, ahem. It seems I was mistaken. Forget the request. Come back when you''ve improved your skills."


    "I''ll go for a walk alone. What I said earlier was just out of courtesy. You know what I mean, right?"


    "Give me back my bread."


    "...."


    The moment he deactivated the Friendly Brother skill, the NPCs changed their stance as quickly and easily as if they were flipping the palm of their hand! Kai deeply felt the pain of youths abandoned in the harsh jungle of society. Fortunately, at least the users'' interests also quickly faded.


    "Of course."


    "What, that was nothing."


    "Oh, right. I need to find party members!"


    "Selling a level 45 rare sword, starting offers, no traders!"


    The square became noisy again as if it had never been quiet.


    Kai then looked at his palm amidst the countless crowd roaming the square.


    <i>The power of the title... It¡¯s real.</i>


    Then the possibility was high that the abilities rted to the Benevolence stat were also real. Realizing this, his heart raced and his palms became sweaty. At the same time, an irresistible thrill passed through him, making his fists clench automatically.


    He had achieved nothing in his 22 years of life. His only strength was helping others. A worthless ability that didn''t help with actual specs.


    "But from now on, things will change..."


    "Hey, aren''t you giving back my bread?"


    "...."


    Swallowing his tears, Kai returned the soft bread.


    ***


    <i>Beeeep!</i>


    A loud rm sounded at the Korea branch of the Pegasus Corporation, the multinationalpany that developed MID Online.


    "It''s so loud. Turn off that sound first."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Kang Min-Gu, the director of Pegasus Corporation''s Korea branch, nodded as he looked at the giant monitor in the office and sighed.


    "The rm suggests something has been unlocked. Find out what it is."


    "Yes, sir!"


    The employees started busily searching for the cause. Soon, reports began toe in.


    "A new hidden ss has been unlocked!"


    "It''s identified as code M-015E34."


    "Ugh..." Kang Min-Gu let out a groan. "Another hidden ss? How many times has this happened in our country?"


    "It''s... the fourth time."


    "The headquarters will have something to say again, but it¡¯s not as if we¡¯re not already known as a nation of gaming addicts..."


    The headquarters had already lectured them a few weeks ago about bnce issues. The reason was that the number of Korean users who had transitioned to hidden sses almost equaled China''s.


    "But what ss does that code signify anyway? It would be better if it''s some useless ss this time to avoid more lecturing."


    While sighing and approaching his subordinate, Kang Min-Gu, with his brilliant mind, understood what the code meant.


    <i>¡®First thing, the first letter is M and thankfully not H. Never heard or seen... wait, M?''</i>


    Not H for Hero, but M. Kang Min-Gu instantly turned pale and took over his subordinate''s seat and started typing.


    <i>Tap tap tap, tap tap!</i>


    The result disyed on the screen when he pressed enter was truly shocking.


    <strong>Code ¨C M-015E34</strong>


    <strong>ss ¨C Sric Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Rank ¨C Mythic</strong>


    "Wh-what...? W-why now?" Kang Min-Gu screamed in horror, pulling at his hair. "Why does this only happen in our country?!"


    He felt like he would receive a call from the headquarters any moment.


    That''s when it happened.


    <i>Ring ring ring!</i>


    "Yes, I''ve got the call... Yes, yes, sir." The employee who answered the phone was visibly tense, and then looked at Kang Min-Gu. "Mr. Kang, we''ve just received a call from headquarters."


    Kang Min-Gu sighed, ¡°...Tell them I''ll be there soon, just to wait a moment." Then he feebly got up from his seat and didn''t forget to give an order to his subordinate. "We can find out who it is, right?"


    "Well... that is... even though we are the operators, there''s no way to track every user¡¯s location or situation."


    "Still, find them. At all costs."


    "Wh-what should we do when we find them?"


    Frustrated by his subordinate''s question, Kang Min-Gu scowled, "What do you mean what to do? As soon as you find them...!" He struggled to find his next words and said in a weak voice, "Just watch them... Observe how they y the game. Monitor them. What else can we do without any operational rights."


    "Understood. But sir, I''ve never seen this kind of code before. What ss does it signify?"


    Kang Min-Gu, walking toward the phone like a cow being led to ughter, quietly said, looking defeated, "M stands for... Mythic rank."


    It was only four months since the game''sunch. At this point in time, it was a ss that should never have been unlocked.


    ***


    "Let''s see..."


    While Kang Min-Gu was getting an earful from the higher-ups at the headquarters, Kai was rummaging through the quest board in the vige square.


    The quest board was a ce where NPCs posted their requests on paper, allowing yers to easily ept quests. It was a revolutionary system that saved yers from having to travel the map and search for NPCs like in old games.


    "Is this the oldest one?"


    Kai peeled off a quest paper that was tucked in a corner of the board, covered by other papers.


    <strong>[<u>Daughter''s Winter Clothes</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: E-</strong>


    <strong>Tom, the owner of the general store, is buying Gnoll tails in order to make a winter coat for his daughter¡¯s birthday gift. Bring Tom 50 Gnoll tails.</strong>


    <strong>Quest reward: +30 silver, +5 Fame, Affinity with Tom</strong>


    "Not bad."


    Gnoll tails were a necessary material for making Gnoll fur armor sets, favored by archers and rogue yers. Despite being a required item, its drop rate was terribly low, making it worth at least one silver each at the auction house.


    Just based on the math, it was an unprofitable quest! That was the biggest reason why yers ignored it.


    <i>But that''s exactly why it''s perfect for me.</i>


    Kai, smiling, put the paper in his pocket and headed to the general store.


    "Ah! Wee!"


    A girl, looking about 15 years old, greeted Kai warmly.


    "Is Mr. Tom not here?"


    "Dad went to tidy up the storage at the back. Should I get him for you?"


    "Please."


    Soon, led by his daughter, Tom arrived in front of Kai. "Oh, it''s Kai. You were looking for me?"


    "Yes. I came after seeing this."


    As Kai took out the quest flyer from his pocket, Tom turned pale and covered his daughter''s eyes.


    "Huh? Dad, what are you doing?"


    "Y-you shouldn''t see this. Kai, follow me for a moment." Tom swiftly grabbed Kai''s wrist and pulled him into the storage. "Whew, whew. That was a close call."


    "Now that I think of it, you were making winter clothes for your daughter, right?"


    "Yes. I wanted to surprise her with a gift, but since no one came for the request even after two months, I thought I might have to give up..."


    "Hehe, ta-da!"


    Kai took out 50 Gnoll tails from his inventory. He had collected 200 to make winter clothing but he could afford to be generous for the quest since it was more important at the moment.


    "You... you!" Tom embraced Kai with a grateful expression. "Thank you! I didn''t have high hopes when I made the request... but I am truly grateful!"


    "Don''t mention it," Kai replied, scratching the back of his head with a shy expression.


    "Ah, I shouldn''t have made you wait. Wait here, I''ll give you the money right now."


    "Pardon? No, it''s fine!" Kai eximed in surprise.


    It was stated that the Benevolence stat increased when one did good deeds for NPCs. However, he wondered ifpleting a quest and receiving a reward would also count as a good deed in the system. He was concerned that would just be fulfilling a request.


    "Not at all. I''m so grateful that I can''t let you go empty-handed."


    Tom eventually insisted and ced 37 silver in Kai''s hand.


    "Um...you''ve given me 7 more silver."


    "I''m so thankful that I added a bit more. Just ept it when an adult gives you something! Ha ha!" Tomughed heartily, looking at the Gnoll tails he was holding with a content expression.


    <i>He''s really happy.</i>


    Watching Tom, a pleased smile formed on Kai''s face.


    At that moment, a notification window appeared.


    <strong>[You did a good deed for Tom (NPC).]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Benevolence]</strong>


    <strong>[You carried out the word of Sris. Contribution increased.]</strong>


    <i>Oh, it increased!</i>


    Kai stared at the message window with wide eyes.


    <i>So even if it''s a quest, if the recipient is grateful, does it count as a good deed?</i>


    If that was the case, thenpleting quests could yield both rewards and an increase in the Benevolence stat.


    Kai''s mind raced.


    <i>When I briefly looked earlier, there were quite a few quests that no one had taken.</i>


    Those quests were all unattractive in terms of rewards and required a lot of effort. They were the quests that everyone avoided!


    Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>I shouldn¡¯t just stand around like this.</i>


    After quickly saying goodbye to Tom, Kai slipped into a dim alleyway in the vige. Then he let out a few small, shallow breaths and swallowed nervously.


    Kai slowly said, "Equip title, Envoy of God."

 Chapter 6: Power of the Benevolence Stat (2)

    <h4>Chapter 6: Power of the Benevolence Stat (2)</h4>


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Envoy of God is one bestowed with the significant role of representing the holy will of the Srian God on earth. One who represents such noble deeds must always possess the right body, right thoughts, and the right mindset.]</strong>


    <strong>[Benevolence stat is a total of 1.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increase by +1.]</strong>


    "S-stats window! I should check my stats window!"


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 46</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 9,200</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 17,700</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 22 Stamina: 92</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 22 Agility: 22</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 177 Benevolence: 1</strong>


    "...It really applied."


    Kai''s eyes trembled as he observed the stats that increased in ordance with his Benevolence stat.


    <i>If I help an NPC in trouble, my Benevolence stat increases by one.</i>


    In other words, for each quest, all his stats increased by one.


    Kai, excited, began to cool his head and started calcting.


    "My current level is 46, but if I only consider the sum of my stats..."


    He possessed statsparable to a character of level 56. Of course, this calction was just looking at the sum of all his stats.


    If he had actually developed his character to level 56, he wouldn¡¯t have invested stats in Strength, Agility, or Intelligence, instead focusing solely on Stamina and Holiness. However, it wasn¡¯t a loss. Strength, Agility, and Intelligence were also stats that yed their role well.


    <i>Ifter my Benevolence stat surpasses 200, 300...</i>


    It would be the birth of a one-of-a-kind all-around character!


    <i>I''m excited.</i>


    Kai, with a smile curling up the corners of his mouth, turned around.


    <i>I don''t have time to just stand around.</i>


    He ran toward the quest board as if possessed, intending to exclusively possess all the quests before anyone else could take them.


    ***


    <i>A pushover? Pfft.</i>


    Kai smiled as he watched other yersugh at him and walk away after hepleted a quest. He was tempted to show them his stats window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sric Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 46</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 10,300</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 18,800</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 33 Stamina: 103</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 33 Agility: 33</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 188 Benevolence: 12</strong>


    In the two days of game time spent helping NPCs, Kai''s Benevolence stat had reached 12. Just looking at the stat window made him feel content!


    <i>Maybe I''ve been running around too much. I''m a bit tired.</i>


    He realized it had already been 17 hours in real time. In the game, with its 3-to-1 time ratiopared to reality, 51 hours had passed.


    Feeling tired, Kai sat down at the fountain in the square and logged out of the game. Taking off his headgear and stepping out of the capsule, Kai looked at the clock. It was 6 PM.


    <i>I should eat something simple before going to bed.</i>


    He opened the door to his room and went to the living room, which was empty as his parents hadn''t returned from work yet. His sister, busy with a project at herpany, was often working overtime, so he was alone at home.


    "Well..."


    Scratching his head, Han Jung-Woo made himself a bowl of ramyeon and soony down in bed.


    <i>I can''t sleep.</i>


    He was afraid that everything might disappear like a mirage or dissipate like fog once he fell asleep. He wanted to log into the game right away to check if his job ss and title were still the same. However, Han Jung-Woo just chuckled and closed his eyes.


    <i>Look at me, I''m acting like a gaming addict.</i>


    In fact, that was true. Except for eating and sleeping, all he did was y games. If that''s not being an addict, what is?


    After tossing and turning for a while, Han Jung-Woo eventually fell into a deep sleep, the mostfortable he had slept in years.


    ***


    After waking up, Han Jung-Woo immediately rushed to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.


    "Nothing like starting the morning fresh."


    Maintaining a clean start to the day was always Han Jung-Woo''s principle as a proper gamer. With a refreshed feeling, he nced at the clock, which read 1 AM, and the bright moon outside seemed to look down on him in pity, but he didn''t care.


    <i>This is what a true early bird is. The early bird catches more worms!</i>


    Han Jung-Woo, having sessfully spun his happiness circuit by thinking positively, ate some cereal and did the dishes. Although usually a chore he disliked, today even washing dishes felt enjoyable.


    "Indeed, a person¡¯s profession is important. Surely people who be doctors,wyers, or prosecutors must feel like this, right?"


    "What are you muttering to yourself at the crack of dawn?" His older sister, Han Ji-Hye''s voice came from behind.


    "Oh, did you just wake up, noona?"


    "Do I look like you to be getting up at this hour?"


    Looking closer, his sister seemed a bit pale as she chugged cold water.


    "Oh... Is it that time of the month? The magical... Ugh!"


    Han Jung-Woo''s sentence was cut short by a swift punch to his side from his sister. If their mother, who had sent her to Taekwondo sses, had seen it, she would have pped in admiration at such a clean punch!


    "Little brother, I''d like you to live a long life, so can you cooperate a bit?"


    With his sister ring down at him threateningly, Han Jung-Woo could only respond with, "Yes ma¡¯am, I will cooperate!"


    "A wise choice. Don''t do that again."


    Groaning, Han Jung-Woo got up from the floor, rubbing his sore side with a scrunched face.


    "But why do you look so unwell? Is something wrong?"


    "It''s nothing. I just feel sick because I was out drinking all night at apany dinner."


    "Ah, I see. Well, hope the cold water helps. I''m off."


    He tried to walk past his sister, but her hand grabbed the back of his shirt and wouldn''t let go.


    "Are you off to y games again, little brother?"


    "Huh? Uh, yeah."


    He heard a heavy sigh from behind, and the grip on his shirt loosened.


    "You''ve been on a break from school for two years now. You know that, right?"


    "...Has it been that long already?"


    Han Ji-Hye looked at her brother with a cold gaze and shook her head. "How did my little brother end up so hopeless? You weren''t like this when you were younger..."


    "Noona, just wait a bit. I think the best opportunity of my life has juste."


    "...That line is usually heard in ces like Macau, Las Vegas, or Kangwon Land[1], you know that?"


    "No, it''s not like that."


    Han Ji-Hye tilted her head in confusion when her brother smiled mysteriously.


    ***


    <strong>[You did a good deed for Shudel (NPC).]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Benevolence]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increase by +1.]</strong>


    <strong>[You carried out the word of Sris. Contribution increased.]</strong>


    "Phew, that puts my Benevolence stats at 18."


    He had now helped all the troubled NPCs he could find in Frica Vige. He hovered around the quest board for a few hours, but there were no more quests left toplete.


    <i>Do I need to move to a higher-level area?</i>


    However, his level was a bit iffy. His stats wereparable to yers with levels in the upper 50s, but his level was still only 46.


    <i>Even if I go to high-level areas, they probably won''t ept me into their parties.</i>


    Of course, revealing his Mythic rank ss could solve all his problems. However, the disadvantages of revealing his ss seemed to outweigh the benefits.


    <i>So, back to hunting Gnolls, I guess.</i>


    Kai had only hunted Gnolls from level 39 to 46.


    <i>I''m sick of even the shadow of a Gnoll by now... but there¡¯s nothing else I can do.</i>


    Kai headed toward the square. There, it was always easy to find a party, as the ce was filled with people looking to form parties.


    "Level 45 and above. Heading to hunt in the Red Gnoll ins! Just need a Cleric, and we''ll be ready to go."


    Having finally found a party that he liked, Kai slowly approached them. Just then, someone blocked his way.


    A short old man with white hair and long beard, height barely reaching Kai''s chest, stood in the way.


    "Kai, may I have a word?"


    "Chief Bunther? What is it?"


    "Come to my house, I have something important to discuss."


    "...Alright."


    Kai quickly agreed, leaving behind his ns to hunt, as the scent of a strong quest lingered in Bunther''s words.


    "Then follow me."


    The Chief immediately led Kai to his house. It was a cozy, countryside brick house.


    Bunther served tea and began speaking as he sat down, "I''ve heard you''ve been helping many vigers in trouble recently." Bunther smiled warmly as he took Kai''s hand. It was a wrinkled, crinkled hand but warm. "There are more powerful adventurers in this vige than you, but none as trustworthy. Helping vigers so much shows you have that good of a heart."


    "Thank you for your kind words."


    "Your actions have clearly proven it, so it''s only natural to think highly of you."


    The conversation flowed in a heartwarming atmosphere.


    "So why have you called me here?"


    "Ahem." Getting to the point, Bunther cleared his throat and then whispered quietly, ¡°Our vige is currently facing a great crisis. I''ve been waiting for an adventurer who could resolve this..."


    "A crisis?" Kai tilted his head.


    Frica didn''t seem like the kind of vige that would be associated with the word ''crisis.''


    "That''s right, a crisis. What do you think is the strongest monster near this vige?"


    "That would definitely be the Red Gnoll Chief. It''s a field boss monster that always roams with its minions."


    "Many adventurers seem to think so, but that''s a misconception." Sighing with a mix ofment, Bunther¡¯s beard trembled as continued, "The monster that dominates this area isn''t just some Gnoll. There''s a particrly wicked creature ruling the mountains, ying the role of a king."


    "Such a creature exists?"


    It was information Kai had nevere across in themunity. Swallowing hard and listening intently, Kai watched as Bunther continued with a solemn expression.


    "The real master of these mountains is none other than the Wyrm Lizard."


    1. KangWon Land is the name of thergest casino in South Korea ?

 Chapter 7: I Can Do Well On My Own (1)

    <h4>Chapter 7: I Can Do Well On My Own (1)</h4>


    "The Wyrm Lizard...?" Kai murmured with a surprised expression.


    <i>This is just like the situation I faced in the Trial of Helik, isn''t it?</i>


    Of course, it would have been a coincidence. That ce was an independent space created for the trial.


    "In fact, we''ve requested support from the royal guards several times to subdue the Wyrm Lizard.... But with monsters across the continent suddenly bing more ferocious, they''re reluctant to assist such a remote vige."


    "But a single knight could easily deal with the Wyrm Lizard, right?"


    "Even one knight is too valuable to send, apparently." Bunther murmured with a bitter smile. "We''ve been told to wait a month for support... but a month is enough time for the Wyrm Lizard to turn our vige into ruins. That''s why I''m asking you. Will you help us?"


    "There''s something I want to ask before that." Kai voiced his lingering curiosity, "If the Wyrm Lizard is really near the vige, how has the vige been safe until now? The Wyrm Lizard is a carnivorous monster. It''s strange that it hasn''t attacked the vige yet."


    "Fortunately, it''s been preying on Gnolls until now. But the Gnoll poption in the mountains it lives in is decreasing and soon the Wyrm Lizard will move to a ce with more prey."


    "That would be Frica Vige," Kai nodded slowly.


    "Exactly. So, I have a request for you, an adventurer. Please, save our vige! Experienced hunters estimate that it''ll take the beast about three weeks to reach here."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[<u>A Vige in Crisis</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: C+</strong>


    <strong>The true ruler of the Red Gnoll Mountain isn''t the Red Gnoll Chief. They¡¯re just a puppet, offering sacrifices to the Wyrm Lizard to prolong their life. Defeat the true king of the mountain within three weeks and bring peace to Frica Vige.</strong>


    <strong>Quest requirements: Have the highest reputation ranking in the vige.</strong>


    <strong>Quest rewards: ¡°Hero of Frica¡± title, free use of all vige shops, increase in XP, 10 gold</strong>


    <strong>Failure penalties: Decrease in reputation in Frica Vige, decrease in fame. decrease in XP.</strong>


    Kai blinked as he read the newly appeared quest window.


    <i>10 gold is... equivalent to 1 million won in cash!</i>


    Moreover, the real jackpot was the free use of all the vige''s paid facilities. Not just the cksmith for repairing equipment durability but also the general store for potions, weapon shops, inns, and restaurants, they would all be free!


    <i>I must buy... no, ept this!</i>


    He had no idea how he, at level 46, was going to defeat a level 65 field boss, but it felt like the god of spending was whispering in his ear that it was his chance to splurge.


    Kai sprang to his feet and grabbed Bunther''s hand.


    "Leave it to me!"


    "R-really?"


    "Of course. I will defeat it."


    "Oh, thank you! Please, put an end to the evil Wyrm Lizard."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Quest epted.]</strong>


    ***


    Leaving behind Bunther, who looked at him with worried eyes, Kai immediately went outside to check his equipment.


    <i>Even with the increase from the Benevolence stat, taking on a level 65 monster alone is too much.</i>


    A Cleric wasn¡¯t an offensive job. While he had decent survivability thanks to protective skills like Sacred Barrier, theck of attack skills to kill enemies was a significant factor.


    <i>There arebat Clerics who focus on holy magic, but....</i>


    That was irrelevant for Kai, who had chosen the typical support Cleric skills. Of course, he could learn new skills now, but there was a problem with that¡ªnot only would his proficiency be low, but it would also cost a lot of money.


    "First off, there''s a 3-week time limit."


    The time was sufficient.


    <i>I''ll level up as much as I can during this period and then take down the Wyrm Lizard.</i>


    Heading straight to the square, Kai looked for a suitable party.


    "Finally found one!" At that moment, a group of people approached Kai. "You guys are...."


    They were the party members who had been killed by Zirukan. Especially the tank in the lead had a face twisted like a crumpled piece of paper.


    <i>He looks incredibly ugly with such a scowl.</i>


    It was his first time seeing the tank''s face since he always wore a helmet.


    <i>If I had to find a look-alike... maybe a bulldog?</i>


    Observing his face, Kai tilted his head and said, "You all resurrected."


    "Resurrected? Yes, we did. You punk!"


    The tank, about to swing his fist, was barely held back by the Wizard and Archer.


    "Why is he acting like that?" Kai asked the others.


    "Well...."


    "Why am I acting like this? <i>Why </i>am I acting like this?! Don''t you see why I''m angry after looking at this!" The tank pointed to his face, yelling.


    Kai tilted his head. "Your looks aren''t my fault."


    "Of course, it''s not your fault... wait, what? This bastard!"


    The tank was about to explode again when the Archer persuaded him, and the Wizard sighed and exined, "He dropped a rare helmet when he died. It''s an item worth about 13 gold, so he insists on getting it back."


    "Ah, equipment drop...," Kai nodded, understanding the situation.


    13 gold was equivalent to more than 1.3 million won in cash. Anyone would go mad if they dropped equipment worth that much.


    "Of course, we have our reasons too. My shoes and the Archer''s gloves were also dropped. Our items are also high-value rare items worth more than 10 gold each."


    Hearing this, Kai examined their equipment.


    <i>Come to think of it... all their gear is high quality.</i>


    yers could drop one of their equipped items upon death if they were unlucky and it seemed all three had been unlucky enough to drop their rare items!


    However, Kai''s questions were not yet fully answered. "Why are you bringing this up to me? Go to where you died."


    The Wizard slightly lifted the hat he was wearing and said, "We''ve already been there, but there''s an invisible wall blocking us from entering."


    "Oh, now that you mention it...."


    "That''s why we came looking for you." The Wizard said softly, "When a yer dies, they resurrect at thest saved inn or temple in the vige. And you also had your resurrection point set at Wanderer¡¯s Inn, right?"


    "That''s right."


    "But you didn''t die. Don''t even think of denying it. We''ve already checked at the temple on our way here."


    "Yes, I didn''t die."


    At Kai''s response, the Wizard smiled brightly and extended a hand, saying, "That''s fortunate. If you didn''t die, you must have picked up the equipment we dropped, right? Since it''s basic manners to take care of a party member''s equipment. Oh! Of course, we won''t ask for repair costs. Just give us back our equipment please."


    "Sorry, but I didn''t pick up those items. In fact, I didn¡¯t even see them. I wasn''t in the state to do so."


    "See! I told you he would y innocent!" The tank growled from behind, and this time neither the Wizard nor the Archer stopped him. The tank swiftly stepped forward and pushed Kai''s shoulder. "Do you expect us to believe that?"


    "Do you want me to show a screenshot of my inventory?"


    "Bullshit! That can easily be edited!"


    "I don''t engage in such petty acts," Kai sighed and responded, causing the tank to growl again.


    "Anyway, it''s a fact that we lost our equipment."


    "So what are you suggesting?" Kai, starting to feel tired of the situation, asked.


    The tank smirked, revealing his teeth. "We''ll get our equipment back our way. Either you go there and pick them up, or buy new ones and hand them over."


    "What kind of absurdity is that...!"


    "Even after party hunting together, you don''t know who we are?" The tank tapped the emblem on his chest and said, "You''ve just made an enemy of us. You''re now marked by the Crimson Sunset, Frica''s top guild. You better be prepared."


    He then shouted out loud for all yers in the square to hear, "Listen up! If you want to die together with this guy, feel free to form a party with him! You all know my brother is the master of the Crimson Sunset, right?"


    <i>Damn it, I¡¯m really screwed.</i>


    Kai furrowed his eyebrows. He had heard of the Crimson Sunset guild.


    "Look forward to it."


    The tank left a nasty smile and walked away with his group.


    "The Crimson Sunset guild...."


    Kai stood his ground. He hadn''t picked up their equipment, nor had he even seen it.


    <i>But people only listen to those in power.</i>


    And that was true in the game world as well.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Your party request has been rejected.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your party request has been rejected.]</strong>


    Other yers avoided forming a party with Kai, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire. In this situation, there was only one thing Kai could do.


    Kai sighed and said, ¡°A Cleric going solo...."


    Unfortunately, that was the only solution.


    ***


    With their Holy Power and Stamina stats, there was no one better than a Cleric in supporting allies. However, there was one major disadvantage to being a Cleric¡ªthey were helpless when alone.


    Leaving the vige, Kai sat down beside a tree on the roadside and started calcting.


    <i>The strongest monster I can handle alone is probably the Gray Gnoll.</i>


    After hunting Red Gnolls, which gave a lot of XP points, switching to Gray Gnolls made him crave a cigarette he had never even smoked before!


    "The Crimson Sunset guild. This is how they abuse their power, huh."


    In fact, guilds like them were quitemon in MID Online. The unfortunate part was that ordinary yers like Kai had no means to counter such guilds.


    <i>If you''re upset, level up. That¡¯s how it is.</i>


    Kai sighed again, turning his thoughts back to the realistic problem.


    <i>Gray Gnolls at level 38 don''t give much XP.</i>


    But what else could he do without any other options?


    "Well, at least I have some new skills that might help."


    Kai desperately hoped his new skills would be useful in hunting.


    <i>They''re skills from a Mythic rank ss, so they should be useful, right?</i>


    Feeling thirsty from all the anxiety, Kai drank water and entered the Gray Gnoll area. It was an unpopr hunting ground, so no other yers were in sight.


    "Let''s see...."


    Reading the descriptions of his skills, he found Holy Explosion to be an attack skill.


    <i>Alright, I''ll go with this one.</i>


    Just then, a Gray Gnollzily passed by in front of him. Gnolls were monsters resembling bipedal dogs.


    <i>Casting time is 2 seconds.</i>


    1 second, 2 seconds. Havingpleted the casting, Kai formed his fingers into a gun shape and aimed at the Gnoll.


    "Holy Explosion!"

 Chapter 8: I Can Do Well On My Own (2)

    <h4>Chapter 8: I Can Do Well On My Own (2)</h4>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    As the skill was cast, a loud noise erupted, and a beam of white light burst forth.


    "Wh-what happened?"


    Kai was startled by the skill''s unexpectedly powerful destructive force. After a moment, when he regained hisposure, the Gray Gnoll was nowhere to be seen.


    "Damn it, did it run away?"


    As Kai looked around for the Gray Gnoll, a message window popped up.


    <strong>[+420 XP.]</strong>


    "...."


    Kai squinted at the message window and read it again.


    "Why am I getting XP all of a sudden.... Could it be?"


    He looked at the spot where the Gray Gnoll had been as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. Only the Gnoll''s skiny there.


    Kai''s mind raced.


    <i>Did I just get a One Shot Kill?</i>


    One Shot Kill was an act of defeating a monster with a single attack, something only possible for yers with high-quality equipment or high-skill proficiency.


    <i>But my Holy Explosion skill is still at proficiency level 0....</i>


    Kai, who found the situation hard to believe, tilted his head.


    <i>Did someone else kill it?</i>


    He couldn¡¯t help but think that way since it was unlikely for a Cleric to have such high attack power! Concluding this way, Kai tested the ability of the skill against other Gray Gnolls.


    <strong>[+427 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+418 XP.]</strong>


    With every shot, the Gray Gnolls died. No, they disappeared as if they never existed! After hunting ten Gnolls, Kai finally epted the reality.


    <i>This isn''t a mistake.</i>


    The skill''s coefficient was just incredibly high.


    "Wait, with this skill...."


    There was no need to hunt Gray Gnolls anymore.


    ***


    "This ce is crowded today as usual."


    In the vast ins, numerous parties were hunting red gnolls.


    <i>I should go to a more secluded area.</i>


    If other yers saw his skill, it would definitely be a hot topic. Not wanting to get entangled in unnecessarymotion, Kai moved to a more remote area.


    <i>Life should be taken slow and steady, just like my sister said.</i>


    As he continuously walked to the edge of the ins, he arrived at the part where it met the forest.


    "Hm. Still visible though."


    ncing around, he saw other yers were still in sight, meaning they could see him too.


    <i>I can''t hunt in the ins.</i>


    In such an open area, even the most secluded spot was noticeable. Finally, Kai entered the forest.


    <i>This will do.</i>


    As he moved away from the yers, the surroundings became quiet. The only sounds were the chirping of birds and the asional rustle of bushes. In this silent setting, he could freely use his skills.


    "Okay, let''s see here...."


    Opening the skill window and reading the descriptions, Kai immediately used his skills.


    "Sris Armor, Sris Blessing."


    His whole body was enveloped in a holy aura, and the mace he held shone white.


    "It looks like a regr Cleric''s skill on the outside."


    Only the color had changed. The only difference was a slightly fancier color!


    <i>But what''s important is the actual performance.</i>


    Kai then looked through the bushes, peering beyond.


    <i>There they are. Two of them.</i>


    Two Red Gnolls sniffed around, smelling something.


    "Grrrrr!"


    One of them, as if smelling something, lowered its head to the ground and crawled toward Kai.


    <i>Here ites.</i>


    Kai swallowed his saliva. This time, he decided not to use Holy Explosion because he wanted to check the effects of Sris Blessing and Sris Armor.


    <i>But that doesn''t mean I''ll just stand here and take hits.</i>


    Inbat, there had always been one most important factor.


    "That is to strike first!"


    Quickly dashing out of the bushes, Kai''s mace struck the Red Gnoll''s head. The Red Gnoll yelped and its stamina dropped by 20 percent in one blow!


    Considering Kai''s Strength stat was only in the 30s, the attack power was unbelievably high.


    <i>How much does Sris Blessing actually increase my attack power?</i>


    Before his smile could fade away, it was time to test Sris Armor.


    "Ruff! Ruff!"


    "Woof! Woof!"


    The enraged Red Gnolls, drooling at the mouth, charged at him. Their appearance was such that one bite seemed like it would give rabies instantly!


    Kai closed his eyes tightly and spread his arms. "Come at me!"


    <i>Thud, thwack, bang!</i>


    The sharp daggers and teeth of the Gnolls kept attacking Kai.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 510 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 502 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 521 damage.]</strong>


    "Grrr?"


    "Ruff? Ruff!"


    Confused that the seemingly fragile Human was unexpectedly tough, the Gnolls retreated.


    "Hmm?"


    Kai, who had slightly opened his eyes, checked his HP.


    <i>Wh-what?</i>


    His pupils dted. Traditionally, Wizards and Clerics in all games were sses known for having the worst defense abilities! In reality, getting hit about ten times by a Red Gnoll''s dagger should have killed Kai. But perhaps thanks to Sris Armor, he still had about 40 percent of his HP left.


    <i>The damage reduction is incredible.</i>


    Moreover, Sris Armor wasn¡¯t a shield-generating skill. It was a buff skill that simply increased the target''s defense and magic resistance! This meant it could be used in conjunction with Sacred Barrier.


    <i>All these skills are ridiculously overpowered.</i>


    Just as Kai was smiling in satisfaction, the Red Gnolls leaped at him again.


    "Grrr!"


    ¡°Graah!¡±


    "Enough barking already. Holy Explosion!"


    1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A Gray Gnoll in one hit, and Red Gnolls in one hit. It was a skill worthy of being called a death blow!


    <i>I feel amazing!</i>


    It felt like wearing an item forged by the greatest cksmith to its limit. What if he wore magic or rare items in addition to this state? No, with this current job ss, wearing a full set of Unique items might not be a distant future.


    <i>Is it really possible to y solo as a Cleric?</i>


    XP! Items! Information! A solo y monopolizing all these was the dream of every gamer.


    <i>Everyone wants it, but not everyone can do it.</i>


    The reason was the artificial intelligence boasted by MID Online. The monsters weren¡¯t dumb. They were clever and intelligent. Facing them alone was like walking a tightrope every moment.


    <i>But I''m different.</i>


    He hadn''t tested the skill called the Sunlight¡¯s Warmth yet, but he didn''t need to go through the process to trust it.


    <i>This is what trust is!</i>


    It was like having food in front of him that had received a grade-1 rating from the Food and Drug Administration, an overwhelming sense of trust!


    <i>The possibility of solo y. Today''s hunt will be a test of that.</i>


    Kai''s eyes shone brighter than ever.


    ***


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Bang!</i>


    "...plosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "...sion!"


    <i>Kaboom!</i>


    Four hours had passed since Kai entered the forest. The forest looked as if it had been ravaged by an excavatorpletely scorched.


    "Phew."


    Kai sat down amidst the devastated forest and wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead. The gentle breeze caressing his face and the rustling leaves of the forest seemed to indulge his senses.


    Kai looked around and greatlymented, "This is what modern society has lost in terms of natural scenery."


    Wrong. It was simply a scene of ughter. In reality, countless polygon fragmentsy scattered on the ground. Needless to say, all were remnants of the Red Gnolls!


    Kai gazed at their remains and muttered in a sad voice, "XP is pretty tough to gain here."


    Yet, the massacre had been highly effective. In just two hours, Kai had raised his XP by 37 percent, reaching level 47.


    "Was hunting always this easy?"


    Kai, with his eyes closed, reminisced about the party hunts he had been doing until a few days ago. The faces of the dear party members he had hunted with recently came to mind.


    "Healer, heal! I need a heal! I''m going to die!"


    "Wow, this worked. Healer, faster with the shield skill!"


    "Poison! I''m poisoned! Quickly, detox!"


    "Uh oh, aggro is released. Everyone, run!"


    A tear of deep sorrow rolled down Kai''s cheek.


    <i>Noting unexpected, but being a Cleric is not an easy job.</i>


    Indeed, in MID Online, Clerics were like mothers who only took care of their party members during the entire hunt! Despite that, leveling up was extremely difficult and the reason for that was the distribution of XP based on contribution in party hunts.


    <i>The better the tank or dealer, the less there is for a Cleric to do.</i>


    To level up quickly, one had to join a good party and hunt monsters quickly and inrge numbers. However, paradoxically, if one joined a good party, there wasn''t much for a Cleric to do. Skilled tanks took little damage, and dealers quickly melted down monsters. As a result, a Cleric''s contribution was often less than others'', leading to slower leveling.


    <i>Now that I think about it, isn''t this game terrible for Clerics?</i>


    Of course, there was a reward for growing slower and struggling more than others. At level 50, the attack power of monsters significantly increased. Exaggerating a bit, for ordinary yers, hunting without a Cleric became almost impossible.


    <i>That''s the moment when Clerics go from being treated like potions to nobility.</i>


    A Cleric''s status changed depending on whether they had crossed this critical barrier, known as the devil''s threshold.


    <i>¡®That''s why the number of Cleric yers is always the lowest.¡¯</i>


    Due to this threshold unique to Clerics, the number of users who chose this ss was incredibly low. In no other game was the proportion of Clerics so low, and finding high-level Clerics became even harder as one progressed.


    <i>But once you get past that phase...</i>


    One became a high-level Cleric who was sought after in thebor market! So then what about a Sric Cleric who was iparable to ordinary Clerics?


    "No one can rece me."


    Kai was literally the one and only! As his level increased, the gap between him and other Clerics was sure to be even more pronounced.

 Chapter 9: Tomb of the Gnolls (1)

    <h4>Chapter 9: Tomb of the Gnolls (1)</h4>


    "Wow, look at the time."


    Kai was so engrossed in his first-ever solo y that he didn''t realize the sun was setting.


    <i>Solo y seems possible.</i>


    The results of his hunting were naturally positive. The hunting speed was fast, and most importantly, he could heal himself, so there was no need to return to the vige.


    Having reached a conclusion, Kai got up from his spot.


    <i>It''s about time for the monsters to get stronger. I should head back to the vige.</i>


    When the sun sets, all monsters'' abilities increased by 30 percent, but the drop rate and XP increased by 20 percent. Therefore, it wasmon sense to avoid night hunting unless one was confident in their equipment and control.


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    "Huh?"


    Kai, who was leaving the forest, witnessed a strange phenomenon. As the sun set and the moon rose, faint smoke began to emanate from the fragments of the Red Gnolls he had killed and started moving somewhere.


    <i>Smoke?</i>


    It wasn¡¯t only one ce. Smoke was escaping from every ce where a Red Gnoll had died, and they all moved to the same location.


    <i>I don''t recall hearing about such a phenomenon.</i>


    It was natural to not know. Even though <i>MID Online</i> had many yers, the starting kingdoms and viges varied. Moreover, most yers started in cities for convenience, so few started in such rural viges. Most importantly, no yer would venture this deep into the forest at night.


    <i>Does that mean I''m the first to discover this phenomenon?</i>


    Being the first to experience something in a game often tranted to benefits. With shining eyes, Kai changed his direction from the vige and began to follow the smoke.


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    <i>Fwoosh.</i>


    Following the smoke, it became clear that they were all heading to the same location. Above him, numerous smokes converged, creating a magnificent sight like a sea of smoke flowing. The smoke was sucked into a swamp located on the forest floor.


    "Hmm...?"


    Kai stopped in front of it and stared at the swamp. The bottom of the sticky-looking swamp wasn¡¯t visible, but there was definitely something there.


    <i>Should I go in? Or not?</i>


    Kai furrowed his eyebrows as he pondered.


    <i>If it''s bad luck, it''s just a trap. Otherwise, it could be a hidden quest or dungeon.</i>


    If it was a trap, he would die. But Kai thought logically.


    <i>Would the developers really go to such lengths to create a trap just to kill a few yers?</i>


    That would be unlikely. If it were a trap, it would be polite to be deceived by the effort alone!


    <i>I can''t just pass this up.</i>


    After activating Sris Armor, Kai firmly made up his mind and jumped into the swamp.


    ***


    <i>Ugh!</i>


    The moment he fell into the swamp, there was only one thought filling his mind.


    <i>Oh, I shouldn''t have entered.</i>


    The feeling of the sticky liquid drenching his body was far from pleasant. However, after two seconds, his thoughtspletely reversed.


    He started to breathe in air that should have been impossible to inhale in the swamp.


    <i>I¡¯m breathing underwater?</i>


    Just as Kai felt puzzled, he plummeted downward.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "Ouch!"


    Wincing and rubbing his hip, Kai looked up at the ceiling. The ceiling was made of smooth ck stone, with the swamp still swaying only above his head.


    "The swamp... isn''t falling down."


    As if an invisible barrier was present, the swamp stayed on the ceiling without falling.


    At the same time, a system message appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have discovered the Tomb of the Gnolls Dungeon.]</strong>


    <strong>[Item drop rate increased by 30% for 9 in-game hours.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1,250 XP]</strong>


    <strong>[+520 Fame]</strong>


    <i>A dungeon!</i>


    A smile of victory appeared on Kai''s lips. He had suspected something hidden but never expected it to be a dungeon.


    <i>Tomb of the Gnolls. What a chilling name.</i>


    Turning his head, he saw the dungeon corridor, and the smoke he had seen in the forest was crossing it.


    <i>The smoke still hasn''t disappeared.</i>


    Quickly getting up, Kai resumed chasing the smoke.


    <i>I¡¯m confident in sprinting.</i>


    After all, he ced fourth in a track event during elementary school!


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>. I''m out of breath."


    For reference, the elementary school sprint distance was only fifty meters.


    Gasping for air, Kai turned the corner at the end of the corridor. What came into view was another corridor, and on the floor, there were piles of bones.


    <i>Bones, what do they mean?</i>


    They weren''t scattered haphazardly like ordinary bones. They were neatly stacked like shirts neatly folded in a high-end department store.


    The smoke he was following turned another corner at the end of the corridor and disappeared from sight.


    "I missed it."


    But Kai shrugged nonchntly.


    <i>It seems like there''s only one path, so I''ll probably find it if I keep going.</i>


    Just as Kai was about to walk forward, a strange creaking sound came from the floor.


    <i>Hmm? Creaking?</i>


    <i>Creak!</i>


    The neatly stacked bones began to rise one by one, quickly finding their ces. Soon, they formed into the shape of a Gnoll Skeleton.


    <strong>[Gnoll Skeleton LV.51]</strong>


    "L...level 51?!"


    They were equal in level to the highest-known Red Gnoll Chief in the area!


    Startled, Kai quickly cast his skills.


    "Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Sacred Barrier..."


    Hepleted all the skills in sequence. Simultaneously, the assembled Gnoll Skeletons, wielding bone daggers, rushed toward him.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A beam of light filled the straight corridor! The Gnoll Skeletons struck by the beam shattered effortlessly like toys.


    "How dare you mere skeletons dare to attack a Cleric. You have quite the guts. Oh, right, they have no guts because they''re just bones."


    Kai chuckled at his own joke, appearing rxed. That was because a Cleric''s Holy Power inflicted 1.5 times more damage to undeads and demonic monsters. Even a healing spell for allies became a deadly attack against them!


    <i>In other words, I have a significant advantage in this matchup.</i>


    Kai''s XP stretched out like a bean sprout, bringing a smile to his face.


    "This is a perfect leveling spot. Hunting here will definitely be enjoyable."


    These past few days, he almost felt as if the world revolved around him. It was like receiving a lump sum reward for his twenty-two years of hardship through umted mileage!


    "Plus, the impact feels much better than with the Red Gnolls," Kai murmured as he clenched and unclenched his fist.


    He felt a thrilling pleasure watching the bones shatter into pieces in the air!


    "First, let¡¯s see what kind of loot I have."


    Kai began picking up the trophy.


    <strong>[<u>Gnoll Skeleton Bone</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic.</strong>


    <strong>The bone of a Gnoll Skeleton. A rare material that can only be found in ces filled with resentful Gnoll spirits.</strong>


    "What? This useless item is a Magic-grade?"


    In other words, there was a high chance of crafting at least a Magic-grade item with this material.


    "Magic-grade items have been decent in pricetely."


    Although cheaper than rare items, Magic-grade items were traded for around 300,000 to 400,000 won.


    "So, all of this is money."


    Having collected all the loot trophies, Kai looked at his filled inventory andughed cheerfully.


    <i>Just looking at it feels satisfying. Shall we proceed?</i>


    The dungeon''s start wasn''t bad. Moreover, the first discovery bonus still had 9 days left. How many more rewards could he gather in that time?


    Kai walked out of the corridor, his mind filled with pleasant thoughts.


    ***


    "Hmm..."


    The dungeon exploration was going smoothly. However, as he continued down the endless corridors, the number of Gnoll Skeletons increased, and their levels rose. Finally, the moment he feared happened.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The Holy Explosion cast from Kai''s fingertips emitted bright light, whitening the corridor. However, when the dust cloud settled, not a single Gnoll Skeleton was destroyed. Instead, they all approached Kai with red glowing eyes between their skulls.


    <i>Damn it...</i>


    It was because their levels were as high as 55.


    "Holy..."


    The two seconds of casting time felt as long as two minutes.


    <i>Was two seconds always this long?</i>


    As that thought crossed his mind, dozens of daggers rushed toward him.


    "Ex... Ugh!"


    <strong>[Casting interrupted.]</strong>


    Kai immediately leaped backward. Then after checking his health, his face turned ashen.


    <i>Only 40% Stamina left? I even have Sris Armor and Sacred Barrier on...!</i>


    Indeed, they were level 55 monsters! They were not to be underestimated.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    <i>Creak!</i>


    Dozens of Gnoll Skeletons slowly approached as their jawbones clicked. It felt like watching a scene from a horror movie!


    Terrified, Kai quickly used a skill.


    "Sunlight''s Warmth! Sunlight''s Warmth!"


    He felt as peaceful as napping in a sunny spot on azy afternoon. Of course, his Stamina steadily increased as well.


    <i>As expected, the effect is great. Just using it twice increases my Stamina by over 60%.</i>


    Meanwhile, the group of Gnoll Skeletons continued to advance.


    Kai rolled up his sleeves. "Alright. Let''s see who quits first. Holy Explo..."


    <strong>[Casting Interrupted.]</strong>


    "Holy Ex..."


    <strong>[Casting Interrupted.]</strong>


    "Hol..."


    <strong>[Casting Interrupted.]</strong>


    The monsters in <i>MID Online</i> were cunning. Their excellent learning ability never allowed Kai toplete his Holy Explosion. They knew from experience that being hit by Holy Explosion was very painful.


    "D-dang it!"


    The Gnoll Skeletons eventually knocked Kai over and surrounded him in a circle. They continuously beat him.


    "W-wait! You¡¯re hitting my bone..."


    Despite his plea of being hit on the bone, the merciless group continued their beating without stopping! Kai, curled up like a caterpir, was relentlessly beaten.


    Amidst this, he instinctively protected his head with both hands to minimize damage and chanted, "Sunlight''s Warmth! Sunlight''s Warmth! Sunlight''s Warmth!"


    <strong>[HP has dropped below 10%.]</strong>


    <strong>[HP restored.]</strong>


    <strong>[HP has dropped below 10%.]</strong>


    <strong>[HP restored.]</strong>


    His HP rapidly decreased and then increased, as if stuck in a bug!


    <i>I might actually die at this rate!</i>


    His Holy Power he quickly nced at had already dropped to 30%. He couldn''t survive by healing forever. Kai''s mind snapped to attention, and he began looking for a weakness in their attacking.


    "Huh...?"


    After a moment, Kai''s eyes narrowed as he discovered something.

 Chapter 10: Tomb of the Gnolls (2)

    <h4>Chapter 10: Tomb of the Gnolls (2)</h4>


    Kai looked at the health bar floating above the Gnoll Skeletons'' heads.


    <i>They¡¯re healing? How is that possible?</i>


    He had used Holy Explosion right at the beginning of their encounter, significantly reducing their health. But now, their health was almost fully recovered! Moreover, their health was still rapidly regenerating.


    <i>There¡¯s something more to these guys.</i>


    They weren¡¯t just high-level monsters.


    Kai, who had been beaten like a dog, quickly realized the severity of the situation and checked their information.


    <strong>[Gnoll Skeleton LV.55]</strong>


    <strong>[Status: Recovering HP.]</strong>


    <strong>[These creatures have received a blessing from the dungeon¡¯s boss, the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. Increased effectiveness of recovery skill significantly increased rate of healing.]</strong>


    <i>They¡¯re being healed by the Undead Gnoll Chieftain?</i>


    This was the hidden secret! Kai''s eyes sparkled, and the next moment, he used the Sacred re skill.


    <i>sh!</i>


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    Taking advantage of the Gnoll Skeletons'' weakened attacks due to the blinding brightness, Kai narrowly escaped their encirclement.


    <i>Using Holy Explosion to defeat them isn¡¯t enough.</i>


    Those crafty and despicable bones would never wait for his skill to be cast.


    <i>Then I need to use a skill with no casting time...</i>


    Currently, Kai had two skills without casting time. One was Heal he learned during his Cleric days, and the other was Sunlight''s Warmth.


    "Neither of them is an attack skill," Kai clicked his tongue lightly and then blinked several times.


    <i>Wait a minute, why am I looking for an attack skill?</i>


    For Undead and demonic monsters, a Cleric''s Holy Power itself was practically an attack. In fact, high-level Clerics often enjoyed hunting Skeletons using Heal skills in cemeteries or ruins.


    <i>I''ve forgotten itpletely, always being in a support role.</i>


    Moreover, the Gnoll Skeletons were currently under an enhanced effect of healing skills.


    Kai''s lips slowly curled into a smile. Sensing the ominous aura in his smile, the Gnoll Skeletons hesitantly stepped back.


    "Where are you going? Busy?"


    Kai, with his hands full of bright white Holy Power, gestured toward them.


    "Come here for a moment."


    ***


    <i>MID Online</i> had a variety of monsters. Among them, undead monsters were known for being tricky to handle due to their high health rtive to their level. These tenacious creatures would rise again and again if not properly taken down!


    Fortunately, there existed an energy that was inherently opposed to them, and that was Holy Power. Even simple healing skills were attacks against them, which was why Pdins and Clerics were highly sought after in undead hunting parties.


    <i>Of course, the damage from healing skills isn''t as strong as that of attack skills.</i>


    However, most Heal skills had no casting time and very short cooldowns. This was the result of continuous buffs by Pegasus Co., as Clerics were a challenging ss to level up and not many yers chose to y them.


    <i>Plus, there''s the advantage of attacking and healing at the same time.</i>


    "Sunlight''s Warmth!"


    Kai''s hand was enveloped in a golden glow. This hand was originally meant to heal allies, but Kai clenched his fist and pounded the Gnoll Skeletons. At the same time, their health began to rapidly decrease.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The target''s healing skill effect is greatly enhanced. You inflicted 757 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[The target''s healing skill effect is greatly enhanced. You inflicted 704 damage.]</strong>


    It was certain that neither the Undead Gnoll Chieftain nor the developers had anticipated such a scenario.


    <i>Faster, before my Holy Power runs out.</i>


    Kai moved through the Skeletons that beat him, like a real Envoy of God.


    "You, I remember the shape of your skull. You''re the one who hit my ribs, right?"


    The Gnoll Skeleton shook its head.


    "No use denying it."


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    Each time Kai swung his fist emitting Heal, a Gnoll Skeleton shattered. It was the simplest yet most efficient attack!


    "Phew."


    Kai looked around the aftermath of the quick battle and started picking up the bones.


    <strong>[You have acquired 3 Gnoll Skeleton Bone.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired 1 Gnoll Skeleton Bone.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired 2 Gnoll Skeleton Bones.]</strong>


    Magic ranked crafting materials neatly piled up in his inventory.


    <i>This feels nice.</i>


    It was a different feeling from wiping out enemies with Holy Explosion. He enjoyed the exhrating pleasure felt through his fingertips in real-time!


    <i>XP is substantial too. I might even ovee the dreaded level range here.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, yers could learn new skills at the ss Tower every 10 levels. Especially, level 50 was a turning point in the game. It was the level where the difficulty of monsters noticeably increased.


    "Let''s hit level 50 here, then go to the vige to learn new skills."


    Kai was already looking forward to the skills he would learn as a Sris Cleric.


    ***


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    Kai immediately opened his stat window to distribute the points.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 51</strong>


    <strong>Title: Representative of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 10,900</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 19,400</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 39 Stamina: 109</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 39 Agility: 39</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 194 Benevolence: 18</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 25</strong>


    "That was an easy passage through the dreaded level range."


    Level 50 was the brutal level often termed as hell by other Clerics! Kai smiled broadly, having easily surpassed that challenging level.


    <i>Now, let me think.</i>


    Kai, true to his intellectual nature, began to ponder, <i>How should I distribute my stats from now on?</i>


    Until now, he had been allocating points to Stamina and Holiness, the standard for a Cleric, with each level up. But now, the situation had changed.


    <i>I''m no longer a typical Cleric.</i>


    A Sric Cleric was a ss capable of solo y. Naturally, he felt the need to allocate his stats differently than before.


    <i>Since I''m going solo, I might need to invest in Agility at some point.</i>


    In<i> MID Online</i>, increasing Agility didn¡¯t increase attack speed but rather enhanced one''s reflexes. In other words, increasing Agility meant an increase in evasion rate, uracy rate, and critical hit probability.


    <i>Let''s keep all possibilities open for now... and think about it a bit more.</i>


    Kai decided to postpone his decision as he wasn¡¯t yet certain about which stats to invest in.


    <i>After all, stat points don''t disappear just by saving them.</i>


    He would have used them if he felt there was a skill that needed to be leveled up, but since that wasn''t the case, it was a reasonable decision to hold off.


    "Then, I''ll keep the stats saved for now... ugh, I feel a bit sluggish."


    Kai had demonstrated what it meant to be a gaming addict by only sleeping 3 hours at a time since entering the Dungeon.


    <i>But thanks to that, I was able to level up this much.</i>


    Despite his body being in a terrible state due to umted fatigue, he had no regrets.


    <i>But now, the hard work ising to an end.</i>


    There were only 3 hours left of the first discovery buff of the dungeon. What he needed to do in the remaining time was to defeat the boss, also known as the purpose of the dungeon''s existence.


    <i>Phew, this is a bit nerve-wracking.</i>


    Kai had only experienced casual Instance Dungeons, and not real dungeons. Unlike the Tomb of the Gnolls and other dungeons that were hidden which were called dungeons, Induns were always open to yers, making them essible to anyone.


    <i>I never thought I''d be soloing a real dungeon.</i>


    He felt a sense of aplishment and felt proud.


    Kai slightly turned and looked back at the corridor he had traveled through.


    <i>I''ll have to use a Return Scroll when I go back to the vige.</i>


    There was only one path in the Tomb of the Gnolls. However, it was so long that it took three days just to reach the boss room.


    The Return Scroll was an expensive item costing 30 silver, but he couldn''t gather the courage to walk back.


    <i>Well, let''s see the face of the house owner, shall we.</i>


    Kai buffed himself up and touched the stone door.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Warning: Entering the boss room will disable logout and return until the battle is over. Would you still like to proceed?]</strong>


    "Of course."


    <i>Screee.</i>


    The old stone door slowly opened with a sound like nails on a chalkboard.


    Kai walked into the room without hesitation.


    "Hmm."


    Inside was a massive square room. Fourrge pirs supported the ceiling, and at the end of the room, there was a chair made of bones.


    "...A skull?"


    Kai looked at the Gnoll skull on the chair and started casting a spell. Although he had seen Gnoll skulls before, this one was easily three timesrger than any he had seen.


    <i>That big head must be the Undead Gnoll Chieftain.</i>


    Kai quietly began using his skills.


    <i>Trrrrr.</i>


    The inside of the boss room slightly vibrated. At the same time, red glows shed from the eye sockets of the skull.


    <strong>[Boss monster, Undead Gnoll Chieftain has...]</strong>


    "Holy Explosion!"


    Kaiunched a preemptive attack even before the enemypleted its transformation, and that wasn¡¯t the end.


    <strong>[Woken up from a...]</strong>


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <strong>[...deep sleep.]</strong>


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i>


    White beams of light continuously struck the skull of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. The Chieftain''s health quickly dropped by half.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The skull, as if angered, moved its jawbone and then slowly rose into the air. As it did so, the bone chair supporting it disassembled and formed the creature''s body.


    <i>It¡¯s big.</i>


    Transformed into a formidable being over two meters tall, it red at Kai with a fiery glow in its eyes.


    Kai immediately looked at the information floating above its head.


    <strong>[Undead Gnoll Chieftain LV.58]</strong>


    It was a level 58 boss monster! Normally, it would require a party of at least four adventurers, each above level 55, to take on such a creature.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The creature aggressively gnashed its jawbones and raised the staff it was firmly holding in its right hand. Simultaneously, wisps of smoke rose from the floor of the room.


    "What''s that smoke?"


    It was the same smoke that Kai had chased after for three days but could never catch.


    <strong>[The Undead Gnoll Chieftain is summoning the souls of Gnolls.]</strong>


    <strong>[Gnoll Skeletons being summoned.]</strong>


    "This is..."


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The Undead Gnoll Chieftain forcefully mmed its staff onto the floor. In sync with the sound, the smokes began to take on the shapes of Gnoll Skeletons one by one.


    "Even on the brink of death, dungeon bosses do this, huh," Kai murmured with a hollowugh, while the Undead Gnoll Chieftain looked down at him as if it were a king.


    <i>Pass through my minions and ascend the stairs to face me!</i>


    It seemed as though the creature was shouting that, although unlikely. Its fiery glows were that intense.


    Silence descended in the room.


    "...."


    "...."


    The silence, which felt like it wouldst forever, was broken by a single drop of water from the ceiling.


    <i>Drip!</i>


    The drop of water hitting the floor acted as a signal re. Thirty Gnoll Skeletons all at once surged toward Kai.


    <i>Alright, bring it on.</i>


    Kai''s hands, ready to face them, were soaked in golden light.

 Chapter 11: Tomb of the Gnolls (3)

    <h4>Chapter 11: Tomb of the Gnolls (3)</h4>


    <i>Crunch! Crunch!</i>


    Kai destroyed the Gnoll Skeletons one by one, recalling what he had learned over the past three days.


    Although the Gnoll Skeletons surrounded Kai from all sides and attacked, they were unable to inflict critical damage on him since he could Heal and attack simultaneously.


    <strong>[...?]</strong>


    The Undead Gnoll Chieftain was visibly taken aback as its henchmen shattered like toys!


    Watching this, Kai made a triumphant smile. "It would be disappointing to think I only leveled up in thest three days."


    <strong><u>[Sunlight''s Warmth LV.2]</u></strong>


    <strong>Restore HP and remove any negative status effects.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 57/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sris Blessing LV.2]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases physical and magical attack power. Also increases holy damage.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 19/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sris Armor LV.2]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases physical and magical defense</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 24/100</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Holy Explosion LV.2</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Emits a holy st of light from God, sweeping away enemies.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 5/100</strong>


    Indeed, in the past three days, Kai had gained more than just XP and loot. The levels of the skills exclusive to a Sris Cleric were all beginner level 1, so they increased rapidly!


    <i>Based on my experience, I can level them all up to level 5 by the end of this month.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, skills had rankings. Skills learned by those with regr sses were usually of the normal ranking. However, Kai, being a Sris Cleric, naturally had skills of the Mythic rank. It wasmon knowledge that higher-ranked skills grew significantly stronger with each level!


    "Sunlight''s Warmth Punch!"


    <i>Crumble!</i>


    Gnolls that previously took three hits to kill now shattered in one hit if a critical status appeared. The level of the Sris Blessing skill also rose, creating a powerful synergistic effect.


    <i>Now I understand why rankers stake their lives on skill and item grades.</i>


    The difference was clear when he used them himself. Heal and Sunlight''s Warmth were both used for healing and Ray of Light and Holy Explosion were both used for attacking the enemy. Though they had the same effect, the level of impact was vastly different.


    "Phew..."


    When he defeated more than ten Gnoll Skeletons, Kai realized something.


    <i>There''s no one here now who can withstand my attacks.</i>


    It wasn''t arrogance. The Sris Blessing had strengthened his attack power, increased all stats, and induced 1.5 times additional damage to his Holy Power.


    <i>Of course, if this was all, I would have struggled.</i>


    Luckily, the Gnoll Skeletons were in a state that was very receptive to healing skills. In other words, in this dungeon, Kai had absolute power!


    <i>I never thought I, who always supported others from behind, would make a 30-to-1 legend!</i>


    He didn''t say it out loud, but Kai had been envious of the shy dealers and tanks who fought monsters directly. It was definitely not because the women who asionally joined the party only paid attention to them. He was truly being honest.


    ...Truly being honest. He emphasized it twice because it was important.


    "Sunlight''s Warmth, Sunlight''s Warmth, Sunlight''s Warmth!"


    In an instant, dozens of Gnoll Skeletons in the boss room piled up on the floor like broken Lego pieces.


    "You''re the only one left."


    <i>Click, click...</i>


    The Undead Gnoll Chieftain, with a sly and cruel sneer, red at the approaching human.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    As the creature rattled its jawbone and swung its staff, smoke began to rise once again.


    <strong>[The Undead Gnoll Chieftain summons its henchmen.]</strong>


    "Again?" Kai disyed an openly annoyed expression.


    This time, about fifty of them were summoned.


    "Even so, they won¡¯t be able to do anything to me anyway..."


    The number of Gnoll Skeletons that appeared only meant a difference in the time it took to clear them. Kai didn''t have the slightest thought of losing.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    Kai walked slowly toward the approaching bones who were rattling their jawbones.


    "Die, die, die!"


    <i>Crack! Crumble!</i>


    <strong>[+3,820 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have obtained 2 Gnoll Skeleton Bones.]</strong>


    <strong>[+3,758 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have obtained 3 Gnoll Skeleton Bones.]</strong>


    Rapid hunting in the dungeon with the first discovery buff! The XP window began to rapidly fill up like sprouting bean sprouts.


    <i>Crumble!</i>


    "Well..." Kai looked at the XP bar, which stopped just before reaching level 52, and smacked his lips in disappointment. "Just a little more and I would have leveled up, what a pity...."


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    <strong>[The Undead Gnoll Chieftain summons its henchmen.]</strong>


    "......"


    This time, a whopping one hundred were summoned! Kai''s eyes began to roll in disbelief.


    <i>Wait a minute, could it be...?</i>


    Kai''s head slowly turned toward the Undead Gnoll Chieftain.


    "Infinite Summon Pattern!?"


    This referred to bosses that used a pattern to endlessly summon their henchmen. The only way to defeat such creatures was to pour massive firepower in the beginning. Of course, that was in typical cases!


    <i>In my case, there''s no need to defeat the boss first, right?</i>


    Kai had only killed about 150 Gnoll Skeletons after going around the entire dungeon over thest three days. But here, in just an hour, more than 150 Gnoll Skeletons appeared. Realizing this, Kai regretted noting here sooner.


    <i>Ah, I should have entered earlier!</i>


    Who would have known the boss had such a pattern? What if Kai had hunted in the boss room for the past three days?


    "Ugh, how much XP and loot have I lost."


    He felt unjustly deprived of deserved rewards, causing resentment to rise. Resentment turned into sadness, and sadness soon became anger.


    "Shining Punch of Fury!"


    Though the name was impressive, it was just a simple punch. But the effect was exceptional. Every time Kai''s fist struck a skull, they shattered.


    [....]


    <i>Click, click, click...</i>


    The Undead Gnoll Chieftain, witnessing its henchmen being destroyed by the malicious human, sadly rattled its jawbone.


    ***


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    Kai''s eyes sparkled like a child hoping for a Christmas present, filled with innocence!


    However, the Undead Gnoll Chieftain, facing those eyes, shook its head with a bitter expression. It was as if saying, ''No more. I won''t summon anymore. Go back.''


    "What, you can¡¯t resurrect anymore?"


    Kai scratched the back of his head. After all, the developers weren''t fools. They probably didn''t think a party could withstand the summoning of as many as 300 Gnoll Skeletons.


    <i>That¡¯s unfortunate.</i>


    But Kai had a conscience. He calmly epted reality and approached the Undead gnoll Chieftain.


    "So, you''re the only one left."


    <i>Click, click...</i>


    The red glow in the creature''s eyes, which had been burning brightly at its first appearance, was now faint like a candle. The glow seemed to express a feeling of bitterness, like that of an elderly person who had lived alone for a long time.


    "It''s unfortunate, but it can''t be helped. Don''t meet someone like me after you regenerate."


    Holy Explosion followed! The beam, now more powerful after leveling up, poured down on the Undead Gnoll Chieftain.


    The creature, looking at the approaching beam of light, slowly extinguished its inner glow. In its mind, its monster life shed before its eyes. The day it first opened its eyes, a reckless adventurer boldly entered its room. It was purely happy. It thought it could finally do something. However, that reckless adventurer beat its henchmen, again and again, and again. And now, a white beam of light was flying towards it.


    <strong>[...!?]</strong>


    This sh of life was too short!


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The Undead Gnoll Chieftain, btedly reignited its inner glow in protest, but it was toote. The Holy Explosion had already been fired!


    <i>Boom!</i>


    <strong>[You have defeated the boss monster ¨C Undead Gnoll Chieftain.]</strong>


    <strong>[+20,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    "Phew... It was a really good one."


    Kai obtained a tremendous amount of XP, items, and even skill levels! How could he not be grateful to the creature that generously gave him so many rewards?


    Kai began to check one by one what he had acquired in the now quiet boss room.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 54</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 10,900</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 19,400</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 39 Stamina: 109</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 39 Agility: 39</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 194 Benevolence: 18</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 40</strong>


    <i>When I first entered the dungeon... I was definitely level 47, right?</i>


    He had gained a whopping 7 levels during three days of hunting in the dungeon. The Gnoll Skeletons'' XP were bountiful, making such an achievement possible.


    Moreover, the hunting in the boss room, which could be called a bug y, added to this, so Kai would have called thepany toin if he hadn''t reached this level.


    <i>Well, it was a method only I could have used in the world.</i>


    As far as Kai knew, no ss could handle hundreds of Gnoll Skeletons simultaneously at a level below 50. Of course, most sses could do it at a higher level. In fact, Clerics at level 80 could easily do what Kai had done.


    "But they wouldn''t have a reason to do that."


    Why would such high-level yers bother doing such things in a ce like this?


    Kai checked his skill window.


    "Hmm, the Sunlight''s Warmth skill is already level 3. It¡¯s the highest one."


    This was inevitable since he used it the most.


    On the other hand, the proficiency of Holy Explosion, which he couldn''t use often in the boss room, was the lowest at level 2.


    <i>Well, I have to level them all up eventually, so it doesn''t matter, does it?</i>


    Now that he was over level 50, he could learn new skills at the temple.


    Kai opened his inventory, imagining what new skills he would learn.


    "Whoa. Did I gather this much?"


    His inventory was filled with a considerable amount of material items.


    <strong>[842 Gnoll Skeleton Bones]</strong>


    "Hmm..."


    Whether he could make a set item with these bones could only be confirmed by visiting the cksmith in the vige.


    Kai then approached the treasure chest that appeared in the center of the room.


    "Now, shall we check the main course?"


    Rubbing his hands together and imagining what could be inside, Kai opened the chest.


    <strong>[Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[50 Shining Undead Gnoll Chieftain Bones acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 gold.]</strong>


    "Hmm. This is ambiguous."


    Kai tilted his head and first took out the staff that was glowing purple in his inventory. It was a staff about one meter long with a small Gnoll skull model attached.


    "Item information."


    <strong>[<u>Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power: 67~74</strong>


    <strong>+10 Intelligence</strong>


    <strong>+3 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>Special Effects: Casting time reduced by 1 second. Grants wielder the ability to summon Gnoll Skeletons (LV. 50 max, 10 summons,sts for 10 minutes, cooldown 30 minutes)</strong>


    <strong>A staff with the ability to raise Gnoll Skeletons from the dead. This ancient staff is falling apart due to the effects of time.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50+</strong>


    <strong>Durability 45/65</strong>


    "Hmm..."


    Kai furrowed his brow.


    <i>Is it good?</i>


    Without any knowledge about staffs, it was hard to tell if it was good or bad. But one thing was certain.


    <i>It''s a rare item.</i>


    In a market where even magic items traded for hundreds of thousands of won, a rare item was significant! It was certain to be worth over 1.5 million won at least.


    <i>Plus, staffs are the main weapons for Wizards.</i>


    Wizards were hard to train, just like Clerics. However, due to their powerful spells and shy effects, they were the second most popr ss to train after warriors.


    In other words, it was a highly sble item!


    <i>But summoning Gnoll Skeletons, what''s that about?</i>


    As the saying went, strike while the iron is hot. Kai immediately held the staff in his left hand.


    "Summon Gnoll Skeletons!"


    <i>Pwoof!</i>


    <i>tter!</i>


    Suddenly, a disc appeared out of thin air and began to spin furiously.

 Chapter 12: Frica’s Cleric (1)

    <h4>Chapter 12: Frica¡¯s Cleric (1)</h4>


    <i>Tick, tick, tick...tick!</i>


    The spinning of the disc gradually slowed down and eventually stopped. The number pointed to by the arrow on top of the disc was seven!


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[7 Gnoll Skeletons are summoned.]</strong>


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    Fog flowed out from the ground, and soon seven gnoll skeletons materialized.


    <i>Enemy?</i>


    Kai, startled, readied himself for battle, but the text [Gnoll Skeleton LV.50] floating above their heads was green, not red.


    <i>Monsters, but on my side?</i>


    In fact, the skeletons just stared at him nkly without showing any intention to attack.


    "Fully treated as summoned creatures. Can I also give themmands?" Kai immediately tried a simplemand. "Sit!"


    <i>Plop!</i>


    The gnoll skeletons promptly sat down.


    "Dance!"


    <i>Boom, bop! Boom, bop!</i>


    "Headbutt!"


    <i>Thud! Thud!</i>


    The gnoll skeletons followed everymand of the summoner! They seemed cute as they listened well like well-trained puppies.


    <i>Hmm. Then what about...XP?</i>


    Kai immediately used Sunlight''s Warmth on one of them.


    <strong>[Summon healed. Current health: 100%]</strong>


    "As I thought, it doesn''t work."


    They were indeed treated as allies. Therefore, they wouldn''t yield XP as they weren¡¯t recognized as enemies.


    "That''s disappointing...."


    As Kai smacked his lips, the gnoll skeletons shivered, rattling their bones in fear.


    <i>Let''s check the other items.</i>


    Kai shifted his attention to another item.


    <strong><u>[Shining Undead Gnoll Chieftain Bone]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>Description: A rare crafting material obtained by defeating the Undead Gnoll Chieftain.</strong>


    "This is a Magic-grade item too."


    There was no need to be disappointed because it wasn''t a rare item. Most material items were of normal grade. In fact, the materials from this dungeon were abnormally high quality.


    "Fifteen gold was obtained. So, 1.5 million won!" Kai grinned broadly.


    <i>This is the real charm of solo y.</i>


    Typically, a party consisted of four yers. This was proven to be the most efficient way to split XP and rewards through various experiments.


    <i>If four people share fifteen gold...</i>


    Split evenly, it would only amount to three gold and seventy-five silver each. That wasn¡¯t bad, but it was little inparison to hogging the rewards all to oneself, especially since about half of four gold would be spent on repairing equipment and buying potions.


    <i>Solo y is definitely the way to go. This is the answer.</i>


    If one didn''t have the capability, it might be a different story, but if capable of solo y, there was no need to rely on party hunting.


    <i>Creeaak!</i>


    Just as Kai was about to use a Return Scroll, one of the gnoll skeletons grabbed his sleeve. It was the first time one of them acted on its own without amand.


    "Huh? What?" As Kai tilted his head in confusion, the skeleton pointed to one side with its bony finger. "Huh?"


    What was located there were the stairs where the Undead Gnoll Chieftain had been.


    "You want me to go there?"


    The gnoll skeleton nodded.


    With a reluctant expression, Kai headed up the stairs.


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    As he reached the top of the stairs, the wall in front copsed, revealing a hidden passage. Passing through the dark corridor, the light from the stars densely packed in the night sky and therge moon shone on him.


    "Wait, this is...."


    Kai immediately opened his minimap.


    <strong>[Red Gnoll Forest]</strong>


    "Ha, hahaha!"


    Kai turned his head to look at the dungeon entrance, the swamp. The passage connected from the boss room was only about two meters away from the dungeon''s entrance.


    <i>Now I see.</i>


    Kai''s eyes lit up. He had thought the way back would be impossibly long. That''s why he had given up on walking back and decided to use the Return Scroll. But that thought was a mistaken thought.


    <i>I¡¯m ying a game. And in games, anything can happen and it''s not strange.</i>


    Jumping to conclusions and giving up without even trying was a fatal w that limited a yer''s thinking. If Kai had been a bit more experienced, he would have carefully examined the cleared boss room.


    <i>I didn''t know until now.</i>


    That was because he had always been a Cleric who just followed others, a passive yer. But now, he needed to change.


    <i>I can learn what I don''t know. Just like now.</i>


    Kai was confident in his effort, if nothing else. He felt the sense of achievement of learning something new rather than the shame of not knowing something.


    "Thanks." Kai stroked the gnoll skeleton''s skull.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The creature rattled its jawbone happily, then vanished like smoke as if its summoning time ended.


    ***


    "Ugh, I''m hungry...."


    The moment Han Jung-Woo stepped out of his room to satisfy his hunger, a gentle voice tickled his ears. It was the voice of his mother, Mrs. Kim Hyun-Jung.


    "Jung-Woo, my dear son, you didn¡¯t see me?"


    "Huh? I really can see you. Why can I see you?"


    Han Jung-Woo turned his head to look outside the window. The sun was up. Normally at this time, she should be at work, busy with her job.


    "Did you get fired from your job by any chance?" Han Jung-Woo asked.


    "Hahaha. You¡¯re funny. Your mom''s the boss, you know."


    "I know. Was just joking around."


    "Silly jokes. Today''s Sunday."


    "Is it already?" Han Jung-Woo scratched the side of his head.


    It was no surprise he lost track of dates since he spent all day gaming.


    "First, go take a shower. You smell."


    "Alright. What about noona and dad?"


    "I sent your sister to the market, and I sent your dad to do the recycling."


    "......"


    Although it had been a while since hest saw his mother, she was still charismatic. She was the true power behind the scenes...no, rather the outright power in the house!


    As soon as Han Jung-Woo, who had hastily retreated, finished showering and came out, his mother asked in a gentle voice, "What are you doing next Sunday?"


    At his mother''s question, Han Jung-Woo shrugged. "Well, the same as usual, gaming...."


    He stopped mid-sentence, because his mother''s gaze had turned as cold as a blizzard in the tundra.


    <i>What''s wrong? What did I miss?</i>


    Han Jung-Woo turned his head to look at the calendar.


    <i>Next Sunday is...</i>


    The date looked familiar.


    "Oh!"


    Realizing something, Han Jung-Woo quickly continued, "Of course, I¡¯ll have to celebrate your birthday."


    "...So you do remember."


    "Aye, of course."


    Han Jung-Woo, having narrowly averted a crisis, his back drenched in cold sweat.


    "We''re having a family dinner that day, so keep your schedule free."


    "Okay, and look forward to your gift."


    Although he had just started earning, by next Sunday, he felt he could afford a birthday gift.


    <i>Solo y earnings are iparable to my Cleric days.</i>


    At Han Jung-Woo''s words, his mother tilted her head. "It''s been a long time since I stopped giving you allowance. Where do you have money from? Did your dad give you some pocket money?"


    "No, it''s not that."


    As Han Jung-Woo shook his head, his mother smiled softly.


    "Don''t strain yourself over money you don¡¯t have."


    "...It''s not a strain."


    Han Jung-Woo was about to retort but then stopped.


    <i>To see is to believe.</i>


    Rather than saying a hundred things now, giving a wonderful gift next week would look much cooler.


    "I''ll keep that day free," Han Jung-Woo answered with a subtle smile.


    ***


    <strong>[You have logged into the game.]</strong>


    "Now, let''s start dealing with the backlog."


    Kai, who had appeared in the central square of Frica Vige, immediately got up from his spot. He nned to sell the loot he had obtained from the Tomb of the Gnolls to gather money for his mother''s birthday gift.


    <i>Well, if they don''t sell, I can use the gold I have.</i>


    Currently, Kai had about seventeen gold, including the dungeon clearance rewards.


    With the wealth he had gained from just one dungeon run, his steps were leisurely.


    <i>This is why one needs a full wallet.</i>


    With his back and shoulders straightened unnecessarily, he headed toward the cksmith on the outskirts of the vige.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i>


    It was still early morning, so there were no other yers around the cksmith.


    <i>Lucky me.</i>


    Considering the usual bustle around weapon shops, general stores, and cksmiths, requiring a long wait, today was a lucky day.


    As Kai knocked on the cksmith''s door, the sound of hammering stopped.


    "Come in!"


    Hearing the robust voice from inside, Kai opened the door and stepped in. Entering felt like walking into a sauna, with intense heat covering his face.


    "What do you need?"


    Maxim, the cksmith NPC of Frica Vige, was a muscr old man in his 60s with a distinctive white beard braided in two.


    "Do you have any items that can be made with these materials?" Kai immediately took out the Gnoll Skeleton Bones from his inventory.


    "Hmm? Bones, I see..." Maxim tapped the bones, felt their surfaces, and inspected them thoroughly. After fiddling with the bones for a while, he turned his head, "These bones are of superior quality. They have a high mana conductivity, and their ck color, which doesn''t reflect light, makes them advantageous for concealing in the night."


    "Oh, then can you make a set item with them?"


    "How many bones do you have?"


    Kai took out all the bones from his inventory and handed them to Maxim.


    After counting the bones, Maxim nodded, "With this amount, I can make a set from helmet to shoes."


    <i>A set item of Magic-grade!</i>


    Magic-grade set items were worth a lot. Each part was inferior to rare items in performance, but thebined effect when all parts were collected was excellent. They also had the advantage of being cheaper than covering oneself in rare items.


    "What about this?" Kai handed over the Shining Undead Gnoll Chieftain Bone.


    Maxim inspected it and nodded again, "Better material than thest, but there''s not enough to make a set...though a weapon could be made."


    "A weapon, you say."


    It was about time to change his weapon. The Cleric mace he currently used had a level limit of 38 and was of normal grade, so he rarely used it and only carried it around.


    "Would you be able to make a mace?"


    "Of course."


    "Then I''d like to request that."


    "Alright. Come back in a week. The crafting fee is five gold and requires prepayment."


    "Hm."


    He was providing the materials himself and still had to pay that much!


    <i>Although using the cksmith is free after I defeat the wyrm lizard...</i>


    He wasn''t confident in taking down the level 65 field monster with his current equipment.


    <i>It can''t be helped.</i>


    Kai handed over five gold. "Thank you in advance."


    After leaving the cksmith, Kai headed straight to the Frica branch of the Church of Sris. There was one reason for heading there.


    <i>Now, let''s learn some skills.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, one could learn skills at the ss Tower every 10 levels.


    Especially for a Cleric who had crossed the so-called devil¡¯s threshold of level 50, the rewards were exceptionally sweet. It was now time to taste how sweet that fruit was.

 Chapter 13: Frica’s Cleric (2)

    <h4>Chapter 13: Frica¡¯s Cleric (2)</h4>


    Kai headed straight for the temple of the Church of Sris.


    "Wee, brother."


    "Cleric, I am ready to gain new strength."


    "Hmm. Let''s see...," Cleric Ray observed Kai''s body and then smiled. "You have indeed be stronger. Please choose which lesson you wish to learn from among these."


    Kai closely examined the interface window that appeared before him.


    <strong><u>[Bless]</u></strong>


    <strong>Bless allies to temporarily increase all stats.</strong>


    <strong>The amount increased depends on skill level.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Holy Enchantment]</u></strong>


    <strong>Imbues ally weapons with holy power. Weapons with holy power inflict additional damage with each attack, and double the additional damage to demons and undead.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Resurrection]</u></strong>


    <strong>Revive one ally. The amount of HP restored upon revival increases with the skill level.</strong>


    <strong>*Cannot be used on NPCs.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Healing Wave]</u></strong>


    <strong>Connects multiple allies with a ring of holy power to heal them simultaneously. The amount healed increases with the skill level.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Mass Bless]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grants a blessing to multiple allies, increasing all stats for a certain period. The increase in all stats depends on the skill level.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Spring of Restoration]</u></strong>


    <strong>Installs a holy well that heals ally health and stamina.</strong>


    <strong>Can inflict damage on nearby undead or demonic monsters.</strong>


    "Wow...!"


    They were skills as sweet as honey, only given to Clerics who had crossed the devil¡¯s section!


    Kai was about to learn the skills right away, but then hesitated.


    <i>Wait a minute, but why is this all?</i>


    Even after rubbing his eyes, he couldn¡¯t find the Sris Cleric''s exclusive skills. Could it be that to learn skills for a Mythic ss job, one had to go to the main center of the order rather than a branch?


    Furrowing his brows in thought, Kai noticed strange characters.


    <strong>[Support Skills - 6 skills avable]</strong>


    <strong>[Holy Magic Skills - 37 skills avable]</strong>


    <strong>[??? - Locked]</strong>


    <strong>[??? - Locked]</strong>


    "What is this?"


    It seemed like a list with higher-level skills, but it was locked and couldn¡¯t be essed.


    <i>I¡¯m sure this must be rted to the skills of the Sris Cleric.</i>


    These items were definitely not present before his ss changed to Sris Cleric, so it was natural to think they had appeared newly afterwards, and the following thought was why these were locked.


    <i>Are they locked because my level is too low right now?</i>


    It was a usible possibility. The skills he currently had were powerful, so they could have been deliberately locked to maintain bnce.


    Kai sighed and looked somewhere else.


    <i>I guess I can¡¯t learn them right now. Then, let''s learn Bless, Resurrection, and Spring of Restoration for now.</i>


    Holy Enchantment and Healing Wave were honestly not that necessary for him at the moment. He was confident that he could produce far superior effects with just Sris Blessing and Sunlight¡¯s Warmth than those skills. Moreover, since learning skills also cost money, he had to be cautious.


    "I will learn Bless, Resurrection, and Spring of Restoration."


    "Excellent. May the sun¡¯s light shine down upon you on your journey."


    <strong>[Skill - Bless acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill - Resurrection acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill - Spring of Restoration acquired.]</strong>


    After paying seventy-five silver to learn three skills, Kai looked at the interface and tilted his head.


    "What¡¯s the difference between Bless and Mass Bless?"


    "Bless can bestow blessings on a single person, whereas Mass Bless allows you to bestow blessings on many people at the same time."


    "Woah."


    Kai imagined himself bestowing blessings on dozens of people at the same time.


    <i>It seems like I''ll mainly be ying solo from now on...but maybe it coulde in handy in certain situations.</i>


    After considering his financial situation for a moment, he made up his mind and nodded. "I¡¯ll learn Mass Bless as well."


    "The path of the sun will guide you, brother."


    <strong>[Skill ¨C Mass Bless acquired.]</strong>


    Of course, it wasn''t free. A total of one gold was spent to learn four skills.


    Feeling proud, Kai left the temple and immediately felt disheartened when he looked at his remaining gold.


    He sighed, saying, "This is why they call it a spending spree...."


    He had visited only the cksmith and the order, yet 800,000 won had vanished. Although he didn''t regret the valid expenses, he couldn''t help feeling a sense of emptiness.


    <i>I''ve run out of saved allowance and can''t buy gold now, so I should start saving money from now on.</i>


    There were still more than two weeks left until the deadline for his quest to save Frica. Since it would take a week for the items to be ready at the cksmith, it seemed like a good idea to work on quests in the meantime.


    <i>I wonder if there are any new quests that havee up in thest three days.</i>


    Kai headed straight for the quest board, thoroughly searching for newly updated quest listings.


    <i>There¡¯s not as many as I thought.</i>


    Of course, many new quests had been registered in thest three days. However, none of them were quests where he could perform good deeds.


    <i>If there are no quests, how can I perform Benevolence?</i>


    Sitting at the edge of the fountain, Kai pondered deeply.


    Just then, an old woman coughed and groaned as she passed by him.


    Feeling pity for the old woman who seemed to be suffering from a severe summer cold, Kai approached her. "Excuse me, ma¡¯am?"


    "Hmm?"


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth."


    As golden holy power surrounded her, herplexion noticeably improved.


    Her wrinkled eyes curved into a gentle smile. "Thank you so much. Are you a Cleric?"


    "Yes, I am."


    "But what about the cost..."


    When the old woman spoke with a slightly worried voice, Kai smiled brightly and waved his hand dismissively, "Oh, what cost? Don''t worry about it."


    The old woman then smiled back at Kai, creating a heartwarming scene.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You did a good deed for Ne (NPC).]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Benevolence]</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    Taken aback by the sudden message, Kai wore a bewildered expression.


    ***


    "Hmm..."


    In the small Church of Sris temple of Frica vige, two Clerics were sitting upright.


    The branch manager Cleric Ray turned his head and asked, "Brother Tei, doesn''t it seem a bit quiet these past few days?"


    "Hm. Indeed, apart from adventurers seeking new powers, no one else seems to visit."


    Usually, aside from the few Clerics who came to learn skills, NPCs from the vige and adventurers with different professions often visited for healing or curse removal.


    "What could be the reason?"


    They felt apologetic to the Srian God as if the decline in the order''s poprity was their fault.


    "I¡¯m not sure. Perhaps it means everyone is healthy and well, which is also a blessing from god."


    "Oh! That makes sense. Helik must be looking after us."


    "Yes, so let us pray."


    While they were praying, one of the Clerics outside rushed. "Brothers!"


    "Brother Caro? Why themotion?"


    As Ray asked curiously, Cleric Caro gestured excitedly with a smile, "I¡¯ve figured it out! I''ve found out why we haven''t had visitors to our temple these past few days!"


    "What do you mean?"


    When the Clerics stood up in confusion, Caro started to lead them outside.


    "Come with me."


    "But we can''t leave the temple unattended."


    "It will only take a moment!"


    "Very well, but only for a short while."


    They followed Cleric Caro, who led them not to the busy central square but to the residential area where NPCs lived.


    "Why are we here...?"


    "Look over there!" Caro pointed excitedly in one direction.


    As the Clerics turned to look, they saw arge sign that was visible from afar.


    <i>Fast! urate! Aroma Jade Anion Heal! Free treatment for those feeling unwell or down, and for those whose affairs aren''t going well. 0% medical ident guarantee!</i>


    "Wh...what is that?"


    As Ray stuttered in confusion, Caro quickly exined, "It''s an adventurer brother. Do you remember? The one who visited our temple a few days ago to learn skills..."


    After hearing this and looking below the sign, they surely recognized the face of the man.


    Ady who had received his healing covered her mouth andughed, "Oh my! The muscle pain haspletely disappeared! Thank you, young Cleric!"


    "I should be the one thanking you."


    After exchanging well-wishing remarks, thedy simply turned and walked away, and the man also turned his head.


    ¡°Next person!¡±


    A perfectly smooth and efficient transaction!


    Ray swallowed as he looked at the line of people waiting. "Are all those people in line really...?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all waiting to be treated by the adventurer!"


    "Indeed...!"


    They finally understood why people hadn''t been visiting the temple. With a Cleric offering free treatment so close by in the residential area, who would go to the distant temple and make a donation to get healed?


    Ray was greatly impressed by the young adventurer''s kindness. "Huh...! To think there would be such a faithful adventurer among them!"


    Caro added, "I thought most adventurers were reckless with divine power, but I was wrong. There are those among them who spread the holy will of god like this!"


    "Haha! You''re right. We have much to learn from this adventurer brother."


    Rayughed and approached the adventurer, Kai.


    "Huh? Clerics...?" Kai stood up awkwardly, surprised by the sudden visit from the Clerics. His face showed unease like an illegal street vendor facing the police.


    "Oh, brother Kai, why do you look so frightened?"


    "Well... that is... if I heal everyone here, wouldn''t that leave you without work?"


    The Clerics were amazed by Kai''s considerate response.


    "To think of us even in such a situation! We failed to recognize a saint right before our eyes."


    "This must be officially reported to the church."


    "Indeed! Wait, we shouldn¡¯t just stand around like this. Since it hase to this, let us help him!"


    "That''s a good idea!"


    As the Clerics rolled up their sleeves to prepare to treat the residents, Kai stopped them. "You must not!"


    "Brother...?"


    "Why not, what do you mean?"


    The Clerics were puzzled, tilting their heads in confusion.


    Kai said with a desperate voice, "Please leave this task to me! I can handle it alone!"


    "But if we help, the work will be done much faster."


    "That''s right. Besides, as fellow followers of the same path, we cannot overlook such a good deed!"


    "Don''t worry, brother."


    As they smiled warmly, Kai felt a burning frustration inside.


    <i>Standing by is the best way you can help!</i>


    Kai had experienced his Benevolence stat umting after treating an olddy in the square the other day. At that moment, a brilliant idea struck him like lightning.


    <i>Come to think of it, there was no mention that quests were the only way to increase the Benevolence stat.</i>


    It only stated that performing good deeds would increase the stat.


    <i>So, as long as I perform good deeds for NPCs in any way, that should work, right?</i>


    Kai then immediately headed to the residential area of the vige.


    <i>For those who don''t have the time to visit a healing center or temple, or those who are financially trapped, I''ll treat those people.</i>


    It was a true win-win strategy where he could do good deeds, and NPCs could receive treatment for free.


    <i>The result is... a huge sess!</i>


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 54</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 12,200</strong>


    <strong>Holt Power: 20,700</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 52 Stamina: 122</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 52 Agility: 52</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 207 Benevolence: 31</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 40</strong>


    In just five days, he had increased his Benevolence stat by a whopping 13 points. Kai was deeply engrossed in this act, which was the same as gaining 13 levels while merely sitting down.


    <i>Should I give up hunting and walk the path of a healer in the capital...?</i>


    He seriously contemted a change of career!


    However, Kai''s desperation was interpreted differently by the Clerics.


    "Ah, to wish to heal all the hurt by himself... It''s been a long time since we''ve seen someone with such a pure heart!"


    "A role model for all Clerics of the Church of Sris."


    "Seeing our adventurer brother reminds me of my younger days. It has been a wake-up call to return to my original intentions. Hahaha."


    "Indeed. What was I doing at Kai''s age...."


    <strong>[NPC Caro''s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[NPC Bric''s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[NPC Daniel''s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik is pleased. The Church of Sris''s merit points increased by 70.]</strong>


    "...Haha."


    Caught in an awkward situation where affinity and merit points unintentionally rose, Kai could only give an awkward smile as the Clerics showered him with praise and kind words.

 Chapter 14: Although I’m Laughing, I’m Not Really Laughing Inside

    <h4>Chapter 14: Although I¡¯m Laughing, I¡¯m Not Really Laughing Inside</h4>


    In just a few days, Kai became a notable figure in Frica Vige. His Benevolence stat increased by 2 over the past two days, reaching a total of 33.


    After spending several hours treating the residents without any further increase in his Benevolence stat, it seemed that endlessly umting Benevolence points in this manner was not possible.


    <i>And my face has be too well-known now.</i>


    Now, not only the NPCs but also the yers who used Frica Vige as their base recognized Kai''s face after being drawn by the residents'' praises of him.


    Kai sighed, ¡°Anyway, it''s finally over."


    Having safelypleted his day''s business, Kai walked the streets with a light heart. Today marked the seventh day since Maxim had promised, so he intended to visit the cksmith.


    As Kai walked, friendly voices from NPCs greeted him from all sides.


    "Kai! I''ll leave some apples for you to pick upter!"


    "Stop by the bar after hunting! I''ll treat you to a cold beer! Hahaha!"


    All of them had received treatment from Kai. Their increased affinity made such interactions possible.


    "Haha, did your shoulder loosen up?"


    "How''s your sprained ankle?"


    "Indigestion can''t be perfectly cured with Heal, so stick to easily digestible foods like soup for a while."


    Kai didn¡¯t ignore the NPCs and greeted each one in return.


    <i>If every service worker in the world was like me, the world would be a slightly better ce.</i>


    Shaking his head at the thought of world peace, Kai arrived at the cksmith.


    <i>Phew. Why am I so nervous?</i>


    He didn''t have high expectations for thepleted set items and weapons. Helmet, shoulder armor, top, bottom, shoes¡ªtypically, these five pieces of equipment were ssified as a set item, and some sets included special parts.


    <i>Based on my visit to the auction house yesterday, the most recently traded Red Gnoll set was 95 gold for five parts.</i>


    Despite the absurd price nearing 10 million won in cash, the Red Gnoll set was so scarce that it couldn''t be purchased.


    "God, Buddha, Helik, Mom, Noona, and...who am I missing? My twelfth-grade homeroom teacher?"


    Kai closed his eyes tightly and prayed to them.


    <i>Please let this be a jackpot.</i>


    At the same moment he opened his eyes, he vigorously knocked on the cksmith''s door.


    "Come in."


    As he entered, the same heat as before hit his face, but this time it didn''t feel as hot due to his nervousness.


    "I came because you said to return in a week."


    "All the items are finished."


    Maxim went into his room and emerged with two heavy boxes.


    <i>Thud, thud.</i>


    He ced the boxes on the workbench and said with a satisfied expression, "Open them."


    Swallowing hard, Kai nervously touched therge box.


    <strong>[Would you like to open the ck Gnoll Armor box?]</strong>


    There was only one downside to the set item. Once the box was opened, the item became non-tradable.


    <i>But that''s okay. Right now, defeating the Wyrm Lizard is the priority, so I need a spec upgrade.</i>


    Moreover, set items that became non-tradable could be made tradable again through an item called Witch''s Breath. Of course, that too involved money.


    After taking a short breath, Kai said, "Open item."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Helmet acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Shoulder Armor acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Armor acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Pants acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Belt acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Gnoll Boots acquired.]</strong>


    Kai began to slowly read the description of the items.


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Helmet]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 206</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 178</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Shoulder Armor]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 175</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 158</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Armor]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 275</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 248</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Pants]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 245</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 227</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Belt]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 105</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 78</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[ck Gnoll Boots]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 147</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 139</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <i>So far so good. Quite standard.</i>


    However, the value of set items were determined by the effects they provided whenbined. This was why the Magic grade Red Gnoll set was more expensive than many rare items.


    Kai checked the set item¡¯s effect.


    <strong>[<u>Set: Armor of the Undead</u>]</strong>


    <strong>For each piece of ck Gnoll armor worn, all stats increase by +1.</strong>


    <strong>For each piece of ck Gnoll armor worn, casting time decreases by 5%.</strong>


    <strong>For each piece of ck Gnoll armor worn, skill cooldown decreases by 1.5%.</strong>


    <strong>For each piece of ck Gnoll armor worn, damage received decreases by 0.5%.</strong>


    "Th-this is...!" Kai''s eyes widened.


    <i>It''s a jackpot!</i>


    This was what could be called a lottery or a jackpot.


    <i>This is insane. The options are crazy.</i>


    Just having all stats boost was already amazing, but it also included sweet options like casting time reduction and cooldown decrease! Damage reduction was a hard-to-find option.


    <i>Plus, the Armor of the Undead set consists of 6 pieces.</i>


    The set included the belt, which was rumored to be hard to obtain.


    Kai did some quick calctions in his head.


    <i>The options are good, and this isn''t a mass-produced item like the Red Gnoll set. Plus, its appearance is luxurious, making it desirable even for collectors who specialize in expensive gear.</i>


    The conclusion was clear.


    <i>If I were to sell itter, I could get at least 100 gold. An item worth 10 million won in cash!</i>


    Kai''s smile stretched wide, as if his lips had wings and refused toe down.


    With an excited heart, Kai reached for the next box.


    <strong>[Would you like to open the Skull Crusher of Darkness box?]</strong>


    "Open."


    The opened box revealed a luxurious dark blue mace, ced gently inside.


    Kai, as if enchanted, picked up the mace.


    <strong>[<u>Skull Crusher of Darkness</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 72-80</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power: 68-75</strong>


    <strong>Strength: +5</strong>


    <strong>Stamina: +3</strong>


    <strong>Attack power increased by 10%.</strong>


    <strong>A powerful strike that inflicts 3x damage is activated with a certain probability.</strong>


    <strong>A weapon made from the bone of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain imbued with the aura of death. The strong scent of death may sometimes lead your enemies to the river of death.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 53 and above.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    The description was disappointingly simple. But as someone who favored turtlenecks once said, simplicity was the ultimate sophistication. That statement proved correct once again.


    <i>A... a rare item!</i>


    Nothing more needed to be said. Items with basic abilities maximized like this were preferred over those with various minor abilities attached.


    "Really... Thank you so much." Without realizing it, Kai grasped Maxim''s thick hand and shook it vigorously. "I really like them. How did you create such items with such fine...manly hands!"


    "Hahaha. d you like them. Actually, I had fun making that gear too. It was the first time I worked with those materials, so it really brought out my spirit of challenge." Maxim patted Kai''s shoulder and chuckled. "I heard from my wife, who had been suffering from back pain, that she received treatment from you. That''s why I took extra care in making them."


    "Oh...!"


    Kai had not expected the good deeds he had performed to increase his Benevolence stat toe back to him in this way!


    Kai nodded, smiling with gratitude, "Then, I''ll be sure to ask for your help again in the future."


    "Anytime, just leave it to me." Maximughed heartily in response.


    ***


    Leaving the vige, Kai immediately sat on a rock at the deste foot of a mountain, then stared at his inventory and sighed, "Why am I so nervous about this?"


    Just looking at the Armor of the Undead set made his heart race.


    "Open inventory."


    Kai began to take out and wear each piece of equipment one by one. It was the first time in his life wearing a set item.


    As he wore all six pieces of armor, filled with excitement, a message appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have equipped all pieces of the Armor of the Undead gear.]</strong>


    <strong>[Set options are activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased by +6.]</strong>


    <strong>[Casting time reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill cooldown reduced by 9%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Damage received reduced by 3%.]</strong>


    "Expensive goods are indeed better."


    Kai could understand why people were crazy about good items. Just by changing his equipment, he felt lighter, and his whole body overflowed with energy.


    Kai then equipped the Skull Crusher of Darkness and checked his stats window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 54</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 13,300</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 21,500</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 65 Stamina: 133</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 60 Agility: 60</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 215 Benevolences: 33</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 40</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown ¨C9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received -3%</strong>


    "This is the power of a set item...." Kai muttered in a forlorn voice.


    It felt not as if he had put on the items, but as if the items had put him on.


    <i>When was thest time I indulged in such luxury?</i>


    Kai''s family was far from poor. His parents each ran apany, making them an entrepreneur couple. However, with the goal of fostering independence, they had cut off their children¡¯s allowance after high school. Even his sister, Han Ji-Hye, had secured a job with her own efforts and was learning the ropes at apany that wasn¡¯t affiliated with their family.


    <i>I''ve heard that children of silver-spoon families wear watches worth millions and suits worth tens of thousands of dors... but that was always a story far from my reality.</i>


    Technically, Kai belonged to the silver spoon category, but due to his parents'' firm educational policy, he grew up no differently from anyone else.


    <i>Even my stats have significantly increased.</i>


    His stats boosted after equipping the Skull Crusher of Darkness and the Armor of the Undead set! It was a situation that proved the equipment in <i>MID Online</i> truly was worth the money.


    "View mode."


    As he spoke themand, a mirror visible only to him appeared around him. Standing up and looking at himself from various angles, his expression becameplicated.


    <i>Well, it does look cool but....</i>


    The important thing was, no matter how he looked, he didn¡¯t look like a Cleric. In fact, he looked more like a Warrior than a Cleric! It was because the Armor of the Undead set wasn''t a robe but rather light armor made of bones.


    "Well, it doesn''t matter, does it?¡±


    After all, Kai was practical by nature. As long as the performance was good, he didn''t care much about the appearance of the items.


    "With this spec... it''s possible."


    He referred to the hunt for the Wyrm Lizard.

 Chapter 15: The Crimson Sunset Guild (1)

    <h4>Chapter 15: The Crimson Sunset Guild (1)</h4>


    The Crimson Sunset guild was thergest guild in Frica Vige. It had 30 members, and all guild members were above level 40! Even more, the guild master, Toban, was a yer of level 55.


    There was only one reason why they didn''t move on to the next area and stayed active in Frica Vige.


    <strong>[Monopolizing and mass-producing the Red Gnoll Set!]</strong>


    The start of it all was because Toban had a thought.


    <i>Bing a ranker is out of my league anyway.</i>


    At the game''sunch, he was also among those with high levels. But as time passed and the gap with the rankers widened, he quickly realized something.


    <i>Talent!</i>


    Talent was something he didn''t have but the rankers did.


    When yers with simr levels, items, and sses easily did what he couldn''t, Toban realized that he would never make it to the top.


    At that time, he struggled with feelings of powerlessness and emptiness, but not anymore.


    <i>It''s good that I witnessed the talent of rankers early. It was a tree I could never climb anyway.</i>


    Before <i>MID Online</i>, there were many popr games, and Toban had been somewhat of a ranker in other games. But in <i>MID Online</i>, where all the world''s geniuses and professionals gathered, his skills didn''t stand a chance. The rankers of <i>MID Online</i> were indeed the pros among pros.


    The frustration Toban faced early on turned into a stepping stone for opportunity.


    "Thanks to that, I don''t have to worry about making a living."


    The business he eyed at that time was the Red Gnoll Equipment set produced only in Frica Vige. This set, consisting of five parts, was sought by many users due to its decent options.


    <i>Red Gnolls are monsters that only appear in the Frica region, so it¡¯spetitive.</i>


    Right after deciding on this, he established the Crimson Sunset guild and ran his guild members like parts in a factory. With that, the Red Gnoll set was produced at a rate of 10 sets a month!


    <i>Our guild''s monthly revenue is about 100 million won in real-life terms.</i>


    It was no joke when they said it was a corporate-type guild and Toban proved it directly.


    <i>Knock, knock, knock.</i>


    While Toban was deep in thought, someone knocked on the office door. "Come in."


    The person who entered was his younger brother.


    "Bro! Are you really going to just sit back and watch!?" his brother, outfitted in typical tank gear, shouted with a scowl.


    Scowling made his already ugly face look even more ugly.


    Toban replied with a slightly annoyed expression, "What''s the matter, and I¡¯m sure I told you to call me guild master in the game."


    "Ugh! Okay, guild master! Please help me!" Frustrated, his brother pounded his chest and pointed outside, "That Cleric guy who made me drop my gear, he''s be a hero in the vige now!"


    "Hm."


    "Hyung... no, guild master, you said it before, didn''t you? That there are quests only avable to those with the highest reputation. So you told me not to act rashly and to be careful with my actions."


    "That''s right."


    Toban was no happier about the situation.


    <i>Kai, was it?</i>


    When he first heard of Kai¡¯s name, he thought the yer could be dealt with at any time. But a few weeks ago, the vige''s reputation ranking changed. He used to be number one in reputation, but then Kai''s reputation started to climb, eventually reaching the top spot. However, there was nothing he could do about it because Kai had been treating residents in the NPC residential area day and night. With guards and Clerics of the Church of Sris looking at Kai with pleased expressions, taking action within the vige was impossible.


    "Now''s the perfect chance! That guy, he''s left the vige!"


    "...What?"


    Toban''s eyes sparkled. If that guy had left the vige, then the situation changed. PK, also known as yer Killing, would get one thrown in jail if caught by guards or NPCs, but they were in the clear if they did not get caught


    <i>It would result in a chaotic state, but....</i>


    Considering it was eliminating a rival for the top spot in the reputation ranking, that would be just a small price to pay.


    After a moment of contemtion, Toban slowly began to say, "What level did you say that Cleric guy was?"


    "Huh? Oh, thest time I was in a party with him, he was around 46, I think."


    "And what about hunting after that?"


    "Of course, he couldn''t! I threatened him, saying I''d kill everything if he partied with me again." Toban¡¯s brother said as if boasting, clearly excited.


    "You said he was definitely a support Cleric, right?"


    "Yeah. He hadn''t invested in a singlebat Cleric skill. He hardly had any support Cleric skills to begin with; he¡¯s probably just a potion.¡±


    Toban sank into deep thought.


    <i>A level 46 support Cleric. With our guild''s strength, we can easily deal with him.</i>


    He was even confident they could do it without leaving any evidence.


    <i>But I can''t be a chaotic yer because of this.</i>


    Toban looked at his brother and said, "I''ll assign some guys to you, and you lead them to finish him off."


    "R-really? For real?" his brother, who loved wearing the mantle of authority, asked in surprise as his brother rarely entrusted him with such significant tasks.


    "Yes. But make sure to do it thoroughly. Make him so miserable that he''ll want to leave this ce for good."


    "Leave it to me!"


    "I''ll assign five guild members to you. Leave right away."


    "Got it, you can count on me."


    Pleased with the response, his brother left the room in high spirits.


    <i>One less thing to worry about I guess,</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, the word extermination was by no means taken lightly. It meant killing the target every time they appeared in the field, making them quit the game or forcing them to move to another area.


    What he had said was basically an Extermination order.


    "Soon, the top spot for reputation will be mine again," Toban muttered indifferently.


    ***


    As Kai was on his way to hunt the Wyrm Lizard wearing his new gear, a group was following him.


    ¡°How far in is this guy going?"


    Au, a tank from the Crimson Sunset guild, panted as he led his guild members after Kai, someone he really disliked.


    "Why can''t we just ambush this guy? Why all this hassle?"


    It seemed it wasn''t just him feeling irritated asints were emerging among the guild members.


    "Right. It''s just one Cleric, why are we dragging this out?"


    "There are five of us here."


    "Besides, you said his level was 46. Who here isn''t at that level?"


    Au snapped back at his guild members'' nagging, "Do you think I want to be doing this!? Hyung told me to make sure we handle it!"


    "Killing him is a sure thing for us, and this ce is quiet enough, isn''t it?"


    "Still... It''s safer to ambush him while he''s fighting monsters."


    "Ugh! You''re as big as a bear but so timid!"


    Faced with the rebellion of the guild members, Au sighed and gave in, "Shit. Fine. Fine. Let''s do it here, then. Happy?"


    He then promptlymanded his guild members. Though their levels were higher, Au had been givenmand by his hyung, the guild master, so the guild members followed his orders.


    "First, you two. You¡¯re both Rogues so use Stealth and start with Backstab. Let''s get him intobat state."


    "Okay."


    "That''s more like it."


    Once inbat state, logging out became impossible.


    Hearing hismand, the two Rogues quickly used their Stealth skill and disappeared.


    Au smirked bitterly as he stood up from the bushes where he was hiding. "Let''s start the Extermination."


    ***


    Unaware of the danger approaching from behind, Kai was examining the map.


    "About 20 more minutes of walking should do it."


    As he nodded and was about to close the map window, his screen turned red.


    <strong>[You have been struck by a Backstab attack.]</strong>


    <strong>[Critical hit! You¡¯ve received 1,047 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve been attacked by a Tainted de.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 372 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been poisoned. You¡¯ve received 12 additional damage every second over the next 3 minutes.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 12 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 12 damage.]</strong>


    "What, what''s this!"


    Startled, Kai looked around. But all he saw was the dark foothills, with no sign of whatever had attacked him. Quickly taking abat stance, Kai used a skill to cure the poison.


    <i>It''s not a monster.</i>


    There were no monsters in this area that could Stealth.


    <i>That means...</i>


    There was only one possibility.


    <i>It¡¯s PK.</i>


    He had heard rumors about yers who specialized in attacking solo yers wandering outside the fields.


    Kai clicked his tongue lightly and drew the Skull Crusher of Darkness. He then quietly cast buffs while cautiously scanning the surroundings.


    "Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Bless, Sacred Barrier."


    <strong>[Your attack power, magical attack power, and holy power have increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your physical defense and magical defense have increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased +5.]</strong>


    <strong>[Sacred Barrier protects you.]</strong>


    Though he was slightly startled by the ambush, he wasn''t particrly afraid.


    <i>If these are the PKers around here, at most they''ll be around level 50.</i>


    His current stats, thanks to his knowledge and various buff skills, easily surpassed level 60. A normal Cleric could feel uneasy with such stats, but not him. After all, he was the Sris Cleric with formidable offensive capabilities.


    "Hahaha. Don''t be too scared now."


    Three people emerged from the bushes. One of them was someone Kai knew all too well.


    "What is the meaning of all this?"


    "Do you really not know?" Au smirked as he drew his shield and weapon. "It''s an Extermination."


    "Extermination?"


    "Yes. Someone as pathetic as you can only be forcibly dealt with through Extermination."


    As Au seemed to enjoy the situation, Kai''s gaze turned cold.


    <i>So, they''vee prepared for an Extermination, huh?</i>


    He couldn''t just stand by and let it happen.


    "Do you know why the Korean War happened?" Au asked.


    Au''s question was met with silence from Kai. Not because he didn''t know the answer, but because it wasn''t worth responding to.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    "Because they were sloppy!" Au charged forward with his shield in front.


    "Is that so? Then you''re in danger now," Kai murmured quietly with a cold smile. "Because you''re being sloppy."


    Especially in front of a Mythic ss job.

 Chapter 16: The Crimson Sunset Guild (2)

    <h4>Chapter 16: The Crimson Sunset Guild (2)</h4>


    Au was puzzled when he saw Kai''s changed equipment.


    <i>When did he get that equipment?</i>


    At first, he thought Kai had spent real money, but as he looked closer, he realized that wasn''t the case.


    <i>Wait, was there ever an equipment with that kind of appearance...?</i>


    It was armor that couldn''t possibly be considered Cleric gear. Moreover, it looked really cool. So cool that he himself wanted it, and because of that, greed filled Au''s eyes. Having dropped his helmet when killed by Zirukan, Au was desperate for a helmet.


    <i>Now that the Extermination order has been given, I''ll kill him over and over until he drops all that equipment.</i>


    Kai''s equipment already felt like it belonged to him.


    <i>He must be quite greedy, </i>Kai thought to himself as he saw Au looking at him.


    The foothills were illuminated by bright moonlight shining on all the yers except for one. That was Kai. Blending into the darkness as if he was one with it, he was hard to notice without proper attention due to the Armor of the Undead set being a non-reflective matte ck color.


    "Just die quietly! I''ll make good use of your equipment! Shield Dash!"


    Au loudly used his skill. The next moment, his body surged through the foothills like he was on a motorcycle.


    Watching him, Kai swung his mace with perfect timing.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A massive explosion sounded, and a cloud of dirt shot up into the sky as if a bomb had exploded.


    The Crimson Sunset guild members who were watching the scene opened their mouths in shock.


    "Wh-what was that!?"


    "I thought he was supposed to be a support Cleric!"


    "Looks more like a battle Cleric, doesn''t he?"


    "What kind of bullshit is that? Even if he were a battle Cleric, his attack power can¡¯t be that high!"


    They then med Au''s stupidity.


    "That idiot! He kept saying he was a support Cleric!"


    "Why would he rush in alone without signaling us?"


    However, the person most taken aback by the charge was Au himself. Feeling a tingling sensation in the hand holding his shield, his eyes widened.


    <i>Gasp! I almost lost consciousness for a moment!</i>


    It was an incredibly powerful attack that nearly forced him to logout! Au quickly extracted himself from the pile of dirt and checked his HP bar.


    <i>My HP dropped by 30% in one hit!? But I¡¯m a tank and he''s a Cleric!</i>


    He immediately looked up at Kai.


    "Wh-what kind of item is that... How much did you pay to get such a performance!?"


    "No need for you to know."


    This time, Kai made the first move. With all stats increased by Sris Blessing, he showed movements far beyond a typical cleric. His mace swirled dazzlingly.


    Au, trying to block it with his shield, was repeatedly pushed back.


    <i>Here''s the fake.</i>


    Kai, with eyes shining, pretended to swing his mace down from above, then suddenly kicked Au''s abdomen.


    "Argh!"


    As Au wasn¡¯t able to breathe momentarily, his shield dropped slightly, and Kai didn''t miss the opportunity.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    The mace struck directly on Au''s temple!


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Triple damage applied!]</strong>


    Even the special skill embedded in the Skull Crusher of Darkness was activated.


    "Argh!" Au screamed as his body flew from the force, breaking through several branches on the way.


    <i>It¡¯s pretty good.</i>


    Kai''s gaze shifted to the mace.


    <i>Normally, just swinging a mace wouldn''t produce this much attack power.</i>


    It was the true value of the strike skill, which had the chance to inflict triple damage.


    When Au was half-forcibly removed from the battlefield, the members of the Crimson Sunset guild drew their weapons and shouted.


    "H-he''s strong!"


    "Don''t let your guard down and slowly surround and kill him!"


    "If he''s really a battle Cleric, he''ll be weak to ranged attacks. Rogues should use throwing stars or throw daggers instead! Wizards and Archers, keep looking for an opening!"


    Among them, it seemed a Cleric was the most experienced yer, quickly assessing the situation and issuingmands.


    <i>Smart. But the assumption is wrong.</i>


    Kai wasn¡¯t a battle Cleric, so he was rather grateful for the distance.


    "Holy Explosion."


    <i>Boom!</i>


    As Kai murmured quietly, the wilderness lit up as if it were broad daylight.


    "Argh!"


    "Wh-what is this power!?" the Crimson Sunset¡¯s Cleric gaped in shock when his health evaporated by 40%


    Being a Cleric himself, he knew best that there was no skill with such destructive power for clerics.


    <i>What kind of technique is this?</i>


    The Cleric''s skill tree came to mind, but there was no such skill within it. What this meant was simple.


    "A hidden skill!?" screamed the Cleric, to which Kai just stared silently with a calm expression.


    <i>It''s easier for me if you misunderstand.</i>


    There was no need to agree explicitly. As Kai kept his mouth shut, the Cleric went from suspicion to certainty.


    "H-hey! That''s not what''s urgent right now! Heal us!"


    "I''ve been hit so my Stealth deactivated! Hurry up and heal...!"


    From nearby, the two Rogues who had been caught in the Holy Explosion called for support.


    "Oh, right. I¡¯ll do it right now..."


    The Cleric had been too distracted by Kai''s skill, but he now hastily cast a heal skill.


    <i>Not a chance.</i>


    If the Cleric began to properly heal the others, the battle would turn into a long one.


    <i>The longer the fight, the more disadvantageous for me.</i>


    Kai quickly rushed at the Cleric and swung his mace forcefully.


    "S-sacred Barrier!" The Cleric quickly tried to shield himself but it was of no use.


    <i>Shatter!</i>


    The delicate shield shattered hopelessly with one swing of the mace. What followed was easy.


    <i>Head, head, head...</i>


    Kai swung his mace calmly, aiming only for the Cleric''s head.


    Despite the Cleric''s attempts to dodge by twisting his body, his inferior stats meant he couldn¡¯t avoid Kai''s attacks.


    ¡°D-damn it.¡±


    "What kind of attack power for a Cleric..."


    As the Cleric died in an instant, the Rogues clenched their teeth.


    <i>Our way to heal is gone.</i>


    <i>We need to drink potions.</i>


    They hurriedly took potions out of their inventory, but Kai''s Holy Explosion came flying and interrupted them.


    "Shit!¡±


    That annoyed voice became the Rogue''sst words.


    <i>There''s one remaining Rogue. I''ll finish this now.</i>


    Kai didn''t miss the opportunity and immediately charged.


    "How presumptuous... How dare you, you¡¯re just a Cleric!"


    The Rogue hastily drew his dagger, preparing for closebat with Kai. Though he thought hisrades had been careless, his job was a Rogue.


    <i>There''s no way I''ll be defeated in closebat with a Cleric.</i>


    Of course, this was a great misconception.


    <i>Thud! Thud!</i>


    "Wh-what¡¯s happening...?"


    Indeed, the Rogue''s movements were swift. For every attack Kainded, the Rogue managed to strike Kai''s body three times. Yet, the one at a loss was the Rogue.


    <i>What¡¯s up with this bastard¡¯s defense?</i>


    It felt like fighting against a massive rampart. Typically, Clerics and Wizards were perceived as having weak defense, but Kai, who had used Sris Armor, boasted a toughnessparable to that of a tank.


    "Arghhh!"


    In the end, Kai was the victor of the scuffle. Having won the head-to-head battle with the Rogue, Kai casually checked his HP.


    <i>32%...</i>


    His low health rose to 100% with just two uses of Sunlight¡¯s Warmth. Truly, he had zombie-like health!


    After breaking a sweat, Kai''s eyes grew cold.


    <i>They came prepared.</i>


    Au had clearly dered his intent to kill him.


    If he hadn¡¯t be a Sris Cleric, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to avoid bing prey every time he entered the field.


    <i>Thinking about it pisses me off.</i>


    Survival of the fittest. Thew of nature where the weak died and the strong took everything was still prevalent in the 21st century.


    <i>What if they had targeted not me, but another ordinary yer?</i>


    They would have to delete their character and start over or spend a fortune on Teleport Scrolls. That was the only option. At the same time, Kai''s mind cleared.


    <i>This being my first PK in the game got me a bit excited, but there''s no need for that.</i>


    His excitement quickly calmed as if showered with cold water. "If they had ns to rob the weak, they must have been prepared to be the weak themselves."


    "What the hell...?"


    Far away, Au appeared, biting on a potion bottle. He looked around at the polygons scattered around the foothill with a puzzled expression.


    <i>Did he really take them down? In that short time?</i>


    Unable to believe it, Au raised his hand. At the same moment, something sliced through the air.


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    Kai looked down at the arrow embedded in his heart.


    <i>Was there more support?</i>


    As he red at Au, two more people emerged from behind the trees.


    "So you guys were here too."


    It was the Archer and Wizard who had been in the party with him.


    "Au, this is far from what we expected."


    "Shit, this guy was hiding something when he was in our party." Au red at Kai.


    However, the Wizard nodded with a rxed expression. "It seems he had kept a trick up his sleeve, but that''s as far as it goes."


    <i>Thud.</i>


    The Wizard cast a spell with his staff.


    <i>There''s no need to wait for that.</i>


    The moment Kai ran straight toward the Wizard, five arrows flew at him, hindering his movement. If he had been a typical Cleric, he would have retreated and dodged the arrows, but Kai took the hits and charged at the Wizard.


    "You crazy bastard!¡± Shocked, Au raised his shield to protect the Wizard. ¡°We won''t be fooled twice! Iron Will!"


    An aura flowed from Au as he anchored his shield to the ground, significantly increasing his defense by activating the skill.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Kai''s expression twisted as he struck Au''s shield.


    <i>It¡¯s stronger than I thought...!</i>


    Feeling like he was hammering on steel, Kai looked at his tingling wrist and then stepped back.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i>


    Afterall, staying in one ce for even a moment meant arrows flew his way.


    <i>These guys must have worked together for a long time.</i>


    They were perfectlypensating for each other''s weaknesses.


    Then, the Wizard''s lengthy spell waspleted. Six magic circles drawn on the ground emitted bright light.


    "Grrr."


    "Krrr!"


    Kai muttered as he saw the four summoned creatures appear above the magic circles, "Gnolls?"


    "Hmph," the Wizard nodded with a triumphant expression. "It''s hard to say it¡¯s a hidden ss, but I''vepleted the Summoner ss quest that''s known for its difficulty. That means I''m one of the few hundred Summoners in the country."


    Kai closely observed the summoned gnolls.


    <i>Four Gray Gnolls. Level... merely 41.</i>


    A deep smile settled on Kai''s lips.


    "You smile, huh. I guess you haven¡¯te to your senses yet." The Wizard waved his hand andmanded, "Kill that Cleric!"


    "Grrr!"


    "Krrrr!"


    The Gray Gnolls, drooling, charged at Kai.


    "You seem to have some skill, but against overwhelming numbers, it''s useless."


    "Overwhelming numbers... Interesting."


    Kai''s eyes curved like crescent moons after hearing the wizard''s mutter.


    At the same time, his lips also moved. "Open Inventory. Summon the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain, equip in left hand."


    Out of nowhere, a purple staff appeared, and Kai caught it with his left hand.


    The Crimson Sunset guild trioughed mockingly, shrugging their shoulders.


    "Idiot. Does he think he can turn the situation around by equipping just another weapon?"


    "His intellectual level is questionable."


    Ignoring their mockery, Kai struck the ground hard with the staff. "Spin, round and round!"


    <i>Whrrrrrr!</i>


    A wheel appeared in front of him and spun fiercely.


    Everyone tilted their heads and looked at the suddenly summoned wheel.


    As the wheel slowly decelerated, it eventually stopped. The number pointed to by the wheel¡¯s arrow was a shining golden 10.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[10 Gnoll Skeletons are summoned.]</strong>


    "Bingo." Kai grinned, revealing his teeth.


    Fog began to rise from the ground in ten ces. The wind in the dark, high-altitude wilderness was cold.


    The moment the trio felt the wind brushing their cheeks turn cold they noticed the fog being carried away by it. Of course, where the fog had been, ten Gnoll Skeletons now stood proudly.


    <i>sh!</i>


    Red light burst from their skulls.

 Chapter 17: Make Sure to Check the Expiration Date

    <h4>Chapter 17: Make Sure to Check the Expiration Date</h4>


    The Crimson Sunset guild trio couldn''t easilye out of panic.


    "This is absurd!"


    "Wasn''t he a Cleric!?"


    "T-this can''t be happening!"


    The idea of a Cleric summoning undeads imbued with the aura of death was beyondmon sense.


    Au immediately put up his shield and turned around. "It''s okay, no need to panic! It''s just ten monsters... We can definitely win!"


    "Then I''ll support from the back!"


    The Wizard and Archer quickly began casting spells and drawing their bows.


    Au puffed out his chest and roared until his voice shook the wilderness.


    At the same time, messages appeared in front of Kai.


    <strong>[You have been affected by the provocation status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can only target yer Au as your attack target.]</strong>


    "Hmm. Sris Cleric Sunlight¡¯s Warmth."


    <strong>[HP restored. All status effects removed.]</strong>


    <strong>[The provocation status effect has been removed.]</strong>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    As Kai removed the status effect, the Gnoll Skeletons shed with Au.


    "Argh... It''s okay! I can handle this! Iron Will! Reinforce Shield! Shield Bash!"


    Au cast various skills, managing to hold up better than expected. Moreover, with continuous attacks from the Wizard and Archer from behind, two of the Gnoll Skeletons were quickly eliminated.


    <i>I should help.</i>


    Observing the situation, Kai decided he couldn''t just stand by and used a skill.


    "Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Mass Bless."


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Normally, undeads, being cursed beings, couldn¡¯t ept Holy Power. However, as summoned creatures, it was different this time.


    <i>sh!</i>


    The daggers and bones held by the Gnoll Skeletons began to shine.


    Au was the first to express his confusion after witnessing this. "What on earth...?"


    From that moment, the movements of the Gnoll Skeletons changed. Their attack speed increased, and the force behind their daggers grew stronger. That wasn¡¯t it.


    "W-why have their defenses gone up so much!"


    "Argh, magic damage is starting to be less effective too!"


    The defense and magic resistance of the Gnoll Skeletons, enveloped in Sris Armor, had significantly increased. As evidence, the speed at which their HP decreased noticeably slowed.


    "This ispletely absurd...!"


    The Crimson Sunset guild had always been the predators, and their opponents, the prey. A crack appeared in that simple rule which until now, had been uncontested by anyone in Frica.


    <i>We should have finished things off when there were six of us.</i>


    The Wizard regretted their carelessness as he looked at the battlefield which seemed to foretell their defeat. However, it was toote by the time they realized had realized it.


    "Ahhh!" Au, who had been valiantly fighting the Gnoll Skeletons alone, died with a scream.


    Then, like reapers, the eight remaining Gnoll Skeletons approached the Wizard. It was practically the moment the battle ended.


    ***


    "That was dangerous," Kai muttered after winning the one-against-six fight.


    The coordination between Au, Akan, and the extra Archer had been quite good. For a moment, he distinctly felt he was losing.


    <i>I guess being alone leads to such situations.</i>


    He felt relieved after the battle ended, but at the same time, he was worried.


    <i>The Crimson Sunset guild.</i>


    Kai, having been active in Frica Vige, wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the name. He had gotten entangled with some very troublesome folks.


    <i>I should move to a different area as soon as the quest is over.</i>


    The Sris Cleric was indeed a ss that broke the bnce, an overpowered profession. However, this job only became perfect when given enough time to umte enough Benevolence stat. In other words, it was a job that blossomed over time.


    <i>Facing the Crimson Sunset guild head-on now would be unwise.</i>


    He considered various options, but he wasn¡¯t confident.


    "This is what being premature is."


    Now was the time to get stronger. Of course, he would never forget their attempt to hunt him down.


    <i>Enjoy the game as much as you can while I''m growing stronger.</i>


    After that, they wouldn''t be able to enjoy the game because he would make sure of it.


    "Let''s see what I''ve gained."


    Kai rummaged around the polygons that the yers had turned into to pick up their dropped items.


    "The Wizard and the Archer... have nothing?"


    In <i>MID Online</i>, there was a high chance that one of the items being worn would be dropped upon death. This also contributed to the reason for professional PKs.


    Despite numerousints from yers to Pegasus, thepany remained silent.


    "Well, the game''s slogan is about living freely, so it can''t be helped I guess," Kai shrugged and assessed other items. "The two Rogues dropped a normal item and a Magic item each, and the Cleric dropped one normal item..."


    He could get several hundred thousand won if he sold them at the auction house.


    Then, a shield that shone brilliantly caught his eye.


    "Could it be?"


    Kai quickly picked up the shield.


    <strong><u>[Steel Shield]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 424</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 411</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 45+ Strength: 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 47/100</strong>


    "A... a rare shield!"


    It was the shield that Au had been using.


    <i>Nice!</i>


    Shields were among the items for which demand often exceeded supply.


    <i>Would it be maybe over a million won? Could it even go up to 1.2 million?</i>


    Smiling broadly due to the unexpected profit, Kai quickly stored the shield in his inventory.


    "This will surely make him mad."


    Though not intentional, the result was that he had caused Au to drop two rare items.


    "Serves him right." Kaiughed so hard he had to hold his stomach.


    ***


    "Phew, oh boy. It''s really high."


    After walking an hour more, Kai reached the peak of the mountain. At the summit, open in all directions, there was a single altar built.


    "Why is there an altar here...."


    The altar showed signs of not being used for a long time. It wasn''t hard to tell, given the rusty pirs and ritual tools scattered on the ground.


    "Hmm."


    Looking around, Kai approached the center of the altar and discovered arge bell.


    <i>Do I need to ring this?</i>


    Kai struck the bell with his mace. The bell''s sound echoed through the mountains, shaking it as if the mountain itself was a giant musical instrument, creating a majestic feeling.


    That was when it happened.


    <i>Vrrrrr.</i>


    <i>Vibration...!</i>


    The mountain vibrated constantly.


    <i>Something''sing!</i>


    As Kai stepped back several steps, something burst out from the ground as if it had been waiting.


    ¡°Kaaaaaak!¡±


    With dirt flying everywhere, the Wyrm Lizard revealed itself. Its size was overwhelming,parable to a two-story building.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard, Ruler of Frica Mountains, has appeared.]</strong>


    "Was the Wyrm Lizard always this big?"


    It was as if a heavyweight boxing champion had appeared in front of a ten-year-old kid! But there was no time forints.


    The Wyrm Lizard looked around the altar as it showed off a mouth full of densely packed teeth. Realizing there was no offering, it became enraged.


    ¡°Graaaah!¡±


    The creature''s head lunged at Kai as if to swallow him whole. Its worm-like body was covered in lizard scales, making it resistant to physical attacks, and around its mouth were countless sharp fangs and suckers that could kill with a single bite.


    <i>If it bites me, it''s over!</i>


    Kai, driven more by instinct than reason, threw himself to the side. This action saved his life.


    <i>Thud! Crunch! Crunch!</i>


    The Wyrm Lizard indiscriminately devoured trees and rocks.


    Seeing this, Kai''s expression hardened.


    <i>Wow, has Pegasus lost its mind? How are we supposed to deal with that?</i>


    The oppressive feeling was beyond imagination. He wondered how the top yers had managed to kill such a creature.


    <i>...Let''s stick to the n for now.</i>


    Swallowing hard, Kai immediately used his staff to summon gnoll skeletons. This was what he had been relying on.


    <i>Even if only about five appear, I can manage.</i>


    Buffing the summoned gnoll skeletons and hunting the wyrm lizard with them was Kai''s n.


    The spinning wheel came to a stop.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[1 Gnoll Skeleton is summoned.]</strong>


    "Shit!¡±


    When things didn¡¯t go as nned, nothing seemed to work!


    Kai quickly cast buffs on the single Gnoll Skeleton, "Sris Blessing! Sris Armor! Shield of Light! Bless!"


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The Gnoll Skeleton, covered in all the buffs, looked quite formidable.


    Kai firmly grasped its frail shoulder bones and looked into its empty eye sockets. The Gnoll Skeleton, feeling his intense gaze, tilted its head.


    "From now on, your name is Tom. Tom! You can do it, right?"


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    The Gnoll Skeleton, now awkwardly named Tom, loyally moved its jawbone. Seemingly pleased with its first-ever name, it continuously shook its ribcage.


    Seeing this, Kai nodded heavily.


    "Tom, hold on as long as you can! I''m counting on you."


    <i>Click, click!</i>


    Tom, giving a thumbs up, charged valiantly.


    ¡°Krooaaaar!¡±


    The Wyrm Lizard, facing Tom running toward it, opened its mouth wide.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    ¡°Kaaak!¡±


    Tom fearlessly swung its dagger at the Wyrm Lizard. At the same time, the Wyrm Lizard opened its mouth wide.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    <strong>[Gnoll Skeleton has taken 1,240 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Gnoll Skeleton has taken 1,221 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    <strong>[Gnoll Skeleton summon has ended.]</strong>


    "Toooooom!" Kai cried out in a voice filled with despair.


    Their time togethersted a mere seven seconds. Although brief, their camaraderie was special.


    <i>Full buffs and it didn''tst even ten seconds?</i>


    Kai felt a cold sweat run down his back and swallowed hard.


    Then, suddenly, the Wyrm Lizard''s movements abruptly stopped. It started shivering as if having a seizure, then its head drooped.


    "Kegh..."


    "Huh?"


    Unable to understand the situation, Kai tilted his head. Suddenly, unexpected messages appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard consumed ancient bones.]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard has been poisoned by food.]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard has lost its appetite.]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard¡¯s stats have decreased by 30%.]</strong>


    "Huh?" Kai, at a loss for words, nkly read the messages over and over.

 Chapter 18: Special Title

    <h4>Chapter 18: Special Title</h4>


    Kai looked at the absurd messages that popped up in front of him and then btedly came to his senses.


    "This game is strangely realistic at the oddest of times!"


    ¡°Krnng...¡±


    The Wyrm Lizard groaned and shook its head weakly as it suffered.


    <i>The situation is funny, but this is an opportunity.</i>


    Without hesitation, Kai pointed his finger at the creature. "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°Krrrgh!¡±


    The st hit the Wyrm Lizard on the head, causing it to thrash in pain. As its massive body writhed, the altar crumbled and the mountain shook.


    <i>The damage is better than I expected.</i>


    A single attack had reduced the creature''s HP by about 10%.


    <i>I thought it would take hours to fight because of its size....</i>


    That wasn''t the case.


    <i>So even if it''s massive, it''s just a string of code after all, huh?</i>


    Even if there was a slime the size of a building, if it was level 1, then it could be hunted by a level 10 beginner.


    <i>Right. This is what a game world is like.</i>


    Level, items, skill proficiency, and a bit of control. In this irrational world, these factors could easily overturn something like physical stature.


    <i>Thinking that way, there''s no need to be scared.</i>


    Of course, arger size meant a wider attack range, which was threatening, but the initial sense of oppression and visual fear had significantly diminished.


    "Its stats must be simr to mine."


    Moreover, the Wyrm Lizard was a worm without hands or feet. In addition to that, it was now a patient of food poisoning.


    <i>There¡¯s not much to it after all.</i>


    Regaining confidence, Kai gripped his mace and charged at the creature.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    He then began to climb the Wyrm Lizard''s scales as if rock-climbing.


    <i>The scales make it easier to climb.</i>


    It was almost as if it had been designed for this purpose. And in fact, it was. Though it was a lucky coincidence, Kai was currently conquering the Wyrm Lizard in a highly efficient manner.


    ¡°Krrrrgh!¡±


    The Wyrm Lizard thrashed violently as Kai climbed up its body. Each shake felt like riding a roller coaster, but Kai fiercely held onto the scales. Eventually, Kai reached the head of the Wyrm Lizard. As he panted, he saw a pair of antennae on top of the creature''s head.


    <i>Those look like its weak points.</i>


    Unlike the body covered in hard scales, the long antennae seemed vulnerable to attacks. Kai didn''t hesitate to strike at the antennae.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve attacked the weak point. You¡¯ve inflicted 1,150 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve attacked the weak point. You¡¯ve inflicted 1,217 damage]</strong>


    <strong>[Triple damage applied! You¡¯ve inflicted 3,519 damage.]</strong>


    The Wyrm Lizard''s HP began to plummet rapidly! Kai swung his mace around like a fish in water.


    ¡°Krnnng!¡±


    The Wyrm Lizard tried desperately to shake Kai off, but Kai refused to fall.


    <i>The moment I let go, it''s over.</i>


    There was no guarantee he could climb back up.


    <i>So, since I''m up here, I''ll finish it.</i>


    Terrified by Kai''s stubbornness, the Wyrm Lizard chose to flee. One of the cowardly characteristics of <i>MID Online''s</i> monsters was to run away when the fight turned against them.


    ¡°Kragh...!¡±


    The Wyrm Lizard retreated back into the hole it hade from.


    <i>If I fall, it''s over!</i>


    Desperately searching for something to grasp, Kai grabbed the creature''s antennae.


    ¡°Krnnng!?¡± Startled by having its vital point grabbed, the Wyrm Lizard began to go down faster. ¡°Krrgh!¡±


    The descent was rough, colliding with protruding rocks and stones, causing Kai to lose health.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You tripped over a rock. You¡¯ve received 50 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You smashed into a rock. You¡¯ve received 120 collision damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You were stabbed by a stone. You¡¯ve received 170 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have developed tetanus. You will receive 100 damage per second.]</strong>


    ¡°....¡±


    Just before Kai became the first yer to die from tetanus, the long hole ended.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Dust filled the air when the Wyrm Lizardnded.


    Coughing, Kai immediately checked his HP. Even using the Wyrm Lizard as a cushion, his remaining HP was just 2%.


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth! Sunlight''s Warmth!"


    After hastily healing, Kai remained wary of the Wyrm Lizard. "Is it dead?"


    Kai poked the creature''s scales with his mace, but there was no movement.


    ¡°Phew.¡±


    Finally, he let out a sigh of relief and looked at his XP bar.


    <i>...Wait, it''s the same.</i>


    A chill ran down his spine as he realized something was wrong. If the Wyrm Lizard had died, he should have received XP points.


    <i>It''s not dead...!</i>


    Kai quickly turned around and cast Holy Explosion simultaneously.


    ¡°Krooaar!¡±


    Just as Kai turned, he was faced with the giant open mouth and densely packed teeth of the Wyrm Lizard. He finished the casting just before it swallowed him whole.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    A beam of light pierced through the creature''s insides.


    <i>Vrrrrr!</i>


    The Wyrm Lizard''s head tilted to one side as it trembled, then it copsed raising a cloud of dust.


    Catching his breath, Kai remained on guard. This time, however, a notification appeared, confirming the Wyrm Lizard was indeed dead.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 stat points]</strong>


    <strong>[You single-handedly defeated the ruler of Frica Mountains, Wyrm Lizard. +150 Fame]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: ¡°Wyrm Lizard yer.¡±]</strong>


    ¡°Phew....¡± Sighing with relief, Kai finally sat down on the ground.


    Despite the great sacrifice of Tom, he had managed to defeat a level 65 Wyrm Lizard alone. The fact filled Kai with a sense of pride.


    "Anyway, Wyrm Lizard yer, huh? That''s a title I''ve never heard of before..."


    His eyes widened as he immediately checked the title summary.


    <strong><u>[Wyrm Lizard yer]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: Title bestowed upon a yer under Lv.55 who defeats the Wyrm Lizard on their own.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 Stamina (This effect persists even when the title is not equipped.)</strong>


    "A special title?!" Kai eximed in disbelief.


    He read and reread the description of the title.


    <i>Special titles are supposed to be the exclusive titles of rankers. But I''ve got one now?</i>


    It was known that <i>MID Online</i> had over 500 million registered users. They leveled up, equipped simr items, and learned almost identical skills.


    At this point, the developers at Pegasus pondered, <i>If everyone bes the same, what fun is there in the game?</i>


    They wanted <i>MID Online</i> to always dominate the top spot and therefore introduced a unique system, the special title system.


    Just like the name, they were special titles given to those who achieved particr feats. While there were countless special titles, obtaining duplicates was impossible. In other words, the Wyrm Lizard yer title was now exclusively Kai''s in the entire world.


    Kai''s eyes sparkled. As he said, special titles were said to be a system meant only for rankers. Only those who had satisfied both conditions of being the first and the best could obtain such a premier title.


    <i>I thought all the worthwhile achievements had been scooped up by rankers....</i>


    But upon reflection, that assumption was wed from the start. Rankers always checked andpeted against each other. A day, even a few hours without hunting, could make them slip down the rankings. Rankers were people who had to live their entire lives in fiercepetition.


    <i>People like them would never take a gamble.</i>


    Would they really believe that defeating a Wyrm Lizard alone would grant them a special title?


    <i>No, they wouldn''t.</i>


    They didn¡¯t move without certainty because a single death could cause them tremendous loss. For rankers, time was money and more precious than gold.


    "Now that I think about it, there''s still a chance for me too."


    There were special titles overlooked by rankers and those beyond the reach of neers. He had to monopolize them. That was his only breakthrough to chase the rankers closely.


    "Wyrm Lizard yer, huh..."


    Rankers were desperate for special titles for one reason. Ordinary titles could only be equipped one at a time. Of course, the effects of unequipped titles weren¡¯t applied, a basic fact! However, special titles were different. They could apply their effects to the character even without being equipped.


    "Disappointing it''s just Stamina, but a 10 point boost is still worth it."


    Kai then checked his stat window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 55</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 14,300</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 21,500</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 65 Stamina: 143</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 60 Agility: 60</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 215 Benevolence: 33</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 45</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown -9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received -3%</strong>


    The special title had boosted his Stamina stat by 10 points, which was a noticeable increase.


    <i>Who would think this is the stat window of a Cleric?</i>


    He could probably punch out an average level 30 Warrior!


    "But it doesn''t end here."


    There was still loot left by the Wyrm Lizard.


    Kai approached the Wyrm Lizard and lightly touched the copsed polygon mass.


    <strong>[+50 Wyrm Lizard Scales]</strong>


    <strong>[+45 Wyrm Lizard Leather]</strong>


    <strong>[+75 Wyrm Lizard Teeth.]</strong>


    <strong>[+87 Coagted Wyrm Lizard Blood]</strong>


    "Monsters are money. That''s no lie."


    These materials could be used to craft new equipment and potions, and those items would turn into money, fattening his wallet!


    Satisfied, Kai smiled as he collected the loot and turned around. "Alright, then...."


    <i>Shwoom!</i>


    A basic Cleric skill, Sacred re, rose from his palm, illuminating the dark interior.


    The Wyrm Lizard''s nest was a cave formed like arge semi-circr dome. There was one path leading out.


    <i>I wonder if it''s the same ce.</i>


    If it was indeed the same ce where he underwent Helik¡¯s Trial, he had something to do.

 Chapter 19: Frica’s Hero (1)

    <h4>Chapter 19: Frica¡¯s Hero (1)</h4>


    The Sacred re eliminated the darkness, but the cave''s peculiar quietness made Kai get chills.


    <i>Is this what it feels like to explore an abandoned house?</i>


    He had never done it, but he imagined exploring a spooky, abandoned house in a remote valley. For Kai, who couldn''t watch a horror movie without a cushion to hide behind, it was an unwee ce.


    A familiar spot caught Kai''s eye as he walked slowly inside.


    "This is...."


    Kai dashed forward and looked around, then nodded.


    <i>I¡¯m certain. This is the wall where Deyrok leaned against during the Helik¡¯s Trial.</i>


    It was more than just a simr-looking ce as the position and appearance of the rocks were exactly the same.


    "But...."


    There was no trace of the nket Deyrok had been lying on or the campfire that had been lit.


    Kai went deeper inside. With his great sense of direction, it wasn''t difficult for him to reach the spot where he first met Amy.


    "There¡¯s nothing here."


    No body, no bones. Not a single trace was visible.


    <i>It''s the same space, but it was all an illusion.</i>


    A sense of relief washed over him.


    "Phew, that¡¯s a relief."


    The fact that it was all an illusion meant that Amy didn''t die on this cold floor at the prime of her life.


    <i>Now....</i>


    A smile formed on Kai''s lips as he turned his head. The portal leading to the Forgotten Temple was still glowing.


    <i>The ce itself is the same.</i>


    Entering without hesitation, he found himself in a familiar ce.


    Kai then familiarly summoned his minions.


    <strong>[6 Gnoll Skeletons are summoned.]</strong>


    This was enough. Kai cast buffs on them.


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    <i>Tap, tap, tap!</i>


    The Gnoll Skeletons moved their jawbones as if they were happy!


    Kai smiled approvingly and gave a nod. "Alright, now search."


    <i>Click, click?</i>


    "Our goal is items."


    Upon receiving the order, the Gnoll Skeletons began to search the spacious room. They thoroughly searched, turning over copsed walls and broken stones. After about 3 minutes, one of the Gnoll Skeletons came running to Kai with a rather luxurious-looking helmet.


    "Oh!" Kai was certain. He then smiled, remembering it was Au''s helmet. "Item information."


    <strong><u>[Steel Helmet]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 320</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 289</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 45+ Strength 93+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 2/84</strong>


    "Of course."


    A level 45 Rare helmet! A Rare item that could easily be worth at least a million won.


    Kai praised the Gnoll Skeleton that found the helmet, "Good job. You''re exempt from the search operation. Take a good rest."


    <i>nk, nk!</i>


    The Gnoll Skeleton''s shoulder bones wiggled with joy! Seeing this, the movements of the other Gnoll Skeletons began to speed up.


    <i>As expected, healthypetition does indeed improve efficiency.</i>


    Kai waited leisurely with a satisfied smile as the remaining two Rare items also came into his possession.


    <strong><u>[Shoes of the Wind]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 95</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 87</strong>


    <strong>Movement Speed +25</strong>


    <strong>Agility +3</strong>


    <strong>Shoes that are faintly imbued with the power of the wind. Wearing them increases your movement speed.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 46+ Agility: 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 15/97</strong>


    <strong><u>[Schrly Gloves]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 87</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 82</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power +5%</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence +2</strong>


    <strong>Gloves favored by the renowned schr and Wizard Stigma during his lectures. Infused with his experience, they slightly enhance the wearer''s spellpletion rate.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 43+ Intelligence 90+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 7/79</strong>


    ".....!"


    Kai finally understood why they were so desperate to get him.


    "If they dropped items like these, it''s understandable why they would go mad."


    Of course, that wasn''t enough to forgive them.


    "Now then, let''s go."


    These items were now destined to find new owners.


    "I wonder how much they''ll sell for."


    Of course, they would go to a wealthy new owner.


    ***


    Kai couldn''t rx on his way down the mountain, worried that the Crimson Sunset guild could have sent other members after him. Therefore, it was almost lunchtime by the time he arrived back at Frica Vige.


    "At least I made it back safely," Kai sighed with relief and took another look at his inventory.


    The sight of the sparkling rare items made his stomach full.


    <i>I''ll have to list them at the auction houseter.</i>


    The auction house kept both the seller''s and buyer''s information anonymous. However, Kai suspected that the area around the auction house would be swarmed with members of the Crimson Sunset guild.


    <i>There''s no need to stir up trouble.</i>


    The value of the items wouldn''t decrease if he sold them a few dayster.


    Kai decided to sell the items safely elsewhere. With slight disappointment, Kai headed straight to the cksmith.


    Maxim was sitting on a chair, wiping sweat and quenching his thirst. "Here again? Seems like I''m seeing you quite often."


    "Haha, seems like it. I''ve brought some good materials today."


    "Oh, really? Let''s see the materials first, then."


    cksmith Maxim closely examined the loot left by the wyrm lizard.


    After carefully inspecting them, he shook his head, "I''m giving this advice because it¡¯s you. Take these materials to the city. There, you''ll be able to make higher quality equipment than what we can produce here. These materials are not something that can be fully handled in a ce with such poor facilities like this countryside."


    "Oh...!"


    In other words, Max¡¯s equipment wasn''t sufficient to fully handle these materials.


    Kai collected the materials with a disappointed expression, "Then I''ll head to the city as you said."


    "Honestly, it''s a pity for me too. But it''s a better choice for you."


    "Thank you for the advice."


    "What for. If you act in other cities as you do here, plenty of people will like you there too."


    It was advice that wouldn''t have been offered if Kai''s reputation in the vige wasn''t high. Grateful, Kai smiled and left the cksmith.


    <i>Then there''s no more reason to stay in this vige.</i>


    If he reported thepletion of the quest to Chief Bunther, there was no reason to stay in a ce lurking with the Crimson Sunset guild members. His level was suitable for moving to the next area as well, so it was time to venture into the broader world.


    "First, I need toplete the quest."


    Kai made his way to the vige chief''s house.


    ***


    "Thank you, truly! You are a hero to our vige!"


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You sessfullypleted the quest: A Vige in Crisis!]</strong>


    <strong>[+110,000 XP]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 10 gold.]</strong>


    <strong>[Gained free ess to all Frica Vige shops.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: ¡°Hero of Frica Vige.¡±]</strong>


    Kai smiled back at Chief Bunther, who was hugging him.


    "It was something I had to do. The vigers shouldn''t have to live in fear forever."


    "Oh, of course! But who else could have done such a marvelous job!" Tears welled up in Bunther''s eyes as he patted Kai''s hand. "If there¡¯s anything you need, just let me know. I''ll help with whatever I can!"


    "Actually, I was thinking of moving my base to another city after this request."


    "Oh darn...." Bunther genuinely looked saddened. "Do you have a city in mind?"


    "Um..."


    Kai thought of a city nearby where he couldfortably level up and which was within his level range.


    <i>The Great Lord''s city of Barden is huge and convenient for activities, but it''s too far and my level is too low for that. So, Glendale, being closer and moderately sized, seems like the choice.</i>


    Kai made up his mind and said, "I think I''ll probably head toward Glendale first."


    "Oh! That''s great!" Bunther''s face lit up, and he sat down at his desk, opening a drawer. "I happen to be quite acquainted with the lord governing Glendale."


    "You, sir?" Kai looked surprised.


    Glendale was a significantlyrge city, notparable to Barden Castle, but still substantial. Therefore, it was quite unexpected for the chief of Frica Vige to have connections with Glendale''s lord.


    Bunther handed over an envelope with a proud expression, "The current lord of Glendale, Baron Arsen, visited Frica Vige when he was young to visit Sir Patrick''s grave. That encounter has somehowsted to this day."


    "Sir Patrick? Who is that?"


    "Oh dear, you''ve never heard of him?" Chief Bunther tilted his head in confusion before exining, "My apologies. I assumed you''d know as a Cleric of the Sris Church... Sir Patrick is called a legendary Pdin of the Sris Church. He was one of the heroes who emerged when the demonic armies invaded the continent hundreds of years ago. Moreover, he''s the one who founded this vige."


    "A legend of the Sris Church..."


    "His grave is grandly built near the vige. Therefore, those who admire him or Clerics in training visit at least once when they go on pilgrimages to the holy sites.¡±


    "I see," Kai politely responded and received the envelope Bunther was offering. It was a luxurious piece of stationery, sealed with wax, quite out of ce for a rural vige. "What is this?"


    "It''s a letter of rmendation. If you take it to Baron Arsen, he will surely assist you."


    Kai was surprised.


    In other words, this envelope was a quest item that could facilitate a meeting with an aristocrat. For a yer, who was often treated no better than amon soldier, meeting an aristocrat was as difficult as reaching for the stars. And now Kai could meet a noble, not just any noble, but the Baron who governed Glendale!


    <i>It¡¯s blooming. My life''s flower is blooming brightly!</i>


    The flower that had been nourished on water alone for twenty-two years was finally blooming its splendid petals.


    Kai looked at Bunther with eyes full of affection. "I will never forget your kindness, Chief."


    "It is I who will never forget your efforts, thank you. You are always wee here."


    The vige chief saw Kai off to the front of his house.


    "Oh, by the way, Chief."


    "Hm? What is it?" At Bunther''s inquiry, Kai whispered something into his ear. "I see... Crimson Sunset, you say? Understood. I''ll keep an eye on them."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The influence of the Crimson Sunset guild in Frica Vige has significantly decreased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Vige Chief Bunther''s affinity toward the Crimson Sunset guild members has dropped significantly.]</strong>


    "Thank you."


    Satisfied, Kai left the vige chief''s house. Of course, he didn''t immediately leave the vige. He made a round of the vige, greeting all the NPCs he knew, and took advantage of the free shop use reward to gather as many potions and repair kits as his conscience allowed.


    <i>Now, I''m ready.</i>


    Afterpleting all his preparations, Kai climbed a hill where the whole vige of Frica could be seen.


    "Frica Vige...."


    He had entered the vige in histe 30s level-wise and lived there until now, level 55. It was also the area where he had spent the longest time during his gaming experience. More importantly, it was the ce where his life had changed.


    "Thanks for everything.¡±


    This ce held many memories. He had formed parties with many yers for hunting, and he knew the names of all the vige NPCs. Even the sights of gnolls he had grown tired of somehow felt nostalgic now that he was leaving.


    <i>But now, it''s time to leave.</i>


    Where there were meetings, there were partings, and with partings, came new meetings.


    "...."


    No longer was there the naive neer who first entered the vige on the hilltop. Instead, there only stood an excellent adventurer who had learned much, realized more, and be experienced.


    Frica¡¯s hero, who was taking onest look at the vigendscape, quietly disappeared.

 Chapter 20: Frica’s Hero (2)

    <h4>Chapter 20: Frica¡¯s Hero (2)</h4>


    California, USA was where many gamingpanies established their base. Pegasus, which had be one of the world¡¯s leadingpanies, was also located there.


    The meeting room in the high-rise building, where the West''s freedom and sophistication perfectly blended, had an atmosphere that was considerably heavier than usual.


    "Have you looked into it?"


    When the middle-aged blonde Caucasian seated at the head of the table asked, and a young beautiful woman nodded, presenting her report.


    "Yes. The yer''s name is Han Jung-Woo. He was level 46 when he changed his ss to a Sric Cleric. Currently, he is level 55 with 70% XP, and his activity record has been organized on the screen."


    <i>Beep.</i>


    As the woman clicked a remote, the screen lit up with neatly organized data. All of it was about Kai''s good deeds and quests in the game.


    "Hmm...."


    Millionaire and CEO of Pegasus, Marco Fredrick, watched the screen for a while before slowly turning his head. "What do you think, Doctor?"


    ¡°....¡±


    The man Marco questioned was an elder with white hair and beard.


    After staring at the screen for a while, the old man said critically, "A waste of ss."


    "Hm? That''s harsher than I expected. Why?"


    "For a young man of this era, he''s quite virtuous. That''s probably why he was able to obtain that ss." The elderly man irritably took off his sses and red at the screen. "But that''s as far as it goes. His actions after obtaining the ss are disappointing."


    "Hahaha. There aren''t many yers that satisfy you, Doctor, are there? Please calm down. So, in your opinion, what''s his potential for growth?"


    "Growth potential?" the Doctor scoffed. "Well, if that fool doesn''t find the right path eventually, he''ll face Helik''s judgment. The Sric Cleric is a profession that requires constant acts of benevolence."


    "I see. That''s somewhat relieving, then."


    "Yes. Moreover, since it wasn''t acquired through a normal route, the ss''s power will only be about half of its original potential."


    Hearing those words, Marco sighed in relief. The early release of the Mythic-ss job had been a headache.


    <i>But if Doctor Jim is so confident, I guess I can stop worrying.</i>


    The elderly man in front of him was Jim Lewis. He was the genius scientist of the 21st century who had independently developed the super A.I. Ramus that operated <i>MID Online</i>, and was the game''s general executive director. Therefore, his assurance was unquestionable.


    "Then let''s move on to the second report."


    The screen, previously filled with Kai''s activity records, changed. Next, a figure appeared, wearing a Full te Mail, a possession typically associated with Knights. Covered in ck from head to toe, the term ck Knight suited no one better.


    "The following report is about the yer Yoo Ha-Rin."


    The woman''s report continued for about ten minutes, and the expressions of Marco and Doctor Jim hardened.


    Marco asked with a serious look, "Doctor Jim, what do you think about this woman?"


    "A genius." Doctor Jim confirmed with a decisive voice, "Of course beyond me, and even beyond what Ramus could imagine, she''s a genius."


    "Aplete contrast to Mr. Han''s evaluation. Of course, being ranked number one, she must have some talent..."


    "No, it''s not just because she''s ranked number one. She has athletic abilities surpassing those of most athletes, abat sense rare among modern people, and a sharp mind. It makes you wonder if she was born for this game."


    Compared to the harsh words given to Han Jung-Woo, this was high praise. It carried even more weight because it came especially from Doctor Jim, who didn¡¯t easilypliment people.


    "She knows how to win in fights, without fail."


    "What do you mean?"


    Doctor Jimughed as if he found Marco¡¯s question funny, "Without getting hit even once, she makes all her attacks sessful."


    "Isn''t that impossible?"


    "Indeed, it was impossible."


    Doctor Jim''s gaze shifted to Yoo Ha-Rin on the screen.


    "Don''t tell me... are you saying she can do it?"


    "<i>MID Online</i> has been released for just four months. Yoo Ha-Rin started a monthter than others but has reached first rank. Closing a one-month gap isn''t something easy to do."


    "Hmm. The rate of content consumption is the issue," Marco sighed deeply, pressing his temples with a troubled expression. "Why do such yers only emerge from Korea?"


    To his question, the young beautiful woman shrugged and said, "Well, because Koreans live in Korea."


    "....."


    "....."


    Neither Marco nor Doctor Jim could refute her statement. Korea, often called a gaming powerhouse and the country of gaming addicts, had never missed being number one in any game.


    ***


    <strong><u>[Hero of Frica Vige]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: Title given to the one who resolved a crisis in Frica Vige.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +3 All stats (This effect persists even when title is not equipped.)</strong>


    Kai smiled contentedly. He had acquired special titles in session! It was an event worth bragging about onmunity forums, even if it would be dismissed as a fabrication.


    <i>Well, I won''t talk about it anyway, so it doesn¡¯t matter.</i>


    Closing the title book, Kai opened the mini-map.


    "Glendale. It''s quite far."


    Of course, he could easily travel using a teleport gate or a Town Transportation Scroll, but such things had never been greatly associated with Kai.


    <i>They¡¯re too expensive.</i>


    He wasn''t the type to use teleportation, which could cost hundreds of thousands in cash at a time.


    Kai checked the mini-map and slowly walked. He enjoyed the scenery as he walked, fought monsters that appeared, rested by campfires, and sometimes used a music box to listen to music and enjoy the journey.


    ***


    "Hello? Can you see me? Do you see me?"


    The face of a cute girl with pink hair filled the screen.


    She then greeted her audience with much excitement, "Hello, everyone! It''s Aris, sniffing out exclusives for you as always!"


    She made various cute faces, typical of an inte streamer. Interacting with viewers in real-time and dealing with unexpected situations were the charms of streaming. She had a good reputation among streamers for her cute appearance and rtively smooth hosting.


    -You look pretty today too, unnie!


    -Hi.


    - Where is that?


    -Stop pretending to be cute lol.


    ?But the thing is she really is cute.


    -Isn''t that Frica Vige? I went there a while ago, seems right.


    As she exchanged greetings with her viewers, her eyes sparkled. "Oh? Some of you already know! Yes, this is indeed Frica Vige in the Kingdom of Rashion! Today, Aris hase here to personally investigate an intriguing rumor. Ta-da!"


    A microphone, origin unknown, popped out of her inventory.


    The viewers burst intoughter.


    -Lol, when did you even make that?


    -Do they make mics at a cksmith''s?


    -Please,mission me, Colt, for it. My crafting skill is intermediate level 3. I¡¯ll offer you a good price.


    -What''s the intriguing rumor?


    Aris waved her microphone when she got the reaction she hoped for. "The interesting rumor is... that a new hero has emerged in Frica Vige!"


    The viewers'' responses heated up instantly. The chat scrolled rapidly, making even the skilled streamer sweat to keep up.


    "Who could be the hero of Frica! I, Aris, will interview the NPCs to find out."


    She roamed around Frica Vige, asking NPCs about the vige''s hero.


    "Hm? Oh, are you talking about Kai? He was, well, a person of great character."


    "Indeed! Not only was he outstanding, but he was also strong."


    "He single-handedly defeated the Wyrm Lizard that was a nuisance to the vige! Finding an adventurer stronger than him in this area probably won''t be easy."


    Aris hopped excitedly, encouraging responses from her viewers, "Wow! Did you hear that, everyone? He''s not only of great character but also strong! To defeat a Wyrm Lizard alone, if he''s also handsome, that would be perfect! What could his ss be?"


    Perhaps she had thoroughly prepared beforehand, she pulled out a chart from her inventory.


    "Here, you can see the distribution of sses that have acquired the title of hero of the vige so far. As you can see, Warriors, Knights, and Wizards make up an overwhelming majority, with archers and rogues being quite rare, right? Then what exactly could be the ss of our hero Kai? I will personally visit the vige''s ss tower to find out!"


    Perhaps energized by her own investigation, she excitedly searched for the vige''s ss tower. However, despite visiting the Wizard tower, the Warrior guild, and the ss tower of Rogues, she couldn''t gather information about Kai.


    "Wait. I''m sure I''ve checked almost everything, right? Archers and Warriors, Wizards and Knights... Rogues, Bards, and even the crafting guilds..."


    As Aris tilted her head, puzzled, a viewer donated and said,


    <strong>[SpaceHero donated 50,000 won.]</strong>


    <strong>[SpaceHero: You haven''t visited the temple yet, right? Am I right?]</strong>


    "Thank you for the 50,000 won donation! But a temple?" as Aris awkwardly responded, the viewers burst intoughter.


    -A temple, meaning a Cleric? Logically, could a Cleric even be the hero of a vige lol


    ?Could be a Pdin though.


    ?Nope, neither is possible.


    -Considering the NPCs'' reactions, this yer named Kai is said to be good-natured and strong, but being a Cleric is a stretch.


    -There could be a chance of a battle Priest, right? As someone said, maybe even a Pdin.


    ?It''s definitely not a Cleric, and the chances of being a defense-focused Pdin seem slim.


    -Having a Wizard in my party rather than a battle Cleric is 100 times more beneficial.


    -I''ve yed both a Cleric and a battle Cleric and quit, so I know well that Clerics are hard to level up unless pushed by a named guild.


    -Close your eyes. It¡¯s dark, right? That''s the future of a Cleric.


    Eventually, both Aris and the viewers harbored doubts.


    "Then, assuming I''m fooled, let''s visit the temple.... Oh! A new update just came in! Thetest hot hunting ground, the Forest of Spiders, has had a series of disappearances...."


    Some of the viewers who watched the stream that day talked about the hero of Frica in themunity, but their discussions were drowned out by news of famous rankers and various gamey tips, fading away without a trace.

 Chapter 21: Glendale (1)

    <h4>Chapter 21: Glendale (1)</h4>


    "I see it!"


    By the time lunch had passed, the gray walls of a fortress were clearly visible below the peak from where Kai was. The sophisticated walls gave off a sense of civilization at first nce.


    <i>That''s Glendale.</i>


    Barely containing his excitement, Kai quickly descended the mountain and approached the city gates. As expected of a city, there was a crowd trying to enter so Kai had to line up.


    <i>Most are NPCs, but there''s also a significant number of yers.</i>


    This meant there were many yers over level 50.


    When it was his turn, Kai approached the city guard with a slightly nervous expression.


    "Name."


    "My name is Kai."


    "Hmm, pass."


    "...."


    The inspection was so superficial it was almost pointless! After the disappointingly trivial checkpoint, Kai entered the city with a somewhat exhausted expression. However, the moment he stepped onto the city streets, his lifeless expression instantly revived.


    "Wow...."


    The streets, though not as smooth as modern asphalt roads, were meticulously paved with evenly spaced carved stones and even had perfect sewage systems. It was a world apart from Frica, where heavy rain turned the ground into a muddy mess, making rain boots a necessity.


    "Th-this is the civilization of a city...."


    Although he lived in Seoul in reality, in the game, Kai was a hillbilly who had juste to the city for the first time. As he looked around, he became overwhelmed by the crowd filling the streets.


    <i>I need to meet Baron Arsen first.</i>


    Bunther had said that using his letter of rmendation would allow Kai to meet Arsen. Trusting solely in that, Kai had walked for days toward Glendale. Now it was time to receive his reward.


    "The baron''s mansion should be...."


    After checking the city''s information board and updating his map, Kai headed toward the mansion. As he walked down the street, the nutty and savory smell from the street vendors stimted his nose. As if enchanted, Kai approached a vendor, purchased some food, and then took a big bite.


    "It¡¯s delicious...."


    There were chicken skewers and candied pineapples he couldn''t eat in Frica! Especially the pork belly¡ªit had been grilled instantly with fire magic and was so good he could never get sick of it.


    "Ah, <i>MID Online</i> indeed. There''s research saying the global obesity rate is decreasing, and that might just be true."


    In the game, they could eat all the delicious food¡ªso delicious that their tongue could dance for joy if it could¡ªfor a cheap price and not gain any weight.


    After indulging himself, Kai headed up toward Baron Arsen''s mansion on a hill. Catching his breath from the climb, Kai nced back. The neat and tidy buildings characteristic of Glendale''sndscape all came into view.


    "What a splendid city."


    The mansion of the man who governed such a city was no less remarkable. The two-story white mansion reminded Kai of the White House in America.


    <i>I never thought I''d feel intimidated by a building.</i>


    It was a different feeling from the enormous modern skyscrapers. Artistic and fancy, the mansion seemed as if it belonged in a picture book.


    There was a two-meter-high fence around the mansion¡¯s garden and two soldiers were guarding the main gate.


    Kai swallowed nervously and approached them.


    <i>ng!</i>


    "Stop. State your affiliation and identity."


    The two soldiers blocked Kai''s way as they spoke simultaneously. He could feel confidence in their strength and pride in their affiliation from their voices.


    "I''vee to see Baron Arsen."


    "Hmm?"


    One of the soldiers observed Kai from head to toe and replied, "An adventurer?"


    "Yes."


    "Baron Arsen is a busy man. He doesn''t meet just anyone who wishes to see him. It''s best you leave while you''re being asked nicely."


    Most yers who sought to meet with an aristocrat would have experienced such a situation.


    <i>Normally, this is where they give up.</i>


    But Kai was different. He pulled out the letter of rmendation from his inventory and presented it to the soldiers.


    "What is this?"


    "A letter of rmendation from the chief of Frica Vige. He said this would allow me to see Baron Arsen...?"


    Of course, Kai wasn''t certain. It was possible that Baron Arsen hadpletely forgotten about Chief Bunther.


    As the soldiers examined the letter closely, they conversed.


    "Hmm. Frica Vige is certainly a five-day trip from here...."


    "Shouldn''t we consult the butler about this?"


    "I''ll go check."


    After about five minutes, one of the soldiers returned with an elderly gentleman dressed as a butler.


    "This is the adventurer, sir."


    "Hmm, a rmendation from Chief Bunther. It''s the first time he''s rmended someone." The elderly gentleman stroked his beard and looked at Kai, and then his eyes widened. "Wait, if you''re an adventurer dressed in ck armor... could you be Kai, the adventurer who single-handedly defeated the Wyrm Lizard, known as the Peril of Frica Vige?"


    "Oh, he single-handedly defeated a Wyrm Lizard?"


    "So the hero of Frica Vige is...."


    The soldiers'' gazes toward Kai changed. They had thought him to be an ordinary adventurer, but he was far more remarkable than they had expected.


    Of course, Kai defeating the Wyrm Lizard on his own was due to good luck, but even with that in consideration, not many among the world''s over 500 million yers could achieve that.


    "I was fortunate to be able to defeat the Wyrm Lizard."


    "You''re also humble! Please,e inside," the butler said as he led Kai into the mansion.


    In the end, it was the listener who judged what their impression was of someone, and the butler took Kai¡¯s words as him being humble.


    <i>Creeeak.</i>


    When he entered the mansion with the butler, Kai saw that the interior was as luxurious as he had expected. Expensive-looking art and paintings decorated the hallways, and the carpets on the floor were as soft as walking on clouds.


    <i>Aren¡¯t barons at the lowest rank among nobles?</i>


    Kai was quite surprised. In his mind, nobles were just NPCs with territories. Nothing more, nothing less.


    <i>It seems I need to adjust my thoughts a bit.</i>


    The mansion of a baron, supposedly the lowest rank among the nobility, was more magnificent than imagined. Therefore, Kai slightly elevated his valuation of nobility.


    <i>This is why they say rtionships with NPCs are important.</i>


    There were hundreds ofmunity forums where strategies for <i>MID Online</i> were discussed. Each forum offered different directions and methods in their strategy posts, but there was one thing that all of them said¡ªmake friends with the NPCs!


    <i>There was a reason for it.</i>


    If he had ignored Bunther when he had spoken to him and had gone hunting instead, the Wyrm Lizard wouldn''t have been defeated, and he wouldn''t have met the lord of Glendale.


    <i>This is... this is like the butterfly effect.</i>


    There was a superstition that a butterfly''s tiny wingbeat could cause a storm on the other side of the world, and a friendship with NPCs was like the butterfly effect. A small act that continuously triggers a chain reaction, leading to bigger rewards and quests.


    Realizing this fact first handedly, Kai nodded and followed the butler into the living room where he was asked to take a seat while waiting.


    <i>Let''s think things through first.</i>


    There were mainly two things he needed to gain through his meeting with Baron Arsen. The first was a quest and not just any quest. Kai was aiming for a rare quest that ordinary yers couldn''t easily obtain, one avable only through Baron Arsen.


    <i>The second would, of course, be a dungeon.</i>


    A dungeon. There was a saying that raids and dungeons were the flowers of RPG games. Kai understood the meaning of this saying while conquering the Tomb of the Gnolls.


    <i>I haven''t experienced raids yet, so I can''t say much about that, but....</i>


    He recalled the XP, gold, and items he gained from clearing the Tomb of the Gnolls.


    <i>Now I know why information about dungeons is traded at high prices.</i>


    A map indicating the exact location of a dungeon was worth a lot, and even hints about the location of a dungeon were traded for money in this world.


    <i>So any bit of information about dungeons, even if small, is a jackpot.</i>


    He could conquer it himself or sell the information at a high price if the situation wasn''t favorable.


    After about thirty minutes, the butler reappeared. "Baron Arsen calls for you."


    Following the butler, they walked through hallways and stairs to the fourth floor. As they reached the room at the end of the corridor, two armed knights were firmly guarding the entrance. The presence of these knights was significantly different from those guarding the entrance of the mansion!


    Facing them, Kai instinctively looked at the door.


    <i>This is it.</i>


    This was the office of the lord ruling Glendale, Baron Arsen. He could feel it through his skin.


    <i>Knock knock.</i>


    "My lord, the adventurer I mentioned is here."


    "Let him in."


    As the butler opened the door, Kai gave a brief nod to the butler and entered.


    The office was filled with elegant wooden furniture, and a middle-aged man sat at a desk.


    <i>He looks more ordinary than I expected.</i>


    The typical image of nobility was either a cold and stern person or a fat pig. However, Baron Arsen had a warm appearance with more of an impression of a merchant than a noble.


    He stood up. "Are you Kai?"


    "Yes, I am!"


    As Kai stood rigidly like a recruit, Baron Arsen approached with a heartyugh, "Don''t be so stiff. Rx. Although it''s not a vige I govern, I wouldn''t mistreat a hero who helped Frica Vige."


    "Thank you."


    "Nothing of it, rather, it is I who should be saying thank you. I had heard about the troubles in Frica Vige early on. Chief Bunther said he was worried sick because of the Wyrm Lizard."


    "Yes, it''s not exactly a vige where outstanding adventurers reside."


    "Unfortunately, that is true. Chief Bunther and I have known each other since I was young, so I wanted to help, but... Frica Vige belongs to Count Barden''s territory, so I couldn¡¯t easily send my soldiers."


    "Oh, I see there was such an issue."


    "It was frustrating, and then I heard a single adventurer had defeated the Wyrm Lizard. I personally wanted to meet that person myself...." Baron Arsen trailed off, looking at Kai with a pleased smile. "I never thought Chief Bunther would write a rmendation letter. It feels like receiving an unexpected gift."


    "Thank you for your kind words."


    "Oh, look at me, keeping a guest standing for so long. Please, have a seat."


    He offered the sofa to Kai in a friendly manner, much like a friendly neighborhood uncle.


    <i>Is this how nobles usually are?</i>


    Kai tilted his head as the attitude of Baron Arsen was far different from what he had imagined.


    As if his thoughts showed on his face, Baron Arsen smiled, "It seems you find my demeanor not quite noble-like."


    "N-no, it''s not that," Kai hastily denied, shaking his head.


    But Baron Arsenughed heartily, "Haha! Your reaction is funny. Don''t worry about it, what can we do when that''s the truth?"


    ¡°Haha....¡± Kai awkwardlyughed along.


    Baron Arsen then leaned backfortably on the sofa and said, "Well, now that we''ve exchanged pleasantries, let''s get straight to the point.¡±

 Chapter 22: Glendale (2)

    <h4>Chapter 22: Glendale (2)</h4>


    ¡°By the point you mean...?"


    "Didn''t youe looking for me because you wanted something from me in the first ce?" Baron Arsen asked casually with a smile.


    But Kai tensed up immediately.


    <i>No matter howfortable and easy-going he seems, this man is indeed a noble.</i>


    The NPCs of <i>MID Online</i> were strictly divided by social ss, and the man before him was the owner of thend Kai was currently on.


    <i>No one knows what thoughts might be lurking beneath that seemingly friendly face.</i>


    Gulping nervously, Kai racked his brain.


    <i>Would he like it if I beat around the bush? No, perhaps he dislikes anything that seems pitiful.</i>


    After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Kai cautiously said, "Yes, to be honest, you are right, Baron Arsen."


    "That means you indeed want something from me, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Hah, I like the frankness. Speak your mind directly."


    Kai clenched his fist. His expectation that the baron would not like beating around the bush was exactly right.


    Feeling less tense than before, Kai said morefortably, "First, I would like to obtain information about a dungeon. Additionally, if you are troubled by something, I would like to help resolve that worry."


    "That''s not a difficult request."


    Baron Arsen showed a positive attitude, brightening Kai''splexion.


    <i>I didn''t expect things to go this smoothly!</i>


    However, Kai''s joy didn¡¯tst long as the next words from Baron Arsen made his expression beplex.


    "But it seems you haven''t heard this from Chief Bunther?"


    "Pardon? Heard of what?"


    "Anyone whoes with his rmendation must pass a test I set to receive my help."


    "I- I haven''t heard of that before...."


    "Ha ha. It seems the Chief Bunther is getting quite old to have skipped such important information." Baron Arsen sipped his tea and then continued, "If you find my test somewhat daunting, feel free to decline. However, in that case, you won''t be able to get what you want."


    "Umm...." Kai groaned at the unexpected situation.


    He had thought Chief Bunther was old, but it had never urred to him that the chief would have forgotten something so important! However, whatever Baron Arsen could request, it was clear that in this situation, the absolute superior was not Kai but the baron.


    "I will take the test. It was greedy of me to expect to receive important information without anypensation."


    "Oh, that''s very manly of you." Baron Arsen got up from his seat with a beaming smile, "A very positive person indeed. I like that. The test is really nothing much."


    He then went straight to his desk and pulled out a portrait from a drawer.


    "Take this."


    <strong>[Milton¡¯s Wanted Poster acquired.]</strong>


    The portrait showed a stern-looking man.


    <i>What does this portrait mean?</i>


    As Kai nced at the baron, he praised the man in the portrait without hesitation. "Wow. He looks so robust, truly like a remarkable hero in which...."


    "That is the good-for-nothing man you need to catch."


    "The mustache looks quite sneaky, exactly like a petty thief''s appearance."


    As Kai abruptly changed his statement, the baron burst intoughter again, ¡°He is a good-for-nothing man who started operating an illegal gambling ring in my city. I was going to send my soldiers to deal with him, but... I would like you to take on this task instead."


    "Do I just need to capture him alive?"


    "That''s entirely up to your judgment. You may kill him if necessary."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong><u>[Glendale Security Force]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: D+</strong>


    <strong>Baron Arsen does not look kindly upon Milton, who partakes in illegal activities within his city¡¯s walls. Find Milton and teach him a lesson.</strong>


    <strong>Quest reward: Reveal the location of a dungeon / receive a hidden quest (choose one)</strong>


    <strong>Failure penalty: Receive no reward.</strong>


    After reading through the quest window, Kai nodded, "I¡¯ll do it."


    <strong>[Quest epted.]</strong>


    ***


    "Let''s see...." Kai read through the information about the scoundrel given by Baron Arsen carefully. "Milton is the owner of thergest gambling ring in Glendale."


    He had a feeling that the quest would be more troublesome than expected.


    <i>Now that I think about it, if I''m going to be soloing, I should learn at least one proper weapon skill.</i>


    The mace, the basic weapon for Clerics, was in fact not suitable for battle.


    <i>It''s hard to inflict additional damage.</i>


    If one was cut by a ded weapon, they would immediately fall into a bleeding state and suffer additional damage. However, this was not possible with a mace. Moreover, since weapons also mainly came with Holy Power and Stamina stats, Clerics equipped maces not for battle but to enhance the efficiency of their healing skills.


    <i>The most important thing is, I don''t have any skills to wield a mace yet.</i>


    Of course, in <i>MID Online</i>, skills could also be generated through repeated actions. But even in such cases, a minimum standard was needed.


    <i>In other words, the motion has to be consistent.</i>


    Swinging a weapon randomly while hunting for days on end wouldn¡¯t result in the creation of a skill.


    <i>If I''m starting from scratch, there are many more powerful weapon skills than learning the mace.</i>


    Simple examples included spearmanship and swordsmanship.


    Kai fell into thought over which weapon skill to learn.


    <i>If I''m going soloing, a sword or spear would be the most straightforward choice.</i>


    First, it was faster to consult an expert on such issues.


    Kai immediately opened the mini-map and searched for the location of the cksmith.


    <i>I should also take this opportunity to put in an order for something to be made with the wyrm lizard bones.</i>


    Maxim, the cksmith in Frica, couldn¡¯t handle these materials due to ack of skill and equipment, so he had advised Kai to seek out a cksmith in a big city.


    <i>Glendale should be a big enough city.</i>


    He could wear the usable equipment that was produced, and the rest could be sold at the auction house.


    <i>My wallet will soon be getting thicker.</i>


    Kai moved toward the cksmith, looking at the map.


    ***


    No matter the city, the sounds heard when approaching a cksmith were always the same. It was the sound of hammering iron and the sound of birth as chunks called ores transformed into equipment. That was what should be heard, but Glendale''s cksmith was different.


    "This is the first time I''ve seen such a quiet cksmith," Kai murmured, tilting his head and checking the mini-map.


    <i>The location of the cksmith is supposed to be here.</i>


    The mini-map was indeed indicating that the building in front of him was the cksmith, but the sound of hammering that should be heard, and the furnace that should be emitting smoke, were silent.


    Then, the door of the cksmith swung open roughly.


    "Man, what''s with that NPC? Shouldn''t this be reported to the admins?"


    "It''s the first time I''ve seen an NPC be so stubborn and say they won¡¯t work anymore."


    yers grumbled as they left the cksmith.


    Kai called out to them and asked what was going on, "Hey, what do you mean by the NPC not working?"


    "Did you alsoe here because you had business with the cksmith?"


    "Yes. I wanted to make a request for some equipment," Kai responded.


    "Just give up on that," they grumbled as they red at the cksmith. "There''s an old man iming to be a cksmith, but he won''t do repairs, let alone make new equipment."


    "What? But this is a cksmith, isn''t it?"


    "That''s exactly our point. He¡¯s an NPC created to be a cksmith, and yet..."


    "I¡¯m pissed and it¡¯s only morning. Let''s just go to the auction house and buy a repair kit."


    As the yers disappeared, Kai looked at the cksmith with a nk expression.


    <i>An NPC in the vige not working? Why on earth?</i>


    This was a first for Kai as well. Normally, if an NPC was too ill to work, a quest to cure their illness would be posted on the bulletin board. However, judging by the yers¡¯ reactions, that didn''t seem to be the case.


    <i>Then what about my Wyrm Lizard equipment?</i>


    Kai hurriedly opened themunity to look at the continental map.


    <i>Excluding small viges, the closest city from here is....</i>


    The closest city was the city of water, Aquaria, which was a whopping 20 days away by foot!


    Kai''splexion turned very pale. "So if I can''t make equipment here, I have to go all the way there?"


    Of course, having defeated the Wyrm Lizard and received 10 gold as a reward, he wasn¡¯t short on money.


    <i>But the cost of teleportation is heart-wrenching.</i>


    Kai swallowed and pre-calcted the teleportation fare through themunity.


    <i>From Glendale to Aquaria costs 9 gold.</i>


    That was equivalent to 900,000 won!


    Kai''s hands began to involuntarily tremble. It was an amount far too much for an unemployed person not receiving an allowance to pay.


    "Is there no other way?"


    Of course, there was always a way for everything.


    Kai''s gaze turned back to the firmly closed cksmith.


    <i>If the cksmith is not working....</i>


    The solution was to make him work. Then, obviously, he would not have to go to another city.


    <i>Alright, let''s give it a try.</i>


    Kai immediately searched themunity to gather all information about Glendale''s cksmith.


    <i>The cksmith''s name is Solid. The quality of his equipment is excellent enough to supply to the royal family. But why did he suddenly stop working?</i>


    No information about that was found on the inte.


    <i>I guess I have no choice but to confront him directly.</i>


    Kai knocked three times on the cksmith''s door and then slightly opened it.


    "Excuse me...."


    "I said get the hell out of here! Can''t you understand simple words!?"


    As soon as Kai stepped into the cksmith, something flew at him with ferocious speed.


    Startled, Kai gulped and ducked.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The hammer that missed Kai''s head instead struck the wall, scattering stone debris before falling to the ground.


    "Wh- what¡¯s going on...."


    As Kai trembled, his hair standing on end, someone staggered out from the inside.

 Chapter 23: Forge That Doesn’t Cry (1)

    <h4>Chapter 23: Forge That Doesn¡¯t Cry (1)</h4>


    "Huh? Oh, you''re not those guys from just now."


    An old man, whose nose was red from drinking, walked out with a bottle of liquor in his hand. He wasn¡¯t particrlyrge, but his muscles made it impossible to underestimate him. The old man gave off the impression of fire. Just as a barista who had brewed coffee for many years gave off the scent of coffee, he, having lived by the fire all his life, carried the intense smell of mes.


    <i>...And his temper is fiery too.</i>


    Picking up the hammer that had fallen to the ground, Kai scratched his head and said, "Are you Solid, the cksmith of this ce, by any chance?"


    "That''s right. The throwing of the hammer.... <i>Hmph!</i> My mistake." As if not used to apologizing, the old man finished his apology, half shouting angrily. "Well, seeing you''re here, you must want something, but sorry, I''ve closed shop," the old man stated firmly, leaving no room for rebuttal.


    But Kai was not one to back down so easily.


    <i>There must be a reason.</i>


    ording to the bulletin board, this cksmith was still operating normally just a week ago. That meant something had happened to the old man within thest week.


    <i>I need to find out what that is.</i>


    Noticing a problem with an NPC, empathizing with them, and drawing out a quest were skills any experienced yer of <i>MID Online</i> should possess.


    Facing the bad-tempered old man, Kai smiled and handed back the hammer, saying, "I''ve heard great things about your skills, and that you even directly supply the Rashion royal family."


    "I don''t like ttery." Solid retorted bluntly but his face was filled with pride.


    The best way to bridge the gap with someone was indeed showering them withpliments!


    <i>But this alone is not enough.</i>


    Kai needed to find a way to further draw Solid''s favor. He looked around the cksmith intently to find that method.


    "What are you looking around for? Anyway, I''m not in business anymore, so get lost." Solid issued a clear order to leave, looking at Kai strangely.


    Just as Kai became anxious, something caught his eye like a ray of salvation.


    <i>That''s it!</i>


    A small decoration hung on the wall of the cksmith''s corner. It was a sun-carved ornament, meaning Solid was a follower of the Church of Sris!


    Kai''s face brightened immediately and he used his Friendly Brother skill.


    "Hm?"


    Solid had looked like he was going to chase Kai away at any moment, but suddenly, his expression slightly softened.


    Seeing this, Kai unknowingly clenched his fist.


    <i>Yes, it''s working!</i>


    On the other hand, Solid appeared confused by his own change of emotions. After all, forcibly inducing a sense of friendliness was a rather delicate matter.


    Before Solid''s mood worsened again, Kai quickly said, "Solid, sir, could you please exin what has happened to you? There''s a saying, isn''t there? Joy shared is doubled, and sorrow shared is halved."


    Kai kept smiling warmly as he spoke. There was a saying that one couldn¡¯t spit on a smiling face.


    Solid pondered for a moment but eventually shook his head. "I don''t trust adventurers, and how could I trust you, a stranger, with my troubles?"


    "Though I may be an adventurer as you said, I am a devout follower of the teachings of the Sris God, Helik. Wouldn''t you feel a bit better just by sharing your worries with me?"


    At Kai''s mention of being a cleric of the Church of Sris, Solid looked at him from head to toe.


    "...You''re a cleric of the Church of Sris?"


    "Yes. Sacred re."


    A bright light imbued with holy power rose and illuminated the dust-covered workbench.


    "...Hmph. You seem to be promising among adventurers. I suppose it wouldn''t hurt to talk for a bit." Solid''s expression remained blunt, but he turned and moved farther into the cksmith. "What are you waiting for? Come along."


    "Right! Coming!"


    Kai followed him with sparkling eyes.


    ***


    "Find a spot to sit down as you like."


    Solid, perhaps having drunk too much, staggered and copsed onto a sofa.


    Kai pulled over a nearby chair and sat down, looking around the workshop.


    <i>...It''s cold.</i>


    Usually, upon entering a workshop, the first feeling one would get would be that it is hot. The heat from a furnace that ran twenty-four hours non-stop was usually too much for an ordinary person to handle. However, the furnace here was as quiet as if it were dead. The furnace that would have fiercely spat out mes was enjoying a rare rest, having ceased its activity.


    Solid shook his liquor bottle, and after realizing the bottle was empty, he carelessly threw it to the ground and closed his eyes, looking as if he would fall asleep at any moment.


    <i>No!</i>


    If he fell asleep now, Kai would have to wait helplessly until he woke up. Feeling anxious, Kai quickly used the Sunlight''s Warmth skill.


    <strong>[The skill, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, has been used.] </strong>


    <strong>[Target''s Stamina restored.]</strong>


    <strong>[Target''s hangover condition has ended.]</strong>


    "Huh? I suddenly feel sobered up." After shaking his head a couple of times, Solid finally began to say, "It must have been about a week ago. A kid came to my workshop. A funny guy iming to be a cksmith. He didn''t even look like he had the strength to swing a hammer, and he didn''t smell like he had been near a fire for long, a novice adventurer."


    <i>An adventurer... then, is he like me, a yer?</i>


    Kai tilted his head but nodded for now.


    As Solid spoke, he seemed to recall an unpleasant memory because he frowned as he continued, "But that presumptuous fellow challenged me to apetition."


    "...Apetition?" Kai tilted his head some more.


    It would make sense for knights to duel, but cksmiths?


    Solid waved his hand dismissively as he added an exnation, "It wasn¡¯t really apetition. It was more like a game where we''d each use the same furnace and materials to make a weapon. I''ve done it a few times with other cksmiths when I was younger. Of course, I haven''t done it since my reputation and that of my peers grew with age."


    "So, you epted the challenge?"


    "I''d have to be mad to ept such a thing." Solid looked at Kai with disdain. "The challenger was an unknown adventurer cksmith. On the other hand, I¡¯m.... It''s embarrassing to say this myself, but I am a renowned cksmith who supplies the kingdom''s knights with equipment. There was no reason for me to ept such a pointless challenge that would waste my time and gain me nothing."


    To Kai, Solid''s reasoning sounded logical. But if the duel never took ce, why was Solid in such a spiritless state?


    Kai¡¯s curiosity was soon addressed.


    "When I expressed my refusal, the kid silently drew the sword he had with him."


    "He didn¡¯t threaten you with the sword, did he?"


    "If he had threatened me in such a manner, I wouldn''t have epted the duel even if the sword was put to my throat. However...."


    Solid looked into space as if he could see something in front of him, his eyes unfocused.


    "It was truly a beautiful sword. Even I, who have swung a hammer all my life, might not be able to create such a thing. Beautiful yet not losing the essence of a sword.... It seemed to elevate the sword to the realm of art."


    Solid''s expression was ecstatic, but it soon shattered into pieces.


    "I pressed him, asking where the sword came from, who the cksmith was that made it."


    "No way."


    "It seems you''ve guessed it. Right, the kid imed he made the sword himself."


    My goodness! A yer made a weapon that even impressed an NPC cksmith?


    <i>Is that even possible?</i>


    Kai quickly went through his memory, but even the skills of Moru, the top-ranked cksmith yer, were not to that level. The items Moru made often appeared in screenshots on themunity, so Kai could be certain of that.


    "I told him not to joke, not to insult the maker of the sword, but the kid insisted to the end that he had made it himself."


    "So, you took on the challenge."


    "Right. I agreed to the challenge on the condition that if I won, he would tell me who made the sword."


    After saying so, Solid got up from his seat and walked toward one side of the wall. He rummaged through the items on a shelf and came back to Kai with two swords in hand.


    "Take a look."


    "...."


    Instinctively realizing these were the results of thepetition, Kai looked at the two swords with a serious expression. One had an elegant handle and de with wave patterns, appearing luxurious, while the other sword was crude. Without any decoration or pattern, it was just a sword.


    <i>Let''s look at them first.</i>


    Kai read the information of the more luxurious-looking sword first.


    <strong><u>[Wavy Longsword] </u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 103-124</strong>


    <strong>+10 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+5 Agility</strong>


    <strong>+2 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>*This de has a sharp effect. Damage from shing attacks +10%.</strong>


    <strong>The de is engraved with wave patterns, enhancing its artistic value.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60+ Strength: 110+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    "Wow...!" Kai eximed in amazement after checking the sword''s abilities.


    <i>Could this be the sword made by that cksmith yer?</i>


    From Solid''s story, it was clear he felt defeated and was plunged into self-doubt after losing the challenge.


    <i>With a sword like this, I can understand why.</i>


    It was a Rare grade sword. Furthermore, with the sharpness effect applied, it was a tremendous sword that any swordsman would covet.


    <i>Regrettably... I can''t deny it. This is a clear victory for the opponent.</i>


    As Kai came to this conclusion, Solid said, "That''s the sword I made."


    "...!" Kai looked at Solid in shock.


    With a bitter expression, Solid gestured with his chin toward the in sword that was lying beside his. "Take a look at that one."


    Kai hurriedly set down Solid''s sword and picked up the crude one.

 Chapter 24: Forge That Doesn’t Cry (2)

    <h4>Chapter 24: Forge That Doesn¡¯t Cry (2)</h4>


    <strong><u>[Ironwill Longsword]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 154-173</strong>


    <strong>+5 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+10 Agility</strong>


    <strong>*This de grants the user a strong will. This weapon cannot break.</strong>


    <strong>A sword that has been brought to the limit of its potential. Requires incredible power to wield.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 80+ Strength: 500+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: Infinite</strong>


    "...!" Kai was so surprised that he almost dropped the sword.


    <i>A- a Unique rank!</i>


    It was his first time seeing such an incredible weapon. The fact that he was holding such magnificent equipment in his hands, which he wouldn¡¯t even be able to find in auction houses, made his hands tremble.


    "Isn''t it remarkable?"


    "Th-this is..."


    The opponent''s swordcked the sophistication of Solid''s sword. It also didn¡¯t possess the luxurious elegance either.


    <i>But....</i>


    If asked which sword was superior, Kai believed it would be the one he was holding.


    <i>The sword''s inherent capabilities have been maximized.</i>


    Although Kai knew nothing about crafting equipment, he was certain about the greatness of this sword.


    <i>I understand how Solid feels.</i>


    If someone he hadn''t even considered a rival suddenly created such a sword right before his eyes, it would undoubtedly shatter the pride of an old man who had swung a hammer all his life.


    Solid slumped back onto the sofa. "After thepetition ended, the arrogant kid bowed and apologized, thanking me for epting his unreasonable request. That sword... he said it was a token of his apology and hoped I would ept it."


    "Y-you mean, he just gave it to you?" Kai''s mouth dropped open.


    A Unique-ranked sword could easily be worth thousands of gold if sold in an auction house. Being a yer, that kid wouldn''t have been unaware of the sword''s value. To gift such a sword without any hesitation was an action beyond Kai''sprehension.


    "At first, I made excuses for myself for losing. I said that I lost because I tried to imitate the beautiful sword he had and ended up making mine too decorative without realizing it."


    "Ah... indeed, your sword is incredibly ornate," Kai nodded, looking at the sword from the handle to the de, which was unmatched in its luxuriousness.


    At that sight, Solid gave an even more self-mocking smile and shook his head. "But that wasn''t it."


    ¡°...Huh?"


    "I dug out all the swords I had made up to now, trying to rationalize my actions. Then I realized that... that was the kind of sword I had always been making until now,¡± Solid said with a voice full of deep regret. "Most who ordered swords from me were knights or the offspring of noble families. All of them liked shy things."


    "That means...?"


    "I made swords for decades to meet their demands, and without realizing it, I had be adept at making ornate swords."


    "...."


    "The moment I realized that, I couldn''t bring myself to pick up a hammer anymore." Rubbing his face with hisrge palms, Solid ended his story.


    Kai was left speechless. Would he be able to endure the pain of realizing toote that he had dedicated his life to a misguided path?


    <i>...It would be very shocking.</i>


    That would be the same for Solid. His pride as a craftsman and his reflections on his life, those two aspects were continually tormenting the current Solid.


    <i>But, was his life truly misguided from the start?</i>


    Just because one sword is superior, does that make the other wrong? Kai thought that wasn¡¯t true.


    <i>Besides, I prefer Solid''s sword.</i>


    It wasn''t just a pity vote thrown his way. Although Kai thought the opponent''s sword was superior, if he had to choose one to use, it would be Solid''s.


    Therefore, he expressed his thoughts without reservation, "However, I prefer your sword, sir."


    "<i>Hmph.</i> Didn''t I say earlier? I don''t take ttery."


    Although Kai was being honest, Solid thought he was being pitied and became angry.


    At this, Kai made a serious expression with all traces of amusement gone, and said, "No, I mean it."


    "...Really?" Solid, reading the sincerity in Kai''s gaze and expression, cautiously asked. "Exin your reason. If it''s just some random reason that just <i>seems</i> usible, be prepared."


    <i>Tsk, so strict.</i>


    Kai then said without hesitation, "I¡¯ll be honest. If you ask which of the two weapons is stronger, I''m sorry, but the opponent''s sword would be stronger."


    "...." Solid pursed his lips but didn¡¯t deny it. He probably knew that fact better than anyone. "But yet you say you prefer my sword. Do you like ornate swords?"


    "No. Your sword.... It seems to consider the user''s convenience more."


    "The user''s convenience?"


    Kai nodded, "No matter how great and powerful a sword is, if it cannot be used, it''s useless."


    Although the opponent''s sword was stronger and had outstanding attributes attached, it required too high a Strength statpared to its level requirement.


    <i>Even if you give up on distributing stats to Stamina and Agility and invest everything in Strength, you can''t reach 500 at level 80.</i>


    In other words, that sword was fool''s gold. It looked promising butcked substance. Though the level requirement was only 80, to use that sword, one would likely need to be over level 100.


    "This sword may seem to have maximized the essence of a sword to its limit at first nce, but it shows no consideration for the person who will use it." Kai set down the sword and picked up Solid''s. "Meanwhile, sir, as you''ve said, you''ve spent decades making swords for others. In reality, most people all want the same thing."


    <i>Ting!</i>


    Kai flicked the de with his finger.


    "A sword that is strong, beautiful, and usable. This sword has a well-bncedbination. A wealthy collector might prefer the other sword, but what do you think a soldier heading to battle would prefer?"


    "...!"


    At those words, Solid''s expression showed a great realization, and he closed his eyes.


    After deeply thinking about something, Solid finally opened his eyes and said, "...First, I owe you an apology."


    "Pardon?"


    "I sincerely apologize for thinking your genuine concern was nothing more than misced sympathy."


    "Oh, well, it''s not that big of a deal...."


    The once loud and angry voice of the drunkard was heard no more. Instead, a voice befitting a master of his craft, solid and firm, flowed out. "At the same time, I express my gratitude." Solid''s eyes shone intensely like the midday sea. "You were right. Lost in despair, I had forgotten what it means to be a cksmith."


    Solid lifted the sword he had crafted. "What I must do is not merely create the finest equipment for my own satisfaction."


    His rough hands gently caressed the work he had produced. After decades of holding a hammer, there wasn¡¯t a single part of his hands that was not calloused.


    "Creating weapons that the user can utilize withoutint for a long time... That is the path I must walk as a cksmith."


    Solid''s eyes sparkled brightly as if he had gained a great enlightenment!


    As Kai met eyes with Solid''s, a message window popped up before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Your advice helped progress Solid¡¯s cksmithing ability one step further.]</strong>


    <strong>[cksmith Solid has be a master cksmith.]</strong>


    <strong>[You helped an NPC ovee theirplex. +3 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with Solid greatly increased. Solid considers you his benefactor.]</strong>


    "Wh-what...?"


    They were messages that were hard to grasp at a nce!


    After calming down and reading the messages carefully, Kai suddenly got up in excitement as he realized something.


    <i>Good deeds aren''t just simple kindness acts!</i>


    The concept of good deeds was far more inclusive than he had thought.


    <i>That means....</i>


    Not only physically helping NPCs, but also healing their emotional wounds as he had done now or offering counseling could increase the Benevolence stat.


    Solid, with hands asrge as pot lids, suddenly grasped Kai''s delicate hands.


    "Thank you! I feel like I''ve ovee a great barrier thanks to you. I''m truly grateful!"


    "Ahaha...."


    As Kai scratched the back of his head andughed awkwardly, a deep smile appeared on Solid''s stern face. Heughed heartily and patted Kai on the shoulder.


    "Hahahaha! Now that the gloominess has lifted, my hands are itching to work! Speaking of which, weren''t you here to give me a job? Leave it to me!"


    Solid, as if eager to swing his hammer right away, rotated his shoulders and neck while shouting. His personality, previously sharp and sensitive from self-doubt and alcohol, had returned to its usual positive and hearty state.


    Kai''s eyes sparkled as he neatly took out materials from his inventory. "I actually came to request the crafting of equipment. These are the materials."


    "Oh wow! Scales and teeth of a Wyrm Lizard! You''re a more powerful adventurer than I thought, aren¡¯t you? You don''t look like it, though. Hahaha!" Solidughed heartily, his expression saying to leave it all to him. "Is there a specific weapon you''re interested in?"


    "Um... actually, I wanted to learn a new weapon skill. Could you rmend one for me?"


    "A weapon skill, huh? Hm, let me see." Solid nodded after looking at Kai''s arms, legs, and body proportions. "I personally rmended swordsmanship."


    "Swordsmanship? Is there a particr reason?"


    "Your arms and legs are slender and long. That indicated an extended reach which is crucial for a swordsman.¡±


    "Wouldn''t it be better to wield a spear then?"


    "I could make a spear if that''s what you want. But the most important thing is...."


    "The most important thing is?" Kai leaned forward with a look of intense curiosity.


    Solidughed heartily again at Kai¡¯s expression, "I''m just better at making swords than spears. Hahaha!"


    "...Oh, I see."


    The logic was convincing. Kai nodded in understanding at once.


    <i>Then, requesting a sword would get me the best quality weapon.</i>


    Whether learning spear skills or sword skills, as long as it slightly aided his solo y, it was sufficient. Regardless of the skill learned at the moment, it wouldn''t unleash significant power anyway. In that case, it made sense to use a weapon with better performance.


    "Please make me a sword then. You can just make the scales into some armor."


    "An excellent choice. I''ll try and create a masterpiece of my lifetime. Give me a week."


    "Alright, I''ll be going then."


    Solid quickly prepared for the work after receiving the materials. Then the previously dead forge roared to life with loud noises and mes. At the same time, the quiet surroundings began to echo with a regr pattern of sounds.


    <i>ng! ng! ng!</i>


    Kai, leaving the cksmith, looked back at the lively building with a sense of pride.

 Chapter 25: Training Grounds of the Dawn (1)

    <h4>Chapter 25: Training Grounds of the Dawn (1)</h4>


    "Come back in about three days, and the potions will all be ready."


    "Alright, I''lle back then."


    After leaving the Wyrm Lizard''s leather with the tailor andmissioning the Wizard¡¯s Tower to make him some potions, Kai stepped back onto the street.


    "Now I just need to find a suitable training ground."


    The need for swordsmanship was urgent, especially with the sword that Solid would soon make for him. Being a Cleric, he couldn''t learn skills at the Warrior''s Tower, so his only option was to look for a swordsmanship training ground.


    Kai then researched the list of training grounds operating in Glendale.


    "Harrison Training Grounds, Alford Training Grounds, and... Training Grounds of the Dawn?"


    Training grounds were ces where one could pay and learn swordsmanship. Typically, they were frequently visited by people under level 10, but it was a ce with which Kai, a Cleric, had no previous association.


    <i>Ha, I never thought I''d be learning swordsmanship at a training ground after reaching level 50.</i>


    But it was an investment for his future. Moreover, he felt uneasy having only Holy Explosion as his attack skill. If it hadn''t been for the summoning of ten undead during the PVP with the Crimson Sunset guild, he would have been in real danger. Therefore, he needed to enhance his own battle abilities in preparation for such times.


    <i>First, I shouldpare the entrance fees and decide where to learn.</i>


    Kai''s eyes widened to the point as if they would pop out of his head as he casually looked up the prices of the local training grounds.


    <strong>[Harrison Training Grounds - Entrance fee 15 gold.]</strong>


    <strong>[Alford Training Grounds - Entrance fee 12 gold.]</strong>


    <strong>[Training Grounds of the Dawn - Entrance fee under 5 gold. Exact price to be determined after consultation.]</strong>


    "What, why is it so expensive?" Kai was surprised by the higher-than-expected prices and involuntarily eximed.


    <i>Did it always cost so much to learn swordsmanship skills?</i>


    Of course, he was aware that the skills taught varied from one training ground to another. Surely, the swordsmanship taught at Harrison Training Grounds would be of the highest grade.


    <i>But still... over 10 gold for a supplementary weapon skill seems too extra.</i>


    Kai''s gaze eventually settled on the remaining option. It had an unbelievably low pricepared to the other halls! To be honest, he didn''t even feel a hint of expectation.


    <i>You get what you pay for.</i>


    Kai remembered regretting buying earphones from a dor store that broke within two hours, learning that the price often reflects the quality.


    <i>Ugh, well, I should at least consult about the price.</i>


    With a heavy sigh, Kai went on his way with sluggish, helpless steps.


    ***


    Kai looked at the building in front of him with a bewildered expression.


    "No, this isn''t right.... This isn''t a building."


    What defines a building? It was a ce where people lived, worked, or at least stored things.


    <i>This ce isn''t fit for living or working. It doesn¡¯t even look like it could guarantee the safety of stored items....</i>


    It was a nearly copsing ruin. The only thing intact was a sign that read ''Training Grounds of the Dawn.''


    <i>Creak.</i>


    "Oh."


    Kai corrected himself. Even the sign, the only thing that seemed intact, had tilted as if its screws hade loose.


    At this point, Kai couldn''t help but seriously contemte, <i>Do I really have to learn here?</i>


    As he debated whether to leave or stay, the door of the ruin flung open.


    "Uh oh, why did this fall off again?"


    The door was opened by a grumpy-looking old man.


    "Huh?" The old man, after spotting Kai in front of the training ground, scanned him up and down with an annoyed look. "Wait, this aura is...?"


    The old man''s expression changed instantly and he rushed over and grabbed Kai''s hand.


    "Wha, what are you doing?"


    "Just stay still for a moment." The old man, pressing his finger against the artery on Kai''s wrist, eximed in admiration, "...Finally, the talent I''ve been waiting for hase!"


    "Excuse me?"


    "Come in. I''ll teach you swordsmanship."


    "No, I was just thinking of considering learning the sword for a bit...."


    "What? Why think!" the old man shouted.


    As Kai flinched, the old man, realizing his mistake, softened his expression and gently stroked the back of Kai''s hand.


    "Haha, I apologize. You might not know this, but this ce is a historic training ground established by Patrick of the Radiance himself to pass on his legacy. If you can pass Patrick''s test, you might inherit his vast legacy."


    "Patrick of the Radiance? He¡¯s...."


    Kai recalled a story he had heard from the Chief Bunther. Patrick was a legendary Pdin mentioned in the Church of Sris!


    Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>Could this old man''s words be true? If so, this could be a huge opportunity.... But why hasn''t this been made public yet?</i>


    Glendale was a fairlyrge city. The monsters around it varied in level, so there were quite many yers that started here.


    <i>Something seems fishy....</i>


    As Kai looked skeptical, passing women shouted from across the street.


    "Oh my, that old man is scamming again. That was hundreds of years ago."


    "That grandpa ims every person wandering around the training ground is the awaited talent! Ridiculous."


    "Hey, young man! You should go to Harrison Training Grounds near the eastern wall! My kid learned there too!"


    "That headmaster is handsome and in good shape. Hehehe."


    "No one has received Sir Patrick''s legacy or whatever from Training Grounds of the Dawn in hundreds of years!"


    As the old man cleared his throat and red at the women, they quickly left the scene. "Ahem, ignore such baseless nder.... Come join. I''ll teach you at a good price."


    "Ummm...."


    There were countless training grounds in <i>MID Online</i>. Naturally, each training ground pursued different sword styles, and the swordsmanship skills taught varied as well. In short, what and where to learn was entirely the yer''s choice!


    <i>No one inherited the legacy for hundreds of years, that means... there might still be something hidden.</i>


    After a moment of contemtion, Kai made his decision.


    <i>Alright, since the entrance fee here is the cheapest, I''ll consider it a learning experience.</i>


    Kai firmly grasped the old man''s hand. "If you insist so much, I''ll give it a try. It''s a special favor I''m doing for you."


    "Right! You''ve made a good choice!" The old man, lifting his arms in joy and smiling brightly, extended his palm. "Considering your sincerity, I won''t charge much. 4 gold for a week''s course. Payment upfront."


    "Just to confirm, does this week consist of seven days?"


    "Do you have weeks made up of thirty days where youe from?


    "...."


    Of course, that wasn¡¯t possible.


    Kai''s body trembled. He hadn''t expected the fee mentioned as 5 gold to be for a week, and not a month.


    "But, you said you wouldn''t charge much considering my sincerity just now..."


    "Originally, it would be 5 gold. I''m giving you a discount, making it 4 gold."


    "...."


    Finally, with a heavy sigh, Kai took out the gold from his inventory and handed it over.


    <i>Well, it''s still much cheaper than other training grounds.</i>


    After taking the money, Huey, the old man, smiled and said, "Follow me."


    "Okay...."


    Kai resolved to learn negotiation skills the next time an opportunity came.


    ***


    In <i>MID Online</i>, there were three main ways to properly learn skills. The first was learning basic skills at each ss''s tower.


    <i>The skills learned are average in power, but they''re cheap and quick to acquire.</i>


    Moreover, with every 10 levels, higher skills became avable, so most adventurers learned their skills this way. However, if one was of a different ss, they couldn''t use the ss tower.


    <i>And the second method is acquiring skills through skill books.</i>


    Skill books randomly dropped from dungeon bosses or raid monsters, and their advantage was that anyone could learn rare and powerful skills not typically avable through normal means just by opening the book. However, due to high demand and low supply, they were expensive.


    "<i>Hoo... hah...</i> and thest method is...." Kai muttered with clenched teeth.


    It was getting skills directly passed on from NPCs. This was thest method.


    <i>Skills learned this way are generally more powerful than those learned at the ss tower, andpared to skill books, they''re much cheaper, making it a frequently used method by yers... at least that¡¯s what I heard.</i>


    However, this method came with one fatal w.


    "We¡¯re not done yet. Finish before the sun sets."


    <i>Hnngh.</i>


    Kai''s face, as red as a ripe persimmon, trembled as if it would burst at any moment.


    Huey, looking at him, scolded him in a tone as if he was pathetic, ¡°Boy, you can''t even do a thousand push-ups. I¡¯m so shocked I¡¯m at a loss for words."


    Difficulty was the only drawback and the reason why many yers avoided this final method.


    <i>Ugh... I heard other training grounds had very systematic methods.</i>


    But there was only one system that existed here, and it was that the master''s word was thew.


    <i>Hnngh.</i>


    Initially, when Kai entered the training grounds, he was quite satisfied with the clean and spacious main arena.


    <i>Let''s properly try and learn something here.</i>


    Just as he was about to set his mind to it, something prevented him.


    "Start with one thousand push-ups. Try that first."


    Huey''s first instruction began.


    After three hours had passed, Kai still wasn¡¯t allowed to do anything but push-ups. Of course, he hadn''t thought it would be so bad when he first heard it.


    <i>Thanks to my Benevolence stat, my Strength stat is quite high, and if anything, I can use the Sris Cleric buff. This is easier than I thought.</i>


    This was a very, very big misconception.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Training at the Training Grounds of the Dawn has begun.]</strong>


    <strong>[During this period, all stats have been fixed to 10.]</strong>


    <strong>[During this period, the use of all skills is banned.]</strong>


    Strength at 10 was the average muscle strength of an adult male in reality, and doing a thousand push-ups with that strength?


    <i>...I''m doomed.</i>


    Kai''s face fell as if something had gone terribly wrong.

 Chapter 26: Training Grounds of the Dawn (2)

    <h4>Chapter 26: Training Grounds of the Dawn (2)</h4>


    Even though it was just a game, the pain the brain felt from exercise was no different from reality. Normally, Kai would have apuded such impressive technology, but now he felt likeining to them!


    <i>The first one hundred were really manageable....</i>


    But as he passed three hundred, he tasted metal, and after five hundred, his arms lost sensation. Now, reaching seven hundred, he was barely managing a push-up every few minutes, while his head spun and nausea surged.


    "Tsk tsk...."


    During the past three hours, Huey did nothing but click his tongue and mock Kai, offering no teaching or encouragement.


    "When I was your age, I did three thousand a day."


    "How can a man not manage one thousand push-ups?"


    "Do you even have one <i>there</i>?"


    Despite the mockery and scorn, Kai responded with his actions and kept his mouth firmly shut.


    Gritting his teeth he thought, <i>I¡¯ll get it done.</i>


    It had always been like this for Kai. No matter how great the injustice in front of him, he faced it head-on. Some called it stubbornness, venom, or fighting spirit, but Kai had always had these qualities since he was young, and that spirit shone intensely even now.


    "Nine... hundred... eighty... four...."


    If this had been reality, it would have been impossible to do push-ups for so long purely on mental strength alone. His muscles would have torn and been damaged, leaving him unable to move even a finger. However, as much as the pain felt real, this was a game!


    <i>I''ll show him.</i>


    Eventually, Kai, as a strong-willed Korean, managed toplete the one thousand push-ups after four hours.


    "I-I did it...."


    Kai looked up at Huey with defiant eyes.


    Faced with Kai¡¯s rebellious gaze, Huey couldn''t help but smile even as he said, "How dare you look at me like that?"


    <i>Thud.</i>


    Before Kai could hear all of Huey¡¯s words, he lost consciousness and copsed.


    Looking down at Kai, who was logged out forcefully, Huey''s nose slightly twitched. "Hmm, his perseverance is so-so... A pass, I guess."


    A strange expectation began to shine in his eyes.


    ***


    <strong>[You have entered a severe unconscious state. Please log in again after 8 hours.]</strong>


    "Oh, I got disconnected."


    It seemed the capsule had judged his brainwaves to be unstable!


    Han Jung-Woo, having given his all, muttered with a dazed expression, "Well, with my body in this state, I couldn''t have continued the game anyway."


    He felt too lethargic to even move a finger. Then, unaware of its owner¡¯s state, his stomach gurgled as it cried out for food!


    Eventually, Han Jung-Woo got up and walked out of his room, and his mother, who had been reading a magazine, nced at him and said, "Oh my, why does our jobless son, who doesn¡¯t even go to school and only ys games, look so tired?"


    "Ugh...." Already exhausted, Han Jung-Woo shuddered at the additional mental attack. "I''m just really tired right now."


    "Why?"


    "I was busy learning something today."


    "...Hm?"


    But after hearing those words, Kim Hyun-Jung rushed over as if she had heard shocking news.


    With her eyes wide open, she asked in a gentle voice, "Oh, my darling son. Are you starting to study again? Are you listening to lectures in your room?"


    "Lectures?"


    After thinking for a moment, Han Jung-Woo nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Starting from today."


    Of course, it was a swordsmanship lecture, but a lecture was a lecture, after all.


    At those words, Kim Hyun-Jung''s face brightened significantly.


    She patted the dust off her son''s shoulder and said, "Oh, you should have told me earlier. Then I would have given you some allowance and made delicious food for you."


    "Oh, no, it''s not that big of a deal to talk about."


    "Haha. Silly you."


    Kim Hyun-Jung looked proudly at her jobless... no, lovely son.


    <i>Our Jung-Woo finally seems to be quitting being a game addict!</i>


    In that case, as a mother, she couldn''t just stand by. She immediately rolled up her sleeves and said, "Jung-Woo, what do you want to eat? I''ll show off my cooking skills for once."


    "Mom, you know you can''t cook. What skills are there to show off...." Mid-sentence, Han Jung-Woo backed down seeing his mother''s stern gaze. "Ah, I was actually craving food made by youtely. What''s good when my shoulders are sore and my neck is stiff?"


    "Then it''s nourishing food you need. You want ginseng chicken soup[1]? Or maybe eel over rice[2]?"


    "Mmm... let me think for a bit."


    "Take your time." As Kim Hyun-Jung prepared to cook, she chuckled as she was proud of her son, and asked, "By the way, what are you suddenly studying for? A certification exam? Or the TOEIC?"


    To her question, Han Jung-Woo said without thinking, "There''s this ce called the Training Grounds of the Dawn where I''m learning some swordsmanship skills."


    Kim Hyun-Jung''s eyes turned cold as she was about to take out a knife. "Dawn... what?"


    "Training Grounds of the Dawn."


    "Is that an academy in Seoul?"


    "It''s in Glendale of the Rashion Kingdom." Tilting his head while replying, he then smiled broadly, and continued, "Oh, and I''d like eel over rice."


    "...Eel over rice?" Realizing the murderous intent in his mother¡¯s voice, Han Jung-Woo''s eyes darted around. He was like a mouse in front of a cat, utterly powerless!


    "You said...."


    Eventually, shaking her head in disbelief, his mother just returned to the living room.


    Meanwhile, his stomach roared again. After resorting to cooking ramen, Han Jung-Woo, under the ring eyes of his mother, went back to his room.


    <i>I''ll definitely make it up to you.</i>


    He harbored feelings his mother wouldn''t know.


    "Hmm."


    Back in his room, Han Jung-Woo immediately turned on hisputer.


    <i>Training Grounds of the Dawn. Has anyone actually even learned swordsmanship there?</i>


    He intended to investigate this.


    "Oh, there are more posts than I thought. There¡¯s forty-one of them."


    Luckily, it didn''t seem to be some strange training ground that no one attended. Relieved, Han Jung-Woo slowly browsed through the titles of the posts.


    [Training Grounds of the Dawn? An unheard-of trashy training ground with a swordmaster''s pride sky-high.]


    [The Training Grounds of the Dawn in Glendale. Never go there.]


    [Training Grounds of the Dawn should be called Training Grounds of Bullshit.]


    [A candid review of a week''s training at Training Grounds of the Dawn.]


    ¡°....¡±


    The relief he had just felt quickly disappeared.


    Han Jung-Woo moved the mouse with trembling fingers.


    <i>Click.</i>


    [Title: A candid review of a week''s training at Training Grounds of the Dawn]


    [Content: Yup, a trash training ground. Paid 5 gold to learn basic swordsmanship, what a waste.]


    There werements below the shocking content.


    -Is this for real?


    ?100% real. So shabby I thought they would teach some hidden swordsmanship skills lol But let me say it again, it''s trash.


    -Huh, I also went there.... It¡¯s amazing yousted a week. I escaped after three days.


    -Even NPCs try hard to dissuade you from going there, so why go when they say not to.


    -Summary. Only go if you have a lot of money and even more time.


    "Oh...."


    He was truly doomed.


    Han Jung-Woo hung his head with a look of despair.


    ***


    "What a weakling. I can¡¯t believe you fainted just from doing a few push-ups." As soon as Kai logged into the game the next day, he was met with a wave of scolding. Huey, with a stern expression, threw a wooden sword at Kai. "Take it."


    "What''s this?"


    Kai barely caught the wooden sword thrown at him, to which Huey brieflymanded, "From today, you will perform ten thousand horizontal swings and ten thousand vertical swings."


    "...."


    Kai made a dumbfounded face at the sudden hell-like training.


    <i>Old man, you don¡¯t like me, do you?</i>


    Seeing Kai¡¯s expression, Huey furrowed his eyebrows and yelled, "You don''t have time to stand around if you want toplete twenty thousand swings."


    "A-are you serious about striking twenty thousand times?"


    "If you don''t finish today, you''ll have to do additional counts tomorrow for what you didn''tplete."


    "...."


    Kai swallowed his frustration. It was his first time at a training ground, but he could tell this training method was not normal. But what could he do, he had already paid and couldn''t back out.


    <i>...Can I really not back out now?</i>


    With a heart of hope, Kai cautiously asked, "Is there a refund policy here...?"


    "Nope. Not happening."


    "...."


    A quest window popped up as if to firmly nail down his words!


    <strong><u>[The Importance of Basics 1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: E-</strong>


    <strong>Swordmaster of the Training Grounds of the Dawn, Huey, believes that the basics are the most important part of swordsmanship.</strong>


    <strong>Make 10,000 vertical and horizontal strikes, showing your mastery of the skills that underlie all swordsmanship.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Stamina, +1 Agility.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Expulsion from Training Grounds of the Dawn.</strong>


    <i>The reward is better than I thought.</i>


    Surprised by the decent reward, Kai did some quick calctions in his head.


    <i>If I swing fifty times a minute... would that be 500 times in ten minutes, and 5,000 times in an hour and forty minutes?</i>


    In theory, he could swing ten thousand times in three hours and twenty minutes.


    <i>This might be easier than I thought.</i>


    Kai, standing with his legs shoulder-width apart, gripped the wooden sword tightly.


    <i>It¡¯s just swinging a sword, how hard could it be?</i>


    He swung the wooden sword without much thought!


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    <strong>[Posture incorrect.]</strong>


    <strong>[Lacking understanding of horizontal strikes.]</strong>


    <strong>[Failed at horizontal strike. Completed 0/10,000.]</strong>


    "Huh?"


    Kai blinked with a dumbfounded face. A horizontal strike was the most basic skill that even three-year-old kids in the neighborhood knew how to do!


    "Is it even possible to fail at this?"


    "It is," Huey clicked his tongue and shook his head as he approached. "First of all, your posture is trash." He tapped Kai''s body with the stick he was holding to correct his posture. "Even if it''s the same action, there''s a difference between an apple being peeled by a top chef and a child doing it. The same goes for the horizontal strike."


    "That¡¯s true."


    "Be true to the basics. Even a farmer tills thend before sowing seeds. If you''ve decided to wield a sword, you must at least properly know how to perform vertical, horizontal, and diagonal strikes, and stabs before learning advanced swordsmanship."


    "...!"


    As Kai realized the deeper meaning in Huey¡¯s words, Huey gestured with his chin, ¡°Now try it again.¡±


    "Yes, sir!"


    Kai took a deep breath and gripped the wooden sword firmly.


    <i>Every swing should be made with the intent to give it my all!</i>


    If he had to swing it ten thousand times anyway, it was much more beneficial to concentrate and finish quickly rather than swinging carelessly and failing.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    The wooden sword, cleared of distractions, made a cleaner sound than before.


    <strong>[You have sessfully performed a horizontal strike. Completed 1/10,000.]</strong>


    "I-I did it!"


    "Hm. Now just do the horizontal swing like that 9,999 more times."


    "....¡±


    Kai shut his mouth firmly and swung the wooden sword like a robot. Though the movement seemed simple, even a single swing consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy.


    <strong>[You have sessfully performed a horizontal strike. Completed 2/10,000.]</strong>


    <strong>[Failed at horizontal strike. Completed 2/10,000.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have sessfully performed a horizontal strike. Completed 3/10,000.]</strong>


    "Haah! Haah!"


    The training ground arena that was usually filled with silence became noisy for the first time in a while with Kai''s energetic shouts.


    ***


    <strong>[You have sessfully performed a vertical strike. Completed 9,999/10,000.]</strong>


    "Haa, hah...."


    Kai''s body was drenched in sweat. Not only his body but also the floor where he stood was soaked with sweat.


    <i>Still one more to go.</i>


    Afterpleting all the horizontal strikes, Kai had also seeded in 9,999 vertical strikes. Even though the training took a whopping nine hours, Kai eventually aplished it.


    "Haah!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The wooden sword cleanly sliced through the air. Then, the message window Kai had been anticipating popped up.


    <strong>[You have sessfully performed a vertical strike. Completed 10,000/10,000.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Importance of Basics 1 questpleted.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Strength.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Stamina.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Agility.]</strong>


    "Yes!"


    He had finally done it. Only those who endured hard times and reached the peak of the mountain could feel such exhration! A tremendous sense of achievement and a rewarding feeling enveloped Kaipletely.


    Huey approached Kai, who was wearing a bright expression.


    "You done now?"


    "Yes, sir! I''vepleted 10,000 vertical swings and 10,000 horizontal swings each."


    "Good. Now go straight to the room at the end of the corridor and sleep."


    "...Pardon?"


    "You need to rest so you can withstand another tough training session tomorrow."


    Kai was pushed toward the room at the end of the corridor by Huey. It was a room without even a single desk and only a hard bed ced in it, making it look deste.


    Kaiy down on the bed immediately and grumbled while staring at the ceiling, "If I could just fall asleep right away when I wanted to, then I would be a bear, not a human."


    Shortly after, Kai''s steady breathing filled the room, overwhelmed by fatigue.


    1. <u>Ginseng Chicken Soup</u> ?


    2. Also known as Unadon - steamed white rice, and topped with fillets of eel grilled in a style known as kabayaki, simr to teriyaki ?

 Chapter 27: Traning Grounds of the Dawn (3)

    <h4>Chapter 27: Traning Grounds of the Dawn (3)</h4>


    Kai did 1,000 push-ups as a warm-up exercise every day. Afterward, he would practice swordsmanship. Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strikes, along with stabbing, all 10,000 times each. The pain from the first day did not be any more familiar even after two days, four days, or five days. If humans could easily get used to pain, there would be no one failing at dieting.


    "Haa, haah..."


    However, it was finally thest day of enduring that pain!


    Perhaps because it was thest day, the training was twice as hard as before. He had to do 2,000 push-ups and swing the sword 20,000 times for each type, but Kai silently and dutifully continued his training for a simple reason.


    <strong><u>[The Importance of Basics 7]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: C</strong>


    <strong>Thest day at the training ground, which seemed like it would nevere, has arrived.</strong>


    <strong>Complete the training, which is twice as hard as usual, to achieve a perfect ending.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +3 Strength, +3 Agility, +3 Stamina.</strong>


    <i>A quest that gives a total of nine stats!</i>


    The rewards were better than usual because it was thest day.


    <i>Of course, the number of repetitions required has also doubled.</i>


    But Kai, thirsty for strength, smiled through the pain of his muscles tearing.


    This appearance astonished even Huey, the swordmaster of the training ground.


    <i>Crazy kid....</i>


    He had easily taught swordsmanship here for decades, but he had never seen anyone like Kai. Although he never said it out loud, Huey regarded Kai highly.


    <i>The kid doesn¡¯t know it himself, but his talent is considerable. If he can show this much growth in just a week... as time goes on, his skills will only soar. He has exceptional potential and physical coordination.</i>


    It was unfortunate that with such physical capabilities, he had been nothing more than a support Cleric until now. Moreover, except for the first few times, he rarely made mistakes which indicated that not only did he have focus, but intelligence as well.


    <i>But being talented is not enough. Half of those who visited here were like that.</i>


    Just as beautiful roses had thorns, the sweetest fruits grew on the highest trees, and Kai had all the conditions necessary to pick those fruits.


    <i>It''s rare to find someone like him who doesn''t give up and keeps trying like this.</i>


    The training Kai was undergoing was something even skilled Knights would struggle to endure to the end. This was because once one started training here, all stats were fixed at 10, and skills couldn¡¯t be used. That which falls has wings, and the higher one falls from, the greater the damage.


    <i>In other words, the higher their skill, the harder the training bes here.</i>


    The only way toplete this training was by enduring the extreme deprivation felt from the loss of strength. Basic exercises like push-ups or sword swinging weren''t even the main part of the training. It was about whether one could endure the loss of all their strength and that sense of loss. That was the true trial offered by the Training Grounds of the Dawn.


    <i>...This kid certainly isn¡¯t weak, but it''s strange how well he''s adapted.</i>


    Kai was currently in a state where all his stats had increased due to his Benevolence stat. Simply considering the sum of stats, it totaled to a level over 100.


    Naturally, from Huey''s perspective, Kai appeared to be a Knight-level powerhouse, but that was a huge misunderstanding. Kai had been a frail Cleric until just a few days ago, so he was more ustomed to being in this downgraded state. But of course, Swordmaster Huey had no way of knowing that.


    <i>This kid has remarkable mental strength!</i>


    At the same time, his eyes ignited a passion that had cooled long ago.


    <i>In order to inherit the legacy left by Sir Patrick, one must pass three tests.</i>


    Firstly, one''s nature must not be evil. If someone with an evil nature entered the training ground, they would immediately faint, eyes rolling back.


    <i>...Because of that, rumors spread about this ce being a haunted training ground, reducing the number of visitors even more.</i>


    Recalling the sad history of the training ground, Huey paused for a moment to pay a silent tribute with a gloomy face.


    <i>And the second is toplete all training without anyziness.</i>


    The person Sir Patrick was looking for was one who could ovee the deprivation of losing all their strength and endure the physical pain! If there were anyzy individuals, they were merely taught basic swordsmanship and sent away.


    <i>Of course, there were quite a few who satisfied these two conditions.</i>


    If these were the only conditions, Patrick could have found his sessor within years as he expected. However, Patrick''sst whim twisted everything.


    <i>¡°Wait, I want to pass on my entire legacy to a sessor who walks the same path as me.¡±</i>


    Common nepotism that existed anywhere!


    Ultimately, he added a third condition.


    <i>¡°Pass my legacy on to a Sris Cleric who has passed the first and second tests.¡±</i>


    <i>If only it weren''t for this damned condition!</i>


    Normally, if a Sris Cleric wanted to learn swordsmanship, they would take Pdin sses at the main church. Typically, those who attended training grounds aimed to be Warriors or Knights because they worshiped Kazan, the god of swords and battle.


    <i>So how could there be anyone who fits this condition!</i>


    Due to this condition, the Training Grounds of the Dawn had not found anyone to pass on Patrick''s legacy to for hundreds of years. An heir couldn''t be found despite the passing of generations! Huey, who had no children, found it unfortunate that Patrick''s legacy could disappear without being passed on to anyone. Then, a few days ago, he spotted Kai hanging around in front of the training ground.


    <i>This kid, he''s a Cleric!</i>


    From Huey''s perspective, he had to teach this kid swordsmanship at all costs, but after actually teaching him, he realized this kid was quite the find.


    <i>His nature passes the test, and he has both perseverance and talent.</i>


    If this kid safelypleted today''s training, the long mission of the family would finallye to an end.


    <i>Finally...!</i>


    Thinking of the ancestors who had waited for a day like today, Huey¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.


    <i>I can''t just watch and do nothing.</i>


    Huey sprang to his feet and cheered for Kai, "Keep it up! You can do it! You must never give up! If you give up, I''ll kill you!"


    "....¡± Kai looked at the old man with a horrified expression.


    <i>Huh? Has he gone senile?</i>


    After days of scolding worse than his mother''s, Kai couldn¡¯t help but think this at the sudden encouragement! However, in Huey¡¯s words and eyes was the genuine hope for Kai''s sess.


    "Hmph."


    <i>Whoosh, Swooosh!</i>


    Kai had been getting tired, but at Huey''s words, he regained strength and the sound created by his wooden sword became a bit stronger.


    ***


    <strong>[You havepleted every lesson at these training grounds.]</strong>


    <strong>[Youpleted The Importance of Basics 7.]</strong>


    <strong>[+3 Strength]</strong>


    <strong>[+3 Agility]</strong>


    <strong>[+3 Stamina]</strong>


    "F-finally..."


    The beads of sweat on Kai''s face were the results of his effort.


    Huey slowly approached and handed him a handkerchief. "Each drop of sweat you shed now will rece a drop of blood you might have shedter."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Huey, his voice hoarse from cheering so hard, pointed to a cushion with a tired expression. "Sit down. I have something to tell you."


    "Alright."


    As they both sat down on the cushions, Huey stroked his beard with a solemn expression. "Now that I think about it, it seems my introduction is a bitte."


    "....¡±


    It was far toote to say a bit. After all, his introduction waste by a whole week.


    "My name is Huey Radun. My family has served Sir Patrick for generations."


    "I see."


    "In fact, the Training Grounds of the Dawn is a bit different from ordinary training grounds."


    <i>As expected. I can smell it. </i>


    Kai smiled as the familiar and pleasant scent of a hidden piece seemed to tickled his nose.


    As Huey had mentioned on the first day, this training ground would have some connection with Patrick.


    <i>So, since this hell-like training is over, they must give me something.</i>


    Kai leaned forward, showing keen interest in Huey''s words.


    Huey, satisfied with his attentive look, continued, "I told you when we first met that this training ground was created by Sir Patrick, right?"


    "Of course."


    "Well, Sir Patrick was actually looking for a sessor to inherit his legacy."


    "That would be me!"


    "No, it''s not."


    ¡°....¡±


    Huey chuckled at the puzzled expression on Kai''s face.


    "However, based on your abilities, you might be able to inherit it."


    "What do you mean?" Kai asked back, as he furrowed his brows at the ambiguous statement, asking for rification.


    "The tests conducted in this training ground were for one''s goodness and mental strength."


    "...Indeed!" Kai candidly shared his thoughts on his experience there. "Surely, only someone as kind-hearted and mentally strong as myself could endure your harsh words."


    "...."


    Huey''s lips slightly quivered. After calming himself, he exined the three virtues that the sessor to Patrick''s legacy had to uphold.


    "Ah... I see."


    "With this, you havepleted all my teachings."


    "Thank you!"


    As Kai bowed his head, Huey handed him a map.


    "Now then, you must go to this ce."


    "This is a map."


    "Haha. It''s a map marking the location of the Trial of Hanox."


    "Trial of Hanox?"


    "Yes. That ce is a dungeon created by Sir Patrick himself with his powerful divine power."


    "A dungeon! Then it must be a ce filled with danger."


    "It might be, or it might not be," Huey said with a meaningful smile. "There is only one thing I can tell you about it. If Training Grounds of the Dawn was a ce to test one''s mental strength, then the Trial of Hanox is a ce where one must prove their extreme physical endurance and the value of being a Warrior!"


    "The value of being a Warrior...." Kai gulped.


    <i>But I''m a Cleric.</i>


    Honestly, he didn''t quite understand why he needed to prove his value as a Warrior.


    <i>But this is a hidden quest rted to the legend of the Church of Sris, known as Patrick of the Radiance.</i>


    Just the name alone gave off the sweet scent of a hidden quest!


    Kai¡¯s eyes filled with determination and said, "So I just need to pass through this trial?"


    "Exactly. That is the second test given to you! By passing through it, you will grow one step further."


    <strong><u>[Pass the Trial of Hanox!]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: C</strong>


    <strong>Patrick of the Radiance, was considered one of the greatest pdins in the history of the Church of Sris.</strong>


    <strong>He created the trial in hister years as a ce where visitors can test their skills as Warriors. Stand tall and prove that you are worthy to receive Patrick¡¯s inheritance.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +1 to all stats, +1 level.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Forever lose the opportunity to inherit Patrick''s inheritance.</strong>


    "Hehe."


    Kai selectively read the words from the quest description that pleased him. The greatest Pdin in history, and the great inheritance!


    <i>Inheritance means money, doesn¡¯t it?</i>


    Additionally, being called the greatest pdin in history, there must surely be a mountain of gold waiting.


    Kai couldn''t hide his smile and nodded, "I will surely pass through this trial."


    <strong>[Quest epted.]</strong>

 Chapter 28: Training Grounds of the Dawn (4)

    <h4>Chapter 28: Training Grounds of the Dawn (4)</h4>


    "Oh, I almost forgot. Here, take this."


    Just as Kai was about to stand up, Huey casually threw an old book at him with a nonchnt expression.


    "What¡¯s this?"


    Kai immediately picked up the book and looked at its description.


    <strong><u>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>This way of the sword can only be obtained by those who are recognized by the Swordmaster of the Dawn.</strong>


    <strong>However, it''s not very useful.</strong>


    Kai''s face instantly turned sour.


    <i>Just a normal grade? And it¡¯s not very useful?</i>


    Even if it was a training ground offering a hidden quest, how could such trashy swordsmanship be taught!


    <i>Well, my main strength isn''t in swordsmanship anyway. It should be okay to use a normal rank as a secondary skill.</i>


    Thinking this way, Kai actually felt more at ease.


    With a light heart, Kai opened the skill book.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Would you like to use the Skill Book - Swordsmanship of the Dawn? Agreeing will activate the skill, but the skill book will permanently disappear.]</strong>


    "ept."


    <strong>[Acquired Skill - Swordsmanship of the Dawn.]</strong>


    Kai immediately checked the skill''s information.


    <strong><u>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.1 Passive]</u></strong>


    <strong>When attacking with a sword, inflicts 110% damage to the enemy.</strong>


    "Ugh...."


    It was a poor and unimpressive skill description! Even the level 1 swordsmanship skill learned by a level 10 Knight at the Warrior''s Tower had damage of 110%. Therefore, the Swordsmanship of the Dawn was definitely not an extraordinary sword skill.


    <i>Well, I had expected this since I read on themunity that someone learned basic swordsmanship.</i>


    But there was still a lingering sense of disappointment.


    As Kai''s expression slightly darkened, Huey''s eyebrows twitched. "Brighten up. You have a talent for making someone regret even wanting to give you something."


    "Give me something?"


    Did that mean there was still more to receive? Kai''s face instantly transformed into that of the happiest man in the world.


    "...That¡¯s a remarkable change in attitude. I''ll give you credit for your way of living." Shaking his head, Huey pulled out another book. "Here, this book is also a reward given to those whoplete the Training Grounds of the Dawn."


    "But this book''s color is...."


    Kai''s eyes widened. This book was different from the Swordsmanship of the Dawn which was worn gray. The book shining in red emitted a powerful aura, illuminating intensely just by its presence.


    Kai said with a trembling voice, "I-identify item."


    <strong><u>[Skill Book - Supernova]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Explodes the Holy Power within the body to enhance the user''s stats.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Cleric, recognized by Training Grounds of the Dawn</strong>


    <i>I-it¡¯s a Unique-grade skill book!</i>


    A single drop of saliva that had pooled at the corner of Kai''s mouth fell to the floor. That was how valuable a Unique-grade skill book was.


    <i>This kind of item would involve a notary for the transaction.... Its value is at least in the tens of millions of won!</i>


    Kai, hesitating to even touch the skill book carelessly, swallowed and asked, "C-can I really learn this?"


    "Huh? What are you talking about? It''s not like anyone else can learn it anyway."


    "Really?"


    Kai rechecked the information at Huey''s nonchnt response.


    "Oh...."


    Kai''s face slightly turned sad. Supernova was a skill book that could only be used by someone recognized by the Training Grounds of the Dawn! In other words, if not for Kai, no one else could learn it.


    <i>Then I can''t sell it anyway.</i>


    Kai''s shoulders slumped, but his gloomy mood quickly dissipated.


    <i>No, why would I sell it in the first ce?</i>


    While lots of money was good to have, there was no reason for him to be so desperate for it. Moreover, what he currentlycked was closebat ability! Learning Supernova would definitely ovee that weakness.


    "T-then I''m really going to use it, okay?"


    "Go ahead."


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Kai, swallowing, quickly opened the skill book before Huey could change his mind. Simultaneously, a new skill was activated with a radiant light.


    Kai quickly checked the skill''s information.


    "Skill window."


    <strong><u>[Supernova. LV.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Consumes 1,000 Holy Power per second to increase all stats by 30.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 0/100</strong>


    "Wow...!"


    It truly was a Unique-grade skill! The skill was much more amazing than he expected, though it had its risks.


    <i>A consumption of 1,000 Holy Power per second....That''s tricky.</i>


    Kai''s current Holy Power was 22,600. After applying basic buffs to himself, what was left was roughly 20,000.


    <i>Then I can sustain Supernova for a maximum of twenty seconds... no, twenty-three seconds.</i>


    It consumed so much because using Supernova would increase the Holiness stat by 30. However, even considering that, it wasn''t a skill he could use carelessly. It was truly a trump card, a secret weapon!


    <i>But it''s true that this alone broadens my options.</i>


    As Kai was smiling deeply, Huey gave a piece of advice, "And you, you''re too weak. You need to work on that part a bit more."


    "My strength?"


    "Yes. As you know, strength rtes to all speeds utilized by the body, including attack power."


    "Well... I know that." Kai nodded, knowing that part well.


    "I don''t know what you want to be, but there must be a reason you learned the sword, right?"


    "I want to hunt alone."


    When Kai candidly shared his reason, Huey pped his knee. "Excellent! That''s the spirit. Someone who has received swordsmanship training here should have at least that much courage!"


    "Received swordsmanship training...? You just threw me a mere skill book."


    "Shut up! I''m not saying this for no reason. Your current strength couldn''t even take down a single Orc."


    "...."


    "Even though you¡¯re a Warrior who graduated from the long-standing tradition, Training Grounds of the Dawn."


    "I''m a Cleric."


    "Ahem!"


    As Huey shot Kai a displeased look, Kai shut his mouth. Indeed, Huey''s advice matched quite closely with what Kai had worried about several times.


    <i>As a Sris Cleric, which stats should I be focusing on?</i>


    Like other clerics, he could raise his Holiness and Stamina stats to get rid of his title as a healer.


    However, Kai asked himself, <i>Is that really what I want?</i>


    Up until now, Kai had never regretted his role as a healer, and that remained unchanged. However, while swinging the wooden sword here, he became aware that he enjoyed wielding a sword.


    <i>I like being a healer, but I also want to swing a sword like other Warriors.</i>


    Perhaps the advice Huey had given could be the way to catch both rabbits.


    <i>A Cleric with an all-strength stat...</i>


    It was a path no one had taken, and not many even considered taking! Of course, there was a risk of losing both rabbits, but the new continent revealed its doors only to those who dared.


    Kai quietly bowed his head. "Thank you for the advice. But... I think I need to give it some more thought."


    Once invested, there was no way to retract stats. Since he couldn''t just delete his character, Kai had to be cautious with every choice he made.


    "And thank you for passing on Supernova and Swordsmanship of the Dawn."


    "Hmm. Well, it''s thanks to you enduring well over the week. Don''t forget, this isn''t a favor from me. It''s a reward you earned through your hard work."


    "I''ll keep that in mind!" Kai promised.


    If one wants the fruit from the tree, they can''t just wait passively below. Only those who climbed to the top of the tree, slipping and falling numerous times, could take all the fruits for themself.


    <i>Training Grounds of the Dawn. The training was hellishly tough, but I gained a lot.</i>


    Kai smiled deeply and stood up.


    Then, Huey, with a serious expression, said, "Wipe that drool on the floor before you go."


    "....¡±


    ***


    It had been a whole week of hell-like training. As he left the training grounds, Kai was weed by the warm sunlight.


    "I feel great today."


    That was because today was the day his inventory would be filled to the brim with the equipment he had requested from Solid, the armor made from Wyrm Lizard scales, and the potions from the Redness Wizard¡¯s Tower.


    Kai, with a heart full of anticipation, headed to the cksmith.


    Contrary to hisst visit, there was a long line of people waiting there.


    "Dang it."


    Disappointed by the unexpectedly long line, Kai couldn''t hide his dismay.


    Then, an employee from the cksmith approached him. "Please take a number here. What brings you to us today?"


    "I have some equipment ordered."


    "What kind of equipment?"


    "Made from Wyrm Lizard scales..."


    After Kai finished exining about the equipment, the employee took notes.


    "Understood. We''ll have it ready for you right away."


    After a brief exchange, the employee returned inside the cksmith.


    <i>It looks like I''ll have to wait at least several tens of minutes.</i>


    As Kai looked despairingly at the people lined up in front of him, suddenly, the door to the cksmith swung open.


    "Oh! There he is!"


    The person who opened the door and appeared was someone Kai knew well too.


    "Solid, sir?"


    "Hey you! Why are you waiting here like this?" Solid, with a happy expression, immediately ran over and grabbed Kai''s hand with his thick one. "Come on, let''s go inside!"


    "But the line...."


    "Oh, no. How can I let someone like you just wait out here! It''s my shop anyway, so what''s the problem? It¡¯s alright soe on in."


    People felt the best when they were recognized and treated well!


    The corners of Kai''s mouth rose.


    <i>Raising affinity sure is nice.</i>


    It had always been said that the most important things in life were connections through regional ties, school ties, and blood rtions. There was one thingmon among all of them.


    <i>Connections!</i>


    Connections made through the region! Connections made through school! Connections through shared blood! Everything started and ended with connections.


    "What? Why is that person allowed in without waiting in line?"


    "Do we look like we have time to waste waiting in line!?"


    "Booo!"


    Of course, the yers watching the scene voiced theirints. However, Solid didn¡¯t care and led Kai to the cksmith, and the employee remained and soothed them.


    "Our apologies. This person is someone Solid specifically asked to be taken care of.... Please understand."


    "Specifically?"


    "What kind of person is he?"


    At that, people''s heads collectively tilted.


    "Not even the officers of the Cheonhwa guild receive such treatment."


    "Does that mean he''s an NPC?"


    "Why would an NPCe to the cksmith?"


    "Ah, I guess you didn¡¯t know. This cksmith is famous, so it seems knights and noble NPCs oftene here too."


    "Oops.... I hope he doesn¡¯t think of us unfavorably now."


    The yers dismissed the incident as a mere happening.


    ***


    "Wow, the reaction of the people is scary," Kai, having entered the cksmith and left the yers''ints behind, nced back and murmured.


    Solid alleviated his worries with a heartyugh, "Hahaha! What man gets scared by that level ofints?"


    "But still."


    "It¡¯s my shop anyway, so don¡¯t worry about it. What, if the owner decides to do it, what''s the problem!"


    "Haha...." Kai, with an awkwardugh at Solid¡¯s firm belief, looked around and asked, "By the way, is all my equipment finished?"


    "Son, I thought you would know me better than that," Solid shook his head and led Kai into the depths of the workshop. "I am someone who has been hammering away for forty years without ever missing a deadline.¡±


    ¡°...!¡±


    A deep sense of trust, the kind one might feel in an elderly woman''s soup kitchen with a thirty-year tradition, was felt from his words.


    Kai''s expression brightened immediately and he looked at the equipment being offered to him.


    "Here, this is your new armor."


    Solid presented a set of armor consisting of a sword, helmet, top, and bottom.


    "Wow...."


    An unintentional expression of awe escaped Kai''s lips.


    The equipment in <i>MID Online</i> was detailed. This meant that the feel of the equipment followed the material it was made from.


    <i>The material of this sword is... bone.</i>


    It was the bone of the Wyrm Lizard, a field boss monster that once dominated the mountains of Frica Vige.


    The solidity it offered captured Kai''s attention and heart in an instant. Kai slowly drew the sword from its sheath. The sword, crafted from the white bone of the Wyrm Lizard, possessed a pure white color. Though itcked the coldness of a steel sword, its sharpness looked like it could cut through any enemy.


    <i>It¡¯s so sharp that it''s hard to believe it''s made of bone.</i>


    Kai lightly touched the de''s edge with his finger.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 1,854 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received an additional 185 damage due to the Rage of the Wyrm Lizard effect.]</strong>


    ¡°...!¡±


    Kai, who hadpleted his training at the Training Grounds of the Dawn, had a Strength stat of 72. At best, that wasparable to a level 20 swordsman! However, the attack power of that sword was akin to a strike from a level 35 Warrior swinging with full force.


    <i>Strength directly affects physical attack power. But yet this kind of damage indicates...</i>


    The weapon itself was of exceptional performance! Moreover, it seemed to possess various special effects.


    <i>Thump! Thump! Thump!</i>


    Kai¡¯s heart raced as if urging him to quickly check the item''s information.


    Swallowing, Kai said with a trembling voice, "Identify item."

 Chapter 29: Underground Gambling Den (1)

    <h4>Chapter 29: Underground Gambling Den (1)</h4>


    <strong><u>[Long Sword of the Enlightened One]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 75-107</strong>


    <strong>+10 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+3 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>Utilize the rage of the Wyrm Lizard to deal an additional 10% damage when attacking.</strong>


    <strong>*Enchanted with a Sharpness effect. shing damage is increased by 10%.</strong>


    <strong>This sword was crafted by the cksmith Solid, who swung his hammer for many years, applying the enlightenment he recently attained to its fullest. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that the essence of his life''s work is contained within this single sword.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60+, Strength 80, Stamina 150+.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100.</strong>


    "Th-this is...!"


    Kai''s hands trembled with nervousness as he grasped the sword''s handle.


    <i>Th-this is the first time I''ve seen a Unique-grade weapon in my life!</i>


    Well, he had seen them a few times in auctions or screenshots, but equipping a Unique-grade item was the first time since his name was registered in the family register.


    "Wow...."


    When people are extremely happy or sad, they lose their sense ofnguage. Kai only let out exmations as if he were a broken machine.


    "Hahaha! You seem to like it quite a bit!"


    Solid''s heartyughter and his thick hands patted Kai''s shoulder.


    "Oh, yes. I do!" Kai finally regained his senses and nodded with all his might. "I love it. No, how could anyone not love such a weapon!"


    Though it had been less than a minute since Kai first met the sword, Kai embraced it tightly as if bewitched.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 1,817 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received an additional 182 damage due to the Rage of the Wyrm Lizard effect.]</strong>


    "Oh no!"


    Of course, the return was dreadful. Yet, Kai continued to chuckle.


    "Are you that happy?"


    "Of course. Holding a sword like this will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."


    "Hahaha! I appreciate the kind words." Solid threw back his shoulders and raised his nose into the air as he was filled with pride. He wiped under his nose with a finger before saying, "Now, it''s time to check the armor."


    "Ah! The armor!"


    Kai hadpletely forgotten about the armor and looked at it.


    <i>This isn''t a set item, is it?</i>


    When he received the Armor of the Undead setst time, it was definitely in a box.


    <i>But these items aren''t in a box!</i>


    Meaning, they weren¡¯t set items, so they could be traded.


    Ka securely tied the scabbard to his belt and picked up the armor.


    "Identify items."


    <strong><u>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Chestte]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 412</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 295</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Greaves]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 384</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 268</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Boots]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 285</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 214</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <i>Amazing!</i>


    Kai greatly struggled to suppress the urge to scream with joy. The armor wasn''t worth giving up the effects of the Armor of the Undead set he was currently using. However, if he were to put these items up for auction, he could probably get millions for them.


    <i>It''s money!</i>


    Kai hugged Solid, who had given him this significant amount of money, "Solid, sir, you are truly the best! I see why so many nobles, knights, and even the royal family known to be picky seek your equipment!"


    "Hmm, well, it''s nothing really...."


    Solid tilted his head back, his nose rising high into the air with pride. At this moment, no one could deny his skills.


    "How can I ever thank you for this? I feel sorry to just receive this equipment...."


    "The enlightenment you''ve given me is iparable! It feels like my skills have improved thanks to it."


    They exchanged heartfelt emotions over the valuable gifts and enlightenment!


    They looked at each other''s faces, smiling broadly.


    "Solid, sir...."


    "Kai...."


    The two grew closer! They embraced each other and decided to be honest with their feelings.


    "Once again, thank you for the great enlightenment."


    "And I thank you, several times over, for crafting such brilliant equipment."


    After expressing their gratitude sincerely, they stepped back from the embrace. A bond had formed between them that hadn''t existed before the hug.


    "If you''re going to make more equipment in the future,e to this Solid!"


    ¡°Alright. I might be very bothersome!"


    "Hahaha! If it''s your request, I''d get up from sleep to fulfill it, don''t worry!"


    It was a bond! It was a feeling of connection that sailors floating in the vast sea would experience! The two formed a strong bond, exceeding the species of yer and NPC.


    "Then, I''ll be going now."


    "I won''t be able to take you out farther, lots of work to do. See you next time," Solid gave a bright smile as he said goodbye, which was a look that didn¡¯t suit his thick muscles.


    Kai, with a slight bow and a smile, left the cksmith.


    There were still items to be collected from the Wizard¡¯s Tower and the tailor.


    ***


    <i>Wow, so this is what the city''s auction house is like.</i>


    The auction house in Glendale Kai had visited after collecting all the requested items was on a different level from Frica. It was a sophisticated space that reminded one of a bank.


    At the entrance, attendants handed out wooden tokens engraved with numbers to everyone who came in. After Kai also received his token and waited for a bit, the area around the number on the token blinked red.


    <i>It must mean they''re calling me, right?</i>


    The pretty auction manager at the counter checked the token and smiled. "How can I help you?"


    "I''d like to sell some items."


    "Then, please ce the items in this box."


    Kai ced the items he wanted to sell into the box she extended.


    "Wow, you''re selling a lot. The Shoes of the Wind, Steel Helmet, Steel Shield, and... oh my! Even the Schrly Gloves and Wyrm Lizard equipment too!"


    She couldn''t close her mouth as she looked at the items Kai ced.


    <i>I knew since he had nice equipment on, but... this person is a big spender!</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, where Rare items were still not widely released, it was rare for someone toe and sell this many Rare and Magic items at once.


    Then she said in the kindest voice possible, "What starting bid were you thinking?"


    "I''m not really sure about the market price."


    "Then, may I exin a bit?"


    "I would appreciate that."


    "I''ll exin one by one. For instance, these Schrly Gloves, due to their effect of increasing spell power, have recently be extremely popr among wizard adventurers...."


    She meticulously assigned prices to the items as if it were her own task.


    The prices were as follows:


    <strong>[Shoes of the Wind (Rare) - 17 gold 20 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Schrly Gloves (Rare) - 22 gold 17 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Steel Helmet (Rare) - 16 gold 75 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Steel Shield (Rare) - 18 gold 8 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Chestte - 20 gold 17 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Helmet - 17 gold 5 silver]</strong>


    <strong>[Wyrm Lizard Scale Boots - 14 gold 95 silver]</strong>


    "Wooow...!" Kai let out a light exmation as he looked at the price list she had determined.


    Despite having to pay ten percent of the total amount as auction house fees and kingdom taxes, the total sales amount easily exceeded 10,000,000 won.


    Kai, who became happier, looked at the auction house manager with warm eyes and said, "That sounds good. Please proceed with the prices as they are."


    "Of course, sir."


    ***


    It had already been a week since Kai had received the bandit quest from Baron Arsen. Although the quest wasn''t time-limited, Kai was getting eager to start.


    <i>It was definitely the underground gambling hall of the Breeze Bar that Milton was running.</i>


    Since the sun was beginning to set, the atmosphere in the gambling hall would be at its peak.


    Upon entering Breeze Bar, a man wiping sses at the counter nced at Kai and asked, "Food? Or drink?"


    "I feel like rolling some dice today."


    What Kai had said was a kind of code indicating he wanted to enter the gambling den.


    "Hmm... I''d like to ask where an adventurer heard such information... but it''s against the rules to inquire. Follow me."


    Kai knew the code because he had received information from Baron Arsen.


    The man led Kai down a flight of stairs connected to the first-floor kitchen. The further down they went, the noisier it became.


    "Come on! Come on!"


    "Please! Just once!"


    "I-it came out!"


    "Waiter! One strong drink here!"


    <i>...This is the underground gambling den!</i>


    It was Glendale''srgest private gambling den, where thousands of gold exchanged hands daily. Waiters anddies carrying various drinks bustled about, outnumbered by the people gambling.


    <i>Baron Arsen''s request to deal with Milton probably means he wants to eliminate the private gambling den altogether.</i>


    As Kai entered the gambling hall, thugs looking like gangsters blocked his way.


    "Whoa whoa, are you headed to a battlefield or something?"


    "Maybe take off the armor? Plus the mace on your belt too."


    "...."


    It seemed entry with weapons wasn¡¯t permitted. Kai obediently put his Armor of the Undead set and Skull Crusher of Darkness into his inventory.


    "You look quite young."


    "An adventurer, huh. A friendly advice, don''t take out those equipment again."


    After passing the threatening warnings, Kai looked around inside.


    <i>Where¡¯s Milton?</i>


    After roaming around the two-story gambling den, he couldn''t spot Milton''s face, which he had confirmed several times as a portrait.


    <i>The only ce left unchecked is over there....</i>


    Kai nced at the VIP room located in a corner on the second floor. Guards were posted, making it look difficult to enter by ordinary means.


    As he leaned against a wall, frowning, waitersing out of there passed in front of Kai.


    "Set up the apaniments right away."


    "Yes, sir!"


    "It''s a table shared by the boss and important guests. Even if you''re new, mistakes won''t be tolerated."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    "You always carry the manual with you, right? If there''s something you don''t know, it''s all written there, so refer to it."


    "Understood!"


    <i>The boss...?</i>


    Kai''s eyes lit up after overhearing their conversation. Since Milton ran the gambling den, there couldn''t be anyone else they referred to as the boss.


    <i>So he''s in the VIP room after all.</i>


    Kai began to secretly follow the waiter named Hans.


    ***


    "Are the apaniments ready? Chicken and duck meat! And five tes of salmon sd!"


    Hans, having stopped by the kitchen several times to check on the progress of the apaniments for the VIP room, caught his breath.


    <i>Phew, fortunately, everything is going smoothly.</i>


    Being only three months into his job as a waiter, he was still treated as a newbie.


    <i>But now I finally get to set up the VIP room.</i>


    If he could get through today''s work without any idents, he would be recognized as a full-fledged waiter!


    However, perhaps due to nervousness, he kept feeling signals from his stomach.


    <i>Ugh, it feels like I need to go again.</i>


    Hans quickly entered the bathroom.


    "Ah... much better...."


    After finishing his business with a sense of relief, Hans quickly turned around. But in his rush to finish and return, he failed to look behind him and ended up bumping shoulders with someone.


    "Oh no, my apologies...."


    "Apologies? Is that all you have to say?"


    Hans repeatedly bowed his head, looking at the young-faced customer.


    <i>Fuck. I can¡¯t believe a kid younger than me is ying the customer card....</i>


    Hans thought a few bows would suffice, but the man''s expression only grew more raged.


    "Are you new? Do you not know who I am?"


    "P-pardon...?"


    Hans tried to recall the faces of the VIPs he had been taught about by his seniors, but he couldn''t recognize the guest in front of him.


    <i>Were there adventurers among the VIPs? I- I don''t think there was....</i>


    As Hans couldn¡¯t say anything and just stood there, the man shouted in an irritated tone, "You really don''t know, do you? This is getting ridiculous.... Pull out the manual now!"


    Startled by the shout, Hans quickly pulled out the manual he had kept hidden in his pocket.


    The man snatched it away irritably, saying, "It says right here about me! I dine here with the boss, eh!? Roll dice with the boss, eh!? I did all that, buddy!"


    "Yes... Yes, sir!"


    While Hans stood frozen, the man who had taken the manual, Kai, obtained the information he wanted.


    <i>Good. There was a secret entrance after all. Those with something to hide always do. It connects through here.</i>


    After memorizing the information, Kai handed the manual back to Hans.


    As Kai attempted to leave the bathroom without a word, Hans stopped him. "Um... so, your name is...?"


    "Oh," Kai turned his back with an annoyed expression, then smiled. "I must have been too drunk and made a mistake. Sorry for confusing you with another gambling den!"


    With those words, he hurried out of the restroom.


    Left alone in the restroom, Hans mumbled with a dumbfounded expression, "...Who the hell is that bastard."

 Chapter 30: Underground Gambling Den (2)

    <h4>Chapter 30: Underground Gambling Den (2)</h4>


    "What a crazy guy."


    Hans muttered as he exited the bathroom. He looked up as his senior hurriedly approached him.


    "Hey, you! What are you doing here!?"


    "Huh? I just finished preparing the apaniments for the VIP room, so...."


    "It''s not the apaniments that matter right now! Evacuate the VIP guests immediately!"


    "Pardon? What do you mean...."


    As Hans responded with a puzzled look, his senior yelled in frustration, "You idiot! Undead have appeared! I need to control the guests and secure the money, so you take care of evacuating the VIP guests and the boss first!"


    "Whaaat!? O-Okay!"


    Startled, Hans rushed upstairs to attend to the VIPs.


    "Heeek...!"


    The scene he encountered on the stairs to the second floor was shocking to him.


    <i>U-undeads! There really are undeads!</i>


    Eight undead were destroying whatever they could in the gambling den.


    "Why... why are there undeads here!?"


    "Block them! Don''t let them get upstairs!"


    The thugs guarding the gambling dens screamed. However, they seemed too scared to fight the undeads directly, hesitating to charge at them.


    <i>Why would undeads suddenly appear here?</i>


    Hans, wanting to avoid getting involved before sparks flew his way, opened the door to the VIP room.


    "Boss! We need to evacuate immediately!"


    "What? I''m in the middle of something important, what are you talking about? And why is it so noisy outside?" Milton, who had a pipe in his mouth, furrowed his eyebrows and expressed his anger.


    "Undeads have appeared! You need to run away now!"


    "...What appeared?" Milton tilted his head.


    <i>This new rookie wouldn''t be making up such a crazy lie....</i>


    He nced at the VIP guests, then stood up. "Ahem, please excuse me for a moment."


    He dragged Hans out of the room but cursed when he saw the undeads on the first floor.


    "What the fuck! It''s real!"


    Feeling chills all over his body, Milton quickly grabbed his money bag and returned to the VIP guests. Theyughed at Hans''s exnation about the appearance of the undeads, along with Milton''s pale face.


    "Undeads?"


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Haha, it seems our boss has run out of luck. What a strange trick...."


    However, their expressions hardened as they heard the sounds of destruction and screamse from downstairs.


    "Is it true?" one of the VIP guests questioned him.


    "If you can''t believe it, stay here and see for yourself. I''m leaving. Snake Brothers! Protect me."


    "Yes, boss."


    Two sturdy men dressed in ck and white suits closely guarded Milton. Meanwhile, Milton essed the secret entrance through a door in the room.


    "Undeads! Real undeads!"


    "Shit! Grab the money first!"


    The VIPs, having confirmed the situation on the first floor, hurriedly gathered their money and followed Milton. The passage connected to the back door was dark, smelly, and most importantly, long.


    After running for about ten minutes, the panting VIPs asked, "Where does this passage end?"


    "We''re almost there."


    Milton, who had been responding to their questions, swallowed his anger.


    <i>Shit! Who the hell unleashed undeads in a gambling den?</i>


    Once they sessfully escaped, he was determined to find and punish the culprit at any cost.


    <i>Now we just pass this door and we''ll be safe!</i>


    Feeling relieved to be alive, Milton forcefully opened the tightly shut door.


    The cool night air entered through the opened door, and a man greeted them warmly.


    ¡°You''re here? You''re a bitter than I expected."


    A man protected in ck armor with a worn iron sword at his waist was waiting for him. It was Kai.


    ***


    <i>I really set a good n this time. Good job, Kai.</i>


    Kai''s shoulders and nose rose high with pride, naturally, because the entire chaos was his doing.


    <i>Given the nature of a gambling den, there''s always a chance that patrolmen can raid. Naturally, there would be at least one secret path for escape.</i>


    While pondering how to meet Milton, Kai changed his approach.


    <i>If I can''t get in, why not make hime out?</i>


    However, amon method wouldn''t be enough to face him directly! Therefore, he made a n to create a disturbance, forcing Milton to run away through the emergency exit.


    <i>Operation: Burn the Roon''s Den.</i>


    All Kai needed for his n was information about the secret exit. His prediction that the manual would contain such information was spot-on, and Kai summoned undeads to destroy the gambling den while he calmly waited outside the secret passage for Milton.


    "No way.... Are you the one who unleashed the undeads in my establishment?" Milton red at Kai with a fierce look.


    Since he had no intention of denying it, Kai shrugged and said, "I wonder if you liked it. They''re quite cute if you get to know them. They even dance well."


    "You crazy bastard! Do you know how much we make in one night here!?" Milton stomped the ground furiously, his anger reaching its peak.


    At that sight, Kai sighed deeply and shook his head. "The crazy one is you. Now''s not the time to worry about a night''s earnings...."


    "Shut up! Hey! Bring that bastard to me!"


    At Milton''smand, the Snake Brothers turned their heads and walked forward. The younger one, White Snake, wielded two short daggers, while the older one, ck Snake, favored a long sword.


    <i>Hissss.</i>


    As they approached with deadly intent, Kai drew a normal-ranked iron sword he had purchased at the auction house. He couldn''t use the Long Sword of the Enlightened One yet due to the level requirements.


    His current iron sword, worth merely 20 silver, could hardly be considered in good condition.


    "Just so you know, I haven''t been learning swordsmanship for long, so I can¡¯t go easy or anything like that."


    "Finish him!"


    At Milton''s shout, the men charged.


    Kai calmly lowered his stance, recalling Master Huey¡¯s teachings.


    -Lower your stance and widen your field of vision.


    -Breathe deeply. Continuously supply oxygen to your brain. Act with your chest until the fight starts, and with your head once it begins.


    -Don''t look at the enemy''s weapon, but their arms, legs, wrists, and ankles. There lies the hint of their next move.


    -Once you''ve drawn your sword, don¡¯t hesitate.


    -You''re a novice. You carry a sword, but fundamentally, you¡¯re a weak Cleric. Instead of despairing over the differences, leverage your own strengths.


    Though the teachingssted only a week, Huey was apetent and excellent swordmaster. His basic training increased Kai''s physical stats by about 10 each,ying the foundation for his swordsmanship.


    <i>The difference between them and me.</i>


    Kai neither had the Strength stat of Warriors nor the agility of Archers or Rogues. Even if he engaged in a sword fight with them, fighting in the same manner as them was impossible.


    <i>My nature is a Cleric!</i>


    He had to engage in battle in his own way. Following someone else''s path wouldn''t allow him to surpass them, not in a lifetime.


    "Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Bless, Shield of Light, Spring of Restoration!"


    Kai buffed himself while setting up a spring behind him.


    In the meantime, White Snake, wielding two daggers, lunged at Kai.


    <i>It¡¯s over.</i>


    Witnessing this, Milton and ck Snake rxed their guard. They had seen this countless times before, and the oue was always the same.


    "Die!"


    The daggers flew and targeted Kai''s heart and sr plexus.


    Kai got stabbed.


    <strong>[Your weak point has been attacked. You''ve received 2,710 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your weak point has been attacked. You''ve received 2,805 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been poisoned with Swamp Spider venom. Vitality decreases by 150 every second.]</strong>


    "Ah, you''ve noticed by now. This dagger is coated with a lethal poison."


    White Snake licked his lips, expecting Kai to scream any moment.


    However, Kai was deeply contemting, even amidst the situation.


    <i>My own fighting technique.</i>


    He wasn''t overwhelmingly strong or fast, but he had something he was more confident in than anyone else.


    <i>Holy Power and Stamina.</i>


    These were the basic stats that a Cleric focused on. Therefore, Kai had one of the highest Stamina stats after the tank sses. Moreover, those weren¡¯t his only weapons.


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth."


    <strong>[Restored 5,515 HP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Poisoned status effect removed.]</strong>


    If Warriors and Knights were the strongest spears that could sweep away all enemies before them, Kai was the strongest shield that wouldn''t die no matter how much he was hit.


    Kai''s hand moved like lightning and grabbed White Snake''s wrist. As Kai, who had been poisoned, forcefully grasped his wrist, White Snake was greatly taken aback.


    <i>What? How can he move like this after being poisoned.... Wait! Hisplexion is normal!</i>


    That meant he wasn''t poisoned!


    Fear of the unknown sprouted in White Snake''s mind, which had been as calm as ake. That tiny bit of fear momentarily made White Snake''s actions hesitant.


    Kai didn''t miss this opportunity and swung his iron sword with his other hand.


    "Ugh!¡±


    Just as the iron sword was about to pierce White Snake''s heart, he managed to shake off Kai''s grip and stepped back significantly.


    Kai looked down at his palm and acknowledged his mistake.


    <i>Their Strength stat is higher. I can''t surpass them in attack power and speed.</i>


    That was the crucial difference in the critical moment.


    In the past, he would have felt helpless and just sighed.


    <i>But now, there¡¯s a way.</i>


    Kai immediately opened the interface window and set a timer.


    "Set for 18 seconds."


    <strong>[Timer set for 18 seconds.]</strong>


    <strong>[18, 17...]</strong>


    The moment the timer started, Kai activated his first Unique skill.


    "Supernova."


    As soon as he cast it, his body began to heat up as if he was in a sauna.


    <strong>[All stats have increased by 30.]</strong>


    Power surged through his body.


    "Phew, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to use this in the summer."


    Kai, smiling, didn''t just enjoy the power but also assessed the situation of his enemies.


    <i>I can only maintain this state for at most fifteen seconds. Not a second can be wasted!</i>


    Kai, gripping his iron sword firmly, darted forward.


    "Huh? H-his movements are suddenly...!"


    White Snake, who had backed off to avoid Kai''s sword, was shocked. He was shocked at Kai''s movement, which was iparable to just moments before.


    This time, Kai''s attack pierced through White Snake''s heart!


    "Aaagh!"


    White Snake¡¯s Stamina began to plummet rapidly.


    Unable to watch any longer, ck Snake sprang forward. "How dare you crazy bastard attack my brother!"


    A long sword, gleaming with moonlight, aimed straight for Kai''s neck.


    Kai''s eyes, watching the sworde toward him, settled coldly.


    <i>It¡¯s not a fight that will end with just one or two dodges.... In that case....</i>


    Sacrifice the flesh to save the bone!


    Kai tightly pressed his lips together and watched the sword pierce his neck.


    <strong>[Your weak point has been attacked. You''ve received 3,518 damage.]</strong>


    The pain wasn''t severe. It felt more like the dull end of a ballpoint pen pressing against the skin. After all, it was just a game.


    <i>Wh-what? He didn''t dodge this attack...?</i>


    ck Snake was greatly taken aback by the sess of his attack.


    The brothers had to be cruel and venomous to survive in the back alleys. That became their driving force, making them strong enough to earn the nickname, Snake Brothers, for their venomous nature.


    <i>I didn¡¯t think there was someone crazier than us!</i>


    Kai was a strong-willed person who didn''t even blink when a sword was thrust into his neck! Such an act wasn''t easily done even by yers who were absolutely confident in their safety. Automatically closing one''s eyes when something approached was an instinctive reaction for anyone not trained to do otherwise.


    "Now, it''s my turn, right?"


    Kai released White Snake''s wrist he had been holding.


    After being stabbed in the heart multiple times, White Snake staggered and fell, while Kai firmly grabbed the long sword that ck Snake had thrust into his neck.


    "Arghh!"


    As his long sword was trapped in Kai''s neck and hand and was unable to pull it free, ck Snake let go of the sword and stepped back.


    "Where do you think you''re going!?"


    <i>sh!</i>


    Kai''s iron sword sliced from left to right like lightning.


    "Horizontal sh!"


    This was the result of Kai''s effort, swinging his sword 80,000 times over the past week!


    Without any fancy techniques, the clean and simple sword strikes sliced through ck Snake¡¯s throat like lightning.

 Chapter 31: Underground Gambling Den (3)

    <h4>Chapter 31: Underground Gambling Den (3)</h4>


    "Grrgh!"


    Blood spurted out like a fountain from his split vocal cords. However, even as blood poured out, Kai didn''t blink once.


    -Stubbornness alone will make you second to none!


    It was Kai''s stubbornness that surprised even swordmaster Huey.


    Kai stubbornly thrust his sword into ck Snake''s chest, who was stepping backward.


    "Kugh... kuugh!"


    The man trembled, then fell forward. Even though he still had some HP left, it was rapidly decreasing due to the bleeding.


    Kai looked down at him for a moment and pressed his lips tightly together.


    <i>As long as I¡¯ve drawn the sword, there can be no hesitation.</i>


    He was too weak to afford anyone mercy. Therefore, he couldn''t let go until he was sure the opponent''s life was certainly over.


    "Kugh, kugh..." ck blood flowed from ck Snake''s mouth.


    "This guy is finished."


    Kai turned his head to look at White Snake. He was stumbling in an attempt to run away.


    "Huh, all he can think about is running even as his brother dies."


    Kai shook his head and extended his hand while saying, "Holy Explosion."


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The emergency exit and surrounding wall crumbled down with the st of light. It was inevitable that White Snake did not survive since he had been caught under the debris.


    Then the sound marking the end of the battle arrived.


    <strong>[You defeated the merciless criminal, ck Snake.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+70 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[You defeated a criminal. +1 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[You defeated the merciless criminal, White Snake.]</strong>


    <strong>[+14,500 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+65 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[You defeated a criminal. +1 Benevolence.]</strong>


    It was Kai''s first battle wielding a sword. No matter how it was worded, it couldn''t be said to be a clean fight, but he was eventually victorious.


    <strong>[Holy Power is too low. Supernova skill has been canceled.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have used all of your Holy Power. All abilities are weakened by 10% until Holy Power is restored to 30% or higher.]</strong>


    <i>I didn¡¯t know there was a penalty like this.</i>


    He realized once again that Supernova was a double-edged sword. It was truly a high risk, high return! As much as it gave, there was much to be cautious about.


    "Still, the effect is amazing so...."


    Without Supernova, he couldn''t have dealt with the Snake Brothers so easily!


    Kai nced at the message window.


    <i>So even defeating criminals increases the Benevolence stat.</i>


    Another method to increase the Benevolence stat had been discovered. This made three known methods to Kai for increasing the Benevolence stat.


    <i>One ispleting quests for NPCs in distress, another is curing NPCs of their heart''s pain, and thest is defeating criminals. These are the three.</i>


    There could be more ways other than these ones. The possibility of growth made Kai¡¯s heart race.


    "What a great night."


    Kai walked toward Milton.


    "D-don''te any closer...!" Milton shouted, but stepping backward didn''t make him any more threatening. "Aaaah!"


    "S-sorry, Milton, sir!" Hans and the VIPs screamed and ran away, but Kai didn''t chase after them.


    As Kai ced the blood-dripping iron sword near Milton''s throat, Milton''s eyes visibly shook.


    "Now, Mr. Boss. There''s a way to walk on your own, and there''s a way not to walk on your own. What will it be?"


    "Uuuuh...."


    Though there were two options, Milton only had one he could choose.


    ***


    "Oh!"


    As Kai brought Milton to Baron Arsen fully tied up, Baron Arsen smiled in satisfaction.


    "It might sound strange to say this now... but honestly, I didn''t expect a Cleric to handle things so well."


    "I was lucky."


    "Luck is also a skill, especially for adventurers like you who roam various ces. Luck is indeed the most reliable strength you can have." Baron Arsen ordered his knights to imprison Milton and then confiscated his assets for the barony. "Let me make it clear right here. You have perfectly passed the test I set."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You sessfullypleted the quest, Glendale Security Force.]</strong>


    <strong>[+75,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+700 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    As Kai was checking the questpletion rewards, Baron Arsen asked, "Now it''s time to give you the promised reward. I can give you information about a dungeon, or as you wished, you can take on a personal request from me. Choose one."


    "Hmm...."


    Kai had given a lot of thought about this. Choosing the dungeon information could lead to a double benefit by clearing the dungeon and then selling the information. However, while dungeons could potentially be found by luck, a hidden quest given directly by the baron was something he could never get through any other means. With that, the answer was already clear.


    "Please give me the opportunity to solve a problem for you."


    As Kai boldly requested his reward, Baron Arsen nodded in agreement.


    "Good. An adventurer who is responsible and skilled like you can be trusted with a task without worry." After a moment of contemtion, he began with a serious tone, "I haven''t spoken of this to anyone, but I''ve been greatly troubledtely."


    "I''m all ears."


    Kai knew that he couldn''t afford to miss a single word or pause from Baron Arsen. Everything could be a hint or piece of information for the quest.


    Kai perked up his ears.


    "Soon, I n to form an expedition that includes knights, soldiers, and even adventurers."


    "An expedition?"


    Kai thought about the articles from the game he read daily.


    <i>An expedition from Glendale, huh? But... there''s no enemy around that would require forming such a team....</i>


    However, Baron Arsen wouldn''t create an expedition without a reason!


    Kai''s voice became more serious. "Leave it to me; it does not matter who the opponent is."


    "Haha, reliable indeed. Have you ever heard of the Orc Sorcerer?"


    "Orc Sorcerer...?" Kai tilted his head.


    Orcs were typically warrior-type monsters, known for their muscles rather than brains! It was hard to imagine such creatures wielding magic.


    <i>There''s been no information about Orc Sorcerers in themunity either.</i>


    As Kai shook his head, Baron Arsen added, "It''s a rare creature that has been talked about before in society a long time ago. Recently, it has been spotted deep within the Orc vige of Glendale. As the lord of Glendale, it''s unsettling to have such a creature nearby."


    "Is it strong?"


    "Well, that''s the troubling part. We don''t know," Baron Arsen sighed lightly, showing his frustration.


    "Don''t know? There must be witnesses."


    ¡°It''s currently residing in the center of the Orc vige so we sent soldiers several times to deal with it, but they all ran away after only managing to catch a glimpse of its face from a distance. Orc warriors and heroes were guarding it deep in the mountains. Moreover, as I mentioned before, since it is a rare one, there was hardly any record to be found even after searching through rted papers.¡±


    "No way...."


    In a city like Glendale, even a soldier would have a level exceeding 80, but even then, they couldn''t easily breach the Orc wall!


    Kai broke into a cold sweat at the unexpected challenge posed by the formidable creature.


    "I will formally request your assistance. Join the expedition and head to the heart of the Orc vige to deal with the Orc Sorcerer."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong><u>[Eradicate the Orc Sorcerer]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: B-</strong>


    <strong>Baron Arsen has been concernedtely about the recent appearance of the Orc Sorcerer. Eliminate the Orc Sorcerer to relieve Baron Arsen''s worries and keep the citizens of Glendale safe.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Rewards: Acquire ¡®Rising Star¡¯ title, gain Affinity with Baron Arsen, acquire a special gift.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalties: Lose Affinity with Baron Arsen.</strong>


    The penalty seemed negligiblepared to the rewards that could be gained.


    <i>And a special gift? What''s that about?</i>


    There were asionally quests that offered additional unknown rewards.


    <i>One won''t know until they receive it.</i>


    Still, a gift from a baron was unlikely to be of little value.


    Kai bowed his head slightly and responded, "I will do my best."


    "I''m counting on you. Oh, and I have an additional proposal.... Would you consider leading the adventurers who will join the expedition?"


    Kai blinked at Baron Arsen''s unexpected proposal. It wasn''t a bad suggestion, but the thought ofmanding yers weighed on his mind.


    "May I ask how many adventurers you n to include in the expedition?"


    "Hmm. I haven''t thought deeply about it, but... about 300 seems enough."


    "300!?"


    Kai was taken aback.


    <i>The scale of the expedition is muchrger than I thought.</i>


    After all, they weren¡¯t hunting in a small area but raiding an Orc vige''s territory, so arge scale was to be expected. If Kai sessfully led the adventurers and killed the Orc Sorcerer, his reputation would surely rise.


    <i>But that would also attract more troublemakers.</i>


    The heart of the Orc vige was definitely not a ce where Kai could casually hunt while hiding his abilities. The idea of fame and rewards was enticing, but being noticed by other yers wasn¡¯t the best idea at the moment. The value of information increased the more it was concealed and held tighter without being released.


    <i>Being part of the expedition might force me to use my job skills without realizing it. Then, other yers would start to have suspicions.</i>


    From Kai''s perspective, that was a situation to be avoided at all costs.


    <i>Especially since information about me can be considered the most valuable in MID Online right now.</i>


    The reason was that he was the unique yer with a Mythic rank job!


    <i>I can¡¯t reveal myself yet, it has to wait until I''ve grown stronger and feel confident in my ability to protect myself.</i>


    That would be the moment for Kai to proudly reveal himself as a Sris Cleric to the yers.


    "I''m sorry. It seems to be too much of an honor for me at this time."


    "Hmm. I don''t necessarily think so, but... if that''s how you feel, I won''t insist."


    Koreans would ask at least three times, but Baron Arsen, being from the Kingdom of Rashion, did not follow such customs.


    <i>Of course, I have no intention ofing forward, but I can''t let this opportunity pass to another yer either.</i>


    Truly a wicked disposition! However, it was amon feeling to be more upset when someone else possessed what should have belonged to themselves!


    After much consideration, Kai carefully began to speak.

 Chapter 32: Pre-Investigation

    <h4>Chapter 32: Pre-Investigation</h4>


    "Baron, sir, may I ask what will happen to the leadership position I declined?"


    "Hmm? I suppose we will appoint someone with high renown from among the adventurers who applied to join the expedition.... Do you have another opinion?"


    "In my view, it would be better for the expedition''s captain to also manage the adventurers."


    "What''s the reason for that?" Baron Arsen asked, blinking.


    Kai spoke after considering what he would say two, no, three times. "The primary stakeholder of this expedition is Glendale. However, as you know, most adventurers are desperate for growth. If they were to holdmand themselves, there''s a high possibility they would take risks to increase their contributions."


    "Hmm, I am well aware of adventurers'' greed.... So you suggest that the expedition captain should firmly hold the reins?"


    "Of course, that is for you to decide, sir."


    "Hmm...." After a moment of contemtion, Baron Arsen nodded. "That does sound like a good idea. I thought it would be best to give the adventurers somemand since they would know each other best... but indeed, given that my soldiers'' lives are at stake, it would be best to strictly control the unpredictable adventurers. However...."


    "However...?"


    "You will need to offer some advice to the expedition captain. After all, we don''t fully understand adventurers."


    "If it''s just that... it would be my pleasure."


    Kai''s expression brightened, and he smiled broadly. It was the smile that often appeared when he got what he wanted.


    <i>This is exactly what I wanted. Not visible, but free to act at my discretion.</i>


    That wasn''t all. If he could be friendly with the expedition leader, he could enjoy various conveniences.


    "But do bear in mind, that while they are my subordinates, knights still have their pride. If you intervene too much, you''ll provoke their anger."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Kai was indeed quite shameless, but he wasn''t heartless enough to mess with the knights.


    <i>If they¡¯re knights from Glendale, they must be at least level 120, how could I dare to fool around?</i>


    Even if the knights were to push him to do so, he had to refuse. One must stretch their legs only as far as the bed allows!


    Kai sincerely thanked the baron for amodating his convenience. "Thank you for indulging my unreasonable request."


    "Not at all. I''m the one asking you. Please, make sure to defeat the Orc Sorcerer." Baron Arsen stood up and patted Kai''s shoulder. "The expedition will set out in a month from today. Recruiting adventurers will happen around three weeks from now."


    "Three weeks...."


    The schedule was much more rxed than Kai had anticipated.


    "It would be wise for you to grow stronger until then. Once again, defeating the Orc Sorcerer will not be easy. You''ll have to get past the Orc Warriors and Orc Heroes protecting it."


    "I''ll bear that in mind. I should improve my skills before the expedition is formed."


    "If I may offer a piece of advice, it would be beneficial to gain experience fighting Orcs beforehand," Baron Arsen concluded with a satisfied smile, pleased by Kai''s constant desire for growth and refusal to stagnate in his current abilities.


    ***


    Those who sought to conquer dungeons had to make many preparations. From potions and equipment repair kits to reliablepanions and high-ranked items, the most crucial of all was information.


    <i>Hmm, there''s no information about the Trial of Hanox.</i>


    Kai had gone through themunity site whenever he had time but unfortunately, he found no valuable information.


    <i>This won''t do.</i>


    Dungeons, filled with various dangers, were unknown territories. The slight difference between being prepared and not could determine the sess of a dungeon conquest!


    <i>It''s unfortunate that it involves spending money, but there''s a method suitable for such asions.</i>


    Kai headed to the library in Glendale. If he had more money, he would have headed to the information guild, but even if it required more effort, the library was much more cost-effective.


    Upon entering the library, the reception desk staff greeted him with a bright smile, "Wee. Will you be using the first floor?"


    "I''ll look around the second floor as well," Kai said, pulling out gold from his inventory without hesitation.


    While the first floor of the library found in each city was open for free, the second floor was not.


    <i>The books on the second floor are much more valuable.</i>


    essing the second floor cost a whole gold coin! It was a price that could seem expensive at first nce but was actually considered reasonable for the freedom to read information from a ce known as a treasure house of knowledge.


    <i>The first floor is indeed crowded.</i>


    Many NPCs and adventurers were reading with books stacked on the desks, or searching for books they wanted.


    Kai then approached the female librarian at the first floor''s desk. "Do you have any books rted to Hanox?"


    "Hanox? That''s new to me.... Please wait a moment." The librarian, tilting her head, manipted a magical crystal on the desk and entered some information. After rotating the crystal back and forth, she eximed with a discovery. "Ah... found it! You''re looking for information on the ancient city of Hanox, right?"


    "Yes, I think."


    Kai smiled, having finally found a clue to information that was not avable even on themunity site.


    ***


    In games, the prefix ''ancient'' before an item''s name naturally increased its value.


    After learning that Hanox was an ancient city, Kai couldn''t hide his excitement and continued, "Where can I find the rted books?"


    "Sorry, but you''ll need to go up to the second floor for that."


    It was as he expected. Kai wasn¡¯t taken aback and handed over the entrance ticket he had paid a gold coin for.


    "Oh! You''ve already bought a ticket for the second floor. Then, please follow me."


    The librarian led Kai straight to the second floor. Soldiers guarded the stairs, but Kai, with his reading pass, passed through easily.


    <i>So this is the library''s second floor, huh?</i>


    Kai knew of its existence but had never visited before, as he had never needed information badly enough toe to the library.


    <i>The Tomb of the Gnolls was an unexpected entry, so there was no time to prepare for that.</i>


    The second floor had much fewer peoplepared to the first, but there were still a few NPCs and yers. They nced at Kai, the neer, then turned their heads back to their books.


    <i>It''s like the study halls from my high school days.</i>


    It was a deste space where nobody showed interest in others for more than three seconds!


    "Pleasee this way," the librarian led Kai to a shelf covered in dust. "Hmm.... ¡®Civilizations Lost to the Continent'' and ''The Path of the Ancient Warrior'' should be around here somewhere..."


    After rummaging through the shelf for a bit, she let out a short exmation, climbed adder and pulled out two books. "<i>Cough, cough</i>... Oh, so much dust. Here you are."


    The librarian dusted them off before handing them to Kai. He took the books and bowed his head saying, "Thank you."


    "Hehe, no worries."


    However, she did not leave after that brief response. Instead, she stared at Kai, her fingers fidgeting as if she wanted something.


    <i>Oh, a tip.</i>


    Realizing what she wanted, Kai immediately took out about 5 silver and handed it to her.


    "Hehe, thank you!" The librarian smiled brightly.


    As she started to leave, Kai quickly grabbed her sleeve.


    "...What¡¯s wrong?" She held on to the 5 silver tightly and showed a wary expression.


    Kai raised his hands in a gesture to show he meant no harm and said, "Excuse me, but by any chance, have you been having trouble sleeping at night?"


    "Oh.... How did you...?" she nodded, her eyes wide with surprise.


    Just as Kai said, she had been struggling with worsening insomnia recently, which made it difficult for her to sleep at night.


    "It''s obvious, really. The dark circles under your eyes indicate you haven''t been resting well, and your eyes look tired as if you''ve been waking up multiple times."


    "Th-that''s right. I''ve always had insomnia, buttely, it''s gotten worse due to overworking," the librarian shared herints with a gloomy expression.


    Kai smiled as if he understood everything. It was a moment for the persuasive skills he had acquired while treating the vigers of Frica, simr to those of a scammer, toe into y.


    <i>Of course, I guessed her symptoms though.</i>


    Anyone could tell she was exhausted just by looking at her face, not just Kai! His ability to professionally package such observations was one of the big takeaways from his time in Frica.


    "Hmm.... I don''t usually do this, but...." Kai looked around and subtly raised his hand. "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Bless."


    Sunlight¡¯s Warmth was a top-tier heal skill that not only healed but also removed all status effects! Additionally, when he also applied Bless that temporarily boosted all stats, her face brightened so much it looked as if she had received botox injections.


    "What''s this...?"


    "First, take a look in the mirror."


    She took the mirror Kai offered, observed her face here and there, and was astonished. "Oh, oh my! Look at my skin.... It looked so dry recently...."


    The librarian smiled as she stared at herself in the mirror.


    Kai cleared his throat with his arms crossed behind his back, "Ahem. The merciful Srian God teaches us to help those in trouble."


    "Oh, are you a cleric of the Church of Sris?"


    Kai didn¡¯t say anything and showed a ne that signified he was a Sris Cleric.


    Seeing this, the librarian pped her hands in joy. "Oh my, you really are. I heard that being blessed by a Sric Cleric improves your skin!" As if realizing something, she rummaged through her pocket and took out the 5 silver again. "I can''t ept a tip from a Sris Cleric. Please, take it back."


    "Ahaha, I cannot do that."


    "But I won''t feel right keeping it...."


    "In that case, I''ll gratefully ept it."


    "...."


    Kai wasn¡¯t the person to refuse twice!


    The librarian, after making an awkward expression, bowed her head and went down to the first floor.


    Kai, watching her leave, quietly danced without making noise.


    <i>Sris, hooray!</i>


    In fact, Kai''s sudden decision to treat her stemmed from an intriguing post he saw on themunity site that morning.


    [A yer of the Chef ss. Here¡¯s a life hack.]


    -I am a yer running a small Western-style restaurant in Barden Castle. Our best-selling menu item is Red Boar Steak, so I visit a nearby boar hunting ground once a week to purchase fresh ingredients. Those who know already know, but Barden Castle charges a toll fee of 50 silver. In some way, the soldiers there are simr to real-life police, aren¡¯t they? I wanted to show my appreciation and gave them food that was close to expiring while passing through the gate. But this morning, the soldier didn¡¯t charge me the toll fee, likely because the NPCs Affinity increased after receiving the food. If you¡¯re a yer of a producing ss, you might also get toll exemptions by offering your crafted items or dishes.


    - Dang, that¡¯s actually not a bad life hack.


    - I¡¯m an artist, and the chief guard who I gave one of my paintings to always asks to get a drink together. I thought it was a life hack I only knew...


    ©¸ Sharing is caring, you know.


    - You¡¯re lying. I give my dishes to the soldiers there whenever I pass through the gate, but my toll fee only went up.


    ©¸ That¡¯s probably cause you suck at cooking.


    ©¸ It must have been that bad lol. The soldiers are saints for not kicking you out.


    <i>Interesting....</i>


    Kai, after reading this, wondered if simr results could be achieved through healing or blessings.


    <i>The result is a sess. This will be quite useful.</i>


    With a bright smile, Kai sat down at a desk and began reading.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.... Shall we start with the <i>Civilizations Lost to the Continent.</i>¡±


    Kai quietly began reading.


    As expected of a library, only the sound of pages turning quietly filled the air. If he had studied with this level of concentration, he would have been epted to Korean University.


    Two hours after starting, Kai had finished reading <i>Civilizations Lost to the Continent.</i>


    <i>There''s no information I need in this book.</i>


    While the book contained information about the ancient city of Hanox, it only listed basic details.


    <i>ording to this book, Hanox was an ancient city that took a tribal form, having their brave warriors at the top.</i>


    It was a city where the survival of the fittest prevailed!


    Why would Patrick, a pdin, leave the trial of such a barbaric city for future generations?


    Kai earnestly hoped <i>The Path of the Ancient Warrior</i> would resolve his curiosity.


    The sound of pages turning resumed. With a calm gaze, Kai meticulously read every corner of the book.


    <i>Found it!</i>


    As his back began to ache from sitting and reading too long, the word ¡®Hanox¡¯ caught his eye.

 Chapter 33: Forest of Spiders (1)

    <h4>Chapter 33: Forest of Spiders (1)</h4>


    <i>¡°Hanox was an ancient city of ancient warriors. The people of this ce regarded strength as the highest virtue, and when a child became an adult, they were sent to a ce known as the trial grounds....¡±</i>


    Kai''s eyes suddenly stopped while reading the book.


    <i>Trial!</i>


    The information he had been desperately seeking was in this book. Wanting to know more, Kai increased his reading speed.


    <i>¡°ording to ancient texts, the trial grounds were a ce to test strong warriors. In order to pass through this ce, one must possess the qualities of a true warrior: courage, wisdom, and strength. Lacking any one of these three meant failure to pass the trial, and children who failed were not recognized as proud warriors but assigned to handling trivial tasks in the city....¡±</i>


    After reading a bit more, Kai closed the book as the detailed information about the Trial of Hanox ended.


    <i>Although there were no strategies for oveing the trial, this is enough.</i>


    Having gathered enough information about the dungeon, all that was left was to level up.


    <i>I also need to practice the feeling of Supernova while I¡¯m at it.</i>


    He couldn''t afford to experience the depletion of his Holy Power like when he faced the Snake Brothers.


    After collecting his thoughts, Kai left the library without any regrets. Even though he had spent a significant amount of money (one gold coin) in just two hours, the harvest was more than abundant.


    ***


    "Now, what quests are avable in this city?"


    After arriving at Glendale''s central square, Kai searched through the quest board. He was looking for quests to undertake while hunting in the orc tribes.


    "This one requires level 60, so pass. This one... is only for adventurers with strength over 140? All these conditions are quite demanding."


    Kai scratched his head and checked his stat window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 56</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 16,000</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 22,800</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 77 Stamina: 160</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 68 Agility: 77</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 228 Benevolence: 38</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 50</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time: -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown: -9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received: -3%</strong>


    He had umted as many as 50 stat points! Kai felt secure seeing that number, as if he had made a savings deposit.


    <i>Two goals before the formation of the expedition.</i>


    One was to reach level 60 to equip the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, and the other was to tackle the Trial of Hanox.


    <i>Hmm, there aren''t as many doable quests as I thought. It feels like quests in the city are taken up quickly.</i>


    Unable to find a good quest easily, Kai let out a frustrated sigh.


    Just then, an old woman passed by him and carefully posted a new paper on the board.


    <i>A new quest.</i>


    The surrounding yers'' eyes lit up as they checked the quest.


    "Eh, nevermind."


    "Tsk."


    "...<i>Sigh</i>."


    However, the moment they checked the content, they clicked their tongues and moved on.


    Kai, observing their behavior, guessed the content of the quest.


    <i>The reward must not be good.</i>


    Normally, quests were epted if the rewards weren¡¯t too bad as they could be done at the same time with other activities.


    <i>So, if all those yers ignored it, it means the reward isn''t good.</i>


    Kai approached the paper the old woman had posted to check its content.


    <strong><u>[Missing Grandson]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: C-</strong>


    <strong>Deva''s grandson, Rody, is a boy who dreams of bing a mercenary, and is always bright and energetic. However, a few days ago, he was greatly shocked when his parents, who were mercenaries, went missing in the Forest of Spiders. Determined to find them, he left for the Forest of Spiders with only an old iron sword but has not returned for four days. Search for Rody and his parents in the Forest of Spiders.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Requirements: Check to see if Rody and his parents survived. If they perished, retrieve their belongings, and bring them back to Deva.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Deva''s Fairy Tale Storybook and 23 Silver.</strong>


    ¡°Just as I thought.¡±


    The merit of the reward section was clearlycking.


    The Forest of Spiders was not just a simple hunting ground but a vast area connected to the Orc vige. Searching for missing people there was like looking for a needle in a haystack! The effort required seemed disproportionately rewarded with such little returns that one could consider there to be no reward at all.


    <i>However...</i>


    Kai slightly turned his head and nced at the old woman, Deva, who had posted the quest. Although she could have left after posting it on the board, she anxiously stood in one spot, watching adventurers pass by her request with sad eyes.


    "Ugh, but really, I shouldn¡¯t take it."


    Kai scratched his head, looking like he had a headache.


    <i>I need to level up, gain practical experience in the Orc vige, and tackle the trial of Hanox. Even two bodies wouldn''t be enough for all this. It¡¯s unfortunate, but I should give this up.</i>


    Having made up his mind, Kai turned to look for other quests.


    At that moment,ughter erupted from behind.


    "Hey, look at this."


    "What?"


    "What''s with this trash quest?"


    "Damn! You¡¯re right. Where''s the NPC''s conscience?"


    "The reward is 23 silver, and an old book. You''d have to be quite conscienceless to offer that."


    "Hey, this is how to deal with quests like this."


    <i>Riip!</i>


    The yers tore off the quest paper and ripped it up!


    They chuckled as they touched the air.


    "And when you press reject quest... vo, trash quest perfectly cleaned!"


    "Ha, you sure are smart."


    "Ahem. We''re the only ones thinking of the yers."


    "That''s right, that''s right. It''s because of kind people like us that other yers can automatically filter out such trash quests."


    "The NPC who posted this quest probably has no idea their quest disappeared so futilely."


    "That''s the fun part, heh heh."


    Kai''s fists trembled at the scene. Not just Kai, but other yers around also frowned at the behavior! However, no one dared to pick a fight with them.


    <i>Judging by their equipment, they seem to be of high level.</i>


    <i>There''s a guild mark on their chest too....</i>


    <i>Better not get involved, it''d be troublesome.</i>


    Soon, as if nothing had happened, the yers went back to their own business!


    But there was someone who approached them.


    "My grandson.... Please find my grandson Rody, and my son and daughter-inw.... Please, I beg you, adventurers."


    Mistaking them for having epted the quest, Deva kept bowing and pleading with them.


    This caused the yers who had rejected the quest to look at each other and burst intoughter again.


    "Hahaha! Hey, did this granny post the quest?"


    "Does she think we epted it?"


    "Granny, if the reward is so poor, no one will ept the quest. You should be thankful to us for teaching you a lesson in your old age."


    The three mocked the desperate woman!


    As if realizing toote what had happened, Deva''s expression fell, and she looked down at the ground, defeated.


    Unable to stand the sight, Kai shouted, "How rude...!"


    "What¡¯s going on?"


    A few more yers came to the side of the rude trio, all having the same guild mark on their chests!


    Kai''s mouth closed as naturally as water flowing.


    "Oh, boss, you came? We were just cleaning up a trash quest. As usual."


    "Take it easy, bastards. There''s such a thing as a guild image."


    As the tall man at the front with an annoyed expression said this, the rude trio backed down.


    "Hehe. Got it."


    "We should listen to the guild master''s words."


    "Anyway...." One of the trio came forward with a smile. "You, didn''t you just say something about us being rude?"


    "...."


    Kai calmly squinted, assessing their numbers.


    <i>...A total of six.</i>


    Kai stood no chance against such numbers in his current state!


    He carefully said, without showing any fear, "Oh, I was just chasing after a guest who hadn''t packed up their leftover food.... Did it sound the wrong way?"


    "...."


    A cold silence came down on the square!


    But after a moment, the rude trio burst intoughter.


    "Ahahaha! This bastard, he''s funny."


    "Hahaha, we''ll let it slide this time since you¡¯re so pathetic!"


    The rude ones patted Kai on the shoulder as they passed by.


    Expressing his humiliation through his trembling body, Kai said to a nearby yer, "Excuse me, do you know the name of that guild?"


    "Hmm, crimson fists.... Yes, that''s the Crimson Fist."


    "The Crimson Fist?"


    "Yes, those six members over there are all there is to it. But, it''s best to avoid them... The rumors about them aren¡¯t good."


    Kai tilted his head and asked again, "Is there any connection to the Crimson Sunset guild?"


    "Huh? There¡¯s also a guild called the Crimson Sunset?"


    "...."


    Was it merely a coincidence!?


    After thanking the yer for the exnation, Kai rubbed his forehead.


    <i>...Is it that anything with ''Crimson'' in the guild name turns out like this, or is there some kind of connection between those without manners?</i>


    Kai pledged that if he ever joined a guild, he would definitely not join one with crimson in its name.


    <i>The Crimson Fist, huh?</i>


    Kai believed in repaying kindness twice over and avenging wrongs with interest whenever he remembered.


    The existence of the Crimson Fist guild was firmly imprinted in his mind.


    "Oh dear... oh dear...."


    Kai then saw Deva crouched down on the ground, picking up the torn pieces of paper.


    "Oh, I really shouldn¡¯t..."


    Watching her, Kai wore a tired expression and sighed deeply.


    <i>Well, where else would my fate take me?</i>


    ***


    <strong>[Quest epted.]</strong>


    "Thank you, truly...."


    "Let''s save the thanks for when we find your grandson."


    Kai, having eventually epted the quest, was able to learn basic information about her grandson.


    <i>He''s fourteen years old. The ce his parents went to investigate before they disappeared is near the center of the Forest of Spiders.</i>


    Fortunately, this information significantly narrowed down the search area! Kai checked the mini-map, marked the location he needed to go to, and then checked his equipment.


    <i>Equipment durability check, inventory space check, well-fed, and well-rested.</i>


    He waspletely prepared!


    With nothing left to prepare, Kai headed straight for the Forest of Spiders.


    "Looking for Warriors above level 53!"


    "Fire Wizard looking for a party, I''m level 55!"


    "Looking for a tank for a party of at least level 55! Ready to depart immediately!"


    Recruiting party members usually took ce in the city''s square or at the entrance of hunting grounds. However, the Forest of Spiders, which had recently be popr, was crowded with many yers.


    "Eh? Isn''t that guy from the square earlier?"


    "Huh? Where, where?"


    The rude trio from the Crimson Fist guild smiled after spotting Kai heading toward the Forest of Spiders.


    "Hey, go ask him to join our party."


    "What? Why party with that bastard?"


    "Because it''s about time we made some money."


    "...Ah. Shall we?"


    The trio approached Kai with a sly grin.


    Then, Kai furrowed his eyebrows as someone abruptly grabbed his wrist and turned to look.


    "We must be fated to meet. Saw you in the square, and here we are again, right?"


    "...."


    Ignoring what the trio said, Kai looked at his grabbed wrist with cold eyes.


    "If you''re a dealer, wanna party with us?"


    "We''ll make sure the loot distribution is fair."


    "Try it, try it."


    <strong>[You have been invited to join a party. Will you ept?]</strong>


    "...."


    After looking at their faces one by one, Kai roughly pulled his wrist away and warned, "Don''t touch others without permission."


    "...What?"


    "Look at this bastard talking!"


    "Do you know who we are? You were crawling around us earlier!"


    The trio became instantly furious, showing their rage, but Kai remained indifferent.


    <i>Well, earlier there were six of them, and it was an open square.</i>


    He wasn''t about to cause trouble in the city while on a quest for Baron Arsen; it wasn''t because he was afraid of them.


    "Anyway, I don''t party with people who have no manners and touch others without permission. And...."


    <strong>[Party invitation has been rejected.]</strong>


    Kai red at them after declining the party invitation.


    "Touch me without permission again, and you''ll regret it."


    Leaving those words behind, Kai turned and walked away.


    The trio, left with their mouths open, finally snapped back to reality.


    "Hey!"


    "Hey! Stop right there! I said stop! Three, two, one...!"


    "Why isn¡¯t that bastard stopping!?"


    Despite the trio''s curses and warnings, Kai wasn''t about to listen to their nonsense!


    Rather, as the attention of those around concentrated on them, the trio''s expressions only soured.


    "Ugh, if only master hadn''t told us toy low...."


    "Next time we see that bastard in the field, let¡¯s kill him on the spot."


    "He really pissed me off this time."


    After grumbling for a while, they called over another guild member.


    "What? Why did you call me?"


    "We''ve been looking for someone to scam for hours today and keep failing. Let''s just ambush another party in the hunting ground."


    "Thinking of hitting a big score? Sounds good," the newly joined tank, Lark, smirked.


    With a dirty n in mind, the group headed straight into the Forest of Spiders.

 Chapter 34: Forest of Spiders (2)

    <h4>Chapter 34: Forest of Spiders (2)</h4>


    Hiding in the bushes, Kai watched a spider closely.


    <strong>[Forest Spider LV.54]</strong>


    It was a Forest Spider that was purple from its head to the tip of its hair! Generally, spiders from the Forest of Spiders resembled real-world spiders. Moreover, its size wasparable to a motorcycle, intimidating enough to frighten women and even men with weak stomachs just by looking at it.


    Of course, that didn¡¯t apply to Kai though.


    <i>Would it give lots of XP?</i>


    Kai, who was scared of ghosts, wasn¡¯t afraid of bugs. He charged at the creature with all buffs activated except for the Supernova.


    "Kraa!"


    As Kai suddenly came out from the bushes, the surprised spider hastily spat out its venom. A single attack could lead to a fatal poisoning!


    "Ew, watch where you''re spitting!" Kai yelled, easily dodging the venom and diving to get up close to the spider.


    <i>Let¡¯s aim for its weak spots!</i>


    It wasmon knowledge that attacking key areas like the head or heart could inflict 1.5 times more damage!


    Kai shed at the spider¡¯s head with his iron sword.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    "Kreeeek!"


    The Forest Spider screamed. However, Kai''s expression did not brighten as expected after a sessful hit.


    <i>Huh, that barely did any damage.</i>


    He had hoped to reduce the spider''s HP by at least 10% by targeting its vital point, but after checking, only about 4% of its HP had decreased.


    "Ugh, can''t deal with this."


    Eventually, Kai dered surrender with an expression that said he was happy to do so.


    <i>Huey was right.</i>


    There was nothing Kai could do with his current power, which was often the result of people who hesitated in their choices.


    "This won''t do."


    Kai''s ambition was to be strong quickly and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rankers. However, if he became nervous over just a single creature in the Forest of Spiders like now, he would never be able to face stronger monsters in the future.


    "...Let''s do it."


    Making up his mind, Kai immediately opened his stat window.


    "Let''s invest all the remaining stat points into Strength."


    <strong>[You have 50 stat points. Would you like to invest them all in Strength?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[The rmended stats for Clerics are Holy Power and Stamina...]</strong>


    "Ignore advice. Invest all in Strength."


    <strong>[+50 Strength]</strong>


    It was uncertain whether this choice was wise. Posting this on themunity could likely earn thousands ofments calling him insane!


    <i>A full-strength Cleric, huh.... Definitely sounds crazy enough.</i>


    However, as the French writer and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said, life was a series of C (choices) between B (birth) and D (death)! It was the same now. Kai faced one of the many choices in life and simply chose what he believed was right.


    "Well, if things go wrong, I can always make up for it with the Benevolence stat."


    The 50 stat points he had started gathering from Frica Vige were now fully invested in Strength. A surge of overwhelming energy boiled up within him!


    As Kai closed his eyes for a moment to fully enjoy the feeling, he let out his realization, "Wow, now I see why there are so many Warrior yers."


    It felt almost addictive. It felt like his muscles had turned into rubber bands as they tensed and loosened quite easily. The sword felt so light it was noticeable! He felt like he could split the spider in front of him in two at any moment.


    "No way, can it actually work?"


    There was only one way to find out. Kai charged at the spider again.


    "Kreet, Kraaaak!"


    The creature opened its mouth wide and let out a screech! Turning its body around, it shot webs from its rear.


    "Supernova!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A skill that consumed 1,000 Holy Power per second and was a Unique-ranked skill that increased all stats by 30!


    "Sorry, but I have nothing to be afraid of right now!"


    Supernova, though only for a brief moment, elevated him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with yers above level 30. It was power and speed that a level 54 Forest Spider could never handle!


    Kai poured all his strength into his sword, and the sword emitted a sound of breaking air that was different from any until now.


    <i>Swooosh!</i>


    "Kreee!?"


    By the time the spider realized something was wrong, three of its left legs had already been severed!


    <strong>[Opponent afflicted by Slow status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You did 4,485 damage.] </strong>


    <strong>[You did 4,542 damage.]</strong>


    "Nice!"


    The damage was beyond what he imagined! Kai cheered. Even when attacking non-vital points, the spider''s HP rapidly drained by 15%!


    Kai''s hand movements became faster with excitement.


    "Kreeet!"


    The spider, having lost its mobility, was in a situation where it couldn''t escape. The attacks of the cornered creature became more fierce.


    <i>Fwit, fwit, fwit!</i>


    The spider''s poison continuously shot out.


    "You think that¡¯ll be enough?"


    With just a small movement of his ankle, Kai¡¯s body moved smoothly like a breeze, dodging all attacks. As he dodged everything, the iron sword extended refreshingly easily!


    <i>sh!</i>


    The sword passed by, severing two of the spider''s right legs.


    At the same time, a pleasing message appeared.


    <strong>[Opponent afflicted by Immobilize status.]</strong>


    "YESSS!"


    In battle, attacking the opponent''s eyes to cause blindness and the legs to cause a slow status were the basics of basics.


    <i>Cutting off one leg results in Slow, but attacking both results in Immobility.</i>


    Kai''s heart raced. It was because he was putting into practice what he had only learned in theory through themunity and streams.


    <i>This euphoria, this thrill!</i>


    The adrenaline and liberation he could never experience while only giving heals and buffs to party members engulfed his entire body. Kai felt a burst of exhration, as if a dam was suddenly broken, allowing water to flow through.


    <i>Even if I swing only once, let''s swing it the best I can!</i>


    The sword strikes naturally became a habit when he learned swordsmanship at the Training Grounds of the Dawn because the quest wouldn¡¯t bepleted there if he didn¡¯t concentrate properly while swinging the sword.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn Proficiency +2.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn Proficiency +1.] </strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn Proficiency +1.]</strong>


    The Proficiency of Swordsmanship of the Dawn, which had been stagnant for a while, began to rise rapidly. It was the difference between swinging a wooden sword at the training ground and cutting down an enemy in real battle.


    "Kreee...re."


    <strong>[+5,542 XP.]</strong>


    ¡°Phew, it''s over."


    It was a miraculous hunting field that raised his XP by 5% just by killing one creature!


    Kai didn¡¯t stop the corners of his mouth from naturally rising.


    ***


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The white beam that struck the Forest Spider knocked down nearby trees and the ground for quite sometime before its power was finally exhausted.


    "Phew.... It is powerful but certainly not discrete."


    Especially in a dark ce like the Forest of Spiders, it was even more pronounced.


    Then Kai shrugged his shoulders, and a pleasing message appeared before him.


    <strong>[+5,817 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    "Finally, a level up."


    Kai had been devoted to hunting non-stop for half a day. Other Warriors would need to take breaks to restore their Stamina, but Kai didn''t need to.


    "Spring of Restoration."


    As he cast the skill, a small fountain appeared in front of him! Kai sat down around it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    <strong>[Restores HP every second.]</strong>


    <strong>[Restores Stamina every second.]</strong>


    With every blink, his HP and Stamina began to rise. Through the Spring of Restoration, Kai quickly restored his Stamina and repeated his hunting.


    "Hmm, a Cleric learning closebat skills makes solo y quitefortable."


    Kai hadn¡¯t known until now, but a Sric Cleric surprisingly suited solo y well. Unlike other sses that needed to consume expensive potions or bandages when their HP dropped, Clerics didn''t need to.


    <i>A full-strength Cleric... Maybe I really should consider it.</i>


    Kai¡¯s confidence had greatly increased after two days of hunting.


    <strong>[Beginner''s Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.6. Passive.]</strong>


    <strong>[Dealing damage with a de does 160% damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[Proficiency 12/100]</strong>


    By only using his sword to defeat enemies, his swordsmanship skill level significantly increased, as well as his practical experience.


    <i>The only problem is falling behind in Proficiency with Holy Explosion....</i>


    Even though he used it asionally, as he had just done now, it still wasn¡¯t quitefortable for him to use Holy Explosion while fighting with a sword.


    However, his hunting speed was unmatched now, so his XP gain rate was faster than typical parties.


    "Now that I''ve leveled up, maybe it''s time to stop hunting. I should also look for Rody now."


    Kai opened the mini-map.


    <i>I''ve finally made it close to the center of the Forest of Spiders. It wouldn''t be strange to find Rody anywhere around here.</i>


    The spiders near the center were at least over level 60, so Kai couldn''t take them lightly.


    <i>Stay sharp and focused.</i>


    A single hit from the spiders could result in a fatal injury.


    Kai walked slowly along the path with his caution heightened.


    <i>Rustle.</i>


    While walking, Kai heard the sound of bushes shaking behind him!


    His well-used iron sword was drawn in an instant. However, what Kai faced, fully prepared, was not a monster.


    "Please, help me!"


    A man, looking like a typical Archer in leather armor holding a crude bow, stood there.


    But Kai, having already experienced PvP in the field with the Crimson Sunset guild and knowing that the Crimson Fist guild''s members were also around, asked with a tense expression, "What is it?"


    "Please help! My party is in danger right now!"


    Only then did Kai take another look at the man''s attire. His clothes were stained with dirt and dust, and the areas around his knees were even torn.


    <i>But getting into danger is something you should be prepared for when you go hunting.</i>


    When hunting in areas beyond one¡¯s capability, one should always be prepared for the risk of annihtion!


    It could be to be harsh, but Kai felt no need to rescue the man''s party.


    "I''m sorry, but failing to defeat a monster is entirely your party''s fault...."


    "It''s not a monster!" The man shouted, his expression desperately showing his frustration and anger, "It''s the Crimson Fist guild''s doing. They attacked our party...!"


    "...Huh?" Kai''s eyes, which had been dull with disinterest, glinted. "What happened with them?"


    As Kai suddenly began to show interest in his words, the man sensed an opportunity and started exining very eagerly, "First off, my name is Hugo, and I¡¯m an Archer. Though small, I lead a little party. We''ve been on a quest for a few weeks now. It was about the ruler that rules the Forest of Spiders.... To cut to the chase, we discovered the dungeon."


    "Dungeon...!"


    "We were thrilled. Of course, we were. It''s a dungeon, after all. It felt like all our hardships were washed away." Hugo bit his lower lip hard as he continued, "But the problem was... we ran into members of the Crimson Fist guild at the entrance to the dungeon."


    "...I see."


    Kai remembered an old saying that his ancestors used to say about these kinds of situations.


    <i>Even though I wasn¡¯t there, it¡¯s too obvious.</i>

 Chapter 35: The Nest of Fermi (1)

    <h4>Chapter 35: The Nest of Fermi (1)</h4>


    Kai could vividly recall their rudeness even with his eyes closed.


    <i>Those guys never would have easily let things pass if they found out about a dungeon.</i>


    Hugo continued, "The atmosphere wasn''t too bad at first. Since our party discovered the dungeon first, we imed the rights."


    "There¡¯s no way they would have listened to you."


    "That¡¯s right. At first, they imed they had discovered the dungeon first. Of course, that was nonsense since our party had already received the first discovery bonus. We tried to negotiate peacefully and send them away... but we were attacked. Moreover, the matchup was unfavorable."


    Hugo showed his bow.


    "Our party was formed for easier hunting in the Forest of Spiders and consisted of a Fire Wizard, a tank, a Cleric, and myself, an Archer."


    "What about them?"


    "One tank, two Rogues... and a Fire Wizard."


    "Hmm..."


    The course of the battle roughly formed in Kai¡¯s mind. The two Rogues would have ambushed the Cleric and the Wizard, and once that ambush was sessful, the battle was practically over.


    "But from what you''ve described, it seems all your party members are dead... so what exactly do you want me to help with?" Kai asked, tilting his head.


    With closer observation, Hugo wasn¡¯t in the best condition. Unless the Crimson Fist guild members were fools, they wouldn''t have left his party members alone.


    "Revenge..." Hugo ground his teeth and knelt down. "Will you please take revenge for us? We barely found that dungeon after more than two weeks of questing. I''d rather die than let those thugs take it."


    "...Sorry, but you know I¡¯m alone, right?" Kai responded with a tone of disbelief.


    Kai had shown nothing to Hugo, so what made him think Kai could undertake revenge?


    Hugo said urgently, "I''ve seen you hunt as I passed by. You¡¯re skilled enough to hunt alone in the Forest of Spiders, and the white beam of light you asionally unleash... Even to my untrained eye, it appeared powerful."


    "Umm..."


    Kai seemed to understand how Hugo had found him.


    <i>The Holy Explosion I fired earlier... Did he find me after seeing that?</i>


    Indeed, as Hugo said, the existence of a dungeon was very appealing.


    <i>But the question is, can I take on all those Crimson Fist guys by myself...?</i>


    As Kai stroked his chin in thought, he examined Hugo more closely.


    <i>He¡¯s equipped with a Search Leader''s Leather Armor and a Mongoose''s Crude Bow with level requirements of 54... His level must be around 56 at most.</i>


    Unless it was a special ss like a Cleric, there was usually not much level difference among party members, with a two-level difference at most.


    <i>If the Crimson Fist guys were able to ambush and kill a party with an average level of 56... Those guys must be at least level 59, right?</i>


    One tank, two Rogues, and a Wizard. Certainly, abination better suited for fighting people than monsters.


    <i>If I think about it, I¡¯m not really alone...</i>


    Kai had the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain! While it would require some luck, summoning even three or four creatures with it seemed enough to not be at a great disadvantage.


    <i>Plus, they don''t even know that I¡¯m here.</i>


    They would be busily exploring the dungeon by now. The more they focused on the dungeon, the easier it would be to strike them from behind.


    The more Kai thought about it, the more inclined he felt to help.


    <i>Besides, those guys killed this man''s party. They must be in a Chaotic state... They''ll definitely drop items if killed, and the dungeon would be a bonus, but more than anything...</i>


    It would be satisfying!


    Just two days ago, he had been surrounded and humiliated by those rude guys! He was still so angry that he would kick his nkets in bed.


    Eventually, Kai epted Hugo''s request.


    ***


    <i>sh!</i>


    "Is this the ce?"


    Kai shook his head as he cut through thick vines to move forward. Despite having all the information about the dungeon''s location, finding it was very difficult.


    "Really, such a trash game... How is anyone supposed to find the dungeon without information if it¡¯s hidden in ces like this?"


    Of course, it was Pegasus Corporation''s sacred intention that one shouldn''t find the dungeon without information.


    "Anyway..."


    As Kai looked around, his eyes sparkled. The suspicion he had while on his way to the dungeon gradually turned into certainty.


    <i>It¡¯s certain. They coincidentally encountered the Crimson Fist guys in front of the dungeon? Ha, that''s nonsense.</i>


    Hugo couldn''t have thought about this situation rationally since he was the victim of the situation, but Kai, as someone not directly involved, could see the incident more objectively.


    <i>They were followed.</i>


    It was unclear why the Crimson Fist guys decided to follow Hugo''s party, but this much was certain.


    "They wouldn''t have followed with good intentions."


    Unless the Crimson Fist guys were collectively struck by lightning and went mad, there was no chance they followed another party out of concern.


    <i>Swoosh, swoosh!</i>


    As Kai cut down thest vine, a grim cave weed him with its mouth wide open.


    <i>This is the Nest of Fermi.</i>


    Nest of Fermi was the name of the dungeon. The dungeon where Fermi, the queen spider who ruled the Forest of Spiders, resided!


    <i>ording to Hugo, Fermi is level 70.</i>


    If this was true, it was a ce even Kai couldn''t tackle right away. However, dungeons not only offered boss monsters but lots of XP and loot as well!


    Without hesitation, Kai entered the cave.


    <i>The monsters are dead.</i>


    The polygon lumps scattered on the ground were proof of that.


    "What is this, Hansel and Gretel?"


    Hansel and Gretel might have left breadcrumbs, but the Crimson Fist guild left polygon lumps.


    "Well, it makes finding them easier, at least."


    Kai smiled in satisfaction, his eyes twinkling. The hunt had already begun.


    ***


    "Block it!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "Arrgh! That fucking hurts!"


    "Is this damage for real? Use more fire magic!"


    "Fuck, do you even know what casting is? Ever heard of cooldowns?"


    The four members of the Crimson Fist guild were sweating hard as they raided the dungeon.


    <i>This dungeon is tougher than expected.</i>


    With their average level of 59, they could easily handle a dungeon''s regr monsters.


    However, the first elite monster they encountered, a spider covered in white hair whose name was Paras, was more powerful than they had imagined.


    "Argh... Shit!" cursed Duncan the Rogue as he failed to sneak up on Paras. "Damn, are we going to fail this raid?"


    The Crimson Fist guild was formed by six PKers. Led by the guild master, Crimson Fist, they were thugs who usually killed other parties in hunting fields to loot items or tricked naive yers into giving them money.


    <i>If we don¡¯t conquer it, then there was no point in taking it.</i>


    These four members stumbled upon the dungeon by chance while ambushing Hugo''s party and agreed to keep it among themselves. Sharing the dungeon''s information with the guild would only reduce their share, so they decided to raid the dungeon with just the four of them and keep quiet. It was a decision they could make given their distrustful rtionship.


    "Just a bit more!"


    "Lark, hang in there a bit longer!"


    "My HP is at 5%! Just hit it a little more!"


    But no matter how elite the monster, it was still a monster! AI patterns were not infinite, so they began to strategize to conquer Paras.


    <i>We got it now!</i>


    Paras''s remaining HP was just 1%! It was the result of hunting for a whole forty minutes.


    "Hey, finish it."


    "Leave it to me!" The party''s Fire Wizard cast a spell. "O zingnce of me, move ording to my will and annihte my enemy! me Spear!"


    <i>Shwoom!</i>


    What was summoned in mid-air was the brutish me Spear which raised the surrounding temperature by itself! Without a moment''s hesitation, the Wizard aimed it at Paras.


    "Die!"


    The spear, tensely frozen in mid-air, seemed only to be waiting for its leash to be released. The moment the Wizard let go of the leash, the spear charged through the air like a beast unleashed.


    <i>It''s finally over.</i>


    <i>Phew, since it''s an elite monster, maybe it''ll drop a Rare item.</i>


    <i>If a Rare item drops...</i>


    <i>I''ll have to watch the situation and then backstab them at the right moment.</i>


    Such was the level of thinking among these thugs!


    However, the Rare item they hoped for could only be obtained by those who defeated Paras. That meant that the moment an unknown white sh burst Paras''s head, their efforts were considered unrewardable.


    "Wh-what the?!"


    "What the hell!"


    As they were bandaging and drinking potions to recover HP, the members of the Crimson Fist guild jumped up.


    "What... what happened? Did we get it?"


    "We killed it, right? Right?"


    As they checked the message window, the XP had indeede in. But importantly, an uninvited guest had shared their XP and rewards. They raged and began to me each other.


    "You dumbass! Just because you couldn''t finish it off, look at the mess we''re in!"


    "What? How is this my fault? Weren''t you the ones who dumped this annoying task on me in the first ce?"


    "Look who''s talking!"


    The party instantly divided! However, there was something that quickly united them again.


    <i>nk, nk.</i>


    "...What''s this now?"


    "Skeletons?"


    "There''s only three of them."


    What appeared in front of them were three Gnoll Skeletons!


    The Crimson Fist guild members instinctively knew they needed to deal with the one who delivered the final blow to Paras first.


    "Hey, there must be at least two enemies."


    "There''s definitely a Necromancer, controlling the skeletons."


    "And the one whonded the final blow on Paras with that white beam."


    "Everyone, be careful!"


    They quickly regrouped to face the Gnoll Skeletons.


    Then at that moment, a white beam was fired at them once again.


    "Argh, dodge!"


    Their barely reformed formation was easily scattered, and the Gnoll Skeletons seized the opportunity to dive in.


    "Shit! Deal with these Skeleton bastards first!"


    "Why are they so tough?"


    "Damn, level 50 but such a high attack power!"


    This was because Kai had generously buffed all the Skeletons!


    Looking leisurely at the Gnoll Skeletons fighting the Crimson Fist guild members, Kai murmured, "Hehehe. Plus 5 points to Strength stat."


    <strong>[+5 Strength.]</strong>


    Kai had superbly managed to piggyback on defeating the elite monster, Paras! Though his contribution to the hunt was low, snatching thest hit granted him a significant amount of XP.


    Looking at his increased Strength, Kai smiled slyly.


    ¡°Hehehe.¡±


    It was the smile Kai wore when his n fit perfectly.


    <i>It''s so refreshing!</i>


    As if a clogged toilet had suddenly been unclogged, he felt a sense of liberation wrap around his body, Kai threw himself into that cool and refreshing feeling.


    Whether because of this or not, Kai suddenly appeared like a wind that blew without warning.


    "Wh-what the hell is this guy!?"


    "They have a Warrior too!"


    "Is it a three-person party?"


    "Shit, the guys we took care of at the entrance must¡¯ve called their friends."


    "Still, his movements are slower than I thought! We can handle this!"


    The Crimson Fist guild members were thoroughly mistaken!


    Of course, Kai felt no need to correct their misconception.


    <i>My movements are slower than expected?</i>


    Kai nced at the Rogue who had made thatment.


    <i>Sure, I might seem slow now, but...</i>


    His current speed was not the fastest he could go.

 Chapter 36: The Nest of Fermi (2)

    <h4>Chapter 36: The Nest of Fermi (2)</h4>


    Kai''s iron sword charged straight toward the Rogue.


    "I-I dodged it!"


    Duncan twisted his upper body and barely avoided the attack! He then looked at the warrior in front of him, tilting his head.


    <i>Wait a minute, this guy''s equipment looks... kind of familiar.</i>


    While his mind was momentarily elsewhere, his opponent''s back kicknded in the pit of his stomach.


    "Kugh...!"


    "Ah, that feels refreshing."


    After saying so, the opponent then charged toward the Wizard.


    "me Arrow... Kugh!"


    Kai marvelously interrupted the casting!


    Seeing this, the tank, Lark, yelled, "Damn it! I''m busy dealing with the Skeletons! How is it possible that all three of you can''t deal with that guy?"


    Duncan,ing back to his senses at Lark¡¯s shout, got up.


    "Wait, that equipment... It''s from that crazy guy from two days ago!" Duncan finally remembered Kai! "You bastard! You¡¯re done now!"


    Filled with rage, Duncan kicked off the ground and charged at Kai. "Hey! This guy is the guy who picked a fight with us two days ago!"


    "Oh? Now that you mention it..."


    "Yeah, it really is!"


    "Die!"


    "No." Kai easily deflected Duncan''s attack with his iron sword.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The sh of iron and dagger sparked mes, and Kai''s left hand reached through the sparks, stretching forward.


    "Take this. Holy Explosion!"


    A white beam shot out from Kai''s left hand, hitting Duncan right on the head and mming him into the wall.


    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡±


    Amazing attack power that caused his HP to fall by 30% in an instant! Additionally, they were already low on health from hunting Paras.


    As Duncan instantly entered a near-death state, Kai''s eyes lit up.


    <i>Time to finish this for sure.</i>


    In battle, many factors like skill, level, and items mattered. However, morale was something that couldn¡¯t be ignored. If one believed they couldn¡¯t win, their actions slowed down and their strength diminished!


    <i>I''ll crush his spiritpletely.</i>


    So that they wouldn''t daree at him again!


    While Kai used the Supernova, Lark ordered the Wizard, "Don''t go for long casts but use shorter ones to catch him first!"


    "Oh okay. Fire Field!"


    As the Wizard used his skill, intense mes erupted near the ground where Kai was. The mes quickly spread, turning into a prison.


    "I did it! That should keep him in there for a..." The Wizard''s words trailed off as his eyes widened. "Wh-what? Where did this bastard go?"


    Kai was nowhere to be seen inside the Fire Field!


    It wasn¡¯t just the Wizard who was taken aback.


    <i>Wait, did I miss his movement? But how could I? I¡¯m the assassin?</i>


    The party''s second Rogue was also a yer of the assassin ss. Assassins specialized in pinpointing enemies'' locations and silently killing them!


    <i>Just what level is this guy?</i>


    While the assassin was internally wailing, Kai had already positioned himself behind them. This was possible due to the significant investment in Strength and the use of Supernova!


    <i>Let¡¯s end this in fifteen seconds!</i>


    If not, Kai himself would be in danger.


    Kai, springing off the floor, attacked the Rogue''s head, heart, and both legs in an instant.


    <i>sh, sh, sh!</i>


    "Eugh!"


    <strong>[Target afflicted by Blind.]</strong>


    <strong>[Target afflicted by Slow.]</strong>


    <strong>[Target afflicted by Immobilize.]</strong>


    It was truly the speed of light!


    The Rogue kept hearing notifications of damage. However, that was only for a moment. All those messages disappeared in an instant, leaving only one.


    <strong>[You have died.]</strong>


    A short but intense message!


    The logged-out assassin irritably threw his headset and muttered, "Who the hell is that bastard?"


    ***


    The operation time for Supernova was up to twenty-two seconds. However, for Kai, who also used buffs on the Gnoll Skeletons, the maximum was fifteen seconds. Within those fifteen seconds, Kai spent four seconds sessfully eliminating an assassin.


    <i>Next is the Wizard!</i>


    Kai, equipped with the Armor of the Undead, moved faster than the Wizard''s dynamic vision, appearing as if darkness was moving.


    <i>sh!</i>


    "H-hngh...!?"


    <strong>[Target afflicted by Silence.]</strong>


    The Wizard, grabbing onto his split throat, opened his eyes wide in disbelief! It was his first time experiencing this, but not for Kai.


    <i>I finally get to try what I saw on MewTube like this.</i>


    Kai had always been interested in the rankers of <i>MID Online</i>! He never missed famous videos of rankers'' duels, and thanks to that, his theoretical knowledge of the game was quite high.


    <i>I just hadn''t been able to put it into practice myself until now!</i>


    Kai, having thrust his fist into the Wizard''s stomach, immediately spread his palm.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Disregarding the height of the ceiling, the Wizard flew high into the air.


    "N-no, not possible!¡±


    "Yes, possible."


    As the Wizard got pierced by a stctite on the ceiling and turned into polygons and disappeared, Lark screamed out, "Damn it! You idiots!"


    He was facing three strengthened Gnoll Skeletons, so he couldn''t help them even if he wanted to.


    Meanwhile, Kai rushed toward Duncan, who was in a near-death state after being hit by Holy Explosion.


    "Sh-shit..." Duncan, pale-faced, scrambled backward on the ground.


    <i>How is this possible!? Our entire party got wiped out by just one guy...!</i>


    An embarrassing situation with nowhere toin! Moreover, they were Chaotic yers specialized in PVP. They were skilled in yer battles more than anyone else, but they were nothing against Kai''s attack power and speed.


    "Hmph."


    <i>Crack!</i>


    "Kugh...!"


    Kai, having crushed Duncan''s ribs with his heel, noticed the mark of the Crimson Fist guild.


    "D-do you know who we are..."


    "I do. Crimson Fist. A pathetic guild with only six members."


    Kai''s iron sword then split the air and lunged into Duncan.


    "Kugh...!"


    The sword pierced through the Crimson Fist emblem on the man''s chest, reaching his heart.


    Kai looked at Duncan''s face, filled with pain and anger, and smirked. "Rx. It''s just a game, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t be such a crybaby."


    "You bastard... If it hadn''t been for your surprise attack... If only my health had been full...!"


    Kai cut off his words by slicing his throat before he could finish.


    Even after taking down three, Kai still had five seconds left of Supernova! Finally regaining hisposure, Kai slowly walked toward hisst target, the tank. Step by step. With each step, walking turned into marching, and marching into running.


    "Hold him tight!"


    At Kai''smand, the Gnoll Skeletons grabbed the tank''s arms and neck, stretching them out.


    "What, what is this? Let go!"


    "Good job!"


    <i>Click, click, click!</i>


    They obeyed like well-behaved puppies.


    Kai thrust his iron sword straight into the chest they had exposed.


    "Kuuuug..."


    "Oh, you''re quite tough."


    Despite being stabbed in the heart, the tank''s health only decreased by 10%. A defense that truly lived up to a tank''s name!


    "You''re better off not seeing what''s next for your mental health."


    Kai''s sword then shed across the tank''s eyes.


    The tank, suddenly fallen into darkness, anxiously asked, "H-hey! What are you doing...?"


    "It''s simple."


    Kai simply stabbed his sword into the tank¡¯s heart, withdrew it, and repeatedly stabbed rapidly.


    <i>Stab, stab, stab!</i>


    "Aghh!"


    The tank trembled, not from pain but from psychological fear. Even with his eyes wide open, all he could see was pitch-ck darkness. In that state, his arms were tightly held, and something kept stabbing his heart.


    "A-aaagh!"


    Even though it was just a game, neither the tank nor any ordinary person could be ustomed to experiencing such a thing.


    "You''d understand if you had any sense, but I''m kind enough to warn you again." Kai, having plunged his sword into the tank¡¯s heart, said in a cold voice, "Don''t mess with me."


    "Kuuugh..."


    Ultimately, the tank, unable to ovee his fear, felt a sense of relief the moment he was logged out, threw off his headset, and ran to the bathroom, clutching his damp pants.


    "Phew!" Kai, removing his helmet and wiping the sweat from his forehead, looked around at the piles of polygons and said with a sense of aplishment, ¡°Garbage cleaning done!¡±


    ***


    Inside the Nest of Ferme, in a gloomy space where the floor and ceiling were covered in cobwebs, Kai stood with a dumbfounded expression.


    "These guys... utterly hopeless."


    The guys he had beaten had given nothing beneficial. Shaking his head, Kai ced the items in front of him into his inventory.


    <i>I caught four Chaotic yers and there¡¯s only one Rare item?</i>


    Expecting at least two Rare items, Kai couldn''t help but feel disappointed.


    "Well... at least the one Rare item is quite useful."


    Kai picked up the Rose Cloak that the tank had been wearing.


    <strong>[<u>Rose Cloak</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 342</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 319</strong>


    <strong>+2 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+2 Agility</strong>


    <strong>+4 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>A cape often worn by members of the aristocracy. A gorgeous design was created by engraving rose patterns on luxurious fabric.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 46/91</strong>


    <i>I should use this.</i>


    As someone who didn¡¯t have a cape, Kai really wanted this item! The only downside was that its luxurious appearance didn¡¯t match with the Armor of the Undead, but Kai didn''t care as long as it performed well.


    <i>Besides, all the guys who had priority on the items from catching Paras are dead, so they''re all mine!</i>


    Though no Rare items dropped, three Magic items that could sell for a good price at the auction house came out.


    "Let¡¯s see..."


    Standing up and dusting himself off, Kai nced at his fully recovered Holy Power while taking a rest.


    <i>Perfect condition too.</i>


    Now that he had eliminated all the members of the Crimson Fist guild, he was the only person left in this dungeon!


    <i>Hehe, this is why one should live a good life.</i>


    Living right brought money, treats, dungeons, and as now visible, monsters too.


    "Huh?"


    Realizing something was off, Kai blinked.


    Then he immediately took out his sword and shouted, "W-what!?!"


    ¡°Kiiigh!¡± The monster announced its presence with a scream.


    <strong>[Fermi¡¯s Feral Spawn LV.61]</strong>


    <i>Damn, why is such a youngling at such a high level!</i>


    "Krriik!"


    Fermi¡¯s Spawn didn¡¯t give him time toin!


    Kai struggled to dodge the spit and websing at him with a speed that was unlike any Forest Spider.


    <i>But I''ve gotten pretty good at dealing with spiders now.</i>


    While diligently dodging, Kai observed the creature. There were two vital spots on a spider. The head and the abdomen! However, aiming for the spider''s abdomen, which constantly moved using its eight legs, was pretty much impossible!


    <i>So the first step is to cut off the legs to immobilize it!</i>


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    As always, Kai''s sword, after cutting off the creature''s legs, aimed at one ce.


    "The eyes!"


    A spider had a total of four pairs of eyes. In other words, eight eyes in total!


    Beforeing to the Forest of Spiders, Kai had thoroughly read all the posts about spiders on themunity forum.


    <i>Spiders have eight eyes, but they all have different functions.</i>


    For example, the most crucial central pair of eyes was used for discerning the details and size of objects. Additionally, the eyes on the sides served to warn when something approached!


    <i>In other words...</i>


    Kai''s sword shed through the immobilized spider''s eyes. What he cut were the six eyes on the sides!


    "Kriik..."


    Fermi¡¯s Spawn was greatly taken aback. Unable to discern what was approaching, it had essentially be a fool.


    <i>Pshik, pshik!</i>


    Monsters felt fear too. The creature frantically shot venom and webs in all directions.


    <i>I just have to wait until it stops spazzing.</i>


    Kai, sitting at a safe distance, opened the inte window and browsed MewTube to pass the time. It took about three minutes for Fermi¡¯s Spawn to stop spazzing!


    <i>Forest Spiders took one minute, but dungeon monsters are indeed different.</i>


    Finally standing up, Kai slowly approached the exhausted creature and ended its life.


    <strong>[+14,185 XP.]</strong>


    "Good XP, and easy. Sweet."


    With a big smile, Kai hummed a tune and moved deeper into the nest.

 Chapter 37: The Nest of Fermi (3)

    <h4>Chapter 37: The Nest of Fermi (3)</h4>


    Having received good news, Kai continuously hummed a little tune.


    It was the third day since he had entered the dungeon. After the fight with the Crimson Fist guys, Kai had leveled up three times and was now level 61. This was possible because he hunted while sleeping only three hours a day, just like during the Tomb of the Gnolls.<strong> </strong>That was the reason for Kai''s good mood.


    "Oh no, did our cutie get covered in blood?"


    He was talking to the Long Sword of the Enlightened One he could equip as he reached level 60! He couldn''t stand how adorable it was.


    After each battle, Kai would take out a clean cloth to wipe his longsword.


    <i>Hehe, I can¡¯t believe my attack power would increase so much just by changing one piece of equipment...</i>


    By swinging the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, it took less than five minutes to deal with Fermi¡¯s Spawn. Naturally, hunting speed increased as monsters died faster. Moreover, unlike the previous iron sword, the Long Sword of the Enlightened One was a custom item made exclusively for Kai by Solid.


    "It fits my hand perfectly."


    Holding the sword''s handle made him itch to swing it immediately. In other words, it felt exactly how a sword made just for him should feel.


    "Now, then...."


    Kai, who set up the Spring of Restoration, began to calcte.


    <i>It''s about time for the Crimson Fist guys and the Archer¡¯s party to start reviving.</i>


    The three-day penalty for revival had passed. While increasing his hunting speed, Kai was always wary of being attacked from behind. Unlike the Tomb of the Gnolls, two parties knew of the existence of the Nest of Fermi.


    <i>Hugo''s party is one thing, but the Crimson Fist is quite dangerous.</i>


    It would be troublesome if they ambushed him while he was hunting. Of course, he had given a warning, but Kai couldn¡¯t be sure if they would listen.


    "Well, if they don''te after me to get revenge after that beating, then are they even men?"


    Moreover, it was likely they thought they lost due to bad luck, when in reality, they were ambushed by Kai when their health and mana were severely depleted.


    "I have two options here."


    One was to leave the dungeon right now and go look for Rody again. As long as he didn''t use Holy Explosion, there was no way they could find him when he was soloing in this vast Forest of Spiders.


    <i>But...</i>


    Kai''s gaze kept shifting toward the inside of the nest. Just a little further, and he would encounter the nest''s owner, Fermi. The second option was to defeat Fermi and take all the rewards. Although a level 70 monster would be difficult to fight, he was sure it would have tempting rewards.


    <i>I may not be the first to discover this dungeon, but I''m the first to attempt hunting Fermi.</i>


    The boss monsters in <i>MID Online</i> dropped the best items the first time they were defeated and Kai didn''t want to see the Crimson Fist guild take that opportunity.


    "Level 70, huh...."


    Kai was still investing all his stats in Strength. He had btedly started to focus on developing as a full-strength Cleric. Unless there was a significant need for other stats, he nned to continue focusing on Strength for the time being.


    <i>Fortunately, thanks to the buff skills, the damage output is good.</i>


    Moreover, for a moment, the Supernova skill allowed him to possess stats close to level 90. Despite this, Kai was skeptical about hunting Fermi.


    "Hunting a boss is like a marathon."


    Meanwhile, Kai''s current maximum effort was suitable for a hundred-meter sprint. Logically, it made sense to leave this ce right away.


    "Well..."


    Kai swallowed his regret. Even without hunting Fermi, he had plenty of tasks to do.


    <i>I need to find Rody¡¯s family, visit the Orc vige, and also take on the Trial of Hanox.</i>


    Even just one of those tasks was enough to give him a headache!


    Kai, standing up, rummaged through the pile of polygons of Fermi¡¯s Spawn he just defeated.


    <strong>[Corroded Dagger acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>Low-grade Poison acquired.]</strong>


    <strong>[Rody''s Bloodstained Handkerchief acquired.]</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    Kai''s eyes widened as he checked the looted items.


    <strong>[Rody''s Bloodstained Handkerchief]</strong>


    <strong>[A handmade handkerchief given to Rody by his grandmother, Deva. Soaked in blood, it now looks like a rag.]</strong>


    "...What?"


    <i>Why would Rody''s handkerchief appear after hunting Fermi''s Spawn? </i>


    After thinking for a moment with a stunned face, Kai''s expression suddenly soured.


    "Damn it..."


    Kai, having roughly understood the situation, ran his hands over his face.


    <i>How can I be this unlucky!</i>


    In<i> MID Online</i>, there were no oues without causes. This meant everything interacted with each other! Simply put, the presence of Rody''s handkerchief here meant there was a reason for it.


    "The only reason for the missing person''s handkerchief to be here is..."


    This was the ce where Rody went missing.


    ***


    At the end of the dungeon, at a dead-end where no further progression could be made, Kai''s gaze turned to two entrances.


    <i>The right one is obviously the boss room, right?</i>


    The huge entrance wrapped in spider webs looked dangerous to anyone.


    On the other hand, a crack in a broken wall next to it was narrow enough for an adult man to barely crawl through.


    <i>If Rody is safe, he would have hidden himself here.</i>


    Even though Kai explored the entirety of the Nest of Femi, he hadn''t been able to find Rody, which meant Rody had to be in one of these two ces.


    "Please, let it not be the boss room. Please stop my life from gettingplicated. Please..."


    Murmuring almost as if he was chanting a spell, Kai crawled into the crack in the wall.


    "Sacred re."


    <i>sh!</i>


    The space that the bright light revealed was much smaller than Kai had expected. It was a cramped space, simr in size to a room at an orphanage.


    After finding a boy lying there, Kai let out a sigh of relief and helped him up.


    "Rody! You¡¯re Rody, right? Are you okay?"


    "Eugh..."


    As he lifted the boy presumed to be Rody, the boy weakly opened his eyes.


    ¡°Oh..."


    Blood came out from Rody''s dried and cracked lips, and he didn¡¯t seem in a condition to talk.


    Kai immediately raised his hand. "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Bless."


    They were skills that healed and buffed the target!


    That wasn''t all. Kai took out a bottle of cool water from his inventory and poured it between Rody''s lips.


    "W-water!" Rody gulped down the water eagerly, and only after finishing the bottle did he regain his senses and look up at Kai. He then asked very cautiously, "But... who are you?"


    "I''m an adventurer who was asked by your grandmother Deva to rescue you."


    "Oh...!" Rody finally rxed and his eyes welled up with tears!


    Kai smiled and patted his back. "It''s okay now, let''s go out together. I''ll take you safely back to the city."


    "Oh, no!" Rody shook his head and bit his lip. "I can''t go back alone."


    "What do you mean?"


    "My parents are captured inside! Not just my parents, but people from the vige too!"


    Rody''s small hand gripped Kai''s chest tightly.


    "Please mister adventurer, I beg you. I know it''s shameless of me but... please...!"


    "..."


    Kai looked down at his chest. He couldn''t feel the touch because of the armor, but his heart ached, perhaps because of Rody''s sad expression with tears streaming down his face.


    <i>It''s the same approach, but really different.</i>


    Kai suddenly remembered the Crimson Fist guild members he met at the entrance to the Forest of Spiders a few days ago. Both they and Rody had touched him without permission, but the emotions he felt in the two situations were different, and Kai knew the reason.


    <i>Because I can feel the sincerity.</i>


    It was the dirty desire to use him versus the earnest desire to save loved ones. Which one would stir a person''s heart was clear.


    Kai gently swept his through Rody''s hair.


    "A-adventurer?" Rody blinked his swollen eyes and looked up at Kai.


    Kai, looking at him, smiled and said, "First, there''s something I need to correct. I''m not a mister, I''m a Cleric."


    "What''s a Cleric...?"


    "Hmm. Do you know the Church of Sris that serves Helik, the god of mercy and judgment?"


    "I know that."


    "I''m a Cleric sent by Helik to help those in need on the earth... you can think of me like an angel."


    "...An angel?" Rody''s eyes quickly scanned Kai from head to toe. "You don''t look much like an angel..."


    "..."


    Kai''s grip on Rody''s head slightly tightened.


    "What did you say?"


    "N-nothing, Cleric who''s like an angel."


    "Right, good."


    Kai regained his smile!


    He then put Rody down on the ground and checked his equipment. Honestly, even if he only brought Rody back, Deva''s quest would bepleted. However, the moment he saw Rody''s tears, all thoughts of quests and rewards were washed away.


    <i>It''s been a while since I''ve felt this way.</i>


    He felt the desire to genuinely help someone without expecting a Benevolence stat or reward. It was almost the first time he had felt this way since his job change to a Sris Cleric.


    Gently, Kai patted Rody''s head once more and smiled. "Just wait a little. I''ll save everyone."


    ***


    "Phew..." Kai, holding a torch, sighed deeply.


    He had confidently told Rody he would save everyone, but his confidence dropped after seeing the massive entrance before him.


    <i>Honestly, I don''t want to go in.</i>


    The thought of possibly facing a game over didn¡¯t leave his mind. A three-day death penalty was something neither Kai nor any other yer would wee. But once again, he thought of Rody''s tears. It was the heart of a child who could lose his beloved parents.


    Thinking of those sad eyes, Kai brought the torch to the spider webs.


    The fire quickly spread to Fermi''s greasy spider webs.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The webs were instantly cleared, revealing the boss room filled with numerous cocoons.


    <i>The inside is quite spacious.</i>


    The interior was as vast as a baseball stadium. Despite torches fixed on the walls here and there, it was still a dark space.


    As Kai looked inside, a message appeared.


    <strong>[Warning: Entering the boss room will disable logout and return until the battle is over. Would you still like to proceed?]</strong>


    "No..."


    <strong>[Entry canceled.]</strong>


    "No, no. I¡¯ll go in."


    The force that was pushing Kai away instantly dissipated.


    The moment Kai drew his sword and took a step inside, the ground rumbled.


    "...Why is the ground rumbling?"


    Anxiety surged up inside of him like a geyser! Kai forcibly suppressed his negative thoughts.


    "I-it must be just a simple earthquake."


    However, Kai''s thoughts were spectacrly wrong, and soon a huge shadow loomed over him.


    Even though it was a vast interior space, an evenrger shadow covered more than half of that vast interior!


    Kai''s head slowly tilted upward.


    ¡°....¡±


    What came into his view was a grotesque ck spider with lumpy protrusions sticking out. But what was truly frightening was its size.


    Kai, with an awkward smile, politely asked the spider the size of a house, "Ha... haha... Perhaps you are Fermi...?"


    The polite inquiry was met with a loud screech.


    "Kriiiiiik"


    "Damn it!"


    Kai grimaced at the loud noise and covered his ears. The battle state was initiated in an instant, and information about the spider appeared.


    <strong>[The Savage Queen of the Spiders, Fermi. LV.75]</strong>


    "It really is Fermi!"


    She moved her eight legs, which were as thick as building columns and charged at Kai in an instant.


    "And I thought they said it was level 70!"


    Kai screamed, but it was not the best time toin!


    The Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain in his hand shook.


    "Ten! Ten! Ten! Oh god, please, ten!"


    Kai, with his hands respectfully joined, bowed his head toward the vigorously spinning wheel. And the number the slowing wheel pointed to was...


    <strong>[Zero! That is unfortunate. Better luck next time.]</strong>


    "Z-zero!? This is crazy! Why is there a zero!"


    No wonder the spinning wheel had eleven slots!


    What can''t be done, won''t be done no matter what, was thew of this world!


    Kai made a face as if he wanted to cry and ran away.

 Chapter 38: The Nest of Fermi (4)

    <h4>Chapter 38: The Nest of Fermi (4)</h4>


    Kai started to run away toward the entrance, but it was already blocked by Fermi''s webs. Losing his options, Kai immediately turned and ran to the left.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    With every stretch of Fermi''s leg, the cave crumbled!


    "This is your house! Why are you wrecking it? Haven''t you thought about the repairster!?"


    Though Kai was kind enough to worry about Fermi''s financial situation, there was no way she would understand!


    Instead, Fermi, angered by Kai running around, tilted her head back.


    ¡°Hwaaak...¡±


    It sounded like a twenty-four-year smoker clearing their throat!


    Kai instinctively jumped away, anticipating something dreadfuling his way.


    <i>St! Fshhh!</i>


    Fermi''s lethal poison melted the ground!


    Kai''s face turned pale after seeing this.


    <i>I don''t want to be hit by that!</i>


    It was the extreme poison of a level 75 boss monster. It was obvious he would fall into a critical state before being able to detoxify. Above all, it smelled horrendous.


    "Damn it, I have no choice!"


    Kai opened his inventory and took out three types of potions. They were the potions made using the blood of the Wyrm Lizard at the Wizard¡¯s Tower!


    <strong>[<u>Potion of Resistance Lv.3</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Increases all resistances for 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Potion of Speed Lv.3]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases Speed for 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Potion of Power Lv.3]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases physical and magical attack powers for 5 minutes.</strong>


    Kai called this the Triple Doping Set!


    <i>Dang it, these could easily bring 50 silver at the auction!</i>


    However, with his life on the line, Kai boldly invested.


    <i>Now I have only nine bottles of each potion left.</i>


    If he drank all those potions during this battle, it would be like spending 500,000 won!


    <i>Alright, even if I have to drink them all, I will surely defeat you!</i>


    Kai''s movements became more agile. Not only because of the potion''s power but because he was determined toy that giant spider at his feet.


    <i>I''ve identified four attack patterns so far.</i>


    Kai wasn''t just running away without a n. He analyzed Fermi''s attack patterns while running.


    Boss monsters typically used a few patterns exquisitely depending on the situation.


    <i>Spraying poison, body m, furiously smashing the ground with all eight legs. Lastly, a barrage of webs, is that all?</i>


    It wasn¡¯t much different from other spider-type monsters! The only difference was that while other monsters'' attacks could beughable, getting hit by this one meant screaming instantly.


    "And..." Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    It was because Fermi''s head was tilted back significantly!


    <i>That''s the motion before spitting poison!</i>


    The moment Kai realized this, he dashed forward.


    "Supernova!"


    His speed noticeably increased!


    Caught off guard, Fermi spat out her poison a bit faster than usual.


    <i>St! </i>


    <i>I can dodge this!</i>


    Confident in his thought, Kai slid across the ground.


    <i>Sssss...</i>


    The venom barely grazed the top of his helmet as it passed by!


    Arriving right under Fermi''s belly, Kai extended his hand.


    "Take this! Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A white beam precisely struck the spider''s vital point, her belly.


    "Kreeeek!"


    For the first time since the battle began, Fermi screamed, and her massive body was momentarily suspended in the air at the strong force.


    <i>Her HP, what about her HP?</i>


    He checked Fermi''s HP, and his face darkened.


    ***


    Not only was Holy Explosion the skill with the highest attack power Kai could use at the moment, but it also targeted a weak spot for 1.5 times the damage, so it was unbelievable that it only reduced Fermi''s health by 1%.


    "Kyaaaak!"


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    Furious to be struck in the belly by Kai, Fermi stabbed the ground with her eight legs.


    Dodging her movements that looked like a tap dance, Kai sought a way out of this situation.


    <i>Something is strange.</i>


    Even if Fermi was a level 75 boss monster, it didn''t make sense that his attack with Supernova only cut off 1% of her health. There was only one reason for this.


    <i>She has a specific weak point.</i>


    Boss monsters of this kind sometimes appeared in dungeons.


    Unlike regr boss monsters that you could dodge attacks and hit anywhere for damage, there were some boss monsters that didn''t take damage from randomly ced hits. Instead, they required precise timing and location for attacks to be effective. In short, finding the location of the weakness quickly was the key point!


    Kai scanned her entire body.


    <i>Weakness, weakness, weakness...</i>


    However, given her enormous size, the weak point wasn''t immediately apparent. Kai first deactivated Supernova and nced at his remaining Holy Power.


    <i>I have about 7,200 Holy Power left...</i>


    He could push it to use Supernova for about seven more seconds.


    Kai focused all his attention on dodging her attacks.


    "Kraaaaak!"


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    Fermi charged with enough intensity that it seemed like she was willing to bring down her own nest!


    Kai threw himself around, barely keeping himself alive every time. Of course, he was getting some damage in the process.


    <strong>[You have been crushed by a falling rock. You¡¯ve received 2,500 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have fallen into a poison puddle. You¡¯ve received 800 damage per second.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been hit by a stone. You¡¯ve received 200 damage per second until the bleeding stops.]</strong>


    Though it wasn¡¯t much, the damages were annoying in various ways!


    Kai repeatedly reset himself with Sunlight¡¯s Warmth every time he was afflicted with a status effect.


    "Damn, things will never end like this!"


    Even at a nce, Fermi didn''t seem tired at all.


    <i>Keep calm, keep calm.</i>


    Kai forced his mind to be calmer as much as he became impatient.


    <i>They wouldn''t have made an unbeatable boss.</i>


    Of course, this being a dungeon, it could have been designed with party y in mind. However, that didn¡¯t mean they would create a dungeon that solo yers could never beat!


    After dodging attacks for a while, Kai reached a conclusion.


    <i>I can''t find a weakness from below.</i>


    He had attacked the legs and the abdomen, but no damage was done. That left only one ce!


    <i>...It¡¯s on top!</i>


    The weak point was above the giant body of the creature, a ce his sight didn¡¯t reach! Kai believed the creature''s weak point was there.


    <i>How can I climb onto its body then?</i>


    He quickly thought of two or three methods. One was to climb up its legs, and another was to make all eight of its legs kneel.


    ¡°...No, I don''t necessarily have to climb up.¡±


    Kai immediately ripped off one of the torches from the wall. His gaze was fixed on the countless cocoons hanging from the ceiling.


    "Everything usable must be used!"


    The torch he threw with all his might shot toward the webs on the ceiling.


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Just as he had noticed it before while clearing the boss room entrance, the webs were particrly vulnerable to fire. The fire quickly spread across the ceiling, turning it into a sea of mes.


    "Kyaaak?"


    Fermi raised her head as it got hot! Then cocoons started to fall down on her.


    "This is what I call a cocoon strike!"


    Of course, Kai wasn''t entirely safe as the falling cocoons didn''t discriminate against their targets! However, Kai was small and could easily dodge the falling cocoons, but Fermi could not and started to get hit by them.


    <i>She¡¯s getting damaged!</i>


    Kai''s eyes lit up because Fermi''s HP dropped by 40% from being hit by hundreds of cocoons.


    ¡°Kyaaaak!¡±


    Screaming, Fermi crouched down, and Kai quickly climbed on top of her.


    "That¡¯s what I thought!¡± Kai shouted in joy.


    While the legs and abdomen were protected by a hard shell with all sorts of protrusions, the back and head had skin no different from other spiders.


    "Supernova."


    Using a buff, Kai nted the Long Sword of the Enlightened One firmly into Fermi''s back, held the sword in a reverse grip, and ran forward.


    <i>aash!</i>


    Like cutting paper with a utility knife, Fermi''s back was sliced open like tofu!


    In overwhelming pain, Fermi twisted and turned in agony.


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    Each time her body hit the wall, rocks fell from the ceiling! However, they also helped reduce Fermi''s HP.


    <i>I might be able to finish things off now.</i>


    As Kai focused his attacks on Fermi''s back and head, her HP quickly dropped to 30%. It felt like victory was within reach!


    However, Fermi also had a hidden move.


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Purple smoke spewed from her back! The poison gas quickly spread through the air, poisoning Kai.


    "Eugh!"


    <strong>[You have been poisoned. You receive 1,500 damage per second.]</strong>


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth!"


    He barely managed to neutralize the poison effect, but by then, Fermi had shaken Kai off.


    "Damn it."


    Realizing that it was dangerous for Kai to be on top, Fermi kept her distance, spitting only webs and venom. Additionally, since the sword was stuck in her head, Kai''s only way of attacking was Holy Explosion.


    <i>To damage her with Holy Explosion...</i>


    He needed to attack the top of her body. However, the straight path of Holy Explosion couldn''t act out such an attack. It was a situation where others would have given up, but instead, Kai''s eyes shone.


    ***


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Another white sh illuminated the dark boss room.


    "Kreeeek!"


    Fermi mocked Kai''s attack, which missed her. But interestingly, Kai was smiling too.


    ¡°There.¡±


    Kai had embedded twenty Holy Explosions into the ceiling! A single yer couldn''t possibly bring down a ceiling simr to terrain in one go.


    <i>But what if not once but dozens of times?</i>


    Kai aimed for the copse of the ceiling. He didn''t dream of bringing down the entire ceiling, only a part of it! Therefore, his Holy Explosions hit the ceiling in a circr dotted line.


    <i>Now I just need to strike near its center.</i>


    Deciding on his next move, Kai used Supernova.


    His body''s temperature rose as if he were in a sauna. Despite this, Kai didn''t lose his smile and charged at Fermi.


    "Kreeeee!?"


    Startled by Kai''s charge, Fermi stepped backward! Even as she retreated, she fired venom and webs nonstop.


    <i>This is the final hurdle!</i>


    Kai dodged all iing projectiles with incredible focus.


    <i>sh, sh, sh!</i>


    Fermi''s attacks barely missed Kai''s body! Kai, having barely evaded all her attacks, slid across the ground.


    As he slid, he extended his right hand as he shouted confidently, "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The Holy Explosion struck right at the center of the circr dotted line on the ceiling.


    <i>Rumble, rumble.</i>


    The umted damage to the ceiling burst. Rocks poured down as if a dam had burst!


    Hiding under Fermi''s belly, Kai used her as a shield while using a heal skill on himself.


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth!"


    Unintentionally, Fermi ended up protecting Kai!


    ¡°Kyaaaaak!¡±


    She immediately tried to move her body to kill Kai, but the rocks falling from the ceiling prevented her from doing so.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    If the previous cocoon drops were jabs, the rocks now hitting her weak spots were heavy straights!


    Fermi''s HP rapidly began to decrease.


    <i>20%, 15%, 10%...</i>


    When the barrage of ceiling rocks ended, only 1% of her HP remained.


    "Finally!"


    Kai made a big smile and extended his hand toward Fermi''s belly.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The beam tore through Fermi''s belly.


    "Kyaaaaak!" Fermi, letting out a sorrowful scream, slowly turned into polygons from her legs up and gradually dispersed.


    Left alone in the chaos of the cave, Kai dusted off the dirt covering his body and slowly stood up.


    "I... I won, right?"


    He had caused a major disaster yet he couldn''t believe it! However, the feast of messages that dazzled his eyes and ears confirmed that fact.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Fermi, Queen of the Spiders, has been defeated.]</strong>


    <strong>[+250,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[You single-handedly defeated the ruler of the Forest of Spiders, Fermi. +3,000 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Queen yer.]</strong>


    "Wow!"


    They truly were magical sentences that made him forget his fatigue! Among them, the grand finale was a special title.


    "Title book."


    Kai immediately opened the summoned book.


    <strong>[<u>Queen yer</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to yers who defeat the Spider Queen Fermi on their own.</strong>


    <strong>Effect:</strong>


    <strong>+3 All stats</strong>


    <strong>+30 Poison Resistance</strong>


    <strong>Receives no damage from spider-type monsters.</strong>


    <strong>(This effect persists even when title is not equipped.)</strong>


    "Yes! Amazing!"


    A hearty exmation came out of Kai¡¯s mouth as if he had just drank a bowl of Korean rice wine.


    Even though it was the same special title, the title of Wyrm Lizard yer was iparable with Queen yer!


    Dancing a little shoulder dance, Kai looked at the newly added stat points.


    "Oh, of course, it''s going into Strength!"


    His Strength went up by 15 points in one go!


    Kai felt a robust strength running through him and smiled contentedly.


    "Indeed, a full-strength Cleric is the best."

 Chapter 39: True Reward

    <h4>Chapter 39: True Reward</h4>


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sric Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 64</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 16,700</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 23,100</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 172 Stamina: 167</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 71 Agility: 82</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 231 Benevolence: 38</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown -9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received -3%</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    As Kai looked at his stat window that had grown in the Nest of Fermi, he smiled.


    <i>The title of Queen yer definitely lives up to the name of special.</i>


    The greatest gain from conquering this dungeon was undoubtedly the ¡®Queen yer'' title. Since it was a special title, it had no useless abilities.


    "Well, now that the appetizer is out of the way..."


    Kai turned to look elsewhere with eyes that sparkled with desire. It was time to eat what he called the main course of rewards.


    <i>Hehe, and I¡¯m the first one to kill Fermi, aren¡¯t I?</i>


    Boss monsters dropped the best items the first time they were killed.


    Kai stretched slowly to avoid getting a heart attack from the incredible items. After finishing praying in a devout posture, he cautiously opened the treasure chest that appeared after defeating Fermi.


    "Wow...!" Kai eximed in excitement as he opened the box and checked its contents.


    "A dagger and some gold... And is that a potion?"


    First, Kai checked the information on the dagger.


    <strong>[<u>Fang of Fermi</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 64~89</strong>


    <strong>+5 Agility</strong>


    <strong>10% chance of poisoning target with attack.</strong>


    <strong>Poison causes 1,500 damage per second for 3 seconds. (30 second Cooldown.)</strong>


    <strong>A deadly poison dagger belonging to Fermi, Queen of the Forest of Spiders.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 75+, 90+ Agility.</strong>


    <strong>Durability 76/76</strong>


    "Not bad."


    While it wasn¡¯t something he would use, Kai thought it was a valuable item that would sell for a good price at the auction house.


    <i>Daggers are in high demand, and with these options, it wouldn''t be inferior to Unique weapons.</i>


    It was a Rare weapon that would make rogue yers drool!


    Even just this much was enough to feel satisfied with conquering the dungeon.


    <i>But this isn''t it.</i>


    Kai then picked up 30 golds, and checked the vial of poison in the box.


    <strong>[Fermi''s Venom]</strong>


    <strong>[A deadly poison. Can be mixed with water or used in crafting.]</strong>


    "Hmm, this one¡¯s a bit tricky."


    He was unsure how to use the item.


    <i>If added during equipment crafting... would it grant abilities like poison release simr to Fermi''s dagger?</i>


    However, the fact that it could be mixed with water meant it could also be used as a poison itself.


    <i>I¡¯m not sure if there''ll be a day I''ll use poison against yers or NPCs.</i>


    It was quite tricky to list it on the auction house without knowing its exact value. Kai decided to keep it for himself for the time being and put it in his inventory.


    "Well, that''s the end of checking the rewards... Huh?"


    As he was about to close the chest, a small book caught his eye.


    "Wait, no way. It can¡¯t be."


    With trembling hands, he barely managed to grasp the book!


    Kai then said with his also trembling voice, "I-identify item."


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - ck Widow''s Venom</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>After poisoning an enemy, add one of the following effects: Confuse, Incapacitate, Silence, Blind, Slow.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Dark Wizard, Necromancer, Rogue ss.</strong>


    ¡°...!¡±


    Kai''s eyes widened. He didn¡¯t expect the skill book he hoped for to actually appear! Of course, he knew that dungeon bosses could probably drop skill books based on statistics.


    <i>But I didn''t expect anything else because of the Fang of Fermi...</i>


    Upon opening the chest, it turned out that the Fang of Fermi was just a bonus, and the skill book was the real reward. Rare skill books could trade for over ten million won.


    <i>The effects of the skill are also good!</i>


    It was to the point that he felt disappointed because he couldn''t use it himself.


    <i>But it will definitely make money.</i>


    His mother''s birthday wasing up soon! He had been anxious as items in the auction house weren''t selling, but now that he had this substantial source of ie, he felt as if he had an army at his back.


    "Is this really all now?"


    Taking the lesson from the skill book, Kai flipped the box upside down and shook it.


    <i>Thud.</i>


    Then a small bead fell in front of Kai!


    "There''s something more!"


    With a beaming smile, Kai immediately picked it up.


    <strong>[Essence of Darkness Fragment]</strong>


    <strong>[Atent fragment of negative energy that violently alters the target¡¯s personality.]</strong>


    "...What is this?"


    Kai furrowed his eyebrows. The description was overly simple, and there was no rank or instructions on how to use it.


    <i>Essence of Darkness?</i>


    Kai''s mind raced.


    <i>Now that I think about it...</i>


    All the monsters in this dungeon, Fermi and her spawns, came with modifiers.


    "The modifiers were ''Feral¡¯ and ''Savage.''"


    Could this small fragment be rted to that? It could be his own far-fetched assumption.


    <i>But until recently, the Forest of Spiders wasn''t a popr hunting field.</i>


    It had suddenly be popr because the levels of the spider monsters appearing in the Forest of Spiders had increased. The levels of the forest spiders Kai encountered before entering the Nest of Fermi were all above 50.


    <i>But when I searched through themunity a month ago, the average level of forest spiders was around 38.</i>


    That meant something must have elerated their growth! Kai thought the fragment of darkness he held could be rted in some way. After all, every piece of the situation seemed to fit together smoothly like gears.


    "...I''ll have to visit the library again once I''m done with the Orc Sorcerer quest."


    Kai sighed and carefully stored the Essence of Darkness Fragment, then stood up.


    <i>Let''s leave thoughts of the fragment of darkness here for now. Finding the trapped people is the priority.</i>


    Kai''s head turned to one side. It was a ce he had been concerned about even amidst the battle, so his gaze naturally shifted there.


    <i>A door leading somewhere else in the boss room is so suspicious.</i>


    As Kai approached the stone door and opened it, the wall crumbled, and a musty cloud of dust rose. Waving away the dust, Kai entered and his eyes widened.


    ¡°...!¡±


    Inside, many people were cocooned in spider webs. Startled, Kai immediately tore open the cocoons to free the people inside. There were fourteen of them! However, even after being freed from the cocoons, their eyes did not open easily.


    <i>Why?</i>


    Kai lowered his posture and brought his ear close to the people''s noses.


    <i>They are breathing. They¡¯re not dead yet.</i>


    Then it wasn''t toote!


    Holy Power swirled around Kai, his eyes sparkling. "Mass Bless!"


    The holy blessing filled the dark, musty space! Theplexions of the people, whose physical abilities were enhanced by the blessing, greatly improved.


    <i>But they still aren¡¯t waking up.</i>


    Eventually, Kai began to move from one person to the next, using healing skills. He earnestly pleaded, hoping they would open their eyes.


    "Please, open your eyes."


    "Your families must be waiting at home."


    "Just a little more strength!"


    Healing skills were continuously used, and with each one, Kai''s hands emitted light. Perhaps Kai''s heartfelt pleas reached the heavens¡ªone by one, the healed people started to hold their heads and get up.


    "Ugh... I¡¯m dizzy."


    "Where is this...?"


    "Eup! I feel sick..."


    Although they didn''t seem to be in great condition, they had still opened their eyes.


    Kai finally sighed in relief at this sight, "Phew... thank goodness."


    Even if they were NPCs, watching people die before their eyes was painful for anyone. Kai felt genuinely relieved and shared bread and water with them.


    "Everyone must be dehydrated and hungry. Please drink some water first and chew the bread well."


    "Th-thank you!"


    "If it weren''t for you, my wife and I would have already been..."


    "When my consciousness was fading, I heard your voice. I heard you telling me to hang on a little longer, to live... That voice pulled me back from the brink of unconsciousness."


    The gathered NPCs bowed their heads and prayed to Kai as if he was a saint.


    "No, I wasn''t looking for a reward or anything anyway. I was just fulfilling my duty as a Cleric..."


    Kai waved his hands in embarrassment, but the NPCs were firm in their belief.


    "If it weren''t for you we would have been eaten by that giant spider by now."


    "To save us... you must have fought with that giant spider."


    "That alone deserves praise."


    "Thank you so much! Because of you, I can see my family waiting at home again!"


    "From today onward, I will be a follower of Helik, the god of mercy and order."


    "..."


    As Kai continued to receive the NPCs'' gratitude, his lips pressed firmly together.


    <i>Why did I forget about this?</i>


    The back of his head was numb as if he had been hit by a hammer. The joy gained from performing good deeds was not just about raising the Benevolence stat.


    <i>Right, the true reward of benevolence is... those bright smiles that warm the heart.</i>


    Kai, who had transitioned to a Sric Cleric and only pursued quests that raised his Benevolence stat, blushed with shame at his past.


    <i>But if I realize I was wrong, I can correct it now.</i>


    Improving and developing one¡¯s weaknesses through mistakes, versus stagnating by repeating the same mistakes¡ªmany people choose thetter, but Kai was different.


    <i>Building up the Benevolence stat and bing stronger is important, but I don''t want to forget this feeling right now.</i>


    With a renewed spirit, Kai''s eyes shone clear as ake. He felt a refreshing sense of relief because he had let go of the burden that he must always increase his Benevolence stat.


    It was right then.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[As old as time, the existence of gods has given faith and salvation to many people. The envoys ced on earth by their gods must y the same role. Although the number of people you saved may not be many, the undeniable fact is that they were saved through you. Your sincere intention and benevolence in wanting to save them were actions braver and more sacred than anyone else.]</strong>


    <strong>[Title acquired: Saint of Glendale.]</strong>


    <strong>[A new stat, Dignity, has been generated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Bards will sing bads of your aplishments every night in taverns. +2,000 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1,500 Contribution to the Church of Sris.]</strong>


    <strong>[Spread of the word of the Church of Sris increased by 15%. Those who have yet to find a religion to believe in will gather under the name of the Srian God, Helik.]</strong>


    <strong>[This praiseworthy deed will spread widely across the continent, and the order has taken an interest in you.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik has acknowledged your genuine desire to save the citizens.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with Helik greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+30 Benevolence.]</strong>

 Chapter 40: The Smell of Capitalism (1)

    <h4>Chapter 40: The Smell of Capitalism (1)</h4>


    Kai blinked with a dazed expression.


    <i>Saint of Glendale? Affinity of Helik? Fame... Benevolence stat?</i>


    A flood of messages appeared; it was too much to take in at once.


    As if enchanted, Kai naturally opened the title book.


    <strong>[<u>Saint of Glendale</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to one who has saved people with a sincere heart and has earned their respect.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 Dignity, Skills that utilize Holy Power are 10% more effective. (This effect persists even when title is not equipped.)</strong>


    "Saint..."


    Kai repeatedly said the word to himself and thought about it. Though it was a short word, its weight seemed enough to burden Kai''s shoulders. At the same time, he noticed the NPCs looking only at him.


    <i>...This isn''t a bad feeling.</i>


    He was being recognized by someone for his good deeds! It was a touching emotion he felt for the first time since his transition to a Sris Cleric. It was especially an invaluable experience for him since he always faced negativity in reality.


    <i>By the way, what''s with this sudden Dignity stat?</i>


    Kai opened his stat window to check the effects of the Dignity stat.


    <strong>[Dignity: A stat that allows one to project their presence to others.]</strong>


    "Umm... So, it essentially increases the sense of presence?"


    Whether that was the case or not, a new stat was always wee.


    ***


    "Mom! Dad!"


    "Rody!"


    "My baby!"


    A touching real-life story of a family reunion that couldn''t be watched without tears! Kai watched Rody''s family reunion with a pleased and proud expression. The other vigers also expressed warm wishes upon seeing this.


    "Wow, Rody''s love for his parents is special."


    "A fourteen-year-old kid entering the forest by himself to find his parents. He¡¯ll be bigter on."


    "Sigh, I wonder what my kids are up to."


    Their envious tone made Rody''s parents, Redy and Tanya, proud.


    "I¡¯ll make you something delicious when we get home."


    "No no, mom, it''s okay. Just live long, please."


    "Haha. Honey, when did our son be so mature?"


    "Indeed. Haha."


    As they emitted an aura of a happy family, Kai led the vigers out of the dungeon.


    "Huh?" Kai squinted as he exited the dungeon. Someone was waiting for them at the entrance of the nest. "Hugo?"


    It was Hugo, the Archer who had requested revenge from Kai. Moreover, he was standing with three yers who appeared to be his party members.


    As Kai showed a hint of caution, Hugo raised his hands to show he had no hostile intentions.


    "Oh, I didn''te with any bad intent." Hugo and hispanions politely bowed their heads. "Thank you for fulfilling our unreasonable request for revenge. We came to express our gratitude."


    "...Oh, well, I benefited a lot from it too."


    Kai turned his head away with an awkward expression when they bowed their heads so low all he could see was the backs of their heads from above.


    <i>They probably don''t know I defeated Fermi, do they?</i>


    Neither Hugo''s party nor the Crimson Fist guild would have expected it. It wasn''tmon for a solo yer to defeat a boss based on skill alone.


    Hugo nced behind Kai and asked, "But who are those people behind you...?"


    "They are residents of Glendale who were trapped in the dungeon."


    "Oh! I see. More importantly..."


    "There, there they are!" Someone''s voice interrupted Hugo''s words.


    Everyone''s gaze turned toward the direction of the voice.


    "The Crimson Fist guild."


    Kai looked at the newly arrived group with an indifferent expression. He had expected their appearance, which was why he was so nonchnt about theming toward him. Also, as he had expected, the master of the Crimson Fist guild he had met in front of the quest board was with them.


    The guildmaster looked at Kai from head to toe. "Hey... Isn''t he the funny guy we met in the square? Did you guys seriously...?"


    "Well, that is... Things weren''t good at the time! We lost because we were ambushed while hunting."


    Duncan began making excuses with a red face.


    "Even so, to have taken down four of you in one ce... Seems like his skills aren¡¯t so bad, huh?¡±


    The Crimson Fist''s guild master cracked his neck and stepped forward. He pounded his fists together in the air and looked down at Kai arrogantly.


    "I''m Jeok-Kwon, the master of the Crimson Fist guild. You thought my guys were cute, did you?"


    "They¡¯ve actually gotta be cute for me to think that."


    "Hah, true. I guess they are kind of ugly." Jeok-Kwon licked his lips as if he had found amusing prey. "You''re interesting, but unfortunately, you''ve messed with the wrong people. How dare you touch my guys."


    "Sorry, but it was them who touched me first."


    "So?" Jeok-Kwon asked as if he didn''t understand what was wrong. "The strong are forgiven for anything they do to the weak like you. That''s the basic principle of society, survival of the fittest, that has been passed down since ancient times."


    "Really?" Kai gripped the handle of his sword, his voice cold.


    At that moment, Hugo stepped in front of Kai.


    Kai tilted his head in confusion. "What are you doing...?"


    "Leave this to us."


    "Pardon?"


    "We''ve been waiting here from the start to prevent those guys from taking revenge on you."


    Hugo smiled when he saw how touched Kai looked.


    "Even though it''s a connection within a game, we couldn''t just ignore the favor we''ve received."


    Hugo and his party members drew their weapons, shaking their heads.


    "Because of this idiot, we''re going to die twice. Just my luck." One of the party grumbled with feigned annoyance.


    "Well, let''s hunt hard again after the death penalty is over."


    "Will it take about a month to repair the equipment?"


    Their attitude seemed too calm for people facing death!


    <i>What are they relying on that they¡¯re so confident?</i>


    When Kai objectively assessed it, Hugo''s party was weaker than the Crimson Fist guild. Not only were their levels lower, but they also had fewer members. To make matters worse, having already died once, if they were unlucky, they could have dropped their equipment!


    <i>And they still came for me despite that?</i>


    Kai blinked nkly. Hugo''s party was the first of its kind Kai had met since ying the game. They truly were gamers who knew loyalty and were a bit sentimental!


    "Well, we can''t buy you too much time. About ten minutes at most."


    Hugo and his colleagues acted as if death was no big deal. But for them, nearly level 60, dying wasn''t as light as they made it seem.


    <i>Their XP would drop, and if unlucky, their levels or equipment could drop too.</i>


    Yet, they chose to ept all those penalties just to repay a favor!


    "Hmm..."


    Kai felt a dry taste in his mouth and shook his head.


    <i>After hearing that, how can I go alone?</i>


    Just as they knew loyalty and came to protect him, Kai also knew what loyalty was. Therefore, Kai took another step forward, blocking Hugo''s view.


    "Excuse me, I can''t see ahead."


    "It seems you didn''t fully understand our intention..."


    "Oh, I understood perfectly well. The problem is I understood too much." Kai drew his sword, and continued saying, "Do you know what division of roles is?"


    Hugo''s party blinked in confusion.


    "No offense, but objectively speaking, it''s highly likely you''ll lose. Am I wrong?" Kai asked.


    "That''s... correct, but..."


    "Right? So, let me propose a solution." Kai, without looking back at Hugo''s puzzled party, pointed behind him with his thumb. "I formally request that Hugo¡¯s party safely escort the vigers back to Glendale on my behalf."


    "W-wait! Are you saying you''ll die in our ce?"


    "Who''s dying?" Kai turned around, looking as if he was ready to hear some nonsense.


    "But if you stay here alone, you''ll undoubtedly die."


    "Don''t worry and go. And check themunity video forum in about two hours."


    "Video forum? Why would we..."


    Kai, while pushing Hugo''s back, who was puzzled, said, "What would be a good search keyword... Ah! That''s it." Kai smiled, having thought of something. "Getting Schooled. That would be interesting."


    ***


    After pushing Hugo''s party to leave, Kai''s attitude changed drastically. The ones in front of him were thugs who hunted other yers and snickered. Personally, they were the type of trash Kai hated the most. Therefore, he intended to go all out from the beginning.


    "By the way, you wouldn''t know why my nickname is Jeok-Kwon, do you?"


    "Why would I care?"


    As Kai responded indifferently, Jeok-Kwon sneered, "When I was young, I was deeply impressed by a cartoon that said crimson... is three times faster!"


    Jeok-Kwon''s figure suddenly darted forward without warning. His tremendous speed even elicited gasps from his guild members!


    "Wow, that¡¯s our guild master!"


    "Hehe. The result of equipping items with Strength and Speed stats."


    "I bet he could even take down a level 70 yer with PK."


    <i>...Indeed.</i>


    Kai nodded to himself without even knowing it. Just as they said, Jeok-Kwon''s movements were not something a level 60 yer could show.


    <i>But, the same goes for me.</i>


    Kai''s figure blurred. Using a burst of Supernova, his movements became incredibly fast.


    "What the!"


    "Lst time we fought, he wasn''t this fast!"


    The Crimson Fist guild members gaped at Kai''s speed. They had just a three-day death penalty, and during that time, Kai had leaped to greater heights. Hoarding all the XP to level up, and the newly gained 30 points of Benevolence stat were the reason that was possible.


    "Th-this can''t be!"


    But the one most astonished in this situation was Jeok-Kwon, who was facing Kai.


    <i>How am I outpaced in speed!</i>


    He had purchased all his equipment focusing on either Strength or Speed stats to achieve his current velocity.


    <i>Yet I can''t even react to his movements?</i>


    Then, a sword thrust out from behind Jeok-Kwon, who was stunned.


    ***


    "Ah, no customers again today," Vance, a yer known as a merchant, sighed deeply.


    Having changed his profession to a merchant, he was waiting for non-existent customers while setting up his disy stand in the city square.


    <i>Should I browse themunity again today?</i>


    A merchant had to be more sensitive to information than anyone else!


    On days like today, when Vance had no customers, he would browse themunity to gather information that could potentially make money.


    "Let''s see, is there any news today?"


    Unable to find anything new, Vance scrolled through the post lethargically, but then a post caught his eye. It was a post that was trending in real-time.


    "Huh? What''s with this title? Crimson Fist Getting Schooled?"


    The video, uploaded anonymously, was rapidly gaining views and likes despite having been posted only a short while ago.


    <i>What could it possibly be about...?</i>


    Unable to suppress his curiosity, Vance clicked on the video.

 Chapter 41: The Smell of Capitalism (2)

    <h4>Chapter 41: The Smell of Capitalism (2)</h4>


    Views: 115,741


    Likes/Dislikes: 3141/6


    Content: The protagonist of the video is in ck armor.


    Vance checked the video''s information and swallowed a chuckle with a baffled expression.


    <i>What''s with these views? It''s only been thirty minutes since it was uploaded.</i>


    It was an abnormally high amount of views and likespared to the barely existent description!


    <i>What kind of video could it possibly be...?</i>


    When he quickly started the video and saw trees in a forest swaying gently in the breeze¡ªit was a very peaceful setting with warm sunlight filtering through the leaves.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    However, that peace was shattered by the arrival of individuals with the Crimson Fist emblem on their chests. Vance, who often browsed themunity, instantly guessed where the ce was.


    <i>If there are many coniferous trees and spider webs between the branches... it''s the Forest of Spiders!</i>


    It was a region that high-level yers weren¡¯t very active in, and yet, a video shot in such a ce was so popr.


    Vance watched the video quietly.


    Two groups of people were facing off, and one of the Crimson Fist yers spoke.


    <i>-The strong are forgiven for anything they do to the weak like you. That''s the basic principle of society, survival of the fittest.</i>


    "What''s with this annoying guy?"


    Vance furrowed his eyebrows. Being in a production ss, he had experienced such disdain in hunting fields. Perhaps because of those memories, he disliked these Crimson Fist guys.


    <i>Could it be a video uploaded by someone unfairly PKed in the field?</i>


    But hundreds of such videos were uploaded daily.


    Vance''s eyes widened as the video continued to y.


    "What? You shouldn''t send your friends away!"


    The person in ck armor sent all his allies away while his opponents justughed and looked at him.


    <i>Oh no, he¡¯s doomed.</i>


    Perhaps because he was weaker from birth, Vance found himself rooting for the warrior in ck armor. Therefore, he felt sorry when his allies left and was shocked when an opponent darted out with overwhelming speed.


    The next moment, he found himself eximing with disbelief.


    "H-huh!?"


    The movement of the supposed weaker warrior in ck armor was on a different level, even seen through the screen.


    As the video yed at normal speed, it was as if he alone was sped up!


    <i>But it''s not just speed.</i>


    He seemed to know exactly how to deal with yers, striking at eyes or slicing Achilles tendons at just the right moments. It was the epitome of PVP movement, executed as naturally as flowing water.


    "Oh no, they''re fighting back!"


    While the video''s protagonist was fast, the opponents, who came to their senses, were not helpless. Moreover, there were six of them! Working together, they cooperated to gradually pressure the video''s protagonist.


    "That¡¯s unfortunate. Six against one is too much, isn¡¯t it?"


    Just as Vance expressed his deep regret, the protagonist summoned a staff in his left hand. At the same time, the ground began to tremble!


    "Huh!?"


    From the trembling ground emerged six gnoll skeletons! With glowing red eyes, they charged at the enemies ording to their master''smand.


    At this, the Crimson Fist guild members gulped and shouted.


    <i>-That''s it! He controlled these Skeletons before!</i>


    <i>-Be careful not to break formation!</i>


    <i>-They have higher attack and defense power than their level suggests! Don''t let your guard down!</i>


    The greatest strength of the undead was theirck of fear! They also prioritized their master''smands above all.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The gnoll skeletons didn''t stop charging even as their ribs flew and skulls hit the ground!


    Eventually, a small gap appeared in the Crimson Fist guild''s formation, and through that gap, the video''s protagonist slipped in like a ghost!


    "Wow..." Vance eximed with his mouth agape after watching the whole video.


    It took just eighteen minutes for the protagonist to defeat all six opponents! The video ended with the gnoll skeletons happily dancing with their skulls.


    There were already thousands ofments under the video.


    -This is interesting.


    -Which guild''s rookie is this?


    -FYI, the six guys brutally defeated in the video are members of the Crimson Fist that are typically active in Glendale. They¡¯re famous trash known for PKing and monster stealing.


    -Haven''t seen many interesting videostely, but this one''s a gem. I donated too.


    -Ugh, I was PKed by those Crimson Fist pieces of trash. This feels so refreshing. I''m donating, even if it''s not much.


    ?^^^^ Me too :(


    ?^^^^ Seriously, this is such a satisfying revenge. I''m leaving a donation too.


    -But what''s with those Skeletons in the middle? Don''t tell me the star of the video is a necromancer.


    ?Rewatched it, and he pulls out a staff before summoning the Skeletons. By the looks of a circle appearing afterward... seems like the staff has a summoning skill.


    ?Wow, if it''s that kind of item, it must at least be a Rare grade.


    -The Skeletons dancing are cute lol


    ?They even dance pretty well hahaha


    -Exactly 6 dislikes lmao. Is the dislike system real name based or what?


    -First time donating because I found the video fun! Any chance of a series?


    ?Looks like the uploader doesn''t have much ambition, given it''s uploaded anonymously.


    ?That¡¯s too bad. I would''ve subscribed immediately if it was a series.


    ?Looking at the equipment, seems like he¡¯s well-off, so probably not interested in doing it.


    -The video star''s skill isn''t extraordinary, but watching him struggle and fight passionately is incredibly immersive.


    ?Agreed. It''s not a clean and sophisticated fight like other rankers'', but somehow it makes me want to root for him.


    Thements overall werepliments!


    Four months after the game''s release, the stagnating world of <i>MID Online</i> was shaken by the appearance of an interesting rookie.


    ***


    "I''ll sell all these for 4 gold in total."


    "...A-are you serious?"


    "Dead serious."


    Back in the city, now dressed in a cleric robe, Kai smiled at the merchant in front of him.


    "No take-backster?"


    "Of course."


    After handing over six pieces of equipment to the merchant and receiving 4 gold, Kai beamed with satisfaction.


    Perhaps because the Crimson Fist guild members were often killing other yers, their names were bright red. In other words, that meant they were Chaotic yers!


    <i>The penalties for Chaotic yers in MID Online are quite severe.</i>


    Having their names permanently disyed above their heads was one of the severe penalties, but the biggest was dropping one equipped item upon death.


    Thanks to that, Kai acquired four normal items and two Magic items! Unfortunately, they weren''t particrly good pieces of equipment so Kai had decided to sell the equipment to a merchant yer cheaply for a bit of pocket money.


    <i>Maybe it''s time for me to take a break now too.</i>


    He had exhausted more physical and mental energy than expected in the Nest of Fermi. While conquering the dungeon, he had to always watch his back. As he entered the safe city and let down his guard, the suppressed fatigue finally caught up with him.


    "Phew, log out."


    After removing his headgear and getting up from the capsule, Han Jung-Woo went out to the living room.


    "Huh?"


    In the living room, his sister was drinking beer alone. The clock showed it was one o''clock in the morning.


    Han Jung-Woo approached her. "Why are you drinking alone in the middle of the night? You look pathetic.¡±


    "Shut up," Han Ji-Hye said as she pouted. Then she looked at her brother with curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "I heard from mom that you told her you would treat her for her birthday?"


    "Huh? Oh, yeah."


    "What exactly are you nning to do? You don''t have any money."


    "Hey, those are old times." Han Jung-Woo wore a victorious, rxed smile. "Noona, do you know? In the past, people who stayed at home ying games day and night like me were called unemployed or game addicts."


    "Huh? That''s not in the past though? The whole neighborhood knows that an unemployed game addict lives in our house. Mom''s so embarrassed she doesn''t even want to go to the market."


    "...Ahem!" Unable to withstand his burning thirst, Han Jung-Woo snatched his sister''s beer and gulped it down. "Noona, listen. Even just ying one game well can make you rich and famous. It''s a world where being good at games is a talent."


    "I know that. So, do you have talent in gaming?"


    "...H-huh?"


    Did he? Han Jung-Woo, who had never really thought about it before, just blinked.


    Han Ji-Hye chewed on a piece of squid as she looked at her brother''s dumbfounded expression. "So, what¡¯s your level?"


    "...64."


    "And your ranking?"


    "...."


    Of course, Han Jung-Woo asionally checked his ranking but didn''t memorize it precisely.


    <i>Last time I checked, it was something like two billion and something. How am I supposed to remember that?</i>


    Struck by the brutal fact, Han Jung-Woo sneakily turned his head away.


    Watching him, Han Ji-Hye sighed shortly and then patted her brother''s shoulder. "Cheer up, little brother."


    "Thanks. You¡¯re the best, noona."


    "Ugh, disgusting. Get lost," she retorted, but the corners of her mouth curled up. "Anyway, Jung-Woo, even if you seed in games and gain money and fame, you''re still my brother. And even if you remain pathetic like now... you''re still my brother."


    "N-noona..."


    As Han Jung-Woo was moved and responded with a tearful voice, his sister said, "And a younger brother should listen to his sister well! So go to the convenience store and buy some more squid. Butter grilled."


    "...."


    "You can keep the change."


    "Deal."


    Taking the ten thousand won, Han Jung-Woo left the house with a joyful expression.


    ***


    "Let''s see..."


    After finishing the errand for his sister, Han Jung-Woo sat down at hisputer and ate a triangle<i> kimbap</i>[1]


    "Tuna-mayo is truly the best."


    He filled his hungry stomach while checking new posts on themunity site.


    "Hmm... So all the yers now considered aces are over level 150? That''s really fast."


    It seemed impossible to catch up with them just by hunting as he was doing. Frustrated, Han Jung-Woo scratched the back of his head and shook it.


    <i>I never thought I could catch up in just a month or two anyway. Let¡¯s look at the long run.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo lightly sighed and looked at the notification window that kept popping up in the corner of the screen.


    <strong>[Someone left ament on your post.]</strong>


    <strong>[Someone left ament on your post.]</strong>


    <strong>[Someone left ament on your post.]</strong>


    "My post...? Oh."


    Han Jung-Woo recalled the video he had uploaded just a few hours ago. He had put effort into editing it, hoping to embarrass the Crimson Fist and provide satisfaction to Hugo''s party. Although it was the work of a non-expert, basic and sloppy, he was satisfied with it!


    "Looks like there are somements. Did the Crimson Fist guys leave some insults?"


    Han Jung-Woo clicked on the notification without much expectation.


    1. A korean style triangr shaped kimbap, simr to Japanese <i>onigiri</i>. ?

 Chapter 42: King of Looters (1)

    <h4>Chapter 42: King of Looters (1)</h4>


    Views: 2,435,741


    Likes/Dislikes: 145,741/11,375


    Content: The protagonist of the video is in ck armor.


    "...Huh?"


    Han Jung-Woo rubbed his eyes as he looked at the numbers on the screen.


    "Fifth in the Now Trending rankings...?"


    He momentarily wondered if he had clicked on a different video.


    <i>But... this is definitely my video?</i>


    Even after checking the anonymous ID and checking the content, he found that it was indeed his video. But then, what were these unbelievable views and like counts?


    "Wow..."


    When people were too shocked, words failed them!


    Han Jung-Woo began to slowly read through thements, which had already filled hundreds of pages.


    <i>What''s with all these positive reactions?</i>


    He started reading with a bewildered expression, which gradually brightened as praises and admiration continued. But then, he suddenly stopped.


    "Donations? What''s that about?"


    He was confused by the repeated mention of donations, but smelling the scent of capitalism in that sweet word, Han Jung-Woo''s fingers became busy.


    "Here it is."


    After spending some time, Han Jung-Woo found the donations page! His gaze wavered as if an earthquake had urred when he read the disyed amount.


    <i>T-the time I spent editing this video was...</i>


    It took merely about two hours. Furthermore, it had been only about six hours since the video was uploaded.


    <i>But it made me 1.1 million won?</i>


    Of course, it wasn''t as much as winning the lottery. However, Han Jung-Woo hadn''t inserted any advertisements into the video, so naturally, even if the video reached 100 million views, the ie should have been zero.


    <i>This is amazing. So, the 1.1 million won is all from donations?</i>


    Han Jung-Woo''s mind started racing.


    <i>Don''t think too positively, let''s think this through.</i>


    He wondered why this video was so popr and what aspects might have caught the yers'' attention. He began analyzing byparing his video to the other popr ones in the trending category. The conclusion he reached after watching dozens of videos was straightforward.


    "...It¡¯s because it''s sloppy."


    The protagonists of the other popr videos were mostly rankers. Videos of rankers dueling, rankers raiding, rankers hunting... Everything started with rankers and ended with rankers.


    Among the non-rankers¡¯ videos, onlyedy videos made it into the trending category. That was why Han Jung-Woo''s video stood out even more.


    <i>In the video, I am neither as skilled as the rankers nor do I have a high level.</i>


    But it was precisely that aspect that captured the hearts of those watching the video. The crude protagonist sparked a desire to cheer for him, and seeing someone perceived as weaker win against multiple enemies after a fierce fight and effort waspelling. Additionally, although it was a short video of about twenty minutes, it had its own story and twists.


    <i>And the gnoll skeletons. They¡¯re surprisingly very popr.</i>


    He checked thements again and confirmed that many people had indeed mentioned the gnoll skeletons. Questions about where to get the staff, if there was any intention to sell it, etc, all of it was thanks to the gnoll skeletons.


    <i>Character charm... Is that what this is?</i>


    Normally, undead and skeletons were considered horrifying, so female yers disliked them. However, the gnoll skeletons naturally resembled gnolls! Their stubby stature and dog-like skulls appeared quite cute. Additionally, their absolute obedience to their master''smands was also a plus. In other words, the clumsy aspects came together to create the ultimate fresh content, and Han Jung-Woo was the only yer who could produce that material.


    <i>This could make money.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo''s eyes sparkled. After much thought and estimation, the result was simple. He could mize the character Kai and the gnoll skeletons to make money! And the most important thing was that there was no risk involved.


    <i>Thest thing I want to reveal is that I''m a yer of the mythic ss.</i>


    The video didn''t disy the yer''s ss, status window, or level. Plus, even if there were any strange points, deleting that scene would resolve them. It was truly a no-risk, high-return method of making money!


    <i>But this video could be both a blessing and a curse.</i>


    While most people would be over the moon, dreaming of a rosy future, Han Jung-Woo looked at his situation with his unique objective judgment.


    "This is the perfect setup for a one-hit wonder."


    This referred to those who, after one hit of fame, couldn¡¯t let go of that glorious moment and clung to it until death. Therefore, while embracing the joy of the moment, Han Jung-Woo remained cautious.


    <i>After all, this situation wasn''t something I intended.</i>


    In other words, the money made from this video and the amazing achievement of being fifth in the Now Trending rankings were all like a bubble that could burst at any moment.


    <i>If I can hit the jackpot once more, it would be the best way to earn some extra ie, but even if that¡¯s not the case, there''s no need to be disappointed.</i>


    Whether he fails or seeds, he would be content.


    It was uncertain when it would be, but he would just have to wait and see the oue after uploading the next video. After drawing a clear line, Han Jung-Woo finally wore a satisfied smile.


    <i>Well, for now, I can enjoy this feeling, right?</i>


    Millions of views, hundreds of thousands of likes, and tens of thousands ofments! Han Jung-Woo was enveloped in emotions he had never experienced in his twenty-two years of life.


    <i>...I can see why people be addicted to social media attention.</i>


    It was likely because they couldn''t forget this thrilling pleasure, euphoria, and sense of fulfillment.


    After calming himself down, Han Jung-Woo returned to the homepage. His video, ranked fifth, made him feel proud and pleased.


    "Hehe, I feel pretty good."


    As he was about to turn off theputer with a pleasant smile, arge banner popped up.


    <i>[Breaking News! Cheonhwa Guild. Victory over Raid of Veghas, King of Looters.]</i>


    It was a striking news alert announcing the sess of a raid. Normally, he would have nodded and moved on, but the words "Veghas, King of Looters" made that impossible.


    "Wh-what? They''ve already defeated Veghas?" Han Jung-Woo said with a shocked voice, as he hurriedly clicked on the banner.


    The King of Looters, Veghas, was a level 180 boss monster, an entity impossible to hunt with a regr party. This meant that a guild-level strategy was required to tackle this raid monster. Recently, it was considered the ultimate boss, so that was to be expected.


    <i>But the Cheonhwa guild got it?</i>


    As much as Han Jung-Woo liked <i>MID Online</i>, he naturally knew the names of global guilds. Cheonhwa was one of the top three guilds in South Korea, definitely one of the country''s best. However, it was also true that they fell a bit short on the global stage.


    "Cheonhwa''s DPSs seemed too weak to take down Veghas though."


    Could there have been a secret force within Cheonhwa that hadn''t been disclosed to the public? Squinting, Han Jung-Woo read the article''s content.


    <i>[One of South Korea''srgest and most prestigious guilds, Cheonhwa, made headlines by hiring a special mercenary for the Veghas raid. Cheonhwa guild had kept the identity of this mercenary a secret until the day of the raid, but during a live broadcast, it was revealed that the mercenary was none other than Yoo Ha-Rin...]</i>


    "...!"


    Han Jung-Woo''s mouth fell open. Yoo Ha-Rin''s reputation was enough to elicit such a reaction.


    "Yoo Ha-Rin... <i>The</i> Yoo Ha-Rin, who''s ranked number one?"


    She had numerous nicknames like "monster," "uncontested number one," "girl crush," and much more!


    "Did she join the Cheonhwa guild?"


    Given she had maintained the global top rank by ying solo without joining any guilds, her participation in the Cheonhwa guild''s raid was a total surprise.


    Han Jung-Woo''s gaze shifted to the bottom of the article. There, a brief thirty-second video was uploaded.


    <i>Click. </i>


    <i>[A new world where swords and magic coexist. Miracle Dream...]</i>


    <i>Click.</i>


    "Skip!"


    <i>[You cannot skip. The video will start after the advertisement.] </i>


    "..."


    The all-too-obvious scheme by Cheonhwa guild to not miss out on even a speck of advertising revenue!


    <i>Ugh, those corporate guys. Was this all just a setup for progressive tax...!</i>


    Despite turning green with envy, he couldn''t bring himself to hit the back button. He was dying to know what kind of magic Cheonhwa guild and Yoo Ha-Rin had performed.


    ***


    Wizards'' dazzling magic dominated the battlefield, and Archers'' arrows covered the sky. Clerics'' buffs and heals sliced through the wind to permeate their allies, and Warriors with their weapons raised high crushed their enemies.


    Han Jung-Woo was in awe as he watched the video that was as thrilling as a movie.


    "Wow... The editing is top-notch."


    His own video seemed like street trash inparison to this quality!


    Large guilds like Cheonhwa often had a sizeparable to major corporations. They had professional video editors within the guild and even sold raid videos for a profit. Especially for a monster like Veghas, the rewards alone would easily total to billions.


    <i>Thousands, no, tens of thousands of yers must be dying to join Cheonhwa.</i>


    Giant guilds operated likepanies, offering sries and even providing basic equipment. They also generated immense profits by controlling dungeons and hunting fields.


    Of course, such guild growth required substantial initial capital. However, the Cheonhwa guild, backed by the Cheonhwa Group, had no need to worry about money. Rumors had been rampant from the game''s start that the guild master was the granddaughter of Cheonhwa Group''s chairman.


    <i>Well, they also receive a lot of criticism for it.</i>


    Their tyranny, like monopolizing hunting fields for entrance fees or manipting the market by controlling the supply of materials, was enough to draw the resentment of ordinary yers. But what could they do when they had no power?


    Han Jung-Woo closed his mouth and watched the video closely.


    <i>Whoosh.</i>


    At a dested grasnd, where Veghas and its minions passed, only a sinister silence and the aura of death lingered.


    <i>-Foolish beings...</i>


    A giant in ck leather armor, one eye covered with an eyepatch, murmured with a voice seeped with malicious intent.


    Veghas was the grand viin who looted everything in the world. As one progressed through <i>MID Online</i>''s main quests, anyone could learn about it.


    <i>I''ve heard the name before.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo swallowed his saliva. Since he was also progressing through a main quest, he had heard of Veghas.


    <i>The developers said it would be at least another three months before Veghas could be defeated...</i>


    So how exactly had they managed to overwhelm it?


    Kai silently watched the video.


    <i>-Sweep them away.</i>


    With Veghas''s briefmand, the real battle began. The video was of a quality that most movies couldn''t evene close to. It was a clear demonstration of how <i>MID Online </i>dominated all global content.


    "Wow..."


    Since it was a free video, it didn''t show the crucial battle scenes and quickly skipped ahead.


    Veghas looked around, noting that he had lost all his minions. The Cheonhwa guild members surrounding him were also in an awful state. Their equipment, with Durability depleted, was destroyed in ces, and more than half of their numbers had disappeared.


    Then, among them, one yer trudged forward.

 Chapter 43: King of Looters (2)

    <h4>Chapter 43: King of Looters (2)</h4>


    The ck armor covering their entire body was known to be made of obsidian, which was a Rare-grade material. At a nce, the items equipped by the yer were at least of Rare-grade or above. Moreover, the sword emitting a dark hue appeared to be of a Unique-grade or higher.


    Han Jung-Woo swallowed hard, "The first-ranked yer with an undisclosed job, Yoo Ha-Rin."


    She was indeed at the top among over 500 million yers, and she was the ranker who had ascended to the position allowed to only one among the many rankers.


    <i>Shiing.</i>


    Yoo Ha-Rin drew her sword from behind her back.


    Han Jung-Woo, watching her silently, muttered with a dumbfounded expression, "W-wait. Is she... about to go one-on-one with Veghas?"


    The reason he thought this was because the members of the Cheonhwa guild had surrounded Yoo Ha-Rin and Veghas, creating a space that resembled an arena.


    <i>-Hah, how ridiculous.</i>


    Veghas puffed air out of its nose as it looked around and then became serious.


    <i>-Insolent fools, pay for your sins with your lives.</i>


    Then it charged at Yoo Ha-Rin in an instant.


    A scream escaped from Han Jung-Woo''s mouth, "Th-that¡¯s crazy. Its speed is insane!"


    Veghas was showing a speed that was literally of a different world.


    However, the reason Han Jung-Woo screamed was not just because of its movement and speed.


    <i>ng!</i>


    After deflecting a sword with one hand, Yoo Ha-Rin had charged toward it!


    Han Jung-Woo had screamed at their speed, which he could not even mimic, let alone perceive if it were in front of him.


    <i>Even using Holy Explosion... that¡¯s absolutely impossible!</i>


    It was an overwhelming skill that made sweat run down his back! His confidence that had risen from defeating the six members of the Crimson Fist guild alone dropped to the ground in an instant.


    Unfortunately, the video ended there. The mark of the Cheonhwa guild appeared, and a window popped up saying to pay if he wanted to watch it to the end.


    "..."


    Han Jung-Woo''s hand started shaking. The price of the raid video was a whopping 12,000 won! It was simr to the price of a blockbuster movie''s Blu-ray DVD. Yet, the view count had already easily surpassed 700,000.


    He ground his teeth and thought, <i>Those Cheonhwa bastards are really raking in the money!</i>


    Crying bitter tears, Han Jung-Woo eventually clicked the payment button.


    Then, he began to analyze the video with a serious expression.


    <i>One of the top guilds in the country, huh, let¡¯s see.</i>


    Their actions of controlling the hunting fields could be frowned upon, but their skills indeed were world-ss. This was because of the Cheonhwa guild''s first attack team,posed of members of at least level 150 and above.


    <i>Hit when you can, and retreat when necessary.</i>


    It was the basic ''hit and run'' tactic, but no one could do it as well as the Cheonhwa guild. They repeatedly moved and retreated as if they were one body, almost artistically.


    <i>And the reason that is possible is...</i>


    Kai looked at one woman.


    <i>-Wizard battalion. In four seconds, bind the enemy''s left troops together with Ice Wall. DPS¡¯, concentrate all attacks to the left precisely after five seconds.</i>


    A woman stood on a hill overlooking the ins, pointing her finger! It was Seol Eun-Yeong, the guild master of Cheonhwa, as well as one of the top-ranked Knight-ss yers.


    <i>She¡¯s known to be cold-hearted, but she is pretty.</i>


    Even Han Jung-Woo, who usually had no interest in her, nodded at her beauty! Her lush ck hair that fell to her waist shimmered and reflected the sunlight. Her overall impression appeared cold and indifferent due to herrge but sharp eyes, however she was a skilled yer who could instantly sever an enemy''s neck fooled by her beauty.


    "..."


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s beautiful brows furrowed as she looked down at the battlefield.


    <i>-You DPS¡¯ have a terribly low hit rate. Aren''t you ashamed to be paid with that skill?</i>


    "..."


    The guild members, who had been shouting battle cries, suddenly became silent. They feared Seol Eun-Yeong, who was at their backs, more than the enemies in front of them. After all, the enemies weren''t the ones who could expel them from the guild!


    <i>-DPS¡¯, submit your damage reports after the raid.</i>


    The DPS¡¯ wore gloomy expressions, while the healers and other support yers breathed a sigh of relief.


    Han Jung-Woo scrolled through the chat while watching the video.


    ~


    -Dayum. Our queen''s charisma is impressive today too.


    -That cold gaze! It sends shivers down my spine! Be mine!


    -This chat is a bit weird...


    ?It''s known there are quite a few perverts among the Seol fans. Well, say what you will but the queen sure doesmand well.


    ?She¡¯s not called themander of the battlefield for nothing.


    -Other guild masters need to learn from her.


    -But the patterns of Veghas were all figured out by other guilds. The advance guilds must be envious.


    -Not sure about other things, but I think Cheonhwa is the best at guild-level raids in Korea.


    ?That¡¯s obvious with a capablemander and the best guild members in Korea.


    ~


    "Hmm...."


    Even from Han Jung-Woo''s perspective, hermand was impressive.


    <i>Listening to her... she''s directing tactics almost by the second.</i>


    Even Veghas, who troubled other guilds, couldn''t shake the Cheonhwa guild under hermand. She faced and broke down Veghas''s strategies one by one, head-on. Hermand style was confident and bold, seemingly unaware of the concept of running away; it reflected her personality.


    <i>Definitely remarkable.</i>


    That was the master of a top-level guild. Moreover, she herself was one of the world-ranking yers. She truly was the queen of the battlefield, a conductor orchestrating her soldiers!


    "..."


    The video continued. In the end, the Cheonhwa guild defeated all of Veghas''s tactics head-on, and Veghaster lost the fight to Yoo Ha-Rin. It was an overwhelming power disparity worthy of being called a war among stars!


    After watching the entire video, Han Jung-Woo turned off hisputer andy down on his bed.


    The skills of the Cheonhwa guild members were great, and so was Seol Eun-Yeong''smand. However, the moment after he finished watching the video, what remained in his mind was only Yoo Ha-Rin''s movements.


    "What kind of woman is she?"


    If Seol Eun-Yeong shook his heart with her outstandingmand, then Yoo Ha-Rin hadpletely captivated his soul with her overwhelming physicality and sense ofbat.


    <i>Plus, Yoo Ha-Rin has only started ying the game for three months.</i>


    Yoo Ha-Rin had started the game a whole monthter than him! Yet, she easily outpaced all the rankers to im first ce. Her overwhelming skill, speed of hunting, and quest progression rate were said to be so high that even the top rankers would concede to her.


    <i>Rumors say she''s Korean, could it be true?</i>


    Because her yer ID seemed like a Korean name, there was a lot of spection that she was a Korean yer. However, nothing about her was revealed. Nationality, appearance, age, height, etc.... Only the fact that she preferred solo y circted.


    <i>That''s why people want to know more about her.</i>


    It was simr to the pure desire to be the first to leave footprints in untouched snow.


    Han Jung-Woo stared nkly at the ceiling before closing his eyes.


    "...The world is really vast."


    Up until watching the video, Han Jung-Woo had been in high spirits. His ss was good, and his recent growth had been impressive, even to the point he was impressed himself.


    <i>Butpared to them... I''m nothing but weak.</i>


    Even excluding monsters like Yoo Ha-Rin and Seol Eun-Yeong, the movements shown by just an ordinary member of the Cheonhwa guild were too much for Han Jung-Woo.


    Suddenly, his sister''s question came back to mind.


    <i>So, do you have talent?</i>


    "..."


    Talent. Han Jung-Woo quietly closed his eyes.


    <i>Honestly, it''s a bit scary.</i>


    What if he didn''t have talent? What if, despite having the job of a Sris Cleric, he couldn''t even be a ranker? That fear sometimes made his chest tight. However, more than doubting his own talent, he believed in himself. And the reason for this coexistence of contradicting feelings was his trust in the path he had walked.


    <i>...Effort always receives its reward, in one way or another.</i>


    Of course, reality could be a bit different. However, in the game, this was an absolutew. The more he put in effort, the more his XP increased, and as the XP umted, his level rose. As he raised his stats, his character grew, the more he hunted, the more money he collected, and the better his equipment became.


    "If it doesn''t work, try twice as hard, if that doesn''t work, four times harder...until it does."


    Effort was something Han Jung-Woo, who had yet to realize his own talent, was most confident in.


    ***


    A man dressed as a Wizard and a female Knight in ck armor walked down a corridor decorated with luxurious ornaments. Though it wasn¡¯t much inparison to the corridors of noble mansions or royal pces, considering this building belonged to yers, it hinted at the remarkable power they had in the game.


    "The master is waiting inside," the Wizard said with a slight bow to the Knight.


    Then, without saying a word, the Knight knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    <i>Creak.</i>


    The interior of the room was as sophisticated and clean as the office of a major corporation.


    The ck Knight nced around the room and then looked at the namete on the table.


    (Cheonhwa Guild Master, Seol Eun-Yeong.)


    "It must have been a long waying here," the guild master of the Cheonhwa Group said with a confident voice to the Knight who had entered the room.


    Facing a woman who could captivate any man with her looks, the ck Knight simply nodded calmly.


    "All the goods from hunting Veghas are in the box, so please check them."


    As Seol Eun-Yeong pointed to a box on the table, the ck Knight checked it and nodded again.


    "Do you need some gold? We could buy it at a good price if you sell it to our guild."


    Despite the tempting offer, the ck Knight shook her head.


    Seeing this, Seol Eun-Yeong switched topics. "Have you thought about the offer I madest time? I''d like to hear your answer soon."


    "..."


    For the first time since entering the room, the ck Knight looked directly into Seol Eun-Yeong''s eyes.


    "I''m talking about the recruitment offer. I can promise you the position of leader of the Cheonhwa guild¡¯s attack party."


    The leader of the Cheonhwa guild¡¯s attack party!


    The Cheonhwa guild was a corporate guild created by Cheonhwa Group, a chaebol family in South Korea, with a determined effort. Each guild member received a sry simr to thepany''s employees, and the managers received unimaginable sums as their sry.


    And being the leader of the guild¡¯s attack party was one of the highest and most important roles. The sry would easily at least exceed one billion won.


    "Just in case you''re wondering, Cheonhwa is willing to amodate any condition you desire. The best cars and penthouses, or even buildings,nd, money; just name it," Seol Eun-Yeong spoke confidently.


    After all, she believed that money could buy everything.


    However, Yoo Ha-Rin, the monster yer who single-handedly defeated Veghas, shook her head once again.


    "<i>Sigh</i>... Alright. But I''m always willing to offer the position of the attack party leader, so I hope for a positive answer next time."


    Yoo Ha-Rin nodded.


    "Then, let''s maintain a good rtionship as we have been doing."


    Again, Yoo Ha-Rin nodded and then left the room.


    A short whileter, the man who had guided Yoo Ha-Rin opened the door and asked, "How did the negotiation go?"


    "..."


    Seol Eun-Yeong didn¡¯t reply and just nced at the man.


    The Wizard, Boyd, read the answer from her expression and shrugged. "Well, we didn''t have much hope from the start anyway. It''s Yoo Ha-Rin after all."


    "It''s a pity. If we had sessfully recruited her, the Cheonhwa guild could have literally be the best guild in the world."


    Of course Yoo Ha-Rin¡¯s skills were outstanding, but Seol Eun-Yeong regretted not securing the symbolic status of being ranked first ce. Moreover, she was disappointed at not being able to gain the support of the numerous followers who adored Yoo Ha-Rin.


    "Oh, Miss. Didn''t the chairman always say to take everything slowly and to look at the big picture? To see the forest rather than the trees, and the world rather than the forest?"


    "Miss?"


    As Seol Eun-Yeong red at Boyd with a sharp look, he quickly bowed his head.


    "Oops, I¡¯m sorry..."


    "Get out."


    Seol Eun-Yeong red at Boyd as he hurried out of the room, and then turned her head.


    She had always considered herself the center of the world, a belief that had never been shattered in her life.


    <i>Yoo Ha-Rin. Someday, you too wille under mymand.</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong asserted so. After all, everything she had ever wanted had been made hers by any means necessary.

 Chapter 44: Mother’s Birthday

    <h4>Chapter 44: Mother¡¯s Birthday</h4>


    <i>Schwoop.</i>


    After logging into the game, Kai¡¯s eyes shed open.


    "Mailbox! I should check the mailbox!"


    The reason for his excitement was none other than a message that had arrived on his phone after he woke up from sleeping.


    <strong>[Auction sale payments have been paid. Please refer to the mailbox for more details.]</strong>


    It was a single, short but powerful message! That was what had made Kai so busy.


    Kai pulled out sixteen letters from his mailbox.


    "Phew... deep breaths, deep breaths."


    After taking deep breaths, Kai carefully opened the first letter.


    The moment he checked the content of the letter, Kai''s face contorted.


    <strong>[Fast! Safe! Gold loan consultations at Rush and Gold....]</strong>


    "...."


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Kai tore up the letter!


    "Dang it, starting off on a bad note..."


    Then once again, with a good heart, Kai opened the second letter.


    <strong>[We inform you that the Schrly Gloves you registered in the auction house have been sold for 25 gold 5 silver. The sale payments can be collected at the auction house or bank....]</strong>


    "Yes!" Kai, without even realizing it, raised both arms in cheer.


    The Schrly Gloves had sold for 3 gold more than the listed price! Having hit a home run from the start, Kai tore open all the remaining letters with a greatly relieved expression.


    <strong>[We inform you that the Steel Helmet you registered in the auction house has been sold for 17 gold 43 silver....]</strong>


    <strong>[We inform you that the Shoes of the Wind you registered in the auction house have been sold for 18 gold 70 silver....]</strong>


    <strong>[We inform you that the Wyrm Lizard Leather Shoes you registered in the auction house have been sold for 1 gold 12 silver....]</strong>


    <strong>[We inform you....]</strong>


    All the items had been sessfully sold!


    Kai quickly did the math.


    <i>Let''s see, 17 gold 43 silver plus 18 gold 70 silver plus....</i>


    The total price for the sold items amounted to 178 gold 19 silver!


    <i>Even after deducting the 10% auction house fee and taxes, that leaves about 16 million won!</i>


    Including the 45 gold in his inventory, that was a total of about 20 million won in cash.


    "Phew, what a relief."


    Kai breathed a sigh of relief.


    It would have been slightly troublesome if the items hadn''t sold today, but the timing was perfect.


    <i>Let''s get moving then.</i>


    ***


    After converting the gold into cash, Han Jung-Woo went out for the first time in a while.


    First, he got his long and messy hair cut neatly, and even got himself a new casual suit.


    "Hmm."


    After getting ready, Han Jung-Woo looked at himself in the full-length mirror and the corners of his mouth lifted upward. In the mirror stood a man who was well put together.


    "I¡¯m really handsome."


    Although he might be just <i>slightly</i> easy on the eyes to others, he himself was very satisfied with how he looked. In fact, the current appearance of Han Jung-Woo was theplete opposite from when he had left the house. It was to the extent that one could say he was a prime example of turning over a new leaf!


    "Oh my, look at that customer. Doesn¡¯t he look quite handsome in a suit?"


    "I know, right? The clothes he wore at first were really not it."


    "It seems like this customer has a particrly poor sense of fashion."


    "<i>Ahem</i>!"


    Even the store staff murmured among themselves after seeing his changed appearance.


    After clearing his throat, Han Jung-Woo paid for the clothes and left the store.


    ***


    <i>Maybe I''m a bitte.</i>


    He received a text from his sister that everyone else in the family had already arrived at the hotel restaurant.


    Hurrying to the restaurant, he waved at his sister who came out to meet him.


    "Noona!"


    "...."


    Han Ji-Hye nced at Han Jung-Woo, then turned her head back to her phone!


    "What, you ignore people just because they''re a littlete?"


    "...Pardon?" Han Ji-Hye asked back with her head tilted. She looked around and then pointed at herself. "Are you talking to me?"


    "...What''s with this act all of a sudden?"


    "Wait, this voice is... are you Jung-Woo?"


    "...."


    Only then did Han Jung-Woo realize the situation and his mouth fell open.


    <i>Could it be... that changing my clothes and getting a haircut made me unrecognizable to my own sister?</i>


    It felt as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer!


    As Han Jung-Woo wore a look of despair like a patriotic martyr who had failed in an independence movement, Han Ji-Hye let out an awkwardugh, "Haha... I was just kidding."


    "...."


    Her tone conveyed not a speck of trust!


    However, since Han Jung-Woo was magnanimous, he didn¡¯t take it seriously and asked, "Whatever. Where¡¯s mom and dad?"


    "They¡¯ve been waiting for you. Follow me."


    Following his sister, he entered a room reserved in the restaurant.


    His parents, who had been quietly conversing inside, turned their attention to them.


    "Hm?"


    "Oh my."


    His mother wore an intrigued expression, and his father looked surprised. His father, who was often busy and rarely saw his son, especially seemed pleased with his son''s appearance.


    "You look good. Come, take a seat."


    "Okay."


    Han Jung-Woo quickly took his seat. Even though he lived under his mother¡¯s thumb, his father¡¯s presence was not to be underestimated!


    As Han Jung-Woo looked at each member of his family in turn, he reassured himself about his determination.


    <i>Today, I''ll make a stand.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo had consistently felt the stress felt by people retaking university entrance exams, people studying for state exams, and unmarried older women during family gatherings every time his family gathered.


    <i>The topic of games will surelye up again today.</i>


    Sure enough, about five minutester, his father¡¯s gaze shifted toward him. "It''s been hard to see your face at hometely. Are you still just spending your days ying games?"


    "Of course."


    "...<i>Sigh</i>. But what makes you so proud of that?" his father furrowed his brows. He was clearly not pleased that his son was spending all his time ying games. He then seemed to have made up his mind and said in a stern voice, "Jung-Woo, I thought you were a good and smart kid who would figure things out on his own."


    "...So then, you don''t n on continuing to believe that?"


    "I do not! So you better start preparing to go back to school."


    "...I don¡¯t want to."


    "Hm?" His father looked at him.


    He had been expecting an agreeable response because Han Jung-Woo openly refusing his father''s words was something that rarely ever happened.


    "Then you must have a way to convince me?"


    "Of course." Han Jung-Woo took out a bankbook from his pocket and handed it to his father. "I''ve started making money from the game recently."


    "Money?" his father tilted his head. "Making money from a game... Well, you wouldn¡¯t be one of those top-ranked yers, and at best, it would be a small amount."


    "Oh, Dad. <i>MID Online</i> has recently surpassed 600 million yers. It''s be the biggest market in the world, how could it be a small amount?"


    "That''s for me to judge." His father took the bankbook and squinted to check the bnce. "...You''ve made quite a bit."


    When her husband''s expression softened, Kim Hyun-Jung also looked at the bankbook.


    Her eyes widened. "Oh my, you made 20 million won?"


    "What, what did you say?! Jung-Woo made 20 million won from a game?"


    Mother and daughter crowded around the bankbook, making a fuss.


    However, his father maintained his calm expression and continued, "That¡¯s not bad. But sustainability is important in everything. How long do you think this level of ie willst?"


    "Who knows?" Han Jung-Woo smiled as if he knew this question wasing. "Sure, I was exceptionally lucky this past week, but I believe the money I''ll make in the future won''t be little either."


    "A week, you say...?"


    As surprise showed on his father''s face, Han Jung-Woo didn''t miss this opportunity.


    "Yes. That is the profit I''ve made over thest week."


    "...Just asking, but you didn''t get involved in anything bad, right?"


    "Oh no, you guys know me."


    As Han Jung-Woo waved his hand, his family nodded.


    "We did educate our son well."


    "He wouldn''t go around causing harm to others."


    "Ugh..." His father held his forehead and let out a groan for the first time.


    He didn''t like his son ying games, but he had to acknowledge the significant amount of money shown. If his son hadn''t made money, he would have sold the gaming capsule by force and sent his son back to school, but now that seemed difficult.


    After pondering for a while, Han Jung-Woo¡¯s father looked at him. "So, are you saying you have no intention of going back to school now?"


    "For now. But once my life and ie be stable, I''ll go back."


    "...I trust you''ll keep that promise."


    His father eventually backed down!


    Han Jung-Woo clenched his fists under the table.


    <i>I did it.</i>


    As Han Jung-Woo smiled brightly, having gotten what he wanted, his mother said, "Jung-Woo."


    "Yeah?"


    "You''re making good money, huh?"


    "Still a long way to go."


    "No. It seems like our son is making good money. Seeing my son be such a responsible adult makes me really happy."


    "...."


    Han Jung-Woo swallowed hard.


    <i>Something doesn¡¯t feel right.</i>


    For some reason, a chill crept up his neck!


    Smiling gently, his mother continued, "Then, it''s time we canfortably let you be independent."


    "In-independent, you say?"


    "It means you should move out."


    "No, why all of a sudden!"


    "It''s not out of the blue." His father, who had been drinking water, corrected his misunderstanding. "In a month, your sister will also be moving out since she''s prepared to live on her own."


    "...What does that have to do with me?"


    "I''ve heard that lions drop their cubs off cliffs to make them stronger."


    "I heard that''s not true. Besides, I''m not even a lion."


    "Stop." His father red when his logical reasoning didn¡¯t work.


    As Han Jung-Woo avoided his father¡¯s gaze, his mother said in a gentle voice, "Even if you weren''t making money, we were nning to kick you out... I mean, encourage you to be independent when your sister leaves."


    "...I think you just revealed your true thoughts."


    "Haha, of course not," his motherughed, covering her mouth. Then with a satisfied expression, she continued, "Our son being a jobless game addict... We were nning to support you with a monthly allowance so you wouldn''t starve, but seeing your bank ount today, it seems there''s no need for that. I''m truly relieved."


    "...!"


    Han Jung-Woo regretted his decision deeply.


    <i>There was a reason why rich peoplein about not having money every day!</i>


    He could havefortably yed games while receiving allowance! And now, because he wanted to show off his bank ount, he wouldn''t receive an allowance and had to move out!


    "Umm...." Han Jung-Woo wore a suffering expression.


    Watching him, his mother extended her hand.


    But looking at that hand, Han Jung-Woo said bluntly, "...What constion now. Forget it."


    Her son was genuinely upset!


    However, his mother shook her head, "What are you talking about? If you''ve made that much money, you must have bought a birthday present, so give it here."


    "..."


    His mother snatched Han Jung-Woo''s gift out of his hand and smiled brightly.


    "Oh, what a beautiful ne. It looks quite expensive."


    Han Jung-Woo clenched his teeth and replied, "...It cost 1.5 million won."


    "I''ll wear it well. Whenever I see this, I''ll remember my son who''s left home, haha."


    Han Jung-Woo let out a slight sigh and put his brain to work.


    <i>This was apletely unexpected situation.</i>


    And he was even told to move out in a month! But honestly, he didn''t feel too bad about it. Moving out meant he could focus on gaming without anyone''s interference.


    <i>The biggest problem is securing living expenses, but for now, I have quite a bit of financial leeway.</i>


    Of course, from now on, he would need to consistently hunt andplete quests to sustain his lifestyle. Moreover, for Han Jung-Woo, who rarely went out, all he really needed was basic living expenses and food costs!


    Several methods of making money came in and out of his mind.


    <i>So first...</i>


    A certain ce came to mind.

 Chapter 45: Trial of Hanox (1)

    <h4>Chapter 45: Trial of Hanox (1)</h4>


    After sessfully concluding his mother''s birthday party, Han Jung-Woo logged back into the game.


    "Let''s see...."


    The mini-map indicated that the Trial of Hanox was north of Glendale. It was a ce that could only be reached by climbing high mountains, crossing rough rivers, and traveling through deep valleys!


    Indeed, the journey there was difficult.


    Kai said huffing and puffing, "It''s going to take forever just to get there."


    After two days of travel, Kai was currently struggling up a steep cliff. He had chosen this difficult path for a simple reason.


    "They really don''t care about the yer''s convenience at all!"


    It was obvious, but the reason was that the Trial of Hanox was located right on this cliff!


    What awaited Kai after his hard climb was a small crevice. It was a ce that one would never think to look for without being certain a dungeon was there.


    The Trial of Hanox was inside that crevice.


    "So this is the Trial of Hanox."


    The entrance to the trial looked like an ancient temple from Mayan civilization, and the walls of the structure were filled with drawings that one could find in Egyptian murals.


    <i>I probably have to pay close attention to these trivial symbols and drawings to enter the dungeon.</i>


    There could be a hidden hint somewhere!


    Kai stared at the hieroglyphs and drawings, but that was only for a moment.


    <strong>[Your level in the Ancient Language Interpretation skill is too low.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your level in the Decryption skill is too low.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your level in the Insight skill is too low.]</strong>


    <strong>[You havepletely failed to grasp the meaning contained in the symbols and pictures.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been staring at a scene you cannot understand with your current state for too long.]</strong>


    <strong>[Afflicted by the Headache status effect. Stamina decreased by 5 every second.]</strong>


    This world was not lenient at all! With a throbbing headache, Kai felt this harsh truth to his bones. He pushed open the door.


    <i>Creeeak</i>


    It opened but not a single beam of light came through. It was as if darkness itself had opened its mouth.


    Kai prepared himself and entered the darkness. As he stepped down the stairs, the door behind him closed on its own.


    "A-ahem!"


    With his heart racing, Kai rubbed his goosebumped arms and slowly went down.


    What greeted him at the bottom of the stairs was a dome-shaped space.


    As he looked around, he began to tremble because of a statue that came into view.


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue. LV.130]</strong>


    "I-I¡¯m not supposed to fight that, am I?"


    It shouldn''t be. It just couldn''t be. That threatening statue was an opponent Kai could never defeat with his current abilities! But, unfortunately, a blue me flickered to life in the deeply hollowed eyes of the knight.


    <i>Bzzz.</i>


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue has awoken from its slumber.]</strong>


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue is evaluating the challenger.]</strong>


    <strong>[Evaluating....]</strong>


    "Oh,e on! Why do things always happen as expected only in these types of situations!"


    Biting his lower lip hard, Kai immediately used all sorts of buffs and then drew his weapon.


    <i>How am I supposed to beat something like that?!</i>


    A deep sense of defeat floated over Kai''s face.


    At that moment, additional messages appeared as if they had been waiting for the right time.


    <strong>[Challenger''s job confirmed to be Sric Cleric.]</strong>


    <strong>[Challenger granted highest level of ess.]</strong>


    <strong>[All gates have been unlocked.]</strong>


    Then the light around the statue''s eyes fizzled out like a candle in the wind.


    "...What¡¯s going on?"


    Confused, Kai blinked with a dumbfounded expression and looked over the message log once more.


    <i>I am a Sris Cleric, but... the highest level of ess? What does that mean?</i>


    He hade here to boldly pass the Trial of Hanox and to continue Patrick''s legacy.


    <i>...Of course, seeing that guy, passing boldly is absolutely out of the question.</i>


    Kai furrowed his brows as he looked at the inactive knight statue.


    "First of all... having the highest level of ess means I should be safe in this dungeon, right? The statue has even stopped moving."


    Then, it would make sense to look around other ces first to find the cause of this situation.


    Kai carefully walked toward the door on the opposite wall.


    <i>Creeak.</i>


    As Kai approached, the stone door opened automatically as if it were a department store''s automatic door. Past the door, Kai faced another knight statue.


    <strong>[Proficient Knight Statue. LV.170]</strong>


    "Wow, that old man is really trying to kill me, huh.¡±


    If Huey were here right now, Kai would have liked to violently tug at his beard in protest!


    Of course, he was pleased that he was highly regarded. However....


    <i>I don''t like being overestimated without bounds like this!</i>


    Everything had its phases! This situation was like giving a sports car to a child who rode a tricycle.


    "Phew. Anyway, how many rooms are there here?"


    After continuing to the next room several times, Kai finally arrived at thest room and nodded.


    <i>There are a total of six rooms.</i>


    The knight waiting in the fifth room was even a monster among monsters with a level of 300!


    Kai shook his head in disbelief and looked around the sixth room. He was certain this was thest room because there was no other door.


    "Plus, there''s no monster-like statue... so this must be the room where the rewards are given."


    As he observed every corner of the room, his eyes suddenly curved like crescent moons. He had discovered a ring box shining brightly in five colors like nothing he had ever seen before.


    "Wow, it has quite the look."


    To clear this dungeon normally, one had to be over level 300. That meant the reward wouldn''t be ordinary either!


    Kai, with a heart full of anticipation, cautiously opened the box, and what was reflected in Kai''s eyes was....


    ¡ªFinally, the one to follow in my footsteps has finallye.


    It was a person shining in golden light. They were wearing a mix of a Cleric''s robes and a Pdin''s armor with the hood deeply worn so their face wasn''t visible, but Kai could tell he was being looked down upon by the person.


    <strong>[You have encountered the spirit of the legendary pdin, Patrick Glorious.]</strong>


    <strong>[You feel the overwhelming divinity of the opponent.]</strong>


    <strong>[-30% to all abilities.]</strong>


    Simply exchanging nces was enough to make Kai¡¯s skin crawl with his presence! The divine power continuously emanating from the opponent was iparable to his own. If his divine power was like a bucket of water drawn from a well, the opponent''s was like the sea.


    Patrick slowly said,


    ¡ªIs it you? The one of this era who will receive my inheritance... Hm?


    Patrick, who had been speaking in a calm and solemn low voice, suddenly tilted his head.


    ¡ªStrange. Why do I feel the power of a Sris Cleric from you already?


    The reason was simple. Kai was already a Sric Cleric.


    Kai hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, "I am indeed a Sris Cleric."


    ¡ªWhat? That can''t be.... How did that happen?


    Patrick shook his head in confusion, taken aback. He asked Kai how he came to acquire his job.


    "...And so, that''s how I became a Sris Cleric."


    ¡ªI see... So that''s what happened.


    Patrick, upon learning that hundreds of years had passed since his death, spoke in an embarrassed tone.


    ¡ªIt seems I set the standards too high.


    "Thanks to that, you''ve gained an outstanding talent like me, so it wouldn''t be a loss."


    Patrick stayed silent to Kai¡¯s words.


    Then he asked Kai, who made such a proud statement without any embarrassment,


    ¡ªWait, then why have youe here?


    "Pardon? Well, I came to continue your legacy...."


    ¡ªBut you¡¯ve already inherited my legacy, haven¡¯t you?


    Kai tilted his head in confusion. Inherited? What had he inherited? The only thing he had received on his way here was stress.


    Patrick, looking at Kai''s gloomy expression, cleared his throat.


    ¡ªLet me introduce myself again. My name is Patrick Glorious, also known as Radiance, a Pdin of the Church of Sris. And I am the third Sris Cleric."


    "Wait a minute. You''re the third Sris Cleric?" Kai asked back in a reluctant voice.


    <i>What? I''m not the first Sris Cleric? Is this job more historical and traditional than I thought?</i>


    Kai had thought he was the first. Certainly, among yers, that would be correct. But if NPCs were included as well, that would be a different story.


    Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>...It is.</i>


    <i>MID Online</i> wasn¡¯t a game that ran on just a few simple concepts. The three kingdoms and two empires located on the continent had ongoing history. This was why historians and experts in various fields found <i>MID Online</i> interesting. The entire historical concept was created by the game''s developer, Pegasus Co., and the super A.I., Ramus.


    <i>So I''m the first Sris Cleric among yers, but there have been three NPCs who held the job before me.</i>


    In that case, Patrick was a sunbae[1] to Kai!


    Kai quickly bowed his head. "I see. My official greetings to you, sunbae, as a new colleague walking the same path.¡±


    ¡ªS-sunbae?


    Patrick, who had never received such treatment even after death, was taken aback.


    ¡ª...It seems the apostle of this era is quite an interesting character.


    "Apostle?"


    ¡ªThe representative who will execute the will of the Srian God, Helik. We call such beings apostles.


    "I see. I am grateful for your teaching, sunbae."


    ¡ªUmm, it''s nothing much.


    Patrick seemed to like the word ''sunbae,'' as he nodded slowly and then murmured,


    ¡ªAnyway, what to do about this....


    As Kai observed him for a moment, he cautiously said, "Sunbae, do you have a concern?"


    ¡ªI had not anticipated such an event, so things have be a bit troublesome.


    Patrick sighed and exined the situation,


    ¡ªOriginally, I would have taught the method to be a Sris Cleric to the one who passed all of the Trial of Hanox. However... as you can see, you''re already be half of an apostle."


    "...Half of one?" Kai tilted his head, puzzled. "Are you suggesting that you don¡¯t acknowledge me as the true Sris Cleric because my power is too weak?"


    ¡ªNo, that''s not it... It''s because you have not yet fully awakened as a true apostle.


    "Does that mean I have not truly awakened as the Sris Cleric?"


    <i>But that can''t be....</i>


    Suddenly, Kai''s train of thought was interrupted, and he looked as if he had been struck on the back of his head.


    <i>Wait,e to think of it....</i>


    Aside from the skills he acquired during his job change, he hadn¡¯t been able to learn any other skills.


    <i>Even when I tried to learn skills at the temple, the category itself was locked.</i>


    Perhaps the reason was the half-awakening that Patrick was talking about.


    Kai''s gaze deepened.


    <i>The other half. I must fulfill it.</i>


    Even though the Sris Cleric was a Mythic-grade job, there was a clear limit to what could be done with only half of its potential unlocked.


    For Kai, who saw things from a different perspective, this was a situation he wasn¡¯t fond of.


    However, instead of harboringints, Kai smiled broadly, "So, that means I can be stronger than now?"


    It wouldn¡¯t be by just leveling up or equipping better equipment, but by enhancing the abilities of his job itself! A path opened up to him that everyone desired but not everyone could take.


    ¡ªOf course. If you truly awaken as an apostle....


    Patrick quickly scanned Kai''s entire body and dered in a firm voice,


    ¡ªYou will be iparably stronger than you are now.


    1. Sunbae is a Korean term that is typically used to address an upperssman in school, or someone who is more experienced in the same particr field as oneself. ?

 Chapter 46: Trial of Hanox (2)

    <h4>Chapter 46: Trial of Hanox (2)</h4>


    "I see, then please give it to me. I¡¯m ready," Kai, having prepared himself mentally, stretched out his arms wide and boldly requested.


    ¡ª...Give you what?


    "Aren''t you here to pass on your power to the fourth Sris Cleric?"


    ¡ªSorry, but you are mistaken. Although I am conversing with you with a semnce of self-awareness, I am essentially a fragment of thought. I have neither the ability nor the reason to pass on such power.


    "Then... why are you here?"


    ¡ªFeeding someone cooked fish is not the duty of an ancestor.


    "Are you going to teach me how to fish then?"


    ¡ªYou catch on quickly. That¡¯s right. I created this trial to teach you how to be stronger. As you know, a Sris Cleric is powerful in itself. However...


    Patrick spread his hands wide. At the same time, an amazing light radiated from his entire body, and Holy Power swirled around like a storm.


    After a series of processes, three items floated in front of him. There was a ring, a set of clothes, and an object resembling the sword Patrick was wearing. Even just looking at them provided an indescribable feeling, capturing the viewer''s attention.


    ¡ªThe truly frightening aspect of a Sris Cleric is the power passed down from one generation to the next.


    Stunned, Kai''s eyes widened.


    <i>Power is passed down... from one generation to the next?</i>


    Did that mean he would have not only Patrick''s, who was called the strongest Pdin in the history of the Church of Sris, but also the first and second generations'' power?


    Excitement caused Kai''s palms to sweat. "What exactly is... a Sris Cleric?"


    ¡ªThat''s a good question. The Sris Cleric is a symbol of salvation. It''s not a being that appears during absolute peace. Our appearance signals that darkness ising. It''s no coincidence that you became an apostle in such a time. However....


    Patrick slightly shook his head.


    ¡ªYour current power is far too weak. You must hurry and grow stronger to be able to stand against the darkness.


    "I will keep that in mind," Kai nodded, his eyes sparkling.


    Patrick wouldn''t have shown such items without reason. Sure enough, the three items floated up in turn.


    ¡ªThe Holy Ring Petra, the Holy Sword Prius, and the Holy Pauldron Nike.


    <i>Are they Rare items? Or Unique? No, they''re beyond that.</i>


    Despite being mere illusions of Holy Power, the items boasted a presence that seemed to capture the soul of anyone who saw them. Therefore, their value couldn''t possibly be so trivial.


    <i>They must be at least Legendary-grade items.</i>


    The scale beyond his imagination made Kai take a big swallow.


    <i>I-is one of those a reward for passing the Trial of Hanox?</i>


    Kai, who let his thoughts get ahead of himself, licked his lips as he calmed his pounding heart.


    ¡ªIt seems you''ve noticed, so I''ll exin it simply. From now on, you must search for these items to inherit the power left by us, your predecessors."


    "Wait a minute. Isn''t one of them here with you?"


    When Kai asked with a disappointed expression, Patrick let out a lowugh.


    ¡ªYou''re quite greedy, aren''t you? Even just one of these items falling into the hands of the forces of darkness could bring about a terrible nightmare. They are sacred objects of the church, entrusted only to those who have been thoroughly vetted.


    "If they''re entrusted to someone you can fully trust... are they kept with the main church of the Church of Sris?"


    ¡ªUnfortunately, that''s not the case.


    Patrick replied in a sad voice.


    ¡ªI also had a burning desire to trust my brothers who serve the same god... but I judged it too careless to trust the wavering hearts of humans.


    "...Then where are they?" Kai asked with a slightly anxious voice.


    Hundreds of years had passed and there was no guarantee that the items were still in that ce.


    Then Patrick noticed Kai''s anxiety and reassured him.


    ¡ªOh, of course, the relics are safely kept. You don''t have to worry about that.


    "Ten years can change rivers and mountains... and it''s already been hundreds of years though."


    ¡ªIt doesn''t matter. I entrusted them to beings that wouldn¡¯t change even after hundreds of years."


    ¡°Who are...?"


    ¡ªThe sacred objects have been entrusted to the Wardens of the Forest, the Bastions of the Sea, and the Guardian of the Land.


    "...Oh my." A sigh mixed with despair flowed from Kai''s mouth.


    <i>This damn game, it''s so twisted.</i>


    Kai, feeling dizzy, pressed the middle of his furrowed brows. His face seemed to have aged about three weeks in an instant!


    The reason for his stress was not unfounded.


    <i>But as far as I know, there''s only one Warden of the Forest.</i>


    They were a staple protagonist that never failed to appear in fantasy stories. They were undoubtedly the elves, and this fact drove Kai to despair.


    <i>What was the level restriction where the Elven Forest was again...?</i>


    If his memory served him correctly, the monsters appearing near the Elven Forest were at least level 200. Naturally, given that the game had only been released for about five months, not a single yer had gone near the Elven Forest, let alone inside it.


    "Phew. Well, okay. Elves aside... What about the other two species?"


    ¡ªThey are mermaids and dwarves. All three species have a basic lifespan of at least a thousand years.


    "Oh."


    The elves were enough to cause a headache, but now there were even dwarves and mermaids.


    Of course, he had heard rumors that some dwarves worked in the empire''s workshops.


    <i>But they wouldn¡¯t possess the sacred objects.</i>


    Ultimately, he would have to visit their kingdoms, and naturally, no one knew where those kingdoms were located. However, Kai wasn''t overly concerned about that.


    <i>Patrick will let me know, won''t he?</i>


    Kai waited quietly for Patrick''s exnation to continue. However, no one spoke.


    An awkward silence flowed between the two men as they stared at each other.


    Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Kai said, "Um... Aren''t you going to exin further?"


    ¡ªHm? I''ve already exined everything... Is there something you didn''t understand?


    It wasn''t that there was something he didn''t understand, there was nothing to understand!


    "Well, I mean... Of course, the elves would be in the Elven Forest, but where do the mermaids and dwarves live?"


    ¡ªThe mermaids live in the underwater kingdom of Aquavera, and the dwarves in the underground city of Ingart. However, the mermaid''s kingdom moves twenty-four hours a day so it is impossible to pinpoint a specific location.


    "And what about Ingart?"


    ¡ªThe dwarves are extremely cautious beings. As such, it''s known they rebuild their kingdom elsewhere every five hundred years.


    "...So you''re saying you don''t know where the dwarves and mermaids currently are, right?"


    ¡ªExactly.


    "Seriously?"


    ¡ªSeriously.


    Kai was left speechless, his expression one of utter disbelief. And slowly, a volcano-like anger began to rise within him!


    After calming himself with a deep breath, Kai asked again, "Still, there must be some way to find them, right?"


    ¡ªHmm. While these species generally exclude humans, they do engage in active exchange with each other. Why not go and ask around in the Elven Forest?


    Patrick answered evasively just like a corrupt government official!


    ording to Patrick¡¯s words, bing stronger right now was out of the question.


    <i>I got my hopes up for nothing.</i>


    While he was disappointed, it wasn''t iprehensible. Surely giving away such items early on would disrupt the game''s bnce.


    "Alright. Anyway, regardless of how long it takes, I¡¯ll gather all three sacred objects."


    ¡ªThat¡¯s the right attitude.


    "By the way, what happens once I gather all three sacred objects?"


    ¡ªThat, you will naturallye to know.


    "Okay."


    After the conversation ended, Kai simply stared at Patrick.


    ¡ªWhy are you looking at me like that?


    "...So, you''ve finished what you had to say now, right?"


    ¡ªYes.


    "Are you sure you haven''t forgotten to give me something?"


    ¡ªNothing.


    "Think about it again, please."


    ¡ªGive me a moment then.


    Patrick, stroking his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then shook his head.


    ¡ªHmm. No, nothing.


    "...Then, I''ll be on my way."


    ¡ªI pray for there to be light on the path you walk.


    After saying a prayer with a majestic voice, Patrick''s body slowly began to dissipate. Although it was a brief encounter, Patrick left a strong impression.


    Kai slightly bowed his head toward him.


    "I also pray that you relieve all your unfinished duties and go to a better ce, sunbae."


    ¡ªThank you.


    The room, once filled with radiance, returned to its original state, and Kai looked inside the opened box.


    "...It''s really just empty."


    The splendid box was excessively packaged like a bag of snacks!


    Moreover, Kai''s quest was still iplete. The reason was that he had not cleared the Trial of Hanox properly. This meant that eventually, he would have to defeat all the knights in the previous rooms.


    "That means I have toe here again."


    After going through much trouble and getting nothing out of it, Kai left the dungeon with a gloomy stride.


    ***


    When he returned to Glendale, the recruitment for the expedition was in full swing. Word of mouth had spread about the expedition, and the square was bustling with yers wanting to participate.


    Of course, Kai had no need to apply for the expedition in the square.


    "Oh, wee!" As he headed to Baron Arsen''s mansion, he was greeted much more warmly than before. "Hahaha. It''s an honor to have the Saint of Glendale to visit in person."


    "I-it¡¯s embarrassing to be called that...."


    "I was just teasing, you know?" Baron Arsen,ughing heartily, treated Kai like a VIP.


    Baron Arsen¡¯s eyes conveyed an unbearable affection for Kai. After all, Kai had not only brought back the missing citizens of his governed city but also eliminated a dangerous boss monster that had been lurking nearby.


    "I would have wanted to introduce you to my daughter if I could, but unfortunately, I don''t have one. Haha."


    "That really is unfortunate. If she resembled you, who is so handsome, she would¡¯ve surely been beautiful!"


    "Ahem! Right. Speaking of which, I was quite popr back in my younger days."


    Praise on looks, capability, and family were three things no one could ever dislike.


    Kai, having lightened the mood appropriately, casually brought up the topic, "I saw the city was quite lively on my way here."


    "Well, we are recruiting for the expedition. We need many adventurers like you to sign up."


    "It''ll be hard to find someone like me."


    "What? Hahaha! This guy, you sure know how to make a joke!"


    <strong>[Affinity with Barson Arsen increased by 3.]</strong>


    Kai smiled broadly.


    When dealing with NPCs, not only was it essential to respond promptly, but throwing in a joke with ttery from time to time was well-liked!


    <i>Heh. It feels like dealing with the elders at the nursing home.</i>


    Kai had participated in various volunteer activities since he was young! Perhaps because of this, he not only naturally learned to have a silver tongue but also how to score points with people.


    "Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you."


    "...A gift?" Kai blinked in surprise.


    He reacted this way because he hadn''t expected it at all.


    However, Baron Arsen looked as though it was only natural. "Son, you are so interested in others'' affairs, yet you know too little of your own. You''re already considered a saint by the people. I''d be criticized if I treated such a person poorly."


    With a warm smile, the baron took out a book from the drawer.

 Chapter 47: Deva’s Fairy Tale Storybook

    <h4>Chapter 47: Deva¡¯s Fairy Tale Storybook</h4>


    "Although I am not greatly talented with the sword, our family once produced excellent knights. As the head of the family, I wish to pass on a part of our swordsmanship to you. Please, ept this."


    "I... I see...." Kai rose from his seat and respectfully extended both hands to receive the book, which had a gentle blue glow.


    <i>A skill book!</i>


    After his fruitless attempt in the Trial of Hanox, his mood, which had been somewhat down, instantly got better.


    Kai swallowed hard and then checked the skill book¡¯s description.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Flood of des</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Rapidly spin your sword while targeting the opponent''s weak point.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Ability to use swordsmanship skills, receive skill book from the Glendale royal family.</strong>


    It was a Rare-grade. Rare-grade skill books traded for high prices in the auction house!


    Of course, with the money Kai currently had, he could afford one or two Rare-grade skill books.


    <i>But this is a unique skill book exclusive to the Glendale family.</i>


    This book couldn¡¯t be found in any market! The fact that it was free pleased him the most, too.


    <i>Doing good deeds is the best, after all!</i>


    With a broad smile, Kai hugged the skill book and bowed respectfully. "Thank you!"


    "<i>Haha</i>. Althoughte, it is I who should say thank you. Thank you for saving my people." Baron Arsen patted Kai on the shoulder with his thick but warm hand. "That''s all for my business here. Oh! If you have time now, why not visit the people you saved? They''re practically begging for a chance to see you again."


    "Is that so? Then I''ll go see them right away."


    Apart from the reward he was due to receive from Deva, he was also curious about how the others were doing.


    "The expedition will gather in the square and depart three days from now."


    "I''ll be careful not to bete."


    ***


    Kai left the mansion and went to Deva''s house using the address that he had received from Baron Arsen. It was a modest family home, not particrlyrge or smallpared to the neighboring houses.


    Perhaps because it was evening, the warm voices of all of Rody¡¯s family could be heard even from outside the house.


    ¡°Mom! What''s for dinner?¡±


    ¡°Meat and potato soup. Your favorite, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! I love the food you make!¡±


    ¡°You know, I only married your mother for her cooking skills.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?!¡±


    Listening to the conversation, Kai smiled gently. The familial love in their conversation warmed his heart.


    He carefully knocked on the door.


    <i>Knock, knock, knock.</i>


    ¡°Mom! Someone''s at the door.¡±


    ¡°At this hour? Who could it be?¡±


    ¡°Stay here. I''ll go check.¡±


    <i>Creak.</i>


    The wooden door opened, and Rody''s father, Redy, peeked out.


    "Who.... Oh!"


    Seeing Kai, who had a smile on his face, Redy''s eyes widened. He immediately flung the door open and held Kai against his broad chest.


    "Our savior hase!"


    "Yes, yes... but a hug is a bit...."


    Kai tried to wriggle away from Redy''s chest, from which he could smell a manly scent, but Redy was so strong that Kai couldn''t escape.


    Redy only released Kai after he was satisfied.


    "Honey! Who is it?"


    "Oh, silly me. Please,e in," Redy offered.


    "I wouldn¡¯t want to interrupt your dinner...." Kai replied.


    "Nonsense! Please don''t say that. If you haven¡¯t eaten yet, we would be delighted to host you."


    Eventually pushed into entering the house, Kai greeted the rest of the family awkwardly. "How is everyone?"


    "Oh, it¡¯s the saint!" Tanya eximed.


    "Mister... no, Cleric, sir!" Rody ran over and clung to Kai''s thigh tightly.


    After patting the boy''s head a few times, Kai received a grand wee from the family. He then took a seat at the table.


    "Please, have a taste. My wife is an excellent cook."


    "All my friends say my mom''s cooking is the best!"


    "Oh, how embarrassing! Not in front of the saint...."


    "Thank you for the meal."


    Kai''s bowl had significantly more meat and potatoes than the others, clearly showing how much they cared about him. Before he could even taste the soup, his heart already felt warm.


    He picked up his spoon and scooped up some of the soup, full of appetizing meat and potatoes, into his mouth.


    Kai''s eyes widened. "<i>Mmm</i>!"


    Their praise was certainly not empty words.


    <i>It¡¯s delicious!</i>


    He began eating more quickly.


    As Kai enjoyed the soup, a sense of pride filled the eyes of the family watching him.


    Afterward, he let out an embarrassed chuckle. "That was a very good meal, thank you."


    Seeing how quickly Kai emptied his bowl, Tanya took his bowl and asked, "Would you like another bowl? We have plenty of soup."


    "Then... just one more bowl, please."


    The soup was addictively delicious, far surpassing any tasty <i>kimbap</i> or <i>tteokbokki!</i>


    Eventually, after downing three bowls of soup, Kai finally got up.


    "Do you have a moment?" Deva asked.


    Kai nodded energetically. "Of course. What is it?"


    "It''s about the reward I promised," Deva said. She then put twenty-three silver coins in Kai''s hand and closed his hand.


    With tears streaming down her face, she bowed her head. "Thank you so much. Really... really, thank you."


    Kai, unable to say anything, knelt on one knee and gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief.


    "Please don''t cry, ma¡¯am. Happy days are ahead of you."


    Hisforting presence and gentle smile were truly exemry of a saint.


    "Ah, truly a saint."


    "<i>Sniff</i>. Rody, when you grow up, you must be a great person like him."


    "Yes, Father."


    Watching the heartwarming scene, Rody''s family members dabbed at their moist eyes.


    Afterposing herself, Deva turned to Rody. "Rody, could you bring me the book I cherish the most?"


    "Huh? But you always said I couldn''t touch that book."


    At her grandson''s cute question, Deva smiled. "It seems I have finally found someone worthy of the book."


    <i>A book? Oh, now that I think of it....</i>


    Listening to their conversation, Kai remembered that Deva''s quest reward included twenty-three silver coins and one of Deva''s old fairy tale books.


    "Here it is!" Rody eximed.


    Deva took the book from him. She then stared at it for a moment before offering it to Kai.


    "I believe you are deserving of this book."


    "Oh, yes. Thank you so much."


    It was a dusty, worn fairy tale book. Although not a skill book, Deva undoubtedly cherished it. Refusing such a gift would be impolite.


    Kai put on a smile and carefully put away the fairy tale book. "I was actually thinking of buying a book to read when I am bored. You''ve just saved me some money. <i>Haha</i>."


    "Make sure to read it at least once. Do make sure."


    "I will."


    Havingpleted his business, Kai left the house. Rody''s family came out to see him off.


    "It''s chilly out here. Please go back in,¡± Kai said.


    "We¡¯ll go back in after seeing you off."


    "Thank you very much!"


    "I will be a great person like you when I grow up!" Rody eximed.


    Watching Rody''s family bid him farewell warmed a part of Kai''s heart. At the same time, he realized that he had to leave quickly so they could finally go back inside.


    "I¡¯ll be going now,¡± he said.


    Rody''s family waved him goodbye until he hadpletely disappeared around the corner.


    "... Benevolence, huh," Kai muttered to himself as he looked up at the twinkling stars in the clear night sky.


    <i>Right, this is what benevolence is.</i>


    Benevolence wasn''t about helping someone just to increase his Benevolence stat. It was about genuinely caring for someone and wanting to help them with all his heart.


    <i>Helping with the heart rather than the mind.</i>


    Choosing with emotions over logic. That was what benevolence was about.


    "The air feels so refreshing."


    Knowing that his act of kindness had preserved the peace of Rody¡¯s family, Kai walked through the streets with light steps.


    ***


    Kai summoned a full-length mirror and examined his appearance from various angles. "Is this good enough?"


    He was wearing new Normal-grade armor, which he had bought for a simple reason. "Being popr is such a hassle."


    After the video of him putting the Crimson Fist in check went viral, people began recognizing him when he walked around the city to the point where he couldn''t wear the Armor of the Undead seat without ''flies'' swarming around him. However, he didn''t be delusion or full of himself. Instead, he decided to wear a different armor.


    "Hm. Guess I''ll have to wear this for a while."


    Right now, Kai looked like a Warrior to anyone who saw him. Moreover, since his armor was just Normal-grade equipment, it looked quite unremarkable. Its design was iparablyckingpared to the imposing Armor of the Undead set.


    Fortunately, Kai was quite pleased with his current appearance.


    <i>No one will be able to recognize me as the person from the video.</i>


    The onlinemunity was still curious about the identity of the video''s protagonist. Needless to say, Kai had no intention whatsoever of revealing his identity.


    <i>It''s better this way. Operating as Unknown is easier.</i>


    Since Kai¡ªthe owner of the video¡ªhad not disclosed any information, not even his job, gender, age, or level, the onlinemunity had given him the nickname Unknown.


    "If it had been someone else in that video, they''d probably have taken X-ray photos for verification by now."


    Most people wouldn''t turn down the chance for money, fame, and poprity. However, as a Sris Cleric, Kai thought his personal information was more precious than a bit of money. Hence, he kept all his information private! This led to him being perceived as employing a mystique marketing strategy.


    "Mystique marketing is nonsense."


    Having been forced to buy armor he didn¡¯t even need, he shook his head and frowned.


    <i>Well, now''s not the time to be thinking about this.</i>


    Kai looked at the long line of people.


    <i>Glendale¡¯s Expedition.</i>


    The expedition formed to annihte the Orc Sorcerer consisted of ten knights, two hundred local soldiers, and three hundred yers.


    "This is my first time joining an expedition. I¡¯m feeling a bit nervous."


    "We''re just going to hunt orcs. What''s there to be nervous about?"


    "The orcs¡¯ numbers have been risingtely. That''s why Glendale''s hunting fields have be popr."


    "Do you think we can get Unique items with the expedition contribution points?"


    Unlike the knights and local soldiers, who were bound by a sense of family, yers were motivated by their own benefits. Kai¡¯s task was to ensure that the expedition wouldn''t fall apart amid these two forces.


    "I hope nothing bad happens."


    For some reason, he felt as if they would soon find themselves in a troublesome situation.


    Kai looked up at the sky, which was covered with dark clouds. Soon after, the expedition boasted its grandeur and marched out of Glendale''s city gates.

 Chapter 48: Welcome to the Orc World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 48: Wee to the Orc World (1)</h4>


    -Orc Grasnds? Oh, the hunting ground in Glendale? That ce is crawling with orcs. It gives good XP too.


    -There are probably very few rankers who <i>haven''t</i> hunted orcs.


    -But why suddenly ask about that? What did you say? Can you see lots of orcs there? Are you out of your mind?


    -Don¡¯t ask or question it. Just hunt there for a week and you''ll start to see orcs even in your dreams.


    ©¸A week seems unnecessary. Three days would be enough.


    This was what the general perception of the Orc Grasnds among people was like. It was a great hunting ground that provided excellent XP, a ce most rankers inevitably passed through! However, it also earned the shame of being ranked seventh on the list of hunting grounds people never wished to return to. And the reason was simple.


    -Why hate it? Because there¡¯s too many orcs.


    ©¸There¡¯s not just too many. It¡¯s swarming. Makes you feel like you''re going to go mad.


    ©¸After hunting there for about three days, I started hearing their breathing right by my ear even when I was taking a dump. Scared the crap out of me.


    -Looking in the mirror, it felt like I could see orcs flickering in my reflection.


    ©¸That''s probably because you''re ugly.


    -But to invade an entire orc vige for annihtion? Is that even possible?


    -That¡¯s almost like going to war. Sounds fun. Which stream channel is it streaming on?


    ©¸There''s no officially scheduled broadcast. But I heard Aris is live streaming it right now.


    ©¸Aris? That streamer who pretends to be cute? I don''t like her.


    ©¸Bastard. You dare insult Aris? That''s sphemy!"


    -Wow, but the scale of the expedition is no joke. Hundreds of people are gonna be swarming around together lol.


    ©¸It¡¯ll probably feel peaceful and happy like they''re on a pic. Ugh, I''m jealous.


    The Glendale Orc expedition received significant attention on the onlinemunity.


    However, the atmosphere within the expedition was theplete opposite of what yers had expected. Far from being harmonious, the mood was as tense as a rubber band pulled to its limit. To exaggerate a bit, it felt like the air had been sucked out, making it impossible to breathe.


    <i>This is suffocating. I feel like I ate five sweet potatoes without water.</i>


    Kai nced around at the people nearby, sizing them up.


    <i>An Archer equipped with a Watchman¡¯s Bamboo Bow. That thing is for levels 75 and up... Oh, look at that. There¡¯s a Knight over there wearing a Guard''s Armor set.</i>


    Judging by the equipment worn, the level of the yers in the expedition was quite high.


    At the same time, this also instilled a sense of threat in Kai.


    <i>The mood is so fierce. I can''t let my guard down.</i>


    Initially, the atmosphere was pleasant as everyone actively engaged in conversations, naturally forming a friendly environment. However, a sudden message shattered that warm atmosphere in an instant.


    <strong>[The Orc Expedition Force has begun.]</strong>


    <strong>[All yers can check their expedition points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Expedition points can be earned through the following actions.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can exchange your rued points for various items in the future.]</strong>


    <strong>[Orc: 1P]</strong>


    <strong>[Orc Warrior: 3P]</strong>


    <strong>[Orc Hero: 30P]</strong>


    <strong>[Orc Lord: 500P]</strong>


    <strong>[??? : 1,000P]</strong>


    <strong>[In addition, every time you help the expedition proceed through with your actions, you will gain extra points.]</strong>


    This message marked the beginning of the event!


    With that, the gazes of the yers changed. They were enticed by the list of items that could be exchanged for expedition points.


    "Holy crap! A Unique equipment exchange coupon for the appropriate level costs 500 points."


    "One Orc Lord is... 500 points!"


    "Wait, how is this tallied? Last hit? Or based on contribution?"


    "What''s with these question marks? Is it a bug in the software?"


    "Seeing that they¡¯re question marks... Doesn''t seem like a bug, and more like some treasure hunt."


    The yers were tempted by the unexpectedly generous rewards! And Kai was no exception to being enticed.


    "Dang. Looks like the Baron has spent quite a bit. There¡¯s a lot of good stuff."


    Kai confidently got ahead of himself as if he already had the rewards in his possession! But his confidence was not without basis.


    <i>Heh, well, I know what the question marks mean.</i>


    It was the Orc Sorcerer. The question marks undoubtedly indicated the Orc Sorcerer.


    Currently, Kai was the only person who knew about it after discussing it directly with Baron Arsen.


    <i>What''s there to life anyway? Go big or go home!</i>


    Capturing just one Orc Sorcerer would yield a whopping 1,000 points! That was equivalent to hunting a thousand regr orcs to umte the same points.


    <i>Is it really possible to score 1,000 points alone in a ce overflowing withpetitors?</i>


    Kai quickly did the math in his head.


    <i>ording to my brilliant brain... there''s a 94.18% chance that¡¯s impossible!</i>


    No matter how hard a single yer fought, umting 1,000 points was nearly impossible.


    But for Kai, who knew about the existence of the Orc Sorcerer, that wasn¡¯t the case.


    <i>If it''s me, it''s possible.</i>


    Kai''s confidence was founded on that very reason. Of course, he had no intention of neglecting orc hunting, relying solely on that possibility. As seamlessly as mixing water with water, or liquor with liquor, Kai acted inconspicuously, blending in like amon warrior roaming the streets.


    Just then, that was when it happened.


    "Wait...! I see it, I can see it!"


    "See what exactly?"


    "I see the orc vige!"


    The expedition, proud of its long procession, suddenly stopped for the first time since its departure. The sound of footsteps that had been shaking the ground disappeared, and the yers craned their necks to look ahead.


    Kai was no exception.


    <i>It¡¯s the orc vige...!</i>


    The orc vige was the home and vige of all orcs spawning around Glendale! The vige was surrounded by sharply pointed wooden stakes driven into the ground. Moreover, near the entrance, hundreds of unknown bones were hanging. Although somewhat primitive in construction, it appeared all the more threatening because of it.


    "That¡¯s really pressuring."


    Additionally, looking from the outside, its size seemed no less significant than that of Frica Vige.


    <i>...So this size represents merely a vige?</i>


    ording to a few historians on the onlinemunity, orcs supposedly had a real kingdom, not just viges. Though no one knew where it was, it was a kingdom of true warriors that all orcs believed in!


    "If such a ce really exists, I''d like to visit it someday."


    After concluding his thoughts, he lightly stretched his body.


    <i>Let''s focus on the task at hand for now. My current goal is....</i>


    It was the Orc Sorcerer living within that vige. The Orc Sorcerer was Kai''s target.


    Kai checked his condition.


    <i>I slept well yesterday, and this morning''s bowel movement was spectacr. Needless to say, my condition is at its best!</i>


    Additionally, reaching the orc vige without any harm was crucial. If Kai hadn¡¯t been part of the expedition and attempted to reach this location alone, he would have encountered dozens... no, hundreds of orc groups because the Orc Grasnds were swarming with orc moving in groups! However, without their leader, these small orc groups dared not challenge the expedition. Because of this, their journey here had been asfortable as riding in the backseat of a limousine.


    "But from now on, it won''t be as easy."


    Just as his anxiety grew a bit bigger, the expedition leader raised their hand.


    "Orc vige spotted ahead! Expedition force, prepare for battle!"


    "Whoooo!"


    The yers, itching for action, showcased their confidence as they found the chance to satisfy that itchiness.


    "Man, I thought I was going to die of boredom."


    "Healer, drop the beat... no, I mean, buff me up!"


    "Alright, doping to the max! Let''s have some fun!"


    The yers were instantly excited by the heat of battle!


    From their point of view, ck dots continuously poured out of the orc vige. As those dots drew closer, the peoples¡¯ expressions began to subtly change.


    "...Huh? What are those? Ants?"


    "Why would antse out from the orc vige?"


    "Hold on. Let me check. Eagle Eye!" One of the Archers used a skill to enhance their vision. Their mouth fell open. They shouted almost like a scream, "Shit! There are orcs!"


    "Well, it''s the Orc Grasnds, so of course there would be orcs."


    "That¡¯s not what I mean! Those ck dots are all orcs!"


    As the Archer shouted, all nearby yers'' eyes widened.


    "What? Holy shit!"


    "All of those are orcs!? You''ve got to be kidding!"


    The number of orcs alone was enough to make the exmation of madness slip out! The overwhelming number had the yers screaming in unison. A rough estimate counted at least 1000!


    But their screams were not out of fear.


    "This is insane, for real! So all those are expedition points?"


    "Points are literally rolling toward us!"


    "Jackpot! Firste, first served!"


    "So this is what true rounding up for a hunt is like!"


    That was true. Most yers affiliated with the expedition were capable of easily hunting orcs! Moreover, with the solid support of the strong local soldiers behind them, there was no reason to be afraid.


    The expedition leader raised their sword high and shouted, "All troops, begin the conquest!"


    Then the sound of a war horn was heard.


    <strong>[You have heard the sound of the war horn.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased by 5% for 3 hours.]</strong>


    "Whooooo!"


    "Ice Arrow!"


    "Knight''s Oath!"


    "Blessing of the Breeze!"


    Orcs and humans shed in an instant! The scene of both forcesing together, each aiming for the other''s life, appeared quite fierce. However, upon closer inspection, the battlefield was overwhelmingly dominated by the expedition!


    <i>I can''t just stand by. It''s a perfect chance to improve my swordsmanship skill proficiency.</i>


    Kai began hunting orcs in a corner to be unnoticed by others.


    <strong>[+1 Swordsmanship of the Dawn proficiency.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Swordsmanship of the Dawn proficiency.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Swordsmanship of the Dawn proficiency.]</strong>


    His skill proficiency grew as quickly as beansprouts grew!


    As Kai was enthusiastically swinging his sword, he suddenly stopped.


    "Hm?"


    The sensation of goosebumps arose all over his body. It was a feeling simr to when he first encountered Fermi''s poison.


    <i>I don''t know why, but something¡¯s dangerous!</i>


    Instinctively sensing a threat, Kai spun around like a top.


    <i>Bzzzt.</i>


    What he saw was a Lightning Arrow flying toward him!


    At that moment, Kai secretly said, "Flood of des."


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    With the casting of the skill, his sword shot out like a sh of light. His wrist automatically rotated, adding rotational force to the sword!


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Merely swinging the sword resulted in a booming noise as the air exploded with the sound, dissipating the Lightning Arrow like smoke.


    Kai''s gaze settled deep like a stillke.


    <i>The Orc Sorcerer wouldn''t show up in the first battle, and normal orcs can''t use magic. So what was that?</i>


    Kai quickly turned his head toward the direction the attack hade from. He then locked eyes with a single Wizard.


    Looking shocked, the Wizard hurriedly turned their head away.


    Kai red at the back of the Wizard''s head.


    <i>That person, did they attack me on purpose...?</i>


    "Die, human! <i>Huff, puff!</i>"


    While Kai was momentarily distracted, an orc attacked him from behind! The orc¡¯s giant ax ferociously fell, aiming to split Kai in two.


    Of course, Kai, who had even defeated Fermi, was not about to let a regr orc hit him.


    "Shut up. You''re spitting too much."


    Kai shed through the orc, and as it was disintegrating into polygons, Kai walked toward the Wizard he had locked eyes with.


    "Excuse me. What was that just now?"


    "Pardon?"


    "Lightning Arrow. That was you, right?"


    "Oh... that," the Wizard, upon seeing Kai''s face, nodded. "Sorry about that. My spell mistakenly flew off target."


    The Wizard readily admitted their mistake!


    Faced with such an upfront response, Kai found himself at a loss for words. How could he rebuke someone who admitted and was openly apologizing for their mistake?


    To make matters worse, people began to gather around.


    "What''s going on, a fight?"


    "What happened?"


    "I don''t know. That Warrior was questioning the Wizard."


    Kai, realizing nothing good woulde from drawing attention, sighed first. "...Since you say it was a mistake, let''s leave it at that. Just be more careful next time."


    "Right, I will."


    The Wizard''s attitude seemed confident for no reason, but Kai had already gotten an apology. Perhaps it was because of that attitude, but Kai easily forgave them.


    <i>Seeing they apologized, it seems there was no ill intent.</i>


    Such mistakes were, in fact,mon even while party hunting. In <i>MID Online</i>, all skills were fundamentally non-targeted. In short, the uracy of ranged sses like Archers and Wizards was terribly poor! Of course, there were skills to adjust their uracy, but that didn''t mean an attack aimed at the ground would fly off into the sky.


    <i>People make mistakes.</i>


    Kai, who had a big heart and forgave the Wizard, quickly left the scene before attracting more attention. And because of that, he didn''t notice the Wizard''s gaze fixed on the back of his head.

 Chapter 49: Welcome to the Orc World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 49: Wee to the Orc World (2)</h4>


    The expedition''s first battle ended very sessfully. Although they didn¡¯t capture the orc vige, they managed to eliminate all the orcs that poured out from there.


    What the yers won from the victory in battle was a brief moment of rest.


    A smile full of satisfaction grew on Kai''s face as he spent the precious rest time in the shade of nearby trees.


    <strong>[Expedition Points Owned: 9P]</strong>


    "Killed nine, so 9 points. The calction is urate."


    The current situation wasn''t bad. If the orc vige were to release orcs a few more times like just now, it seemed possible to collect over 100 points by just hunting regr orcs.


    <i>And since this was just the first battle... the second and third battles might release Orc Warriors or Heroes.</i>


    Then the points earned would increase even more!


    While Kai was indulging in these pleasant imaginations, he heard other yers'' voices.


    "Shameless bastards. Do they even have a conscience?"


    "Do you think they would? If they had something like that, they wouldn''t be doing stuff like this."


    "Damn, so in the end, the rewards will be hogged by them, won¡¯t it?"


    "Ugh! So people without a guild shouldn''t even bother with events, is that it?"


    "Why are the top ten guild guys even participating in this event?"


    Three yers were talking, openly disying their deep anger.


    Kai became curious as he eavesdropped on their conversation.


    <i>What? Did something happen?</i>


    ording to what they said, it seemed something bad happened within the expedition. If the issue was significant, it couldplicate the task of defeating the Orc Sorcerer.


    Eventually, Kai approached them and asked cautiously, "Excuse me... I happened to overhear your conversation. Is there a problem?"


    "You heard us talking?"


    One yer snapped with a wary expression, but another yer intervened.


    "That guy''s been there since earlier. It''s our fault for talking carelessly. Have you seen the expedition point leaderboard by any chance?"


    "Expedition point leaderboard? Is there such a thing?"


    As Kai blinked in confusion, the man shrugged and continued to say, "So you haven''t seen it. There''s a separate section for the leaderboard in the expedition point window. You should check that first."


    "Then just a moment, please... Oh, there really is such a thing."


    As the man said, there indeed was a section to check the leaderboard.


    <i>But why is this a problem? Isn''t it justparing my points with others?</i>


    It was essentially providing a tform for friendlypetition.


    As Kai tilted his head, puzzled by their anger, he immediately checked the leaderboard. And the next moment, an expression of bewilderment crossed Kai''s face.


    "W-what? How is this possible?"


    "Right? It doesn''t make sense, does it?"


    "Annoying, isn''t it?"


    "It¡¯s bullshit, right?"


    Seeing Kai''s reaction simr to theirs, the yers excitedly added theirments!


    Baffled by the current situation, Kai stared at them before checking the leaderboard again.


    <strong>[Expedition Point Rankings]</strong>


    <strong>1st ce - 144P</strong>


    <strong>2nd ce - 32P</strong>


    <strong>3rd ce - 28P</strong>


    <strong>4th ce - 27P</strong>


    <strong>5th ce - 25P</strong>


    The published expedition point rankings showed the top 10.


    While the points for 2nd to 9th ces were rtively close, the 1st ce held an outstandingly high number of points.


    Kai squinted and asked, "Who on earth is it?"


    At Kai''s question, the three people in front of him turned to one side to look at eight yers who were dressed in matching ck robes and walking proudly.


    "They¡¯re from the ck Bee guild, one of the top ten guilds in the world. The guy at the front is in first ce."


    "You know them, right? A bunch of assholes made up entirely of Wizards."


    "Do you know how points umte if two people kill an orc?"


    Kai tilted his head at the questions. How could he have known when he had only yed solo even here on the battlefield?


    "I''m not sure. It doesn''t seem to be in order of contribution..." Kai trailed off.


    "That''s right. After asking around, it turns out that points are awarded in bulk to the person who takes the final hit."


    "So they abused that rule."


    In short, the ck Bee guild was funneling all points to one person!


    Kai furrowed his brows. "Does the expedition leader or other NPCs not say anything about it?"


    "They can''t really say anything. After all, NPCs prefer those who are good at killing orcs."


    "Just the eight of them killed hundreds of orcs. Sure they might be petty and ying dirty, but their skills are undeniable."


    That was why the three yers in front of him were furious. The ck Bee members were petty, but they were undeniably skilled. Moreover, they cleverly exploited the system''s loopholes, so they couldn''t be officially punished.


    "Hmm... so that''s what happened," Kai slowly nodded.


    <i>Yeah, mistake my butt. I had a bad feeling about it.</i>


    The Wizard who had mistakenly attacked him earlier was also walking with the others, dressed in a robe of the ck Bee guild.


    Kai''s gaze turned cold.


    <i>So... bees have swarmed over the mess I''ve made, huh?</i>


    After parting with the yers, Kai slipped away to escape the gaze of the people. Soon after, he reappeared and was wearing his cleric robes.


    ***


    "This is amazing."


    "Hehe, sunbae. What did I say? It works, doesn''t it?"


    "With this strategy, first ce is definitely guaranteed."


    "Yeah, all of you did a great job."


    ude nodded with a solemn expression. He was a rookie Wizard with fire attributes who wasvishly sponsored by the ck Bee guild. He looked at the other seven members gathered around him with a reliable gaze.


    <i>This strategy definitely works.</i>


    Initially, they had nned to participate in the expedition with just their skills. But then, one clever member came up with an idea, and that idea sparkled brilliantly.


    "Sunbae, we''re going to be able to take over this event."


    The idea the member came up with was to funnel all the extermination points to themselves!


    Indeed, it was hard to find parties asrge as theirs. Even if there were parties, they were just small groups of two or three.


    With that background, they participated in the first battle, and the result was a huge sess.


    <i>144 points!</i>


    They were able to secure first ce with a difference so wide, it was fitting to call it overwhelming.


    After sessfullypleting the second and third battles as well, ude was certain.


    <i>It''s over.</i>


    By the time the third battle was over, the second ce only had 84 points. They seemed to have tried their best, but no matter what, there was no way they could overturn the point difference.


    ude looked at the golden crown that was ced only on the first-ced ranker and the characters next to it that showed 472P.


    <i>Of course, the story would change if they snatched thest hits on both the Orc Lord and Orc Warrior....</i>


    ude smiled once again.


    <i>But if you kill yourpetitor, there''s no need to worry about that.</i>


    After all, the battlefield was a ce where everyone was in a hectic state. In such a ce, one could die from a mistake made by an ally''s spell. And if that failed, then they could just im it was a mistake.


    <i>Well, I don¡¯t think we''d lose if we fought fairly on skill alone, but it¡¯s better to be sure.</i>


    The ck Bee guild was known for only recruiting skilled Wizards! Their overwhelming attack power, as well as the guild''s strict hierarchy, meant there was no need to worry about betrayal. These two reasons made ude certain of their victory.


    The sound of the fourth horn, calling the resting yers to battle, filled the grasnd.


    "It''s the fourth battle!"


    "Let''s go."


    "Let''s raise the pace a bit this time. How about we aim for around 200P?"


    Disying the leisure of the strong, they joined the battlefield and began sweeping away the orcs again.


    "Fire Field!"


    "Burning Hand!"


    "Fire Ball!"


    As they cast their spells, all sorts of magic flew out, quickly depleting the orcs'' HP.


    And....


    "Fire Spear."


    ude stabbed his spear.


    <i>Whooosh!</i>


    After the guild members reduced the orcs'' HP, ude meticulously took care of thest hits! Their harmony was perfect. It was a perfectbination where everyone else sacrificed for one person!


    However, as with all parties, crises came unannounced.


    "W-what!? Why are there Orc Heroes here!?"


    "Shit, their magic resistance is too high!"


    Two Orc Heroes suddenly emerged from the left!


    The two Orc Heroes, being tougher and more resilient than regr orcs, charged at the ck Bee guild members in an instant.


    "<i>Huff, Puff</i>. Die, human wizards!"


    "Revenge for ourrades! <i>Huff, puff!</i>"


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    <i>Punch, punch!</i>


    The ck Bee guild members were repeatedly struck by the Orc Heroes¡¯rge axes and clubs!


    However, none of the surrounding yers thought to help them.


    <i>Ha, serves you right.</i>


    <i>Wish they''d just die already.</i>


    "Aargh!"


    "Shit! Someone, please help...!"


    Although they called for help, only the cold stares of the other yers poured down on them.


    <i>I... I''m going to die!</i>


    One of the ck Bee guild''s wizards, who had little HP left, tightly closed their eyes. The moment the ax above their head fell, they would die!


    At that moment, their HP, which had been at rock bottom, began to rise.


    "Heal, heal, heal!"


    "Huh... Huh?"


    "W-who are you?"


    With the help of a Cleric, the members of the ck Bee guild nkly blinked in confusion. They had asked for help but hadn''t actually expected to receive it.


    "Are you alright?"


    They looked at the Cleric approaching them. The pure white, noble cleric robe seemed out of ce on the blood-filled battlefield. Of course, the Cleric¡¯s face was not visible because of the hood drawn deep over their head, but this only added to their mysteriousness.


    "It¡¯s a relief I wasn¡¯t toote. I''ll heal you guys, so please continue fighting hard."


    "Oh... Okay!"


    "O-okay then."


    The ck Bee guild members, showing mixed feelings, resumed hunting! Although they were ambushed, once they got into their formation, they were able to stably defeat the Orc Heroes.


    "Iing! Three Orc Warriorsing from the right."


    "Focus on the one in the center first!"


    With that, the strange cooperation between the eight Wizards and one Cleric continued until the end of the battle.


    "<i>Haa</i>, <i>haa</i>."


    "Is the fourth battle over now?"


    The yers were much more exhausted than after the previous battles. Counting from the first battle, they had faced a total of 4,000 orcs so exhaustion was inevitable.


    Despite this, ude led his fellow guild members to the Cleric who had helped them.


    "Thank you for your help."


    "Not at all. I became a Cleric to heal others, after all. Take care!"


    The Cleric, expecting no reward, left a cheerful farewell and then disappeared.


    Then, praises for the Cleric started to emerge from the ck Bee guild members.


    "That Cleric really has their priorities straight, don¡¯t they?"


    "I never thought we''d actually get help in this situation."


    "True. I thought we were going to be logged out for sure...."


    "Hmm...."


    Listening to those words, ude looked at the spot where the Cleric had left and slowly nodded.


    <i>We surely have strong firepower, but if our formation is broken like earlier, it''s hard to recover.</i>


    Of course, they would have to increase their concentration to prevent that break, but they were human, not machines. No one could predict when someone''s concentration could waver and the formation be broken!


    "...In that case, it might be good to have a Cleric with us just in case."


    They were Wizards of the ck Bee guild, one of the top ten guilds in the world. If they offered someone to join their party, that person would eagerly ept. After all, forming a cooperative rtionship with one of the top ten guilds was something many desired but few could achieve.


    <i>Besides, there''s no risk of betrayal with a Cleric.</i>


    That was the main reason for this decision. No matter the situation, they could never ally with those who could pose a threat. That was the strict rule of the ck Bee guild.


    <i>But a trash job like a Cleric isn''t scary even if a hundred of them gather.</i>


    Thinking he had gained an extra life, ude smiled broadly.

 Chapter 50: Tag of Death (1)

    <h4>Chapter 50: Tag of Death (1)</h4>


    The ck Bee guild was one of the ten most powerful guilds in the world. Its members were all Wizards, therefore, the guild was in first or second ce in terms of firepower.


    It was a guild every Wizard hoped to join. No, not just Wizards. As it held the title of being one of the top ten guilds in the world, anyone would drool at the idea of joining. Because of this, it was a groundbreaking event when ude, a promising rookie from ck Bee, personally made an offer.


    "Would you like to be with us until the end of this expedition? We can''t share the expedition points, but I''ll give you 50 gold and speak to the guild master about this. What do you think?"


    The offer was shocking in itself. It appeared to be an offer but was actually just asking the Cleric for help.


    "Wow, that Cleric hit the jackpot."


    "I should have be a Cleric too."


    "Oh please. With your temperament, you wouldn''t get past level 50."


    "True."


    yers witnessing that scene openly expressed their envy, but they weren''t jealous.


    <i>It¡¯s a Cleric after all.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s because they¡¯re a Cleric.</i>


    <i>Clerics can''t do anything on their own.</i>


    It was a trash job that was incredibly hard to level up and couldn¡¯t even hunt without party members! That was the current perception of Clerics, and thus, all the yers present thought that it was okay if a Cleric got such treatment.


    But of course, the Cleric, unaware of their thoughts, responded with a bright voice, "Wow! ck Bee recruiting me? It would be an honor!"


    Naturally, the Cleric readily epted ude''s offer. With that, the party was formed, and ude checked the information of the Cleric who joined the party.


    <i>Hmm, the ID is private, huh?</i>


    ude tilted his head wondering why but epted the fact he would not know their ID. After all, what he needed was not the Cleric''s ID, he just had to be able to confirm that they were level 64 and their job was a Cleric.


    <i>With that, there¡¯ll be no risk factor.</i>


    ude lost interest in the Cleric. His only aim was to be a ranker in the game, so a Cleric of such a level wasn''t worth remembering.


    ***


    <i>So all information is private, huh? These guys are thorough.</i>


    The Cleric, Kai, who was able to join the ck Bee party without any suspicions, clicked his tongue from under his hood.


    <i>Well, I didn''t expect much in the first ce.</i>


    Their guild wasn''t just any guild but one of the top ten guilds in the world. Therefore all information like level, ID, job, etc, of the rookie party being raised by such a guild was strictly protected. And they wouldn¡¯t disclose such tightly guarded information to a Cleric they just met.


    <i>Unless they get shot in the head, that won¡¯t happen.</i>


    That was why Kai didn''t have much expectation for their information, and thus, he wasn''t disappointed.


    <i>Anyway, a top ten guild, huh... I should be careful this time. It''s different from the Crimson Fist.</i>


    The title of being one of the top ten guilds wasn''t just for show. They made more money than ordinary people could even imagine by monopolizing hunting grounds and dungeons and that money was entirely invested in strengthening the guild''s power.


    They made enormous profits and massive investments. It was a never-ending cycle that would never end through ordinary means! That was the secret behind the unbelievable strength of the world''s top ten guilds.


    <i>Honestly speaking, the power of the top ten guilds right now is just unbelievable.</i>


    Even if the strongest guilds in <i>MID Online</i> from first to hundredth ce were lined up and the top ten guilds fought the rest of the ny, the top ten guilds would stille out on top. This wasn¡¯t just Kai¡¯s opinion¡ªit was the conclusion drawn by various experts and rankers who objectively assessed the guilds¡¯ power.


    <i>Even the Cheonhwa guild, which seemed so formidable, can¡¯tpare to the world''s top ten guilds.</i>


    Kai''s eyes were fierce beneath his hood.


    <i>Let¡¯s always be careful. Never forget that we¡¯re dealing with the ck Bee.</i>


    He couldn¡¯t act as he had when he faced the Crimson Sunset, the Crimson Fist, and other weaklings. The members of the ck Bee guild were professionals. There were many people who casually yed games, but only a few made gaming their profession. And among those few, the people in front of him were in the top 1%.


    Kai made sure to stay vignt to avoid making even the smallest mistake.


    "It seems the fifth battle will start soon," ude muttered in a low voice as he looked at the expedition leader and his surroundings.


    Indeed, one of the soldiers next to the expedition leader was raising the war horn high.


    "And if my prediction is correct, we will enter the vige in this battle."


    At ude''s words, not only the ck Bee guild members but also Kai nodded.


    <i>The expedition force won thest four battles.</i>


    Thanks to this, they were able to significantly push the front line forward.


    Currently, the expedition force had gotten right to the front of the orc vige, but the orcs remained inside, keeping the entrance to their vige firmly closed.


    <i>This time, it''s not just about defeating the orcs thate out. We need to eliminate them while advancing.</i>


    In terms of level of difficulty, this was significantly more challenging. Moreover, there would be plenty of Orc Warriors and Orc Heroes inside the vige.


    The ck Bee guild members also seemed to be quite nervous; their expressions weren¡¯t as rxed as before.


    In the midst of this, ude finished giving a simple order. "The formation will be unified to B-4. And... Cleric, please focus your heal on those whose Stamina is lower."


    "Leave it to me. I''ll start with the buffs."


    Kai applied simple buffs to them, excluding Sris Blessing and Sris Armor.


    "Wow, the stats increase quite a bit."


    "With this, we might be able to fight more easily than before."


    The ck Bee guild members were greatly satisfied with Kai''s buffs!


    And at the same time, the war horn began to sound loudly. The expedition leader¡¯s voice also spread across the grasnds.


    "Break down the entrance to the orc vige and upy the inside!"


    "Aaaaargh!"


    As the battle began, the Wizards'' bombardment strongly pounded the orc vige''s fence.


    "Woah, the durability is going down quickly!"


    "With this, we can bring it down in no time!"


    The other closebat yers held their weapons and waited for the fence to fall.


    Then, after a moment....


    <i>Thuuud!</i>


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "The fence has fallen!"


    "Charge!"


    "Kill them all!"


    The expedition force members surged into the orc vige like a tsunami.


    "Let''s not bete too!"


    "There are many monsters in the orc vige. Hurry up so we don''t fall behind in points!"


    The ck Bee guild members also swiftly entered inside, and from that moment on, the battle continued without pause.


    <i>This is so chaotic!</i>


    Kai clicked his tongue while barely managing to keep up with their hunting pace.


    <i>Is this the level of rookies in the top ten guilds?</i>


    Although he had hunted with them a few times before this battle advancing into the vige, the level they showed when they were serious was on a different level.


    It was challenging enough to follow them and provide healing, there was no way he''d be able to fight!


    <i>They''re just monsters.</i>


    Kai slightly bit his lower lip. As a Cleric, he had managed to kill Fermi by himself and wipe out the Crimson Fist guild, but because of that, arrogance and confidence had unwittingly built up in him. However, they melted away like snow now.


    <i>Let''s start fresh with a renewed heart and learn everything I can.</i>


    Even though they were Wizards, Kai closely observed their movements. He was cold and precise, like a hawk targeting its prey.


    ***


    <i>Bzzzzt!</i>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>...."


    After the party members had cleared their surroundings, they wiped their sweat and fixed their formation.


    The inside of the orc vige was also being smoothly conquered by other expedition team members. And because of this, Kai started to feel anxious.


    <i>This pig-like bastard is stuffing his face with points like crazy!</i>


    The party window was flooded with messages of ude acquiring expedition points. His points had already far surpassed 600!


    <i>If this guy happens to catch the Orc Lord....</i>


    Kai swallowed hard. If that really happened, first ce would be out of reach even if he killed the Orc Sorcerer.


    Kai prayed desperately with a gloomyplexion.


    <i>Damn, I hope the Orc Sorcerer appears soon...! Or at least someone else catches the Orc Lord!</i>


    Right then, shouts of yers who were hunting from afar echoed.


    "I-it''s an Orc Lord!"


    "This guy has a level of... 90!?"


    "That¡¯s crazy! How are we supposed to catch something like that!?"


    The yers'' panic and emotions were transmitted to Kai through the air.


    Kai then slightly turned his head to check ude''s reaction.


    "Orc Lord, huh...." ude nced at the expedition leaderboard for a moment and then shook his head. "We''ll give up on the Orc Lord."


    "Okay."


    "That''s a wise decision."


    ude easily decided to give up on the Orc Lord! His decision was not bad at all in the current situation.


    <i>Even if second ce catches the Orc Lord, they can''t catch up to my points.</i>


    This was because he had already created a gap of more than 500 points.


    Moreover, the Orc Lord was said to be level 90. Unless a yer was over level 100, it would be challenging to catch it. However, ude wasn''t worried since there wasn''t a single active yer in Glendale with that level.


    The Orc Lord wasn''t something a single party could handle, it required a raid by a whole expedition force!


    <i>Instead of taking time to catch the Orc Lord, it''s faster to deal with the trash mobs and umte points.</i>


    Although the existence marked with question marks worth 1,000 points was concerning, there was no information avable at the moment.


    Ultimately, ude had quickly made the best choice avable to him at the current moment.


    <i>A scary and clever bastard...!</i>


    Even Kai, watching from the side, was amazed!


    Meanwhile, ude''s points kept increasing.


    "Yes! Passed 800 points!"


    "Let¡¯s get 200 more points! That way it¡¯ll be two Unique items!"


    Unlike the excited ck Bee guild, Kai couldn''t smile or cheer. He was getting a first-hand experience of what it felt like to have ulcers forming from stress and frustration.


    <i>Why isn''t the Orc Sorcerer showing up?</i>


    If this was the case, there was no point in him joining the ck Bee party in the first ce. After all, he had been nning on stabbing them in the back a bit once they started fighting the Orc Sorcerer.


    <i>This is pretty much a neglect of duty...</i>


    Regardless of Kai''s worries, the party''s hunt gained momentum and sped up.


    That was when it happened. A roar burst from the expedition force fighting the Orc Lord.


    "It''s almost done! Only 30% Stamina left!"


    "Just a little more!"


    "The Orc Lord isn''t much when we''re all attacking it... huh?"


    The yers gradually spoke less, and at the same time, a message appeared in the sight of all the expedition force members.


    <strong>[Orc Lord Urghan¡¯s Stamina has fallen below 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Urghan is now enraged. +20% to all abilities. +30% to damage received.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Orc Sorcerer¡¯s powerful army lends its support to Urghan.]</strong>


    "Pegasus is insane! There''s even a second phase?"


    "Plus, now it''s on fucking rage mode!"


    "And an Orc Sorcerer? A powerful army? What¡¯s all that?"


    "W-wait... look over there!" one of the yers screamed as they looked backward.


    The ce they were looking at was the already destroyed entrance of the orc vige. Other yers turned their heads to that ce and groaned.


    "...Is that the powerful army?"


    "Ugh. We''re screwed."


    "Damn, this is crazy."


    There were dozens of Orc Heroes and hundreds of Orc Warriors, and among them, there was an orc they had never seen before! They were also blocking the entrance and had effectively trapped the expedition force in the vige.


    "Damn, we could have killed the Orc Lord with just a bit more."


    "That¡¯s not possible now. There are too many reinforcements."


    "And what''s with that skinny orc!?"


    "We can¡¯t even run away if they block the entrance like that."


    In front of them was the Orc Lord and its guards, and behind them was the Orc Sorcerer and its powerful army!


    Looking at the terrified and intimidated yers who were squeezed in the middle of the two, ude¡¯s eyes glinted as he came up with a strategy.


    "From now on, we will also support the others."


    "Huh? Are you saying we''re going after the Orc Lord now?"


    "No, our target is that Orc Sorcerer over there," ude said, the corners of his mouth lifting. "It seems to be that guy. The one worth 1,000 points."


    <i>Ugh, his intuition is really something else.</i>


    Knowing that was the right answer, Kai shook his head.


    Then, after a moment, Kai looked up at the sky. Dark clouds filled the sky, and dusk settled on the horizon after the sun fell.


    A smile naturally formed on his face as he saw a view that looked like it belonged in a painting.


    "Ah, perfect weather for filming."

 Chapter 51: Tag of Death (2)

    <h4>Chapter 51: Tag of Death (2)</h4>


    Party hunting usually consisted of yers with a variety of jobs. Among those diverse jobs, there was exactly one job that had a different perspective of the battlefield.


    <i>That would be the Cleric.</i>


    Kai''s sparkling eyes scanned the battlefield.


    While everyone else focused on killing monsters, a Cleric had to look for injured allies first. But that wasn¡¯t all. At the same time, they also had to be aware of the monsters'' locations and attack ranges to ensure their own survival. In short, among all the jobs in <i>MID Online</i>, none could match the intuition of a Cleric.


    <i>When will these guys give me an opportunity?</i>


    Kai, with his unique perspective, was waiting for just the right moment. A moment that could disappear with a blink of an eye; a moment that was as brief as a snowke on a winter day that could melt away instantly!


    <i>The battlefield is already a few minutes away from... no, it''spletely chaotic now too.</i>


    Whether it was at the front or back, the expedition force struggled as it was surrounded by orcs on both sides.


    "Damn it! I don''t care anymore! Just kill them all!"


    "Start with the orcs that are close!"


    "Protect the Clerics first! If the Clerics die, we''re all done!"


    "Come on, bring it on!"


    They were already pushed to the brink of death. Like a cornered rat biting a cat, the yers fiercely fought against the orcs.


    "Come at us, feeble humans! Graaah!"


    Of course, their fierceness was useless in front of the Orc Lord, Urghan, who had entered a state of rage. But that wasn¡¯t all.


    <strong>[Orc Sorcerer casts Tarosh Incantation! +5% to all orcs¡¯ ability power.]</strong>


    <strong>[Orc Sorcerer casts Tarosh Incantation! -5% to all expedition members¡¯ ability power.]</strong>


    "Kill that skinny anchovy orc first!"


    "How can we break through!? There are too many Orc Heroes and Warriors around, it''s impossible!"


    The Orc Sorcerer had appeared and it was an annoying being who blessed its allies while cursing the enemies.


    Of course, Kai brushed off such curses in an instant with Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.


    <i>Now, the pressure is real... so what will you do?</i>


    Kai stared at the back of ude''s head, wondering what he would do when they were in a situation where they could neither retreat nor advance.


    ude finally made a decision. "We''re... escaping from here."


    "Huh?"


    "What do you mean?"


    Even his guild members tilted their heads, puzzled.


    It seemed impossible since the Orc Sorcerer blocked the escape route.


    ude turned around, his eyes coldly shining as he said, "We sacrifice the expedition force and the yers, and leave this ce."


    It was a terrifying yet rational decision. He judged that there was no need to continue fighting in a battle that was already lost.


    <i>But... sacrificing the yers and the expedition force?</i>


    Kai clenched his fist tightly under his robe. The yers would get a penalty for dying but for the NPCs, death would be the end¡ªthey would not have another life.


    <i>But he decided to do that just to save themselves? Without even a moment''s hesitation?</i>


    In some ways, this was shocking to Kai. The ck Bee guild would do anything they could to get to the top!


    Witnessing this fact firsthand, Kai clenched his teeth hard. But what shocked him even more was the reaction of the guild members.


    "Uh... is it okay to do that?"


    "Hmm. Wouldn''t the lord of Glendale suspect us if the entire expedition force dies?"


    "We''ve gathered so many expedition points... We¡¯ll still be able to use them, right?"


    Instead of feeling sorry for others, they showed egotistical behavior and were more concerned about their own benefits!


    Stunned by this, Kai gritted his teeth as he stayed quiet.


    <i>These guys are so messed up.</i>


    They were hopeless; they were trash that couldn¡¯t be saved. Therefore, Kai found it easier to make a decision.


    <i>Joining the expedition was your choice, but leaving isn¡¯t.</i>


    ***


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>. Somehow, we''re still holding on."


    "The levels of the NPCs in the expedition force are quite high. There are even ten knights... Damn. It still seems we''re going to die."


    "If only those ck Bee bastards had joined us in fighting the Orc Lord, none of this would have happened!"


    Sweaty, the yers scanned the battlefield as they took a moment to catch their breath.


    The situation was desperate! The majority of Orc Heroes and Warriors had been killed, leaving only a few. However, most of the yers were already dead, and the same went for the NPCs in the expedition force. Only about one hundred members of the expedition force remained. Death seemed inevitable for them since the strongest orcs¡ªOrc Lord and the Orc Sorcerer¡ªwere still vigorous.


    "But where the hell are those ck Bee bastards anyway?"


    "Now that you mention it, they haven''t been seen for a while."


    "...Something''s fishy."


    The ck Bee guild''s attacks were shy and strong. Though the rest of the expedition force didn''t move with them, their skill in hunting orcs was quite reliable. But at some point, those shy spells no longer appeared on the battlefield. Perhaps because of that, yers started looking for the ck Bee party as they sensed something was off.


    "There! They''re over there!"


    And as they searched, one yer spotted them.


    The ck Bee guild members were sneaking near the wooden fences of the orc vige.


    "Those bastards! Are they nning to escape on their own?"


    "Hey, just leave them. Whatever. How are they even going to get out when the Orc Sorcerer is guarding the entrance?"


    "...Right, that''s true."


    "Then what are they doing there?"


    Other yers tilted their heads, puzzled, at one yer¡¯s question. However, it didn''t take long to find the answer to that question.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    A huge wall of mes suddenly rose from the entrance of the orc vige! The wall, created by eight Wizards, emitted tremendous heat. Even the Orc Sorcerer had to step aside a few paces due to its power!


    "We did it." ude''s eyes sparkled.


    The wall of mes had pushed the Orc Sorcerer back, creating a slight gap between them.


    <i>The question is whether people can even pass through that gap....</i>


    ude turned his head and looked at the Cleric.


    "Mr. Cleric, you escape first."


    "...Me?"


    "Yes. Please go ahead."


    ude intended to test if the gap was truly safe or not!


    Unless Kai was a fool, he couldn''t miss ude''s intentions.


    <i>Is this guy serious? Is he using me as a guinea pig right now?</i>


    It was so absurd that it was almostughable!


    However, Kai didn¡¯t refuse and nodded his head. "Sure, why not."


    Kai readily replied and swiftly slipped through the gap.


    The ck Bee guild members cheered as they watched him go through.


    "Sunbae, it seems safe."


    "Operation sessful. We can get out!"


    "Yeah. We did it," ude smirked.


    The wall of mes was still burning furiously, and beyond that wall, yers were spewing curses.


    "You bastards!"


    "Did you just push the Orc Sorcerer toward us to save yourselves?"


    "Just wait! I''ve recorded all this, and I''ll upload it to themunity!"


    Despite their curses, ude only snorted. "Hmph, idiots. That''s why you always remain at the bottom."


    What the ck Bee guild pursued was the top position, and to seize that position, the guild''s rule was to not hesitate in using any means necessary. ude thought this rule fit him all too well.


    <i>An unspoken rule among yers? Hunting etiquette? Bullshit.</i>


    All that was just an excuse for the weak. It was a delusion of the weak,forting themselves that thew within society''s fence protected them!


    <i>I am a predator.</i>


    It was impossible for a lion to be among a flock of sheep and follow their rules.


    ude was talented in gaming, and joining the ck Bee guild was like giving wings to a tiger.


    "Now, let''s go out too."


    ude, leading his party members leisurely, walked toward the gap, not losing any of his dignity with each step. And the moment he approached close enough to exit through the gap....


    <i>sh!</i>


    A sword appeared through the gap, shing across ude''s neck. ude hastily retreated, but the attack had already been made!


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by Silence.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been poisoned by Fermi¡¯s venom. Vitality decreases by 1,000 every second until detoxified.]</strong>


    The ck Bee guild members were stunned.


    "W-what!?"


    "Sunbae! Are you okay!?"


    "Who the hell was that!?"


    As the members were taken aback and were growling and threatening whoever just attacked ude, ude looked for someone. Unable to speak, he was desperately looking for the Cleric!


    <i>Shit, I''ve been poisoned! The Cleric needs to detoxify me...!</i>


    It was no ordinary poison. It was a vicious poison that inflicted 1,000 damage per second until detoxified!


    ude felt the urgency to cure his poisoned state as soon as possible. Sensing the crisis in his desperation, the ck Bee guild members hurriedly attempted to exit the wooden fences.


    "Th-the Cleric has already left!"


    "Go out and bring him back!"


    However, their attempt was blocked by a warrior who was filling the small gappletely. It was a warrior who was wearing a ck armor set that seemed to be painted with darkness. Needless to say, it was Kai. He had gone through the gap, taken off his cleric robe, and equipped the Armor of the Undead set!


    At the same time he appeared, people who recognized him began to emerge.


    "Hey, isn''t that Unknown?"


    "Unknown? The one who made the video of the Crimson Fist getting schooled?"


    "But was he even part of this expedition?"


    "I haven¡¯t seen him until now."


    "Me too... What the heck?"


    Not only the ck Bee guild but the other yers were also confused by the situation.


    However, their expressions gradually began to brighten. And it wasn¡¯t because they thought they could survive.


    <i>Wait, Unknown is blocking the entrance.</i>


    <i>The ck Bee guild bastards. They''re going to die with us!</i>


    <i>Ahaha! Look what all your greed brought you, you bastards!</i>


    The appearance of Unknown, the protagonist of the Getting Schooled video, was unexpected, but that was all. They didn''t think he would defeat the Orc Lord and Orc Sorcerer and save them.


    <i>Unknown got popr because his video was entertaining.</i>


    <i>Of course, his fighting skills weren''t bad, but... how should I put it? It felt unpolished.</i>


    <i>In any case, there''s no way he can beat the Orc Lord and Orc Sorcerer.</i>


    If it became known that the video was filmed when he had been learning the sword for less than a week, their opinion would change! But to the yers unaware of this fact, Unknown was merely the star of a popr video, nothing more, nothing less.


    "You do know we''re from the ck Bee guild, right?"


    "Unknown? I''ve heard of you too. But why are you doing this to us all of a sudden?"


    "We had no connection with you."


    "Why ask something so obvious? Isn''t it clear he¡¯s doing it for fame?"


    The ck Bee guild members red at Kai as they cast their magic.


    <i>If that''s what you think, I''m grateful.</i>


    Kai slowly raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. Along with that clear sound, Holy Explosion shot out!


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The white beam scattered the wall of mes and attacked the Orc Sorcerer.


    At the same time, the ck Bee guild members shook their heads.


    "Just a nutjob."


    "If you want to die, die alone, why drag us into it?"


    Soon, a sinister smile appeared on their lips.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe he just attracted the attention of the Orc Sorcerer in this situation.</i>


    <i>Does he want to die?</i>


    <i>Well, this is actually better for us. We¡¯ll just stay back and escape when the time is right.</i>


    The ck Bee guild members who were helping ude retreated a good distance back. Since a lunatic just drew the Orc Sorcerer''s attention, they didn¡¯t want to get caught in the attack. However, contrary to their expectations, the Orc Sorcerer began to charge toward them.


    "...Huh? Huh!?"


    "W-what!?"


    "Why!? We didn''t even attack it!"


    <i>What do you mean why?</i>


    Kai shrugged and opened the interface window.


    <strong>[Leave your current party?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[You have left the party.]</strong>


    <i>It¡¯s because I was a part of your party.</i>

 Chapter 52: Tag of Death (3)

    <h4>Chapter 52: Tag of Death (3)</h4>


    Although Kai was the one who attacked, the ck Bee guild had already raised the Orc Sorcerer''s attention to its peak with the fire wall. Having precisely calcted this, Kai attacked the Orc Sorcerer as soon as the fire wall disappeared, resulting in a battle between the ck Bee guild and the Orc Sorcerer.


    "Alright, while you guys are fighting hard..."


    Kai scanned the battlefield.


    <i>The situation is very bad.</i>


    Including both the NPCs and the yers, the number of people in the expedition force was less than one hundred! It was a terrible defeat. The only silver lining was that the Orc Lord''s health was only at 15%.


    <i>But the Orc Sorcerer''s Stamina is still high.</i>


    Seeing that the Orc Sorcerer''s Stamina was around 75%, Kai clenched his fist and cheered for the ck Bee guild.


    "Fight on, you guys can do it! Isn''t there something like a special move or power that each of the world¡¯s top ten guilds hold?"


    "Bastard! You¡¯ve got a big mouth!"


    "Argggh! I¡¯m gonna kill you!"


    The ck Bee guildmembers were so filled with rage that their faces turned red, but they could only spew insults at him. They couldn''t actually do anything to him since they were too busy dealing with the Orc Sorcerer.


    <i>Anyway, these guys will handle the Orc Sorcerer for the time being...</i>


    Kai''s eyesnded on the sturdy back of the Orc Lord.


    <i>I''ll have to finish that one off in the meantime.</i>


    But before hunting it down, there was something that needed to be done for sure.


    "Huh? Unknown is approaching us."


    "W-what? Is it our turn now after the ck Bee guild?"


    "What in the world is going on?"


    "Can''t tell if they¡¯re a friend or an enemy. Ugh."


    The yers that barely survived swallowed nervously and stayed vignt as Unknown approached them. Their Stamina and Mana were long gone, so if Unknown harbored any ill intentions, death was certain for them.


    But Unknown, after scanning them once, said briefly, "I''ll save your lives."


    "...That''s a new unexpected line."


    "Saving our lives won¡¯t be free... so what''s the catch?"


    "Just so you know in advance, I''m broke."


    As participants of the expedition force, they knew better than anyone that there was no reward without a cost.


    <i>Perhaps because of that, they catch on quickly.</i>


    Pleased with their attitude, Kai pointed toward the Orc Lord, who was causing chaos among the knight NPCs.


    "Leave that one to me."


    "...What?"


    "Wait. You''re saying to just hand over the one we''ve been beating the crap out of?"


    "And without any reward?"


    "You''re more greedy than I thought."


    The yers wore stunned expressions!


    But Kai, who had nothing to be sorry about, stood straight up and boldly demanded, "Why wouldn''t there be a reward? Three days of being unable to login, XP loss, and if you''re unlucky, dropping equipment. All those penalties would disappear."


    "...Even if we kill the Orc Lord, it''ll be difficult to escape without dealing with the Orc Sorcerer."


    "In such a situation, why should we trust you and hand over the Orc Lord?"


    "Trust? It seems there''s a big misunderstanding here..." Kai shook his head. "The one at a loss is not me. I can leave whenever I want. And to be honest, even if you kill the Orc Lord, it''s pointless if you end up dying, right?"


    The yers stayed silent.


    "Anyway, this is my final offer. I¡¯ll give you... sixty seconds to decide."


    Having said his part, Kai crossed his arms as if his business was concluded.


    The yers began to look at each other, conflict written all over their faces. Kai didn''t miss that.


    <i>They¡¯ve taken the bait.</i>


    Given the nature of the expedition, they couldn''t use Return Scrolls to the vige or log out. In other words, they were in the same position as terminally ill patients waiting for death! And of course, no yer enjoyed dying.


    <i>These people have already braced themselves for the relentless chase of death that has caught up right behind them.</i>


    When there is no hope, people tend to let go of everything. At that moment, Kai dangled the carrot of survival in front of them and shook it. What decision would they make then?


    <i>They''ll eat the carrot in front of them. Very deliciously. Yum yum.</i>


    After all, they had nothing significant to lose. Even if they handed the Orc Lord over to Kai, they wouldn¡¯t lose points. Although it would be regrettable to waste all their efforts, it would be a hundred, or even a thousand times better than dying.


    More importantly, a hint of curiosity arose in their expressions.


    <i>They must be dying of curiosity.</i>


    Though their Stamina had hit rock bottom, the dozens of remaining yers could potentially finish off the Orc Lord if they decided to attack it all out. In other words, that was only possible because there were dozens of them.


    Yet, Kai had dered he would take down the Orc Lord by himself and with only 15% of his Stamina left.


    <i>On what basis?</i>


    <i>The video didn''t show their skills to be that outstanding...</i>


    <i>Could it be that they hadn''t yed all their cards at that time?</i>


    What lingered in them was a very slight curiosity, and curiosity was a cruel beast that grew stronger with time.


    Eventually, after weighing their options, the yers began to nod one by one.


    "I''ll give up on the Orc Lord."


    "Me too. I care about the XP, but I just bought a Rare item recently, so I can''t die."


    "Damn, I do want the points... but I''m so curious I''m going mad, so I''ll pass it on!"


    All but one yer consented to Kai''s request, and he turned to thest yer.


    "Ex-excuse me...."


    The female yer, swallowing nervously, gathered courage and said, "If I hand over the Orc Lord, could you do an interview after the expedition is done?"


    "...An interview?"


    "Hehe. Given my job, it would be a shame to miss such an opportunity."


    <i>Oh, now that I think about it, this person is....</i>


    Kai looked at her face for a moment and his mouth opened.


    <i>Right, I¡¯m not sure about her name, but... she was definitely a game streamer.</i>


    Her name was Aris, or Arisa, or something like that. Her videos sometimes appeared on themunity, so Kai remembered her.


    <i>An interview...</i>


    Kai showed a lukewarm reaction. Now was the time for him to improve his skills and increase his value, rather than spreading his information. Naturally, giving an interview at this point would bring more harm than good.


    <i>But things might change over time.</i>


    Eventually, Kai kept his options open. "Alright. But I get to decide the date and time."


    "R-really!?" Aris''s expression brightened instantly, and she nodded vigorously. "Then I''ll also give up on the Orc Lord, thank you!"


    <i>I should be the one thanking you.</i>


    With the yers'' consent secured, as long as they didn''t stab him in the back, the right to the Orc Lord now fully belonged to him.


    Kai touched the hilt of the sword thaty quietly in its sheath.


    <i>I remember when I was young, mom taught me something.</i>


    It was to always express gratitude to the chef before enjoying a delicious meal.


    "Thank you."


    ***


    "Kraah! Is this all humans are capable of?" the Orc Lord Urghan, with a body over two meters tall and muscles like armor, roared.


    The steamy breath from his nose was simr to that of a steam train. Although an orc, his immense presence made it impossible for anyone there to ignore him.


    <i>He¡¯s too strong...!</i>


    <i>Is this really the power of a mere orc?</i>


    The knight NPCs of Glendale were mostly skilled, with levels over 120, but the current situation was very bad. They had fought four battles outside the Orc vige, and inside, they had been fighting continuously without rest. In short, their energy waspletely drained!


    <i>It''s all my fault...!</i>


    Ador, the leader of the expedition force, bit his lip.


    The broken helmet revealed a youthful face. He appeared to be no more than a seventeen year old boy.


    The knights gathered around him.


    "Young master, please leave this ce to us and escape first."


    "If anything happens to you here... we won''t be able to face the baron."


    "...Are you telling me to run away!?" Ador shouted, looking angered.


    Having be a knight at the age of seventeen, he was regarded as having outstanding abilities for his age.


    But Ador hated that.


    <i>They¡¯re skills I''ve earned through hard work. But why...!</i>


    People had always praised Ador for bing a knight at a young age and being the son of the baron. However, that was why he wanted to be recognized as a knight in his own right. And above all, he wanted to earn the respect of the person he admired the most, his father.


    <i>But blinded by greed, I failed to take care of my people... I''m not fit to be a leader.</i>


    A deep regret and a bitter smile crossed Ador''s face.


    <i>Regret is always toote, no matter how quickly ites.</i>


    There would be a way to rectify regret elsewhere, but in a battlefield where a tiny factor could decide victory or defeat, such a mistake was irreversible.


    Ador looked around at those who had supported him.


    <i>These are the people who trusted and followed a fool like me. I can''t abandon them.</i>


    Closing his eyes tightly, he thought of his home and family in Glendale.


    <i>I shall be a disobedient son andy my bones in this battlefield. Father, please stay healthy.</i>


    When his eyes opened again, a determination unlike any before was etched in them.


    "To all! Even at the cost of our lives, we must defeat this evil orc..."


    "Please move out of the way.¡±


    <i>Tap, tap.</i>


    Ador turned to look at the adventurer who had approached and tapped his shoulder, wearing a dazed expression.


    <i>How did he...? No, more importantly, was there still an unharmed adventurer?</i>


    He was taken aback by the appearance of an unknown adventurer as most of the adventurers had been moved to the rear when their Stamina and energy were depleted.


    Ador said with a calm voice, "I regret leading you all into this pit of death. But I''ve heard that adventurers are blessed by the gods and will not die even in death. Please forgive me, and next time, please punish these evil orcs for us."


    The adventurer stared silently at Ador, then pulled on one side of his face.


    "Wh-what do you think you are doing!?¡±


    ¡°Your face looks young, but why do you speak like that? It sounds like you were reading from King Lear or something."


    "What are you talking about..."


    As Ador forcefully pushed Kai''s arm away, Kai rubbed his sore arm and said, "The baron secretly asked me to take care of his son."


    Ador remained silent, puzzled.


    "So, if I go on living by myself, I can''t raise my head in front of the baron." Kai sighed lightly and nodded at Ador and the knights. "If you understand now, please move out of the way."


    "Are you saying... you''ll take on the Orc Lord by yourself?"


    "Yes." Kai nced at the Orc Lord and also took in the Orc Sorcerer in the distance. "And I''ve reserved that one for myself as well."


    Ador was at a loss for words at Kai''s ambitious and arrogant deration.

 Chapter 53: Tag of Death (4)

    <h4>Chapter 53: Tag of Death (4)</h4>


    "Hmm?" The Orc Lord Urghan looked at the humans slowly retreating from the front line and snorted. "Foolish humans. Even if you retreat, you won''t be able to escape our tribe! <i>Huff!</i>"


    Holding his blood-stained double-ax over his shoulder, he pitied the foolish humans.


    "Once you have challenged our Jagged Boulder tribe, not one of you will leave alive. Bwahaha! <i>Huff!</i>"


    The Orc Lord''s roar echoed thunderously inside the orc vige!


    <strong>[The cries of the Orc Lord pierce your ears.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by Wither.]</strong>


    <strong>[-5% Movement Speed.]</strong>


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth."


    No matter how powerful the curse, it didn''t affect Kai. As if to prove it, the Wither status effect was easily deactivated along with a bright light.


    "Hmm?" Urghan¡¯s eyebrow twitched.


    A human was walking straight toward him at a slow pace that seemed more fitting for a model at a fashion show than a battlefield!


    This peculiar behavior caught Urghan''s interest.


    "Who do you think you are?" Urghan looked around with a doubtful look, questioning what he was seeing. "Are you challenging me, Urghan, the chieftain of the Jagged Boulder tribe, to a duel?"


    "Duel?"


    <i>Well, since it¡¯s a one-on-one fight, I guess it could be called a duel.</i>


    Kai nodded with a reluctant expression. "Yes."


    "Bwahaha! This will be fun!"


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong><u>[A Foolhardy Challenge]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: C-</strong>


    <strong>You are the first yer to challenge Urghan, the chieftain of the vige of the Jagged Boulder.</strong>


    <strong>Though you have a disadvantage in everything from level, stats, and fighting ability, you will earn great rewards should you seed.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Acquire ¡°Courageous Soldier¡± title, +2,000 Fame, +1 level.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Acquire the ¡°Compulsive Liar¡± title, Fame will significantly decrease, and lose a significant amount of XP.</strong>


    Kai sighed as he looked at the quest window with a sullen expression.


    <i>L-let¡¯s think positively.</i>


    He had intended to face Urghan one-on-one anyway, and winning would bring additional rewards, so it wasn''t a bad deal.


    <i>But if I lose....</i>


    Kai squinted. Just the thought of acquiring the title of apulsive liar made him feel as if he was suffocating.


    <i>I have a feeling that getting this title would make my life difficult.</i>


    It wasn''t just a hunch, but an instinct ingrained deep within human DNA!


    Kai bit his lip as he red at Urghan.


    On the other hand, Urghan said with a rxed voice of a strong, confident being, "I like your re. Come to think of it, it has been four years since someone dared to challenge me... Who knew a human would challenge me when even my own kind fears me? How interesting. <i>Huff!</i>"


    Urghan chuckled in a low voice, cracking his neck from side to side. With each movement, the sound of twisting bones shook the air.


    "To be honest, I, Urghan, like those with ambition like yours."


    "Hm?"


    Kai thought this was unexpected. As far as he knew, orcs were monsters with muscles for brains! They were a species with mostly hostile and cruel personalities.


    <i>But he''s more gentlemanly than expected.</i>


    Just as Kai had that thought, Urghan''s previously polite expression turned into a scowl.


    "But the more I think about it, the more offended I am. How dare you challenge me, the chieftain of the Jagged Boulder tribe."


    Kai was speechless.


    "Graagh! I hate those who dream grand dreams without knowing their own limits the most!"


    Indeed, he was an orc with muscles for brain cells!


    "Graagh!"


    With a ferocious yell, Urghan raised his double-ax high and charged.


    It was evening time and the skies were getting darker. Kai didn''t have much time left.


    <i>The monsters get stronger under the moonlight.</i>


    That would make facing both the Orc Lord and the Orc Sorcerer even more challenging.


    Kai kept his eyes on the double-axing down on him like lightning. At the same time, he drew his sword out of its sheath, as fast as the wind.


    <i>aang!</i>


    "Kugh!"


    It was just a single sh but that was all he needed to grimace at the realization that his opponent was much stronger.


    <i>He indeed is an Orc Lord. Our stat difference can¡¯t be ignored.</i>


    Kai hadn¡¯t been directly hit and they had simply shed weapons, yet, his health dropped by 5% in an instant.


    "<i>Huff, you </i>dare take my attack head-on? You¡¯ve got some guts, human."


    Urghan''spliments continued, but Kai couldn¡¯t possibly be happy with them.


    "Do orcs fight with their mouths?"


    <i>ang</i>!


    As Kai swung the Long Sword of the Enlightened One in full swing and created distance between him and Urghan, his gaze became more intense.


    <i>This guy¡¯s strength stat seems to be about... 100 higher than mine.</i>


    Kai had taken the first attack head-on to assess the gap in their stats. And now, having gained the information he wanted, Kai began to move more boldly.


    ***


    Kai had a concern when his debut work, the Getting Schooled video, unexpectedly became a huge hit.


    <i>How can I make the second video a hit as well?</i>


    Many artists, whether singers, painters, actors, or even novelists, shared this dilemma. The joy that followed the sess of one work was brief, followed by immense pressure. The pain of their own sess tightening around their necks like a noose was pretty much the destiny of artists.


    Of course, Kai didn''t feel such extreme stress. After all, making a profit through videos was just a challenge he had undertaken; it was not his main goal.


    <i>But that doesn''t mean I n to ck off.</i>


    Thus, Kai pondered while eating, ying games, and even washing his face.


    <i>What should I show them next?</i>


    Such continuous contemtion even invaded his dreams!


    Then, after days of thought, Kai came up with an answer.


    <i>Wait, why am I even worrying about this?</i>


    Such concerns were for those with plenty to show. However, at the moment, Kai unfortunately had nothing!


    <i>I only have one thing to show from the start.</i>


    He couldn''t fight as well as the rankers. If that were possible, he would have fought brilliantly and impactfully like them. If overwhelming skill backed him, there would be no need for such worries.


    <i>But my skills are too shallow to boast about that kind of ability.</i>


    Facing the Orc Lord, the level 90 raid monster, Kai couldn¡¯t afford to act leisurely. Therefore, what he aimed for was the best timing.


    "Gragh!"


    Urghan''s ax flew toward Kai''s neck like a guillotine.


    <i>Now!</i>


    The moment Kai took a deep breath and his chest puffed out, he vanished.


    "Hm!?"


    Through the power of Supernova, Kai instantly outmaneuvered Urghan! Of course, such speed would be nothing to Urghan.


    However, if someone who was thought to be slow suddenly became fast in an instant, a brief moment of vulnerability would be created by the opponent who had been caught off guard.


    For Kai, that amount of time was sufficient.


    <i>sh!</i>


    His sword shed diagonally across Urghan¡¯s chest. However, even if the Orc Lord only had a little bit of health left, he was still the Orc Lord! The damage hardly made a dent.


    "<i>Huff, </i>these attacks are nothing but a tickle...."


    But even as he was mocking the attack, Urghan''s expression stiffened, while a smile crept onto Kai''s lips.


    <i>Never thought it would be this effective.</i>


    Kai looked at his sword which was glowing with an unusual green light.


    <i>Indeed, Fermi¡¯s Venom is the best.</i>


    Among the rewards Kai obtained from raiding the Nest of Fermi, he deemed Fermi¡¯s Venom the most useless. However, after using it against ck Bee''s ude, its effect was beyond what he had imagined.


    <i>This venom has an infinite duration!</i>


    This meant that unless detoxified, death was inevitable at some point! In fact, even at this very moment, ude was still cursing Kai while chugging potions. And once his potions ran out, he would die.


    "But unfortunately for you... you don''t have potions, do you? And it seems like the Orc Sorcerer is busy."


    Urghan, facing Kai¡¯s cold smile, let out a low groan for the first time since the battle began. "Uggh. Human, you are wicked! I can¡¯t believe you would use poison in a sacred duel!"


    "Says the one who has a wickedly higher level than me."


    Ignoring Urghan''s words, Kai instead created distance rather than charging at him. This fight was not meant to be a fair duel between warriors from the start.


    <i>It was a fight to determine who kills and who was killed.</i>


    Fermi''s Venom continued its diligent work and chipped away at Urghan''s health.


    <i>Now his remaining health is 14%.</i>


    If everything went as calcted, Urghan would fall in about fourteen minutes from now!


    From now on, Kai''s task was to survive that duration without dying.


    "...I see. You never intended to fight a warrior''s duel from the start."


    "That¡¯s right. I don''t even know what that is to begin with." Kai nodded.


    A fierce anger erupted from the depths of Urghan''s eyes at those words. "For the crime of insulting the sacred duel of orcs, you will pay with your death! <i>Huff!</i>"


    "I have no intention of apologizing, and even less of dying."


    Though Kai¡¯s words flowed smoothly, sweat poured down his back like rain.


    <i>Supernova has already been deactivated.</i>


    Since Supernova onlysted a few tens of seconds, there was no way he could have resisted until Urghan''s death. Therefore, Kai chose to dodge Urghan''s attacks using his basic stats!


    <i>If I die, that would be the end, but....</i>


    Kai''s gaze fiercely turned towards the ongoing battle between the Orc Sorcerer and the ck Bee guild.


    <i>If I win, I get everything.</i>


    "Graaaaagh!" Urghan roared as he charged like a tank.


    Kai, seeing that ferocious image, moved with light footsteps. He had already titled his new series, <i>Tag of Death</i>.


    ***


    "...What on earth is he trying to do?"


    "<i>Tsk</i>, I put my hopes up for nothing."


    "Why did he give up the Orc Lord if that was all he was gonna do?"


    "Oh, we''re doomed. We''re all dead."


    The yers within the expedition force who were now mere spectators, could not hide their disappointment watching Kai''s battle. And this was because, since the battle began, Unknown had swung his sword only twice. After that, he seemed to be running away constantly.


    When they finally realized death was inescapable and their faces darkened, one yer muttered, "...But he is really good at running away."


    That single remark started it all.


    Having gone through all five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and eptance, the yers simply sat down as if they were on a pic, watching Kai''s battle with epting expressions.


    "True. He really does run incredibly well."


    "You should jump to avoid that! Exactly! Damn, it¡¯s actually pretty fun watching this too."


    "Wow, he actually survived that."


    "Is he from a circus or something?"


    The yers enthusiastically offered advice like elderly people ying bingo on bingo night!


    Then, one yer tilted their head and asked, "By the way, what was Unknown''s job again?"


    "Can''t you tell? He''s obviously a Warrior."


    "That¡¯s bullshit. Look at those moves. He¡¯s clearly a Rogue with the best dodging skill and highest Agility stats."


    "That''s strange. Last time he summoned Skeletons, so isn''t he a Necromancer?"


    "No, he''s a Warrior, I''m telling you."


    "No, he''s a Rogue."


    The yers were suddenly engaged in a heated debate!


    Just before they began cursing at each other, the yer who had first spoken said with a dumbfounded expression, "...Hey, but he caught him."


    "What?"


    "Caught? Caught what?"


    The heads of the yers who were previously arguing turned in unison to look at Urghan. What they saw was Urghan on his knees, slowly turning to ash and disappearing.


    "He caught him."


    "He sure did."


    "He really did."


    A brief moment of silence passed as the information captured by their eyes traveled to their brains. After that moment, the previously silent yers erupted into a collective scream.


    "Dang! He actually did it!"

 Chapter 54: Tag of Death (5)

    <h4>Chapter 54: Tag of Death (5)</h4>


    Five minutes before...


    "<i>Pant, pant</i>..."


    Kai was out of breath, and his vision blurred due to theck of oxygen in his brain. Additionally, a ringing noise started to echo in his ears. However, even though he was experiencing conditions that could be considered bad individually, he still smiled.


    <i>This is fun!</i>


    He found joy in the battle while diligently dodging Urghan''s fierce attacks. It was an abnormal, perhaps even masochistic feeling, but he was enjoying it and interestingly, it was helping him.


    <i>The next attack is gonnae from the left!</i>


    Right after Kai threw himself to the right, Urghan''s double-ax plowed the innocent ground.


    "You... you damn rat...!"


    Urghan clenched his teeth and cursed Kai, but he wasn''t as threatening as before because his condition was clearly not as good as before.


    <i>His legs are trembling, and his attack uracy and speed have dropped significantly since a while ago.</i>


    More importantly, his health had dropped below 5%! Moreover, his movements were undoubtedly more ufortable than usual because he was poisoned.


    While Fermi''s Venom had made all this possible, the true cause was something else.


    <i>I can easily predict his attacks. And it''s not just simply easily, it''s incredibly easily.</i>


    Kai blinked with a renewed expression. Throughout the battle, his incredible eyes had helped him anticipate Urghan''s attacks two, three moves ahead and dodge them.


    <i>Who knew I''d leave those boring party hunts with eyes like this!</i>


    In hunting parties, the Cleric was positioned at the very back. They always had to watch for when and how monsters would attack their allies.


    Some thought the most sought quality of a Cleric was high skill proficiency, a high Holiness stat, or high-grade equipment, but that was all wrong.


    What people wanted was a Cleric who could provide healing and buffs when most needed. They wanted a Cleric who could provide support when it was most crucial. Therefore, Clerics always had to have a wide view of the battlefield.


    <i>It was hard getting used to at first.</i>


    It was especially hard for Kai, who was new to virtual reality games. While others were leveling up by ying monsters, he had to look out for party members who die at any moment. It was around then that he developed the habit of having a wide view of the battlefield.


    <i>This isn''t unique to me. It''s a perspective most Clerics have.</i>


    Yet, Kai had one difference from the other Clerics. It was just one, but it was something they could never possess.


    <i>With such a field of vision, fighting monsters directly... makes things like this possible.</i>


    Only those who had experienced both the front lines and the back could master such a wide and detailed field of vision! His eyes were truly all-seeing eyes that were capable of observing both the forest and the trees within the forest at the same time.


    Kai sighed.


    He remembered the days of ying as a Cleric¡ªhow people would politely addressed him as a Cleric but in the end, he would be disregarded.


    <i>However, Clerics can perform things like this too if they have power.</i>


    Typically, a Cleric spent their life at the rear of a party because theycked both the ability and the will to stand at the front while a ss like a Battle Cleric didn''t have a reason to be in the back when they could be in the front.


    It was different for Archers and Wizards as well. They were also positioned at the rear end of a party, but their perception of the battlefield was different from that of a Cleric who paid attention to both allies and enemies.


    Ultimately, Kai realized advantages he himself had been unaware of during the battle.


    "Graagh!"


    Urghan swung his double-ax around.


    The double-ax tore through the air and flew toward him! It was undoubtedly an attack that, even if hit just once, would cause severe damage.


    However, Kai was not afraid even just a bit.


    <i>Just a few minutes ago, my life was on the line every time I dodged an attack ....</i>


    Fearing for his life was something he could never have felt during his days as a mere Cleric unless his entire party had been annihted. But now that he had to face that head-on, his senses became as sharp as a freshly sharpened craftsman''s de.


    "Just die already! <i>Huf!</i>"


    Urghan¡¯s voice shifted from anger to pleading.


    <i>He should be incredibly frustrated by now.</i>


    Afterall, the human who had struggled to dodge the attacks earlier, was now avoiding them much more easily.


    In fact, undeniable agitation was visible in Urghan''s eyes.


    <i>Argh! Impossible human! Who the hell are you?</i>


    To Urghan, Kai appeared as a monster beyond anymon sense.


    Fundamentally, human growth didn¡¯t ur radically. Like climbing stairs day by day, step by step, effort umted over time until one realized they had grown.


    However, the ck warrior before him was different.


    <i>He grows... through this fight? Huff! He dares to use me, Urghan, chieftain of the Jagged Boulder tribe, as a stepping stone?</i>


    The realization greatly bruised his pride as the Orc Lord,mander of thousands of orcs.


    And a wounded beast was dangerous.


    "Graaaaah!" Urghan let out a beast-like roar, simr to a lion''s.


    At the same time, Kai flinched.


    "Wh-what? What''s with that sudden screaming...."


    The moment Kai startled, Urghan''s attack mercilessly found its way through the opening created when he dropped his guard.


    Urghan stabbed him much faster than he had shed before.


    "Stabbing with an ax? That''s cheating!"


    It was a move far off from the conventional use of an ax! It was an unexpected attack, and thus Kai¡¯s reaction was unavoidably a second slower, which made it a critical move.


    In that moment, Kai''s thoughts raced. His head felt hot as if he had just sprinted at full speed, and he even experienced the illusion that time around him had slowed down.


    <i>It''s toote to...</i>


    It was toote to dodge it now.


    Dozens of possible moves, including Supernova, shed through his mind, but he couldn¡¯t see any way to dodge the stab.


    <i>There''s no way to dodge it, but... there''s a way if I don''t dodge it.</i>


    A spark of aspiration shed in Kai''s eyes.


    It was the perfect opportunity to test the aspiration that had started to sprout during the battle.


    <i>Can my current self fight this creature on equal terms?</i>


    He nned to use everything he had gained¡ªthe basics of swordsmanship he had learned at the Training Grounds of the Dawn, the basics of hunting he had acquired in the Forest of Spiders, and the basics ofbat he had honed while defeating the members of the Cirmson Fist guild¡ªinto this one move.


    "Urgh!"


    Kai''s right hand moved as fast as a sh of light, and the time seemed to flow again.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The sh of cold weapons swept away even the air around them.


    It was inevitable that after such a sh, there would be one whoughed and one who cried at the result, and it was here, that the joy and sorrow Kai and Urghan felt was determined.


    "What just happened...?"


    Urghan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief!


    Watching Urghan''s dumbfounded expression with amusement, Kai leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I told you, I don''t know anything about a warrior''s sacred duel or whatever."


    The next moment, Urghan''s ax slid down the white de, stabbing the innocent air. In professional terms, it was a miss!


    <i>I lost!</i>


    Urghan''s protruding teeth trembled, and a tremendous noise erupted.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    It was the splendid symphony created by Kai''s knee and Urghan''s sr plexusing into contact!


    Of course, for Urghan, it sounded more like a dissonance.


    The important thing was that, for the first time since the battle began, Kai had directly countered Urghan''s attack andnded an effective hit. This fact was a shock to both Urghan and Kai.


    <i>Did I really just allow this human to hit me?</i>


    <i>Did I really just seed in attacking this orc?</i>


    Kai looked at Urghan, who was clutching his sr plexus and stepping back, with a dazed expression.


    Letting Urghan''s attack pass was an impromptu idea. Although Chopin''s Fantaisie-Impromptu was not really impromptu, Kai''s stunt-like move, was definitely impromptu.


    <i>Wow, this actually worked? Crazy.</i>


    Of course, keeping an eye on the opponent''s attack was one thing, but it was also a stroke of luck that made it possible!


    At the same time, Urghan''s bright red HP bar came into view.


    <i>The remaining health is... just 2%!</i>


    Kai''s grip on the Long Sword of the Enlightened One tightened.


    <i>Sure, just running away wouldn''t be fun.</i>


    In any era, those who watched a performance always wanted a twist. A twist they did not seeing especially excited them and made them cheer even more.


    <i>That will probably be the same for those who will watch this video.</i>


    They would expect something special from the entity known as Unknown!


    Therefore, Kai smiled beneath his ck Gnoll Helmet.


    <i>If they want something special, I''ll give it to them.</i>


    At that moment, he thought of an incredible scenario.


    Kai raised his sword and aimed it at Urghan. At that moment, a gust of wind made his rose-patterned cloak flutter.


    And with that, the seeker in the deadly game of tag had changed.


    ***


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Kai had just begun his attack thirty seconds ago when Urghan''s knees, which seemed like they would never fall, touched the ground.


    Urghan then scattered into shimmering polygons.


    Kai, looking at him, sighed with a mix of regret.


    <i>Well, it seems I couldn''t even deal damage with my sword after all.</i>


    In truth, it was mostly Fermi''s Venom that had drained Urghan¡¯s HP. Yet, Kai had risked swinging his sword merely to look good for his video. It was a show to demonstrate that he was engaging in a tense battle even with an Orc Lord!


    <i>Phew, filming a video is also hard.</i>


    However, his workday wasn''t over yet since there was still Orc Sorcerer and ck Bee guild remaining.


    But, he could consider the biggest hurdle ovee!


    <strong>[+500 expedition points.]</strong>


    <strong>[You sessfullypleted the quest: A Foolhardy Challenge.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Courageous Soldier.]</strong>


    <strong>[+2,000 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 stat points.]</strong>


    Kai''s reaction was simr to someone tasting bittersweet candy.


    "Well, that''s a bit disappointing."


    If other yers saw him, they would be shocked by his reaction!


    However, Kai had his reasons.


    <i>Perhaps because other yers had already done significant damage, the XP gained is less than expected.</i>


    Despite defeating a level 90 raid boss monster, his level only went up by one, which was understandably disappointing for Kai.


    <i>And the special title? Special titles should be like treats¡ªgiven asionally. Getting them too often dulls their charm.</i>


    Kai treated the special title as if it were a snack he could have at any time!


    However, his greatest disappointmenty elsewhere.


    "It''s a shame. I could have earned the Orc Lord yer title."


    Just as he had been the first to kill Fermi and acquired the Queen yer title, he would have definitely received a corresponding title had he been the first to kill the Orc Lord. However, the absence of such a title meant someone else had killed the Orc Lord first! And Kai had an idea of who that person could be.


    <i>Yoo Ha-Rin... So was the rumor true?</i>


    There had been a rumor spreading through themunity at one time. It was about Yoo Ha-Rin, who was around level 120 at the time, appearing in Glendale. Naturally, no one thought that the first ce ranker would have any reason toe to Glendale, so no one believed it.


    <i>But someonemented at the time that they saw her kill all the orcs and rush into the vige.</i>


    The rumor was dismissed as absurd and didn''t gain much credibility at the time. And even Kai thought it was absurd while reading the article!


    However, he realized he had been wrong and let out a deep sigh.


    "I can¡¯t believe that was actually true."


    Other than her, he couldn''t think of any ranker that was associated with the Orc Lord.


    <i>It would be a lie to say I''m not disappointed.</i>


    If the Orc Lord had been a simple field boss like the Wyrm Lizard, Yoo Ha-Rin wouldn''t have received the yer title.


    <i>Special titles are awarded only to honor a yer''s achievements.</i>


    However, the Orc Lord was a raid-level boss monster. Regardless of the level difference, securing the first kill guaranteed a special title.


    "<i>Sigh</i>..."


    That made it even more disappointing. Had Kai, with a lower level than the Orc Lord, obtained the yer title, he would have been rewarded with additional perks.


    <i>Perhaps the silver lining is that she didn''t duel the Orc Lord.</i>


    She seemed to have killed the Orc Lord without engaging in any conversation. Thanks to that, Kai was able to establish a duel with Urghan and obtain the title of Courageous Soldier.


    "Title info."


    Just as she had taken a title Kai didn''t earn, the title she didn''t acquire revealed itself in Kai''s shining book.

 Chapter 55: Tag of Death (6)

    <h4>Chapter 55: Tag of Death (6)</h4>


    <strong>[<u>Courageous Soldier</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to one who defeats the Orc Lord in a duel.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 to all stats when fighting an enemy at a higher level than you.</strong>


    "Yes!" Kai screamed, forgetting he was recording.


    The title was truly worth getting that kind of reaction.


    <i>What kind of effect is this? I''ve never heard of anything like it!</i>


    Images and names of numerous monsters shed through his mind.


    <i>My level is merely 65.</i>


    While Kai had made a lot of progress, he still had a long way to go so he found this title to be as sweet as rain in a drought; it was a catalyst for growth.


    <i>No need to look too far.</i>


    Turning his head, Kai looked at the Orc Sorcerer and the members of the ck Bee guild.


    After momentarily watching the fight, he quickly started to recover his Stamina and health.


    <i>It looks like they need a seeker over there too.</i>


    ***


    "Potions! It doesn¡¯t matter what, so just give me any potion!" ude yelled desperately, pale-faced.


    "Damn it! I¡¯ve already given you so many! I don''t have any left!"


    "I already gave you everything I had."


    "I can''t even refill my health right now!"


    "Just hold on a little longer! We''ve almost got the Orc Sorcerer, so we can go back to the vige and treat you after."


    "Anyway, why is this bastard''s magic defense so high!?"


    They had to be extremely talented in order to be scouted by the ck Bee guild, so it was highly unlikely for even an Orc Sorcerer tost forever when seven Wizards from the guild were working together.


    And yet, even after over twenty minutes of battle, the Orc Sorcerer¡¯s remaining health still had 7% left.


    "Fuck, do you think I don¡¯t know that! I¡¯m asking for potions because I can¡¯t hold on!"


    ude was the next-generation ranker who carried the ck Bee guild''s expectations on his shoulders as the promising talent who showed the fastest growth rate in the guild''s history. But right now, he was whining for more potions as he looked at his health bar.


    <strong>[8%, 7%, 6%....]</strong>


    His health dropped every second!


    The look in his eyes changed. Previously it showed resignation as if he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness but now, it was full of rage and hatred.


    ude turned his head to look at Kai as he cursed, ¡°How dare you trick us! The guild will get you back...¡±


    He trailed off.


    <i>When did that bastard... kill the Orc Lord?</i>


    Only sparkling polygons remained where the Orc Lord had been!


    At the same time, a chill ran down his spine, and his boiling blood cooled.


    <i>Then where''s Unknown?</i>


    If he were in the same situation as Unknown, what would he have done next? To infer someone¡¯s actions, one had to understand their characteristics.


    ude''s mind raced.


    <i>He¡¯s a hunter. There''s no doubt about it.</i>


    He wasn¡¯t just any hunter. He was a brutal and greedy hunter intending to devour the ck Bee guild, one of the world''s top ten guilds.


    ude''s worry ended the moment he realized this fact.


    Then he shouted, veins bulging out of his neck, "Be careful!"


    The moment he let out the warning, ude realized it was already toote.


    <strong>[You have died.]</strong>


    His screen turned gray and thest thing it captured were skulls falling from the sky.


    ***


    Kai was able to summon level 50 gnoll skeletons using the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. Those Skeletons had saved Kai''s life numerous times and had even turned impossible battles around.


    <i>But now that won¡¯t work.</i>


    The reason he hadn¡¯t summoned the gnoll skeletons when fighting against the Orc Lord was simple. They stood no chance anyway. A normal monster with a mere level of 50 couldn''t stand against a level raid monster. Even with the powerful buffs from a Sris Cleric, that fact wouldn''t change.


    <i>They were one-shot kills even for the Wyrm Lizard, so there¡¯s no need to even check.</i>


    Therefore, Kai refrained from summoning the gnoll skeletons, even though he wanted to. He thought it wouldn''t work against the Orc Lord, and the same went for the Orc Sorcerer.


    However, the orcs weren''t the only ones he needed to take down here.


    "Th-these are...."


    "They¡¯re the Skeletons from Unknown''s video!"


    "And there are even more of them than before!"


    The gnoll skeletons were a trump card reserved for the ck Bee guild from the start.


    Of course, the ck Bee guild, with an average level over 80, had no reason to be afraid of gnoll skeletons. The attack power and HP of a mere level 50 gnoll skeleton could easily be disregarded.


    "Pff, just burn the skeletons and that''s it!"


    "Looking at them now, they''re only level 50."


    "Did he really think we''re some forgettable trash guild?"


    Of course, the eight gnoll skeletons that charged forward without worrying about defense were annoying. Although it wasn''t painful, not even a tickle, it was annoying for the ck Bee guild members since they got hit at least once while they were facing the Orc Sorcerers.


    <i>Unknown should know something like this wouldn''t work....</i>


    <i>Why would he bother with such a useless act?</i>


    <i>Is there some other trick up his sleeve?</i>


    Unknown''s actions were utterly iprehensible!


    Indeed, they weren¡¯t understandable, that was... until a brief message window popped up.


    <strong>[You have been poisoned by Fermi''s Venom. Vitality decreased by 1,000 every second until detoxified.]</strong>


    "What...!"


    "Is this what happened to ude sunbae...?"


    "Wasn''t this skill only usable by Unknown!?"


    "We''ve been tricked! The skeletons'' daggers were coated with poison!"


    It was a truly unexpected strike! Moreover, what was truly frightening was that Kai hadn''t used this method from the start.


    <i>Terrifying...!</i>


    <i>Was only poisoning sunbae a calcted move from the start?</i>


    <i>That made us use up all our potions on him.</i>


    <i>And he even gave us hope that we could survive by just defeating the Orc Sorcerer....</i>


    If all eight had been poisoned from the start, would they have even fought the Orc Sorcerer?


    "Not a chance."


    Kai was certain. There was no way that would happen. They would have chosen to run away, even if it meant that some of them would die.


    Kaicked both the confidence and the skill to chase down and kill all of them. And nor did he have any intention of forgiving them.


    <i>I don¡¯t forgive those who mess with me first.</i>


    He repaid kindness twofold and revenge whenever it came to mind!


    Kai, with his unique logic, slowly approached the ck Bee guild members.


    The ck Bee guild members, whose health was a mess from fighting the Orc Sorcerer, hesitantly stepped backward.


    "R-retreat while casting!"


    "Even if we die, a concentrated attack might at least take him down..."


    "We can take him with us!"


    Dozens of spellsunched by the seven Wizards flew toward Kai.


    The dark sky was embroidered with vibrant colors!


    At a nce, it was beautiful, but being hit by them wouldn''t leave one admiring the beauty.


    However, Kai, facing those skills, didn''t blink an eye.


    <i>Supernova.</i>


    The air around him heated up instantly, warming Kai''s cooled body once again. Then, the next moment, Kai moved as lightly as a breeze.


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i>


    <i>Pzzzt!</i>


    A terrifying session of magic skills caused the ground to explode, to be scorched, and even caused ice to surge up.


    Yet, Kai skillfully dodged all the areas of effect and approached them.


    "What the hell!?"


    "H-he dodged all of that?"


    "That''s impossible!"


    Their faces were pale with shock. Even though they saw it, it was still hard for them to believe¡ªno. It was even harder for them to ept <i>because</i> they had seen it.


    Kai faced them and said briefly, "It''s not, though."


    His sheath cried as he drew his sword.


    <i>Shiing!</i>


    <i>Swoosh! Whoosh!</i>


    His sword tore through the ck Bee guild members like the sharp fangs of a beast!


    As Wizards, they didn''t have a lot of health to begin with, and they had lost quite a bit from the battle. As a result, the members fell one by one to Kai, who even used Supernova.


    <i>Stab!</i>


    "Kugh...."


    After defeating thest member, Kai nced down. The remaining duration for Supernova showing on his screen was thirty-two seconds.


    After acquiring the title of Saint of Glendale and gaining 30 points in Benevolence stats, the duration to which he could use Supernova had slightly increased.


    <i>But it''s still not enough! There''s no time to hesitate!</i>


    Kaiunched off the ground and dashed like a gust of wind.


    <strong>[Courageous Knight effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats temporarily increased by 10.]</strong>


    The surroundingndscape seemed to stretch out like slime, and in the next moment, Kai''s sword struck the neck of the Orc Sorcerer.


    The Orc Sorcerer, startled by Kai''s speed, mmed its staff onto the ground.


    <i>Thump, thump, thump!</i>


    Each time the staff and the ground collided, loud roars echoed through the sky.


    <i>Boom, boom!</i>


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Lightning magic pressed on Kai, and the surrounding temperature rose several degrees due to me magic engulfing the area.


    <i>Triple Doping Set!</i>


    Kai continuously wielded his sword with his right hand while, with his left, he took out and consumed the Triple Doping Set from his inventory.


    <strong>[Increases resistance to all status effects for 5 minutes.]</strong>


    <strong>[Increases Speed for 5 minutes.]</strong>


    <strong>[Increases physical and magical attack power for 5 minutes.]</strong>


    A desperate emotion seeped out from Kai''s eyes along with surging power.


    <i>I can¡¯t back away now, even if I die!</i>


    Once the duration of Supernova ended, he wouldn''t be able to dodge the Orc Sorcerer¡¯s skills and get this close again. It was a do-or-die situation right here!


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 2,175 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 4,781 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by Frostbite. Movement slows down.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 4,157 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by Burn. You receive 350 damage per second.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 3,187 damage.]</strong>


    With each hit, Kai''s health bar rocked like a shipwreck!


    Kai''s mouth also moved quickly.


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth!¡±


    Honestly, Kai didn''t care how many times he got hit or how much damage he took.


    <i>As long as I don''t die!</i>


    He could just recover more than the damage taken through healing skills!


    "Hm?"


    When the Orc Sorcerer saw that Kai showed no signs of falling after being hit by numerous magic spells, he was taken aback. The rate at which his opponent''s health decreased was slower than his own health going down!


    The moment he realized this, he wanted to retreat, but the fight had already be a tug-of-war. Retreating now meant getting severely hit and losing the battle.


    <i>Boom, boom! Fwoosh!</i>


    <i>sh, sh! Stab!</i>


    It wasn¡¯t a battle of spear against shield, but spear against spear!


    Neither side dodged or defended as attacks flew relentlessly toward each other.


    "<i>Huff!</i> Die, human!"


    "Heroes never die!"


    Kai''s eyes sparkled as he shouted boldly.


    <i>Now!</i>


    Even an Orc Sorcerer had cooldowns between skill uses.


    After being hit by its magic tens of times, Kai memorized those cooldown times and dodged an iing Ice Spear.


    "Huh!? Y-you''re not supposed to dodge that!"


    The Orc Sorcerer was taken aback.


    But Kai was someone who ignored any unspoken rules unless they were explicitly stated in a contract!


    At the same time, his sword started to gain rotational force. It was a secret skill he had saved for this moment!


    "Flood of des!"


    Like a drill, his sword spun and pierced through the Orc Sorcerer''s side, prating straight to the heart.


    A mournful cry, like that of a pig being ughtered, echoed through the orc vige.


    At that moment, Kai''s face became pale.


    <strong>[Holy Power is too low. Supernova skill has been canceled.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have used all of your Holy Power. All abilities are weakened by 10% until Holy Power is restored to 30% or higher.]</strong>


    <i>I-I¡¯m doomed.</i>


    It was thest strike he had thrown everything into when there was only one second left of Supernova. If this attack didn¡¯t kill the Orc Sorcerer, he would be the one to suffer!


    Then, another message window popped up in front of Kai who stood there, frozen.


    <i>Please... die, die, die!</i>


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t a message announcing the death of the Orc Sorcerer.


    <strong>[Night has fallen. All abilities of monsters increase by 30% while drop rates and XP increase by 20%.]</strong>


    "Damn it! I''m really screwed now!" Kai sighed with a gloomy face.


    It was said that unlucky people were unlucky in everything they did, and it seemed to be true!


    He was as annoyed as being bitten by a mosquito, especially on the sole of the foot.


    Meanwhile, the Orc Sorcerer slowly approached Kai.


    "<i>Huff</i>...."


    The Orc Sorcerer, panting heavily, narrowed the distance between itself and Kai.


    "H-huh? Wait, you''re getting too close."


    Taken aback, Kai threw himself to the side to avoid the approaching Orc Sorcerer.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Just then, the Orc Sorcerer just copsed!


    After taking a closer look, its HP had already dropped to 0%.


    "Ph-phew...."


    The tension in Kai¡¯s body during the battle was released, and he copsed. Even though he got covered in dirt and sand, he didn''t mind it at that moment.


    <strong>[+1,000 expedition points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Eradicate the Orc Sorcerer questpleted. Visit Baron Arsen to receive your reward.]</strong>


    <strong>[Night bonus applied.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Orc Sorcerer yer.]</strong>


    He caught the Orc Lord, the Orc Sorcerer, and even the ck Bee guild! The reward for catching three fish with one hook was anything but poor.


    <i>Dang, the timing for the night bonus was perfect too.</i>


    Night had fallen just before the Orc Sorcerer died. As a result, additional XP and drop rate bonuses were applied to the Orc Sorcerer that Kai killed. Thanks to this, he leveled up two times despite having minimal contribution!


    Kai chuckled at this unbelievable luck as he noticed the rewards scattered on the ground.


    "I''m exhausted, but I still have to check."


    Kai wondered which one out of the Orc Lord, the Orc Sorcerer, and the ck Bee guild members dropped the best item.


    In the face of this delightful wonder, Kai forgot his fatigue and sprang to his feet.

 Chapter 56: After the Expedition (1)

    <h4>Chapter 56: After the Expedition (1)</h4>


    "Let''s check the title first."


    <strong>[Orc Sorcerer yer]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the one who defeats the Orc Sorcerer for the first time.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10% magical defense (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <i>Hmm... It¡¯s not as great as I thought.</i>


    Compared to the Courageous Knight title given by the Orc Lord, this title seemed somewhat inferior. It even seemed worse than the Queen yer title he had acquired by defeating Fermi. But still, it was a special title.


    <i>It¡¯s better than nothing.</i>


    Though the title effect was somewhat disappointing, Kai hoped the other rewards would make up for it.


    He slowly identified the equipment.


    <strong>[<u>Bloodthirsty Double-Ax</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 145-189</strong>


    <strong>Strength: +20</strong>


    <strong>Stamina: +8</strong>


    <strong>Attack power increased by 10% when ax de covered in blood.</strong>


    <strong>A weapon used on the battlefield for a long time eventually craves blood. This ax is no different. To be the owner of this item, which has be a type of ghost de, one must enjoy spending time on the battlefield more than anyone else.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 90, Strength 320 and above, Intermediate Level 1 in ax skill and above.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 67/120</strong>


    <i>It''s a Unique item.</i>


    It was the ax that came from defeating Urghan. After checking its option, Kai felt extremely fortunate for having dodged the relentless attacks. A single hit could have sent him straight to meet Helik in the heavens!


    <i>Attack power increases by 10% when covered in blood... Warriors would love this.</i>


    Unless fighting monsters like Golems or Slimes, the option would be almost always active.


    "Not bad. Next is..."


    He had been calm even after seeing a Unique-grade item, but now, a smile crept onto Kai¡¯s face.


    <i>Yes! How amazing of the Orc Sorcerer, there''s even two items! Maybe it''s because of the night bluff? I didn''t expect it to drop two.</i>


    Aside from gold, two items had been dropped¡ªwand and a book.


    Kai first checked the wand.


    <strong>[<u>Staff of Remembrance</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power: 220-234</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: +14</strong>


    <strong>Mana Regeneration: +10%</strong>


    <strong>+2 slots to the Memorize skill.</strong>


    <strong>It was a staff made for fun by a genius Wizard who was toozy to memorize spells.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 89, Intelligence 315 and above.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 82/94</strong>


    "Wow! Another Unique item!"


    Just like the ax before, it was also a Unique item, but Kai''s reaction was significantly different. Of course, it was also undeniable that the Unique double-ax was an incredible item.


    However, closebat sses, and only some of them at that, learned ax skills. In other words, the people who used a double-ax as a weapon was somewhat in the minority!


    <i>But the staff is different.</i>


    Staffs were used by the majority of Wizards. It was a major weapon used by Necromancers, Summoners, and Elemental Wizards.


    And Memorize was a skill every Wizard wanted to learn!


    <i>It''s a skill that lets you store spells in slots in advance and cast them immediately with just an activation term. Of course, it''s incredibly rare since it can only be learned from a skill book.</i>


    The number of slots for the Memorize skill varied with proficiency, but at most, there were five slots.


    <i>But just equipping this staff adds two slots?</i>


    Simply put, this staff was something level 90 Wizards couldn¡¯t buy even if they wished! No, even Wizards over level 100 could covet this staff depending on their situation.


    <i>Should I buy a lottery ticket? No, wait, did I use up all my lottery-winning luck here too?</i>


    It didn''t matter either way!


    Kai looked at his inventory filling up with Unique weapons like they were his lovely partners.


    <i>Now that I think about it, I need to sell the Fang of Fermi too... It¡¯s time for a trip to the auction house.</i>


    Without wasting time, Kai quickly looked at the book info.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Skin of Magical Resistance (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Significantly increases the caster''s magical defense.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 60 and above.</strong>


    "Wow!"


    Kai''s eyes widened.


    <i>Anquetme!</i>


    Kai had shortened "Another unique item" into one word.


    Moreover, this was a skill book that increased magical resistance.


    At that moment, theints of the ck Bee guild members came to mind.


    <i>They definitelyined about why the Orc Sorcerer''s magical defense was so high.</i>


    Indeed, in <i>MID Online</i>, there were no results without causes!


    Kai picked up the shining book.


    "Selling a skill book like this would make at least a billion."


    But rationally thinking, he didn''t immediately need the money.


    <i>It¡¯ll be better if I use it myself.</i>


    If the skill was unusable or not particrly useful to him, he wouldn''t have hesitated to sell it. However, Skin of Magical Resistance was a skill that was undoubtedly beneficial if learned! And after considering the synergy with the seemingly unimpressive Orc Sorcerer yer title, Kai''s contemtion didn''tst long.


    "Use Skill Book."


    <strong>[Skill Book - Skin of Magical Resistance....]</strong>


    "Huh."


    <strong>[Acquired skill - Skin of Magical Resistance.]</strong>


    <strong><u>[Beginner¡¯s Skin of Magical Resistance LV.1 (Passive)]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases magical defense by 30%.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency 0/100</strong>


    There was one simple line for the description! But perhaps due to its simplicity, it was more intuitive.


    <i>The proficiency is still at beginner level 1, but it increases magical defense by 30%, huh...</i>


    Moreover, this type of passive skill didn''t really require hard work for proficiency.


    <i>The proficiency should increase if I get hit by Wizards.</i>


    Lucky or not, Kai was already out of favor with the ck Bee guild!


    He smiled crookedly; he was greatly satisfied with the effect of the skill.


    "It''s quite expensive, but I like it."


    It wasn¡¯t just <i>quite</i> expensive, it was a billions worth expensive but Kai didn''t mind at all.


    <i>This is an investment in myself.</i>


    After all, he was behind many rankers in various ways.


    <i>And in order for me to catch up to them, I need to work several times harder, spend several times more money, and be several times luckier!</i>


    It seemed like a future full of hardship was ahead of him!


    Letting out a short sigh, Kai checked for any items dropped by the ck Bee guild members.


    "Hmm... Those scumbags. They just dropped one item?"


    After making a round of their bodies, he stopped where ude had died.


    <i>At least the leader dropped something.</i>


    What he picked up was a worn and old-looking bracelet.


    "Item information."


    <strong>[Wanderer¡¯s Guiding Bracelet]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 260</strong>


    <strong>Magical Defense: 275</strong>


    <strong>The precious bracelet of a wanderer who knows the location of an ancient king¡¯s tomb.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 50 and above.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 32/75</strong>


    "Eh."


    Having seen only Rare and Unique items for a while, Kai began to have high standards.


    "Why not have better stuff? You really just carry around a magic item...?"


    As he continued, his brows furrowed.


    <i>Wait. The ck Bee guild''s top rookie was wearing a magic item?</i>


    No, that wasn''t it. He recalled that ude had never worn such a bracelet, not even once.


    "Then... it dropped from his inventory?"


    It seemed like an unfortunate junk item had dropped from his inventory!


    <i>Well, I''ve gained enough elsewhere.</i>


    He had obtained three Unique items, which others might not see even once in their lifetime, and 70 gold on top of that. Of course, it was the result of taking two raid boss monsters himself, so it wasn''t surprising.


    <i>Something does feel off because things went so smoothly, but...</i>


    After tossing and catching the Wanderer¡¯s Guiding Bracelet a few times, Kai shoved it into a corner of his inventory.


    "Well, picking this up counts as warding off bad luck, right?"


    ***


    "Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you...!?"


    "To be honest, it was quite the ordeal this time."


    Kai''s arm moved back and forth like a jump rope as Baron Arsen¡¯s thick hand shook his. It was his way of showing how pleased and thankful he was!


    After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down and continued their conversation.


    "I''m truly grateful for minimizing the casualties among the soldiers, including my son. No matter how many times I thank you, it''s not enough."


    "It was possible thanks to the help of many others."


    "Your humility is really something..."


    As Kai humbly dismissed the praise with a smile, Baron Arsen shook his head.


    But that was only for a brief moment, as his gaze sharpened.


    "I''ve heard the bees got a bit stirred up."


    "Yes. A few very dark-hearted wasps got involved. It was a close call with death."


    "I didn''t know you also had a talent for exterminating pests."


    "Extermination? No. I only chased them away for a bit."


    "Hmm." Baron Arsen''s gaze deepened. "...I''ve heard they are quite a formidable force among adventurers. Will you be alright?"


    "Well, what can I do? I couldn''t possibly refuse your request."


    "Haha, oh you. You always know the right thing to say. Don''t worry. As long as you''re in this city, no one can touch you."


    "Thank you even for the kind words."


    Though limited to Glendale, having the full support of a noble like the Baron eased Kai''s concerns. No matter how powerful the ck Bee guild was, they wouldn''t dare cause trouble in Glendale. Of course, they didn''t even know Unknown was Kai.


    <i>Why do I always get tangled up with guilds... both here and in Frica too...?</i>


    Moreover, the ck Bee guild was so big it couldn¡¯t even bepared with the Crimson Sunset guys!


    As Kai was mulling over this, Baron Arsen picked up a letter from his desk.


    "Since you''ve sessfullypleted my request, it''s only right that I give you the promised reward. Here you go."


    "This is...?"


    As Kai took the letter, messages popped up.


    <strong>[Title acquired: Rising Star.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with Baron Arsen increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired Baron Arsen¡¯s Letter of Rmendation.]</strong>


    <i>Oh? The Rising Star title isn''t a special one.</i>


    It was oddly nice to see amon title after so long!


    But how good could amon title be? Without even checking the title''s information, Kai''s face hardened as he examined the letter.


    "Huh...? B-baron Arsen! What is this?"


    "I told you, it''s your reward. The best I can offer as the lord of this city to its saint."


    Baron Arsen smiled broadly.


    "But this is..."


    Suddenly, Kai''s gaze turned dreamy!


    At this moment, Unique weapons or whatever else didn''t matter. This letter was his most precious possession.


    "I''ve thought a lot about what reward to give you. I could have given you powerful equipment or information and requests for other dungeons. But adventurers are essentially wanderers, aren''t they? You, too, will leave this city before long. So, I prepared that. Do you like it?"


    "It''s more than like... I''m deeply moved!"


    Kai''s reaction was not an exaggeration, because what he held was Baron Arsen''s Letter of Rmendation! It was an item of far greater impact than anything the Bunther, Frica vige¡¯s chief, could offer.


    Though just a baron, Baron Arsen was a noble!


    <i>And the recipient is... the lord of Barden Castle!</i>


    Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    Barden Castle was known as the frontline city of the Rashion Kingdom until just a month ago. Of course, now the levels of the elites had long surpassed 150, and top rankers had even exceeded level 180, but Barden Castle still retained its reputation as a city of masters.


    <i>Some of the top ten guilds even started in the Rashion Kingdom.</i>


    And all of them had once gathered in Barden Castle for a fierce rivalry.


    Of course, it was the ordinary yers, the shrimps, who got crushed in the fights between those whales, but that also meant he no longer had to face such dangers. They had already moved beyond Barden Castle.


    "Thank you very much. I''ll make sure it''s used for something meaningful!"


    "...Well, use it however you wish. By the way, have you had dinner?"


    "No, I haven¡¯t yet."


    "Good. Let''s have dinner together. I also have someone to introduce you to."


    "...Someone to introduce?"


    With a puzzled look, Kai followed the baron toward the mansion''s dining room.


    "Oh, you''re already here."


    Kai blinked and swallowed a gasp when he saw the woman slowly rising from her chair.


    She had ck hair, straight as a waterfall, tied back in a ponytail, and her skin was as white as milk. And she also had an expressionless face that gave no clue to her thoughts! But such minor details were not bad.


    <i>She''s pretty.</i>


    She had a beauty that wouldn''t be overshadowed by any average celebrity... no, an idol... no, an actress! In fact, shepletely outshone them!


    Kai, barely regaining his senses, stared at the clothes she was wearing.


    <i>Is she an NPC?</i>


    If she could face Baron Arsen face-to-face, it was certain that a yer, unless they received a letter of rmendation like Kai, would have quality gear on. Yet, the clothes she wore seemed somewhat worn.


    A look of pity briefly shed in Kai''s eyes.


    <i>It reminds me of my early days as a beginner. Cold, hungry, and without anyone to trust. They were hard times indeed.</i>


    Of course, that was because Kai had been a Cleric!


    However, Kai was certain of one thing.


    <i>Of course. There couldn''t possibly be an adventurer who is so pretty.</i>


    Surely, she must have been designed by the entire development team of Pegasus.


    The woman, unaware of Kai''s inner thoughts, simply tilted her head in confusion.

 Chapter 57: After the Expedition (2)

    <h4>Chapter 57: After the Expedition (2)</h4>


    "Please, take a seatfortably, both of you."


    Baron Arsen sat at the head of the long dining table, with his wife and son Ador to his left, and Kai and the mysterious woman on the right.


    Baron Arsen lifted his wine ss with a gentle smile and said, "Let''s toast to thank the hero of the expedition."


    "Thank you."


    One couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased when someone praised the achievements they''ve worked hard for!


    Baron Arsen and his family did not hold back theirpliments for Kai.


    "It''s embarrassing to keep hearing such praise...."


    "Hahaha! You should be proud. What''s there to be embarrassed about?"


    "Ador is right. You''re too modest. Have a bit more confidence."


    "Right. Even though humility is a virtue for a Cleric, too much of it isn''t good either."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    The dinner atmosphere, filled with the heroes who led the expedition force to victory, was inevitably warm.


    <i>But....</i>


    Kai''s gaze drifted to his left.


    The woman with doll-like beauty quietly ate her food, not participating in the conversation at all. She seemed as if she was there just for the food!


    When Kai looked at her with a puzzled expression, Baron Arsen pped his knee and said, "Oh, pardon me. I haven''t introduced you two yet."


    The woman, who had quietly put down her fork, looked at Baron Arsen and then at Kai.


    "This is Kai. A valuable adventurer who always aids me and mynd. Both the Orc Lord and the Orc Sorcerer were taken care of by him too."


    "...The Orc Lord?"


    The woman looked at Kai, seemingly shocked.


    <i>...What? Why is she reacting that way all of a sudden?</i>


    She seemed agitated, like a distressed cat! Her demeanor made it seem like she had done something terribly wrong.


    "And this beautifuldy is also an adventurer like you."


    "Wait a minute. An adventurer?"


    This time, Kai was the one who froze. The woman he thought was an NPC was actually a yer.


    Kai''s expression hardened in an instant.


    <i>She would have heard everything about me being the Saint of Glendale and also just heard that I took down the Orc Sorcerer and Orc Lord.</i>


    That would exin her reaction. It would have been because she realized the identity of Unknown, which many people were curious about.


    Caught in an unexpected crisis, Kai''s brows just furrowed when Baron Arsen continued, "Oh right, this is Yoo Ha-Rin. Being fellow adventurers, I''m sure you''ll have a lot inmon."


    <i>Wait, Yoo Ha-Rin?</i>


    Kai''s eyes widened.


    <i>Could it be the Yoo Ha-Rin I know?</i>


    The name Yoo Ha-Rin made Kai naturally recall the yer who fought Veghas.


    However, <i>MID Online</i> allowed duplicate yer IDs! There were countless individuals who copied the names of the rankers.


    <i>Then, could this person also be just a simple fan of Yoo Ha-Rin? Or is she... the real Yoo Ha-Rin?</i>


    Kai nkly stared at her.


    Feeling overwhelmed by Kai''s staring, Yoo Ha-Rin subtly turned her head away.


    Of course, Kai was not the type to back down from such a cute resistance.


    "Nice to meet you. I''m Kai."


    "...I''m Yoo Ha-Rin."


    An awkward silence settled between the two after the introductions! Their situation resembled that of friends who talked freely when in a group but became awkwardly silent when left alone.


    Even Baron Arsen intervened, unable to stand the awkward scene, "She is quite shy. But it is certain that she has a good heart."


    "...I see."


    Kai reluctantly nodded and turned his gaze away.


    <i>Asking directly might be a bit weird so.... Maybe I should try indirectly asking first.</i>


    Prying for information the first time they met was not polite!


    Looking for a suitable topic to talk about, Kai noticed thest piece of steak on her te and softly smiled, saying, "You seem to enjoy eating steak."


    Startled by his words, as if caught stealing, Yoo Ha-Rin quickly pulled her te closer, guarding it from Kai.


    ¡°This is mine.¡±


    Suddenly used as a food thief, Kai wore a dumbfounded expression.


    <i>What, I wasn¡¯t going to take it from her....</i>


    Kai even had a perfectly untouched steak on his own te!


    Bewildered by this unprecedented treatment, Kai instinctively offered his te and said, "I... I wasn¡¯t trying to steal it. If you like steak, would you like to have mine too?"


    The moment he spoke, he first regretted his words.


    <i>Am I an idiot? It seems like I was trying to coax her with food or something. There''s no way this method, which wouldn''t even work on kindergartners, would make her let her guard down....</i>


    "May I?"


    <i>It did work!</i>


    Her wary look vanished in an instant, and she stared at the steak on Kai''s te, then looked at Kai with her big eyes.


    <i>Ahhh!</i>


    Her adorable gaze made it feel like it would be harmful to his heart if she continued to look at him like that!


    Kai, without realizing, quickly turned his head and offered his te, "Of course, please take it. I don¡¯t have much of an appetite right now anyway."


    "Thank you."


    She politely bowed her head and took thest piece of her steak into her mouth, then began elegantly cutting and eating Kai''s steak at an impressively fast pace.


    As Kai nkly watched her eat, he felt full just by looking at her.


    <i>...She seems to have a big appetite.</i>


    She didn¡¯t just eat well, she ate <i>exceptionally</i> well. While others could have seemed like a pig while eating so quickly, that wasn¡¯t her case. The orderly and rhythmic manner in which she sliced the steak and brought it to her mouth with the fork was like amercial for a famous barbecue restaurant starring an A-List actress.


    <i>Of course, in terms of appearance, she¡¯s way more... no, that''s not what''s important right now.</i>


    Kai, having forgotten his intended goal at the sight of her beauty, barely regained his senses and carefully asked, "Uh... so, what¡¯s your job? Since we''vee to know each other I was thinking we should form a party togetherter. Oh! Just so you know, I''m a Cleric."


    After chewing a bunch and swallowing the meat in her mouth, Yoo Ha-Rin wiped her lips with a napkin and blinked herrge eyes. "I haven''t chosen one yet."


    "I-is that so?"


    "Yes. And about forming a party... it might be difficult due to our level difference. Sorry."


    <i>Of course.</i>


    Kai let out a deep sigh, he was both disappointed and relieved by her answer.


    <i>Meeting Yoo Ha-Rin by chance is said to be as rare as winning the lottery, so who knew I would suddenly meet her in a ce like this?</i>


    Her preference for solo y made it hard to encounter her even in the city. She was truly a person shrouded in mystery!


    <i>Now, all I need to do is ensure she doesn¡¯t spread information about me....</i>


    Kai tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but his situation was quite serious.


    He wondered what would be of his gaming life if she were to spread information about him somewhere.


    <i>The ck Bee guild guys would swarm at me like bees.</i>


    In that case, they wouldn''t be bees likest time but would turn into wasps. And his chances of winning against those wasps would be virtually 0%.


    <i>That must never happen.</i>


    Of course, there was an easy way out: reveal his job and join one of the world''s top ten guilds. But that was a measure to be taken only when pushed to the absolute brink.


    <i>I don''t even really like the guys from the top ten guilds to begin with.</i>


    Ultimately, every choice seemed to depend on Yoo Ha-Rin right in front of him!


    Kai looked at her with a very nervous expression.


    And despite his persistent gaze, Yoo Ha-Rin determinedly finished all her meat.


    ***


    <i>Thud.</i>


    The mansion''s door shut firmly, and the cool night air filled Kai and Yoo Ha-Rin''s lungs.


    Lightly exhaling, Kai spoke with a determined expression, "Miss Ha-Rin."


    As always, the more desperate one dug the well first.


    When Kai called her, Yoo Ha-Rin turned her head, looking at him with a question in her eyes.


    "I''ll just cut to the chase. I''ll pay you to forget all the information you heard during dinner."


    Kai chose the straightforward battle tactic! The longer he dragged it out, the longer she would think, and the more he could have to pay.


    "Information?"


    Her big eyes blinked as she thought back to the conversation during dinner. She suddenly let out a small exmation as she realized what he was talking about.


    "Are you talking about the part where you¡¯re the Saint of Glendale, and Unknown who recently defeated the Orc Sorcerer and Orc Lord...."


    "W-wait a moment!"


    Kai, suddenly panicked, reached out to cover her mouth.


    With a swift step back, Yoo Ha-Rin easily dodged Kai''s attempt to touch her.


    <i>W-why are her reflexes so good?</i>


    Although he was impressed by her clean backstep, he realized that wasn''t the important part at the moment.


    Realizing his rudeness, Kai stepped back and bowed his head. "I apologize. I was too hasty. Spreading that information wouldplicate matters significantly."


    Yoo Ha-Rin blinked silently for a moment while looking at Kai before shaking her head.


    At the same time, Kai''s heart sank.


    <i>I-is this a negotiation breakdown? Is she saying she doesn¡¯t care about the reward and that she¡¯s just going to spread my information?</i>


    However, contrary to Kai''s worries, Yoo Ha-Rin''s next words were good news for him.


    "I won''t tell anyone."


    "...Really?"


    As Kai hesitated, not being able to understand why she would do that for him without anything in return, Yoo Ha-Rin murmured quietly, "The Orc Lord... I feel bad...."


    "Sorry? I didn''t catch that."


    "Nothing."


    She shook her head, strongly insisting she hadn''t said a word. Though he wasn''t convinced, Kai had to reluctantly ept it since he couldn''t do anything when she was adamant.


    <i>Honestly, it would be normal to not believe her when she says she won''t tell anyone but....</i>


    Her beauty made even nonsense sound reassuring and made her seem more trustworthy!


    If she were part of a pyramid scheme or was a cult leader, she probably would have been able to build several buildings by now.


    <i>But relying on just her word still feels too risky, and it''s driving me insane.</i>


    However, continuing the conversation would only imply he didn''t trust her.


    As Kai worried, Yoo Ha-Rin slightly shivered, wrapping one arm around herself. Given the visible breaths, the night air was indeed chilly.


    <i>Come to think of it, the clothes she''s wearing....</i>


    She was currently dressed in a cheap-looking short-sleeved shirt and shorts, which definitely wasn¡¯t enough for the cold night air!


    <i>Tsk, this really takes me back to my newbie days.</i>


    It was a continuous period of being cold, hungry, and miserable. Even Kai back then had a hard time with thin clothes against the night chill.


    Feeling sorry for her, Kai offered two pieces of orc leather from his inventory. Making the other person feel good was a basic principle for a trade!


    "Here, put this around yourself. It''s not proper clothing, but it should keep you warm."


    Yoo Ha-Rin seemed puzzled.


    "Oh! Just so you know, it''s not that valuable. Even if sold at a general store, it would only go for about 2 silver each."


    Of course, to a newbie, two pieces of leather worth 2 silver could indeed be significant.


    Yoo Ha-Rin paused and seemed as if thinking about something, but then bowed politely. "I¡¯ll use it well, thank you."


    Her expression softened as she draped the two pieces of orc leather over her shoulders.


    Watching this, Kai''s expression also softened.


    <i>Wow, how does she make wearing even orc leather look good...?</i>


    It made him think that if she wore a proper dress, it wouldn''t just be easy on the eyes but could actually improve his eyesight!


    Kai then cleared his throat and mentioned in passing, ¡°I''m not giving this to you because I don''t trust you and am trying to score points. I''ve experienced the harsh cold during my newbie days too. That''s why I''m giving it to you."


    "Ah... thank you."


    With those words, an awkward silence descended once again.


    <i>She wouldn¡¯t spread the information now after I did this much, right?</i>


    The most certain way would be to intimidate her with his level or stats, given she was a newbie. However, that would make him no better than the trash he despised the most.


    <i>Right. This is all I can do.</i>


    After all, this situation wasn''t really anyone''s fault to begin with. Baron Arsen hadn¡¯t had any ill intentions either. He was simply unaware of the rumors about Unknown circting among the yers.


    Putting aside hisplicated thoughts, Kai''s expression seemed much more rxed. "Then, I''ll be on my way. It was nice meeting you."


    Yoo Ha-Rin nodded.


    Leaving her with a brief goodbye, Kai walked down the hill.


    Left alone, Yoo Ha-Rin looked at the two pieces of orc leather around her shoulders for a long time. She looked as if she received kindness from someone for the first time.

 Chapter 58: Bidding War (1)

    <h4>Chapter 58: Bidding War (1)</h4>


    The auction house NPCs in Glendale were always smiling and friendly by default. There was no reason not to be since the adventurers visiting the auction house were all customers who paid amission whether they were selling or buying items.


    "May I have a ticket number, please?"


    "Of course... oh!"


    The employee, who had been smiling brightly as they handed out a ticket, recognized Kai and excused themself for a moment before disappearing. A short whileter, a man dressed in a neat suit approached instead.


    "Hello. I am Brad, the manager of this branch."


    "I see.... Is there a problem?"


    "Not at all. I''vee to assist you with your business. Please,e this way."


    With a professional smile, Brad guided Kai to the VIP room. The VIP room was a ce reserved for those who traded items worth at least several hundred gold!


    It was illogical for a casual gamer to spend millions of won at a game''s auction house. In other words, only those who dedicated their lives to the game could use this VIP room.


    <i>The items I registeredst time did sell for quite a bit.</i>


    There was no reason to refuse the special treatment offered.


    Brad, who had seated Kai on a luxurious sofa, sat in front of him and politely asked, "What brings you to the auction house this time?"


    "The same asst time, selling."


    "Then please put the items you wish to register in this box."


    Brad handed over a ratherrge box, but honestly, he didn''t have high expectations for Kai''s items.


    <i>It¡¯s the client who sold items worth 200 gold in his first transaction.</i>


    He was well aware of Kai''s transaction history. In his mind, Kai was an adventurer who sold exceptionally Rare items. Therefore, he expected that, at best, Kai would register items of simr quality tost time.


    "I''ve put everything in."


    "Allow me to confirm them. The items you wish to register for sale include the Fang of Fermi, a ck Widow¡¯s Venom Skill Book, a Bloodthirsty Double-Ax, and....¡±


    As Brad named the items one by one, hisplexion turned increasingly pale.


    <i>Wh-what¡¯s with these items!?</i>


    Kai had registered only five items. It wasn¡¯t arge quantity, as there were those who registered dozens or even a hundred items in a day. However, what shocked Brad was not the quantity but the exceptional quality of the items.


    <i>A Unique double-ax, a staff that¡¯s also Unique... and a Rare dagger and Rare skill book that can¡¯t even bepared with Unique items...!</i>


    There also was a Magic-grade bracelet among them, but even considering that, all the items could be called an extraordinary jackpot! Moreover, the auction house had beencking in useful Unique items recently.


    <i>If these items are released at the same time under such circumstances....</i>


    It was possible for a bidding war to arise!


    Quickly realizing this, Brad swallowed hard. A transaction of this magnitude couldn¡¯t fall through. Therefore, he was careful not to make even the smallest mistake.


    "C-could you please tell me your desired starting bid for the auction?"


    "Hm? Last time, the staff rmended a price ording to the market value."


    "However, it ismon for the seller to set their own prices for high-value items like these."


    This was because if the auction house rmended a price lower than the market value, it could significantly damage trust!


    "Hm. In that case...."


    Kai boldly wrote prices on the tags attached to his items.


    <strong>[Fang of Fermi (Rare) - 60 Gold]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Book - ck Widow''s Venom - 150 gold]</strong>


    <strong>[Bloodthirsty Double-Ax (Unique) - 300 gold]</strong>


    <strong>[Wand of Remembrance (Unique) - 500 gold]</strong>


    <strong>[Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet (Magic) - 1 gold]</strong>


    "Please list them like this."


    "Sure, I will take care of it right away."


    Brad, still unable to calm his startled heart, bowed deeply at a ny-degree angle and promptly proceeded with Kai''s request.


    Meanwhile, Kai sipped on the fresh fruit juice in front of him, thinking about the prices of the items.


    <i>If they all sell at those prices, it''ll be over a thousand gold.</i>


    That was an amount exceeding one hundred million won in Korean currency!


    If the items were sessfully sold, Kai would no longer have to worry about money.


    <i>Always be hungry for more? That¡¯s nonsense.</i>


    It was well-known that those who were warm and well-fed always performed better!


    After sessfully registering his items at the auction house, Kai rubbed his eyes, sleepy, and logged out.


    ***


    Meanwhile, ude, the promising member of the ck Bee guild, swallowed hard. The usual arrogant and confident expression was nowhere to be found on his face. Instead, he was uncharacteristically anxious and scared, with his head bowed low.


    The silence, which seemed tost forever, was shattered by the person he was video calling.


    ¡ªYou dropped what?


    "Th-that is...."


    ¡ªShut up and answer me. You dropped what?


    "Th-the Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet...."


    ¡ªYou idiot!


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The sound of the other person mming their desk echoed through the monitor.


    At the same time, ude''s heart sank. Normally, considering his temperament, he would have cursed at anyone who yelled at him and hung up the call, but the person on the monitor was someone ude could never disobey.


    "I-I¡¯m really sorry."


    ¡ªSorry? You think saying sorry is enough? You know what kind of item that was, don''t you?


    "...I''ll surely get it back."


    ¡ªDamn, I shouldn¡¯t have entrusted it to you just to hide it from the other top ten guilds.... I''ll give you exactly one week from now... what is it? I said I was on a call, didn''t I?


    Suddenly, another person appeared on the screen. Then they whispered something to the person on the call.


    ¨CWhat?


    Whatever was said caused the caller''s face to contort in anger, which was followed by an outburst louder than any before.


    ¡ªBuy it immediately! No matter how much it costs!


    The person on the other end of ude¡¯s call, namely the master of the ck Bee guild, Sting, seemed utterly nervous, and then warned ude with a chilling voice,


    ¡ªThanks. That item you clumsily lost, it''s been put up for auction.


    "Th-then...."


    ¡ªIf our guild retrieves the bracelet, I''ll overlook it this time. But if someone else gets their hands on the bracelet....


    Sting red at ude as if to pierce him with his gaze.


    ¡ªYou''d better be prepared then.


    "P-please forgive me...."


    The call ended as if there was no further business left, and only the call program remained blinking on the screen.


    "Th-that bastard registered it at the auction house?"


    It seemed unlikely that Kai knew what the item really was because the item could only be known by those who had focused on the game¡¯s main story for months.


    <i>This is actually better.</i>


    If he didn''t know its value, he would have listed it at a low price. It was certain that bidding at a reasonably high price would allow them to retrieve it.


    Havinge to this conclusion, ude, barely remaining calm, turned on hisputer. Then he logged into <i>Mid Online</i>¡¯s auction site. It was a site where one could buy or sell items registered at the auction house without logging into the game.


    <i>The Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet....</i>


    ude''s face turned pale as he searched for the item and saw the updated bid amounts.


    <strong>[Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet]</strong>


    <strong>[Starting price - 1 gold (100,000 KRW)]</strong>


    <strong>[New Bid - 5 gold 46 silver (546,000 KRW)]</strong>


    <strong>[New Bid - 10 gold 12 silver (1,012,000 KRW)]</strong>


    <strong>[New Bid - 15 gold 36 silver (1,536,000 KRW)]</strong>


    <strong>[New Bid - 20 gold 74 silver (2,074,000 KRW)]</strong>


    <strong>[New Bid - 22 gold 22 silver (2,222,000 KRW)]</strong>


    "Damn it...!"


    There was already a pack of hyenas crowding around it, drawn by the scent.


    ***


    Han Jung-Woo let out a big yawn. He had woken up but hadn¡¯t yet gotten up from bed. As if wishing for an out-of-body experience, he sat on his bed and just scratched his tousled hair.


    <i>I haven¡¯t slept this much in a while.</i>


    ording to the clock, he had slept for thirteen hours. Perhaps that was why he felt much better than usual.


    <i>I do feel a bitzy like azy bear.</i>


    He had slept twice as long as usual due to his umted fatigue without even waking up once.


    "Uuuuugh!"


    Stretching his arms out, Han Jung-Woo turned on hisputer and logged into the auction site.


    "It''s only been about thirteen hours, but...."


    He was curious about the current bids for the Unique items, given their value.


    "Wow, things are going smoother than I thought."


    A satisfied smile found its way to Han Jung-Woo''s face first thing in the morning. The Unique items he had registered at the auction house had new bids ranging from as low as 5 gold to as high as 8 gold!


    <i>Oh, right, I had one more item registered.</i>


    It was just a Magic item, but since it was listed at 1 gold, that was still worth 100,000 won!


    "Was it called the Wanderer¡¯s Guiding Bracelet?"


    As Han Jung-Woo, tilting his head, typed in the keywords and pressed enter, he doubted his own eyes.


    "Wh-what is this?"


    Witnessing the absurd price, Han Jung-Woo paused to think for a moment, and then chuckled and let out a bigugh.


    "Haha! That''s what I thought. Of course, there''s no way I slept for thirteen hours. I''m a person, I don''t hibernate like a bear."


    Han Jung-Woo chose to pinch his cheek with all his might in an attempt to wake from what he thought was a dream. Undoubtedly, it was the worst decision he had made that year.


    "Oww!"


    He snapped back into reality as sparks seemed to fly before his eyes! As he looked in the mirror, his numb cheek quickly started to turn red from the pinch.


    <i>This isn¡¯t a dream? So then....</i>


    Then he hurriedly began to count the zeros on the amount shown on the screen.


    "One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million... ten million won?"


    Moreover, the number started with a three.


    Han Jung-Woo couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    <i>Unless I''m an idiot who can''t read numbers, this looks like 30 million won.</i>


    <strong>[New Bid - 307 gold 20 silver (30,720,000 won)]</strong>


    At least his vision seemed fine!


    However, instead of a sigh of relief, a strange noise, like the sound made when a t coke was opened, escaped Han Jung-Woo''s mouth.


    "Woow. Amazing."


    At the same time, his eyebrows furrowed, and his head tilted to the side.


    <i>Why is this happening?</i>


    It was just a Magic-grade item. Moreover, it didn''t have any special abilities attached, and its defense or magical resistance wasn''t particrly great.


    <i>Why is there such a fuss about buying this item?</i>


    The first thought he got was that it could be a new scam, but that thought quickly vanished.


    <i>If this were a scam, it would have to harm me somehow. But there''s no harm anywhere, is there?</i>


    Whoever it would be, buying the bracelet at such a high price would only make Han Jung-Woo grateful!


    "I guess it was strange from the beginning, wasn''t it...?" Han Jung-Woo mumbled as he stroked his chin.


    <i>It doesn¡¯t seem like ude, that ill-tempered and arrogant bastard, would carry around such a trash item.</i>


    Yet, he had. That was why he dropped the item when he was killed by Kai.


    <i>Why did he carry it, though?</i>


    There would have been a reason.


    Kai read the item''s description again.


    "A wanderer who knows the location of an ancient king''s tomb...."


    He had overlooked it at first because it was a Magic-grade item, but given the current situation, there couldn''t be a more suspicious sentence.


    <i>It seems like this bracelet is somehow rted to this ancient king....</i>


    The important thing was that he currently had no information rted to this ancient king! In other words, even with this item, he had no idea what to do with it.


    <i>And....</i>


    Han Jung-Woo watched the IDs that were continuously updating their bids without a break.


    Once the bid exceeded a certain amount, buyers were required to disclose their ID when cing a bid, and obviously, that ount had to have enough money to make the purchase.


    <i>In other words, the ten people who are continuously bidding right now... they actually have real cash.</i>


    Moreover, the existence of a slight rivalry among them could be seen just by watching the bidding war.


    At the same time, the corners of Han Jung-Woo''s mouth curled up as if he was amused.


    <i>This guy is with the ck Bee guild.</i>


    The ID was [Fly Like A Butterfly].


    Whenever a new bid was updated, this person would add a few tens of thousands of won more to make the top bid within thirty seconds.


    <i>Our Butterfly seems to be in quite the urgent situation here... and that means the rest must be from the top ten guilds.</i>


    It was hard to believe that the others wouldn¡¯t know what the ck Bee guild knew. In short, the value of this item, unknown to ordinary people like Han Jung-Woo, was known to those who had progressed far into the game¡¯s main story!


    "Well, the one who bids the highest will take it."


    Han Jung-Woo thought very simply, unaware of how big a ripple this event would cause.

 Chapter 59: Bidding War (2)

    <h4>Chapter 59: Bidding War (2)</h4>


    Rival was a term that referred to a tenacious individual who alwayspeted due to having the same goals in the same field as others. Typically, rivals numbered at most two or three.


    However, the world of <i>MID Online</i> was not so easy-going. There were top ten guilds. In other words, there were nine other rivals. Moreover, the challengers eyeing to rece them as one of the top ten couldn''t be ignored either.


    Therefore, the masters of the world''s top ten guilds had to live every day, every minute, every second under pressure. Even just a moment of carelessness could lead to them being overtaken by one of their nine rivals and quickly being eliminated. It was as if they were participating in a marathon without a set finish line!


    Amidst this, an opportunity to be the frontrunner in the race emerged.


    "The Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet has been listed at the auction house?"


    As if they were sleeping giants woken up from their slumber, the masters of the top ten guilds began to move at the news that came out of nowhere. Their values, hobbies, and personalities were very different, but at that moment, they all let out identical reactions as if they were decuplets.


    "Get that item no matter what. It doesn''t matter how much it costs."


    If it meant outpacing the nine rivals, any cost was eptable.


    Moreover, the ck Bee guild was known for rapidly advancing through the main story based on their overwhelming power, so they were naturally a subject of wary attention.


    <i>If the guild''s intelligence team is correct, that''s a quest item rted to an ancient king''s ruins.</i>


    <i>The conquest of an ancient king''s dungeon is among the biggest projects the ck Bee guild is recently undertaking.</i>


    <i>ording to the great wise man Kirian... it''s practically a map with dungeons of at least level 190 and over.</i>


    <i>We must get it for the guild''s growth, no matter what.</i>


    The top ten guilds each had different clues and information, but there was one thing they agreed on.


    <i>We must buy this item.</i>


    <i>We have to buy it before the others do.</i>


    <i>Whoever buys this takes a step ahead.</i>


    <i>If we stream the conquest of an ancient king''s dungeon... we can gain fame, money, and our guild members'' growth.</i>


    <i>If we can''t buy it, we at least need to prevent the others from buying it.</i>


    In the marathon they participated in, there was no such concept as rules. Shaking off those behind and grabbing the ankles of those ahead was the only way to desperately move forward and that was the only rule.


    And the guild masters, who knew this fact best, also harbored doubts.


    <i>But why is this being auctioned? I knew Sting had given the bracelet to one of his close associates....</i>


    <i>Could it be that the associate betrayed him?</i>


    <i>They wouldn''t sell it at an auction unless they were crazy.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s not a trapid by the ck Bee guys, is it?</i>


    An enormous number of people were deployed to verify the authenticity of the item. The Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet would end bidding exactly one week from the registration date. During that time, all sorts of information were gathered, and it all reached the masters.


    "So... the seller is someone named Unknown? Who are they?"


    "What? He¡¯s a solo yer but tricked the ck Bee guild? What a lunatic."


    "He must be confident in his skills."


    "The Glendale expedition force, huh... Do some digging into this guy''s identity."


    "First, send a message through themunity ount. Say the Titan guild wants to make a deal personally."


    The name Unknown became engraved in the minds of the top ten guild masters from that moment on.


    ***


    "Dang, it''s really on the rise. It¡¯s going crazy," Han Jung-Woo murmured with an unbelieving expression.


    It had been a week since the Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet was listed at the auction house. Though there were still two hours left until the auction closed, the price had already skyrocketed.


    <i>It really must be an important item, huh?</i>


    It was the first time a mere Magic-grade item had attracted a bid of 142 million won. At the same time, it was likely that such an event would never happen again, so the yers were going crazy.


    -What is it? Can someone exin?


    ©¸ I''m dying of curiosity too. Someone please exin.


    ©¸ I think I''m already dead. Please, anyone, exin.


    -Isn''t this just market maniption by some force?


    ©¸ We''ll see if it really sells or not.


    ©¸ Is there really a ce that operates so openly though?


    ©¸ It seems too tant to be a maniption....


    The main reaction was confusion about why the item was so expensive.


    Of course, Han Jung-Woo was just as confused.


    <i>I don''t get it either. And at this point, I''m starting to get nervous.</i>


    The price of the item had far exceeded Han Jung-Woo''s expectations. That meant that the item''s value was far greater than anticipated!


    But that only made him more worried.


    <i>It doesn''t matter who buys it, the ck Bee guys are going to be pissed.</i>


    Even if they did purchase it, they would be angry, and even more so if they couldn''t purchase it.


    "Oof, scary to even think of it."


    If they decided to chase after him, he''d have to be cautious not only when hunting or questing but even when eating at a restaurant!


    "If that situation arises... I''d really go crazy."


    Then perhaps it would be a better idea to go to the ck Bee guild''s base and just return the item.


    "But then I''d go crazy right now."


    In other words, he didn''t like either option!


    <i>There¡¯s no other choice then.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo had already started something he couldn¡¯t stop. Even if he apologized now, there was no way they would ept it!


    "Since it''se to this, let''s see it through to the end."


    After all, he was the one with the upper hand at the moment.


    ***


    "What''s the result?"


    "There''s still one minute left."


    "Ugh. Was five minutes always this long?" Vulcan, the master of the Warriors guild, let out a groan.


    Since his guild became one of the world''s top ten, there had never been a moment when five minutes passed so slowly.


    <i>I''ve always lived being chased by time.</i>


    Therefore, he was feeling that much more anxious right now. Of course, the thought that someone else was feeling even more anxious at this moment was somewhatforting.


    <i>I wonder if Sting is getting a nervous breakdown.</i>


    Regardless of what anyone said, Sting, who had to buy his own item with money, would be feeling the worst!


    And what if he wanted to buy but failed to?


    "That would be amusing," Vulcan smiled, considerably less anxious.


    Vulcan wanted to make a video call to Sting, but knowing Sting¡¯s temper, he could dere a guild war right then, so he refrained.


    "Master, the auction has ended!"


    "And? Which guild won the bid?"


    At his guild member''s uing report, Vulcan''s gaze became serious. Now, the guild to be named wouldugh, while the other nine guilds would cry for a while.


    But Vulcan, observing his guild member''s strange expression, felt something was off and asked, "Why do you look like that?"


    "Th-that is...."


    How could this even be exined?


    The guild member, with a look unsure of how to exin the situation, said in a bewildered voice, "The Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet. The sale was canceled three seconds before closing."


    ***


    In the moment the mouths of the world''s top ten guild masters simultaneously dropped open, they were faced with even more shocking news.


    "W-we¡¯ve received a message from Unknown!"


    "He wants a deal with our Warriors guild."


    "Ha, of course ck Market is perfect for deals. He sent a message wanting to sell the Wanderer¡¯s Guiding Bracelet."


    "We just received a message that he wants to pursue a positive transaction with our Titan guild."


    "There''s a chatroom link in the message."


    "He wants a private meeting with the master, so you should click the link yourself."


    Kai had sent the same message to the nine guilds excluding the ck Bee guild!


    At the same time, the once lonely and quiet chat room began to buzz with activity.


    [Vulcan has entered the chat.]


    [Goliath has entered the chat.]


    [Xao Lin has entered the chat.]


    [Sandro has entered the chat.]


    [Catherine has entered the chat.]


    The masters of the top ten guilds started pouring in less than a minute after the message was sent!


    They expressed their current emotions after seeing the names of the chatroom members.


    [Goliath: ?]


    [Xao Lin: ?]


    [Sandro: ?]


    [Minerva: ?]


    [Katherine: Huh?]


    <i>Let''s pause for a second here....</i>


    After about ten seconds passed with no further chatting, Kai tapped on the hologram keyboard.


    [Unknown: Wee. Let''s resume the auction for the Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet.]


    [Xao Lin: What do you think you¡¯re doing right now?]


    [Minerva: I entered the chat after seeing the message that you wanted a deal... Exin what¡¯s going on.]


    [Goliath: This guy was just a crazy bastard.]


    Han Jung-Woo smirked the moment he read the master of the Titan guild curse at him.


    [Chat owner Unknown has kicked yer Goliath from the chat.]


    As this message appeared, theints that were popping up one after another abruptly stopped. The chatroom turned icy in an instant!


    [Unknown: I guess he has somewhere important he needs to be. If anyone else needs to leave, please let me know now! :)]


    [Minerva: ...]


    [Sandro: ...]


    [Catherine: Oh my, what a psycho.]


    A master of one of the world''s top ten guilds wouldn''t be jealous of even the president of a major corporation. Such individuals would have never been treated this way before.


    Faced with an unpredictable psycho named Unknown, they became as silent as if a cat got their tongue.


    <i>Well, I''ve put them in their ce for now... I just need one of them to name a price now.</i>


    Then, the auction would naturally proceed.


    The first to break the long silence was Vulcan of the Warriors guild.


    [Vulcan: What currency would you prefer the sale in?]


    [Unknown: Please refrain from trying to find out information about me. Gold is the standard.]


    [Vulcan: ...My apologies. 300 gold.]


    That was the beginning. Then the eight guild masters started typing in the chat to not lose to one another.


    [Minerva: 350.]


    [Xao Lin: 400.]


    [Katherine: 520.]


    [Sandro: 800.]


    The price rose rapidly!


    However, Kai merely nodded his head without much excitement.


    <i>The price just before the auction ended was 160 million won, so this is nothing.</i>


    Moreover, the situation seemed simr to before, but in reality, it was very different.


    <i>Well, these folks have their pride through the roof, don''t they?</i>


    There was a clear difference between sending a guild member to participate in an auction and jumping into the pricepetition themselves.


    In fact, the atmosphere in the chat room became increasingly heated, and soon the auction turned into a battle of pride.


    Then Vulcan made a bold move.


    [Vulcan: 2,000 gold.]


    "Whoa...!"


    That was equivalent to 200 million in cash! He had easily surpassed the highest bid made during the official auction.


    However, the others seemed to reconsider the item''s value, as no further chats came up.


    <i>Will this amount directly secure the bid for the Warriors?</i>


    But before that thought even finished, the chat started buzzing again.


    [Leonard: 2,150 gold.]


    [Yoshiatsu: 2,200.]


    [Minerva: You guys are so... ugh. 2,300 gold.]


    Pride turned out to be such an expensive thing!


    Kai wanted to burst intoughter holding his stomach but barely stopped himself.


    <i>It''s too early tough.</i>


    To cancel a sale item in an auction, one had to pay 5% of the bid amount. That meant Kai had paid a whopping 8 million won!


    <i>After paying a shocking amount of 8 million won, I should at least make fifty times that, shouldn''t I?</i>


    Even as he had this thought, the price of the item continued to rise.

 Chapter 60: Bidding War (3)

    <h4>Chapter 60: Bidding War (3)</h4>


    4,000 gold was equivalent to a staggering 400 million won. It was an amount of money that some people couldn¡¯t umte even if they worked their entire lives. Yet, some crazy person had spent this enormous sum on just one Magic item.


    <i>I was really lucky.</i>


    If not for the perfect mix of circumstances with a subtle price war, a psychological warfare, and a battle of pride, such a price would never have been possible.


    Therefore, Kai sincerely congratted Sandro on their purchase.


    [Unknown: Congrattions on winning the auction.]


    [Sandro: Shut up. Just tell me your bank and ount number.]


    In reality, the item wasn''t worth that much. Even if a jackpot was won in the ancient king''s dungeon it wouldn''t yield a profit of 400 million won. And perhaps because of that, Sandro, who had won the auction, didn''t seem happy at all.


    [Unknown: I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve said it before. Don''t dig into my personal details. I''ll send you a virtual ount number, so transfer the money there. I''ll mail you the item once I receive the funds.]


    After he finished talking, he remained in the chatroom and scoffed at those who remained quiet.


    <i>I¡¯ve probably be a marked man for sure now.</i>


    There was only one person who could win this auction from the start.


    Moreover, the ck Bee guild and Titan guild hadn¡¯t even gotten to participate. What would the nine guilds other than the winning ck Market think of Kai then?


    <i>They must see me as an annoying jerk who scraped their pride and made a fortune off it.</i>


    Essentially, he had turned nine of the world''s top ten guilds into his enemies. But would the ck Market protect Kai?


    <i>Those guys? No way.</i>


    They had paid for the item, so they would think there was no need for them to protect Kai. This was sad, but true.


    <i>But I have another card up my sleeve.</i>


    Kai tapped on his hologram keyboard as if ying an instrument.


    [Unknown: Oh, and please be aware that I have downloaded our entire chat log history.]


    Everyone was smart, so this brief warning would have been enough.


    The world''s top ten guilds were people that spared no expense in investing money to increase their fame and poprity. So naturally, they had to consider their image.


    <i>Well, of course, top guild members wouldn¡¯t hurt me just because they failed at purchasing an item, but....</i>


    There was always a ¡®just in case¡¯ scenario in every situation. For example, it was still safer to test a stone bridge before crossing it than to just trust it and cross it directly without testing it.


    <i>Having a safety is always a good idea.</i>


    If any of the top ten guilds tried to target Kai because of the auction, he was ready to release the chat logs.


    They were the ones who didn''t have the money to win at the auction, so they could gain the title of being unscrupulous for killing the seller out of frustration.


    Therefore, the underlying meaning of the message Kai left for them was that if they didn''t want to receive such a filthy and despicable image, they should leave him alone.


    <i>If one of them messes with me... the others will take care of the rest.</i>


    Though bound by the title of the top ten guilds, they were far from being close to each other. They were always eyeing each other, ready to tear one another apart. And if one guild messed with Kai in those circumstances...


    <i>They''d all engage in media maniption anyway.</i>


    In short, Kai could effortlessly blow his nose without lifting a finger!


    [Sandro: Sent the money.]


    [Unknown: I''ll check it.]


    Kai touched the interface to open the inte and confirmed that indeed 400 million won had been transferred to his virtual ount.


    [Unknown: I''ll send it by express mail, so you should be able to receive it today.]


    [Sandro: ....]


    The auction had ended, and the money was securely received. That meant there was no longer a reason to stay in the chat room.


    [Unknown has left the chat.]


    Their farewell was as intense as when they first met.


    ***


    Han Jung-Woo smiled as he checked the total amount earned, 529 million won, from the items sold in the auction.


    <i>This time, it really was a jackpot.</i>


    The biggest jackpot was the Wanderer''s Guiding Bracelet dropped by the ck Bee guild, but even the Unique and Rare items had brought in over 100 million won.


    <i>Raids really do pay off, wait, no.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo shook his head.


    Of course, raids did bring in money, but not when there were many participants.


    <i>Solo raiding does pay off. That¡¯s the right expression.</i>


    Being able to take all the money, XP, and titles was the greatest advantage of solo y!


    Then Han Jung-Woo began to decide how to use the money.


    <i>First, I need to get my own ce at the end of this month, so I¡¯ll start with signing a lease for a studio apartment, and I should carry some gold around too.</i>


    As he nned various things, time flew by.


    After stretching his stiff body, Han Jung-Woo sat back at hisputer.


    "Shall I start working on the new series now?"


    A decent amount of editing was necessary to upload the Tag of Death video. Editing it was a simple task that only consisted of edits like removing the sound of him saying Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.


    However, Han Jung-Woo¡¯s expression darkened afterpleting the edits.


    <i>Hm... it¡¯s not as good as I thought.</i>


    He had wiped out the Orc Lord, the Orc Sorcerer, and even the ck Bee guild in one go. Naturally, the oue should have been several times cooler than the Getting Schooled video, but his editing skills were embarrassingly poor even for a beginner!


    The video was nowhere near the quality to satisfy him.


    <i>I want to make it more powerful and cool....</i>


    The solution was simple. It was to hire a professional in the field!


    His decision didn''t take long.


    <i>Right, it might cost a bit, but I can¡¯t release a video of this quality.</i>


    There was no need to worry about money now anyway. He felt on top of the world, like his money would never run out.


    "Is this what it feels like to be a nouveau riche?"


    Having no worries about spending, Han Jung-Woo immediately hired the best expert in the industry. The cost for editing a single video was a whopping 5 million won!


    Han Jung-Woo paid the amount without hesitation and finally sighed with relief.


    "It¡¯s finally over."


    The raid from the expedition itself was tough, but the aftermath was just as exhausting. Honestly, it would have been better just to do a few more raids.


    "Ugh, why did the ck Bee guys drop such a thing and make things so troublesome?"


    If Sting, of the ck Bee guild had heard this, he would have died of a heart attack.


    Han Jung-Woo, after looking proudly at his bank ount again, ordered chicken for the first time in a while.


    ***


    "I see you quite often these days," Baron Arsen greeted with a pleased voice, having met just a day ago.


    Kai had one reason for visiting him. It was to use the umted expedition points.


    <strong>[Current Expedition Points: 1,617P]</strong>


    He had gained a significant number of points alone after defeating the Orc Lord and the Orc Sorcerer!


    Naturally, Kai had easily taken the top spot in contribution in this expedition.


    "Perhaps you¡¯vee to receive your rewards from your achievements on the expedition, am I right?"


    "Yes."


    Kai, having answered sinctly, already had the item he nned to exchange in mind.


    <i>Initially, I nned to receive three pieces of decent Unique equipment to sell, but....</i>


    Thanks to the ck Bee guys, he no longer needed to worry about money. With over 500 million won avable for immediate use, he had no reason to chase after more money.


    <i>Something that can make me stronger immediately.</i>


    An item worth 1,500 pointspletely filled Kai''s mind! He didn''t need to think any further.


    Kai then requested with a confident voice, "I''ll exchange it for the skill book, Undying Will."


    "Excellent choice," Baron Arsen grinned and promptly pulled out a book from the bookshelf.


    The book emitted bright pink and purple colors, capturing Kai''s attention.


    "This is the most valuable reward I have put up in this expedition."


    "I¡¯ll make great use of it, thank you!"


    A voucher for Unique equipment appropriate for his level was 500 points. Therefore, the meaning of a 1,500 point skill book was simple.


    <strong>[<u>Undying Will (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>When at 0 HP, recover 1% health and gain the Invulnerable status for 5 seconds.</strong>


    <strong>All abilities gain a 10% bonus while in this state.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 30 in-game days.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: None.</strong>


    The skill''s cooldown was 30 in-game days, equivalent to 10 days in real life. However, it was a skill that could save him from death once!


    Kai realized his choice was correct.


    <i>Indeed, it''s worth 1,500 points!</i>


    Having one life versus two definitely changed one''s mindset as it could allow for more risky actions depending on the situation.


    <i>If necessary, I could even take them down with me.</i>


    Having acquired the skill instantly, Kai felt a surge of confidence.


    Baron Arsen, sitting back, asked as a passingment, "Are you leaving now?"


    "Yes."


    "I guess you''ve been in this city for about a month now."


    "I am truly indebted to you, Baron Arsen. I''ll be sure toe visit."


    "Whenever you crave a hearty meal, you know where toe." Leaning back on the plush sofa, Baron Arsen continued, "May I say one more thing?"


    "I''m all ears," Kai slightly bowed his head, showing a serious expression.


    "As long as you pursue power, you will face many challenges ahead."


    "No challenge will be able to stop me." Kai''s voice and eyes showed a strong determination.


    Perhaps pleased by his response, Baron Arsen nodded with a proud smile. "Yes, that''s right. If it¡¯s one of the greatest adventurers I can think of, they must be able to do at least that."


    Baron Arsen acknowledged him as the greatest adventurer!


    It was more than just a simplepliment. The sincerity in his voice had warmed a part of Kai''s heart.


    "Baron Arsen, sir...." Kai''s voice trailed off, slightly moved, prompting Baron Arsen to smile yfully.


    "Ah, just to avoid any misconception I must say, there are many more powerful adventurers than you as there are grains of sand on the beach."


    "...There¡¯s surely not that many, are there?"


    "There are," he said with a firmness that seemed to allow no argument!


    As Kai''s moved expression quickly faded to a gloomy look, Baron Arsenughed heartily. "Hahaha! You really are fun to tease."


    "You must be lonely without anyone else to tease now."


    "That¡¯s why you should visit every now and then. There¡¯s nothing quite as enjoyable as this as I get older."


    Kai shook hands with Baron Arsen and then turned to head toward the door.


    "Oh, right. I almost forgot."


    Kai rummaged through his inventory and pulled out an item, which he then showed to Baron Arsen. "Sir, do you know what this item is by any chance?"


    "Hm, I¡¯m not sure. What is it?" Baron Arsen squinted at the dark marble Kai was holding.


    "It¡¯s called an Essence of Darkness fragment... I found it when I killed Fermi."


    "Fermi... the spider queen living in the Forest of Spiders, right?"


    "Yes. This marble caused Fermi and her offspring to be ferocious."


    "Hmm... Is that so?" Baron Arsen stroked his chin, deep in thought, then shook his head. "I can¡¯t figure out what it is, no matter how much I think."


    "I see."


    Kai let out a small sigh. If even Baron Arsen didn''t know, all he could do was thoroughly search the library.


    Just as Kai was about to leave the room after finishing their farewells, Baron Arsen hurriedly stopped him. "Wait! On second thought, the Sage of Water might know."


    "...The Sage of Water?"


    "He used to be the chancellor of the Kingdom of Rashion, but now he leads a leisurely life, having retired from public duties."


    Kai''s eyes lit up. "Where can I meet him?"


    "Head to the city of water, Aquaria."


    At that moment, Kai''s next destination was determined.

 Chapter 61: Instance Dungeon (1)

    <h4>Chapter 61: Instance Dungeon (1)</h4>


    "I''m sorry for making this a wasted trip," Baron Arsen apologized with a sorry expression to Yoo Ha-Rin, who hade to say goodbye before leaving the city.


    However, Yoo Ha-Rin replied with an indifferent expression, "It¡¯s really fine. You don''t need to apologize."


    "Thank you for thinking that way... wait, but what is that?"


    On Yoo Ha-Rin''s shoulder were two pieces of orc leather!


    Baron Arsen, who had been sneaking nces at it, finally couldn''t contain his curiosity and asked.


    <i>Is that a popr fashion among adventurers these days?</i>


    He was very curious!


    Yoo Ha-Rin replied with a faint smile, "I received it as a gift."


    "Oh, well, the person who gave it really has a terrible fashion sense," Baron Arsen said while shaking his head.


    Then Yoo Ha-Rin shrugged with the orc leather on her shoulders. Each time she did, the orc leather shook up and down.


    "I like it because it''s warm."


    "Well, if you like it, there''s nothing more to say. Where do you n to go now?"


    "I''m going to...." Yoo Ha-Rin turned her head and looked toward the southern horizon visible beyond the fortress. "The Pivez Mountains."


    The Pivez Mountains. It was a hunting ground known for having monsters above level 200, a ce for the highest leveled hunters.


    ***


    "I''ll really get going now then."


    "Don''t go around getting beaten up. And if you do get beaten, don''t ever say you learned from me."


    "If anything like that happens, I''ll threaten them by saying Master Huey of the Training Grounds of the Dawn will avenge me."


    "Hmph." Master Huey of the Training Grounds of the Dawn shook his head.


    Watching him, Kai smiled and continued, "Don''t worry too much. If they hit me, I''ll hit them back harder."


    "Who said I¡¯m worried? Still, uh... if you don''t want to end up in jail, make sure you know who they are before you hit them back."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Huey was a grateful master who provided useful information until the end!


    After a good farewell with Huey, Kai headed to the cksmith.


    "What? You''re leaving already!?" Solid shouted, eyes wide with shock. "Of course, I knew you were an adventurer and would leave someday... but isn''t this too soon?"


    "Haha, I tend to improve and grow fast."


    "Well... then it means you''ve gotten stronger, so I should congratte you." Licking his lips, Solid swallowed his sadness, then abruptly went into his room and came out with arge box. "Take this with you."


    "Solid, but this box is...."


    It was not the first time Kai had seen the box. Inside was the Unique sword made by the adventurer who had challenged Solid and his cksmithing skills.


    "Take it. And if you meet the adventurer who made this sword, tell him this." Solid, with his bulging muscr arms, said with a confident expression, "Solid, the best cksmith in Glendale, wants a rematch someday."


    "B-but this sword is...."


    "Just take it. Every time I see it, something surges up inside me and it annoys me." Solid red at the box containing the sword and scoffed. "Of course, it''s not that I''m afraid. If wepete again, I''ll give it my all and win."


    "Sure...." Kai picked up the sword with a soulless voice.


    <strong>[You have obtained the Iron Will Long Sword.]</strong>


    <i>Well, this is basically like a good bargain, so I''m happy.</i>


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t a sword he could start using right away as he was far off from the level 80 and Strength 500 requirements.


    <i>Come to think of it, what''s my Strength right now?</i>


    Kai immediately checked his stats.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 68</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 19,700</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 26,100</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 222 Stamina: 197</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 104 Agility: 112</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 261 Dignity: 78</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 68</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown -9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received -3%</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense +40%</strong>


    <i>222....</i>


    He would need to increase his stats by another 278 to equip the sword!


    Kai shook his head.


    <i>Realistically, I won''t be able to use this sword.</i>


    Of course, someday he could exceed 500 in Strength, but by then, he would be able to equip better weapons.


    "I''ll definitely pass on the message if I meet him. Do you know anything about his name or appearance?"


    "I don''t know his name, but as for his appearance... hm."


    Solid¡¯s eyebrows wiggled as he looked at the ceiling trying to recall the boy¡¯s appearance.


    "He''d be about as tall as your shoulders."


    "He¡¯s smaller than I thought."


    "Yes, and he also looked quite young."


    "Young and short... is that all?"


    There would be tens of thousands of cksmiths fitting that description!


    But Solid shook his head. "That''s all I remember. Oh, and he was more polite than you''d expect."


    "Polite... right, this sword was a gift to you, wasn''t it?"


    "Hmph, that¡¯s not a gift!" Solid turned his head away as if he couldn''t stand the sight of the sword, then looked back at Kai. "When will you return if you leave now?"


    "I''m not sure...."


    It was a journey without a promise of return. Honestly, without a specific reason, there was a chance he could nevere back to Glendale.


    "Well, hopefully, I''ll see your face at least once more before I die."


    "Hey, you''re still healthy. You''ll live at least another 30 years."


    "My body isn''t what it used to be. Hammering is bing more and more difficult. Well, I''ll probablyst at least another 10 years though."


    "I''ll make sure to visit at least once during that time. Along with that adventurer cksmith."


    "Hehe, I''ll be looking forward to it."


    After leaving Solid, Kai immediately headed toward the teleportation gate.


    "Now I can use the teleportation gate too."


    Endless confidence flowed from his abundant bank ount!


    After arriving in Aquaria in an instant, Kai''s expression instantly brightened. "This is Aquaria!"


    If Frica had the coziness of a mountain vige and Glendale the sophistication of a city, the city of Aquaria possessed a refreshing feeling.


    <i>Moreover....</i>


    What surprised Kai was the city''s canal system!


    The numerous streams crisscrossing the city like a spider''s web instantly caught his gaze.


    "Heehee!"


    "Do you like it, babe?"


    "Yes! I love it!"


    Boats shaped like canoes floated on the canals, either carrying heavy loads or couples enjoying a romantic date. In this city, boats had taken over the role usually filled by carriages in other cities.


    "Indeed, it''s worthy of being called the city of water."


    Kai loved the new city.


    Moreover, someone who could answer his questions also lived here.


    <i>If Baron Arsen''s words are correct, the Sage of Water will be able to answer my questions.</i>


    ***


    The mansion where the Sage of Water resided was located somewhat away from the center of Aquaria.


    As Kai slowly approached the mansion, guards quickly stopped him.


    "Stop! This is the private property of Tardal, the Sage of Water. If you''re lost, you should turn back."


    "I came to meet the Sage of Water and have something to ask him."


    "The Sage is not so idle as to meet with a mere adventurer."


    "But I was sent by Baron Arsen."


    Now, Kai mentioned the name of Baron Arsen as if it weren¡¯t a big deal!


    The response came immediately.


    "What? Baron Arsen?"


    "Baron Arsen... of Glendale?"


    "Yes, that''s right. That Baron Arsen," Kai nodded with a confident expression.


    Having such a strong backing made him feel all the more self-assured!


    However, the guards looked at each other and burst outughing.


    "Bwahahaha!"


    "What a funny guy. Look, the Sage sometimes even turns away guests sent by His Majesty."


    "Being sent by the Baron means nothing."


    Kai was left speechless at the guards'' reaction.


    <i>Was I toocent? Well, I guess even though he''s retired, he was a chancellor of a nation... My preparation wasn¡¯t enough.</i>


    But he wasn''t too worried.


    <i>What? It can¡¯t because Baron Arsen''s rank is too low, can it?</i>


    If that was the case, he just needed to bring someone with a higher backing!


    Kai activated his Friendly Brother skill and asked, "Then how can I meet with him?"


    "I told you. Lord Tardal doesn''t meet with adventurers like... hm?"


    The soldier stopped speaking and tilted his head.


    <i>Now that I think about it, it seems I''m being too inflexible....</i>


    After all, he could at least give Kai a chance!


    The soldiers around him indirectly suggested, "If he''s insisting this much, shouldn''t we at least check if he''s qualified to meet Lord Tardal?"


    "Seeing that he came with a noble''s rmendation, he doesn''t just seem like anybody."


    "Well... that''s true."


    The soldier, sharing the same thoughts as his fellow guards, quickly scanned Kai. "Hm. Well, you seem to have the minimum qualifications to speak with Lord Tardal. Definitely not just a nobody."


    <i>A nobody...? Fame! I need a certain level of fame to meet Tardal!</i>


    It was finally the moment for the fame he had been steadily building to shine.


    "Ah, of course, I''m talking about the minimum qualifications. Lord Tardal only believes in proven abilities. If you want to meet him, prove your skills."


    "How should I prove my abilities?"


    "Well... that¡¯s up to you. You could defeat a powerful monster or capture a notorious wanted criminal. Of course, conquering a well-known dungeon is also an option."


    In other words, there was more than one way to prove his skills.


    <i>Is there a ce nearby where I can prove my skills?</i>


    After a moment''s thought, Kai nodded. "Alright. I''ll return with proof of my abilities."


    "I¡¯ll look forward to it. But no tricks, understood?"


    "Of course."


    That meant buying goods that came from high-level monsters was not an option!


    Kai, who had no intention of doing such a thing, returned to the city streets and searched the inte.


    "Oh, there¡¯s an instance dungeon nearby."


    An instance dungeon, as the name implied, was a dungeon that could be easily entered. Simply put, it could be considered a field in the form of a dungeon.


    One thing that was certain was that it was different from ces like the Tomb of the Gnolls or the Nest of Fermi.


    <i>Now that I think of it, it feels like it''s been a long time since I''ve been in an instance dungeon.</i>


    When Kai had a lower level, he had joined several parties to tackle instance dungeons.


    Remembering those times, he immediately checked the information about the dungeon.


    "The Rat Kingdom is...?"


    Kai''s face brightened because he knew this dungeon had giant rats that walked on two legs like humans. He had also watched strategy videos uploaded by rankers on MewTube and was familiar with the boss''s patterns.


    <i>This should be enough to prove my skills.</i>


    It was an instance dungeon rmended for yers at level 75.


    Typically, instance dungeons were tackled by parties, not solo adventurers. Although some people did attempt to tackle it alone, those who seeded were very few.


    As he hurriedly moved to the location of the dungeon in Aquaria, he saw several yers waiting. Kai had been wearing his Cleric robes around the city, so no one recognized him.


    "A level 78 Shield Knight is looking for a party!"


    "Looking for someone to take a level 74 Berserker!"


    "Selling a dish that increases all stats by 1 for ten minutes! I¡¯m not confident about the taste, but it¡¯s cheap!"


    "I need to improve my proficiency so I''ll repair anyone¡¯s gear for free!"


    At a nce, there were easily over a hundred yers!


    As Kai made his way through the crowd, Kai stopped in his tracks, hearing a conversation that caught his interest.


    "Hey, look over there. It¡¯s Greemz, the second-ranked solo yer of Rat Kingdom."


    "I heard he¡¯s attempting another record today."


    "I heard this is hisst attempt."


    "Yeah, since he won¡¯t be able to with the level restriction soon."


    "I¡¯ll root for you! You should take first ce at least once!"


    "Haha. Thank you. I''ll do my best." The tall and handsome Wizard, dressed in an elegant robe and carrying a staff, greeted them politely as he passed by.


    <i>Solo ranking? Oh! Come to think of it...</i>


    Kai remembered something as he overheard their conversation. It was the ranking specific to instance dungeons.


    <i>But that person is ranked second?</i>


    Finding out the truth was not particrly difficult as the rankings were recorded on a leaderboard at the dungeon''s entrance.


    Skipping over any entries involving parties of two or more, Kai checked the solo rankings.


    <strong>[Rat Kingdom - Solo Party Rankings]</strong>


    <strong>1. Raktasha LV.85 3 hours 42 minutes 16 seconds. Total score: A+</strong>


    <strong>2. Greemz LV.85 3 hours 44 minutes 02 seconds. Total score: A</strong>


    <strong>3. Smi LV.84 3 hours 44 minutes 08 seconds. Total score: A</strong>


    "Oh, he really is second."


    Indeed, Greems was the man who had achieved the second rank in the Rat Kingdom dungeon.


    <i>He seems like a Wizard, but soloing in a dungeon... That''s impressive.</i>


    Kai was genuinely amazed.


    Although the giant rats had low fire resistance and magic resistance, it wasn''t a dungeon just anyone could easily get through.


    <i>The total score being A also suggests it wasn''t just good luck that got him through.</i>


    Records were not acknowledged if a yer''s level was more than 11 levels above the dungeon''s rmended level. Therefore, those listed in the rankings were usually yers whose levels were 9 to 10 levels higher than rmended!


    However, a higher level didn''t necessarily provide an advantage either as the total score was derived from abination of the yer''s level, clear time, and number of hits taken.


    In short, if one had the skills, even a yer of a lower level could rank high!


    <i>I''m at level 68 now... I wonder how well I would do if I went all out?</i>


    Bing curious about the result, Kai made an expression that seemed like he was amused.


    However, there were things he needed to prepare before entering the dungeon.


    "If I''m going to challenge it, I might as well do it right and get the best result possible."


    Kai''s eyes sparkled more than usual as he thought about the items he needed.

 Chapter 62: Instance Dungeon (2)

    <h4>Chapter 62: Instance Dungeon (2)</h4>


    Instance dungeons were divided into two types. One was an open type where everyone could enter at once, and the other was a closed type, essible only to those who had registered for entry.


    <i>I should go for the closed type.</i>


    The drop rate in closed dungeons was significantly lowerpared to open dungeons, which barely saved repair costs. However, despite this, many sought out closed dungeons because they were the only ces where dungeon rankings could be updated.


    <strong>[Instance Dungeon - Would you like to enter the Rat Kingdom?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[Instance Dungeon - You have entered the Rat Kingdom.]</strong>


    In a space not revealed to others, Kai entered the dungeon and grimaced immediately.


    "Ugh, it smells...."


    The location of the Rat Kingdom was in the sewers of Aquaria so naturally, it reeked. But even this too was designed to be conquered!


    Kai picked up a disposable mask that was on the floor of the dungeon''s entrance and put it on.


    <i>Much better.</i>


    He was at least no longer suffering from the pungent smell that made his nose hurt.


    At the same time, Kai''s gaze sharpened.


    <i>If I''m going to do this, I need to do it right. I''ve already nned everything.</i>


    With determination, Kai suddenly started running down the path.


    "<i>Squeak, squeak</i>!"


    "<i>Squeak</i>!"


    Giant rats feeding on food waste began toe at him as they noticed an adventurer invading their kingdom.


    <i>But I can''t stop here.</i>


    Now was not the time to leisurely defeat the monsters one by one.


    <i>I need to be as fast as possible. It has to be fast! The key is to clear it quickly.</i>


    Kai believed it was natural for him at his level to conquer this ce. Therefore, he put his focus on how high he could raise his name in the solo rankings.


    <i>The higher the ranking, the easier it will be to be acknowledged by the Sage of Water.</i>


    Kai nced back quickly.


    <i>There are about twelve giant rats following me.</i>


    The monsters, all at level 71, were sufficiently threatening. Even Kai could not be sure of victory if he were to face them head-on!


    However, Kai had no intention of fighting them to begin with.


    <i>After all, clearing the dungeon is acknowledged if only the boss is defeated.</i>


    That was true. If he could just surely kill the boss, there was no need to fight the trash mobs!


    At one point, this strategy used to be very popr among yers. Ignoring all trash mobs and getting to the boss room to defeat the boss was the Boss Run strategy. But unfortunately, not a single party had seeded with this strategy.


    <i>While they were fighting the boss, the trash mobs swarmed them from behind, leading to a total wipeout.</i>


    The reason for their failure was clear. There was not enough firepower and time to kill the boss before the other monsters arrived.


    <i>But I''m different.</i>


    Kai could momentarily lose the monsters using Supernova. That meant he could fight the boss one-on-one with more time than others. Moreover, due to buffs from being a Sris Cleric and having various special titles, his attack power was more than enough.


    <i>And the path to the boss room is already in my head.</i>


    The Rat Kingdom dungeon was set up in the sewers, so naturally, the paths were asplex as a maze. Without memorizing the map in advance, progressing while defeating monsters would take over ten hours!


    "Well then...."


    Kai waved his hand at the swarm of giant rats running at him, trying to tear him apart.


    "Follow me closely. Supernova!"


    As he casted the skill, the swarm of giant rats chasing him started to quickly distance themselves. This caused the number of giant rats chasing him to increase, but they couldn''t even get at his clothes. Additionally, Kai, who liked to be sure, had put insurance in ce.


    <i>That corner! That''s the most important part!</i>


    As soon as Kai turned the corner, disappearing from the giant rats'' views, he summoned gnoll skeletons.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[6 Gnoll skeletons being summoned.]</strong>


    "Ugh, what a bummer!" Kai let out a groan full of disappointment.


    But Kai quickly came to his senses and looked around.


    Turning the corner, he hade upon the center of the sewer. This was the ce where the vast dungeon split into ten different paths.


    <i>To divide the giant rats, having at least nine gnoll undeads would have been best....</i>


    However, six would be enough to scatter the attention of the giant rats.


    Kai immediately made the gnoll skeletons run down different passageways, then took something out of his inventory andid it on the floor of the passage.


    "Okay, preparations are done with this."


    With a satisfied smile, Kai darted down the passage leading to the boss room without looking back.


    "<i>Squeak</i>! <i>Squeak squeak</i>!"


    A momentter, the giant rats at the crossing pathways buried their faces in the ground, sniffing continuously. Even though they lived in the sewers, their sense of smell was highly developed,parable to a dog''s, making sniffing out an adventurer''s scent no difficult task.


    "...<i>Squeak</i>!?"


    However, as they sniffed, the giant rats fell into a panic!


    Like children who realized that Santa wasn¡¯t real, the giant rats were left with an empty feeling as they stared at the objected dropped on the passageway.


    <strong>[<u>Orc Leather</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>Leather saturated with the distinctive stench of orcs. It is tenacious and durable, making it suitable for winter clothing or armor.</strong>


    "...<i>Squeak</i>!"


    The giant rats were enraged that they were tricked by an adventurer.


    Showing their sharp front teeth, they split into the ten paths to chase after Kai.


    ***


    Kai panted in exhaustion.


    He canceled the Supernova skill before his Holy Power ran out but since he had achieved his objective, he couldn¡¯tin.


    <i>I''ve arrived at the boss room.</i>


    The boss of this dungeon would appear from beyond the broken iron bars that were in front of him.


    Knowing this well, Kai regted his heavy breathing and thought, <i>The time it took to reach the boss room after entering the dungeon was... just about fifty seconds.</i>


    Kai¡¯s Holy Power capacity was around 26,000. Normally, even if he maximized the use of the Supernova skill, twenty-six seconds would have been the limit. However, the reason he could use Supernova for fifty seconds was simple.


    <strong>[Holy Water]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>This is holy water specially purified by high clerics of the Church of Sris who serve the god Helik.</strong>


    <strong>Drinking it restores 10,000 Holy Power and removes negative states.</strong>


    This was exactly what he needed to prepare before entering the dungeon. A Magic-grade Holy Water potion produced exclusively by the Church of Sris!


    Of course, such an item wouldn''t have been cheap.


    "Dang, I¡¯m breaking the bank just to meet the Sage of Water once."


    Including the teleport cost of 9 gold and five bottles of Holy Water at 1 gold each, the total price he paid was 1.4 million won.


    The more money he invested to meet the Sage of Water, the deeper his determination got to meet him no matter what.


    <i>I used three bottles of Holy Water... so two are left.</i>


    Kai then poured the remaining two bottles of Holy Water into his mouth.


    "Ah, definitely worth the money. Holy Water tastes the best."


    Although each potion had a different taste, Holy Waterwith its refreshing ion beverage vor, was undoubtedly the best!


    Wiping his mouth, Kai entered the boss room with a confident stride.


    "Krrrrgh...."


    This creature even cried differently from ordinary giant rats, and its front teeth, three timesrger than a giant rat''s, dripped saliva as its red eyes shined.


    <strong>[King of the Filthy Rats, Trebinzer. LV.78]</strong>


    <i>Quick and decisively. The key is to finish him off before the giant rats arrive.</i>


    Kai poured all his efforts into this dungeon run. He even used up all of Fermi''s Venom, which had been helpful during the Orc Sorcerer expedition!


    <i>It''s unfortunate I won¡¯t be able to use it anymore, but I won¡¯t be able to use it forever if I keep saving it like this.</i>


    Kai utilized everything avable to him as if he didn¡¯t know what a second attempt was. He used all his skills, items, money, and even petty tricks!


    There was a reason he pushed himself so hard. It was because he had browsed MewTube before entering the dungeon.


    <i>Greemz, was it?</i>


    It was the name of the Wizard he briefly encountered before entering the dungeon. Curious about a Wizard solo ying, Kai had looked up his videos and was greatly shocked.


    From level 72 to 85, Greemz had challenged the Rat Kingdom dungeon every single day. He had uploaded over 200 videos on MewTube that were just about attempting the Rat Kingdom.


    <i>...So this is what it takes to reach the goal of first ce.</i>


    Kai, who had not put in much effort relying on his hidden ss as a Sric Cleric, greatly reflected back on himself.


    <i>Ick desperation.</i>


    He wanted to be stronger to be a ranker, and earn a lot of money to be confident in front of his family. And as simple as his goals were, so was the effort he had put in.


    <i>But this can''t go on.</i>


    Azy hare couldn¡¯t beat a hard-working tortoise.


    Kai was confident that he could overpower Greemz one-on-one if they were to face off right now, but what about in three months or in half a year?


    <i>Without a hidden ss, the ways to be stronger are limited.</i>


    The usual methods were acquiring better equipment and skills. However, not every yer could afford to spend a lot of money. Ultimately, they had to inevitably polish the abilities they possessed.


    <i>The importance of basics. That¡¯s what Master Huey always told me.</i>


    Of course, Kai had the job of a Sris Cleric. And perhaps due to his inherent advantages, he could just be able to remain strong forever without much effort.


    <i>But... if I put in as much effort as they do, it¡¯s obvious I could be even stronger.</i>


    Rejecting a sure path to more power was impossible for Kai. That was why he pushed himself so hard.


    <i>While I was walking, others were running.</i>


    The others had been diligently running their way up from unseen depths.


    Once Kai realized this, he had only one option left.


    <i>I need to run too.</i>


    Kai red at Trebinzer with determined eyes and flicked his sword. "Come at me, squeakers."


    "Kaaagh!"


    As if protesting being called squeakers, Trebinzer charged with a loud and strong cry.


    Kai''s gaze, watching the creature, neither trembled with fear nor flickered with excitement. They were cold and settled like ake frozen solid on a winter day.


    <i>If one thing¡¯s for sure, it¡¯s that I have to be careful of that guy''s front teeth strike attack.</i>


    Biting its target and tearing them apart until all their health was depleted was Trebinzer¡¯s lethal move. In a party, teammates could attack Trebinzer and interrupt this technique, but that was impossible when soloing. Simply put, if caught in that skill, it was all over!


    As a chilling sense of crisis crept over Kai¡¯s skin, his lips curved into a smile.


    "Let me tell you something. Thest time I fought the Orc Lord, I learned something valuable."


    No matter how powerful an attack, it was useless if it didn''t hit the target!


    Kai and Trebinzer¡¯s gazes collided in mid-air. The moment their eyes met, they moved.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Trebinzer first spun its massive body like a spinning top. Its thick, long tailshed out at Kai like a whip. It wasn¡¯t a thin tail like a jump rope. It was thick and sturdy, like several strong ropes tied together.


    Anticipating the attack, Kai had already moved with ease.


    <i>First, dodge the attack.</i>


    Kai¡¯s knees bent, and his upper body leaned back. Incredible strength poured into his waist and sides to support his weight.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Trebinzer¡¯s tail missed Kai and broke the sewer¡¯s iron bars instead! It was powerful, but the important thing was that it missed.


    Kai smirked.


    Then he sprung forward using the strength of his back that had been arched like a bow. At the same time, his de thrusted forward.


    Kai¡¯s thrusted sword stabbed Trebinzer.


    "<i>Squeak</i>!"


    As the sharp sword plunged deep into the creature¡¯s thick belly, it let out a painful scream. The wound, poisoned with Fermi''s Venom, quickly turned ck.


    "But this isn''t all. Flood of des!"


    Flood of des was a skill that involved throwing a spinning sword at the opponent''s weak spots.


    In that case, what would happen if it was used while a sword was embedded in the opponent''s belly?


    "It¡¯s obvious. It would just hurt like hell."


    "Krrrgh, Kaaagh!"


    Loud screams continuously burst out from Trebinzer''s stinky mouth.

 Chapter 63: Instance Dungeon (3)

    <h4>Chapter 63: Instance Dungeon (3)</h4>


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    The spinning sword excitedly stirred around inside Trebinzer, like a child with an express pass at an amusement park.


    "<i>Squeak</i>, <i>squeak</i>, kaaagh!"


    As Trebinzer screamed and squirmed in unbearable pain, Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    <i>Now''s the time.</i>


    Kai pulled out his sword without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    Trebinzer''s remaining health was at 94%. It wasn''t disappointing, but it wasn''t very satisfying either.


    <i>But then again, I wasn¡¯t aiming for such trivial things.</i>


    When Kai suddenly withdrew his sword and stepped back, Trebinzer also created some distance between them, wary.


    Kai watched this with satisfaction, his left hand twitching with excitment.


    <i>I''ve got the upper hand now, so it won¡¯t charge at me for a while. Shall we get things started then?</i>


    The Boss Run strategy consisted of speed to outrun the giant rats, traps to dy their arrival to the boss room, and the skill to hunt Trevenzer alone but it was a strategy where even high-level yers who possessed all these elements consistently failed to seed.


    <i>Well, they were inevitably bound to fail.</i>


    No matter how skilled, it was impossible to handle Trebinzer and the giant rats alone. Of course, a high-level yer could manage, but the moment a yer surpassed level 85, that record would lose its significance.


    Ultimately, the point of the Boss Run strategy was to defeat Trebinzer before the giant rats arrived. Numerous yers had endlessly researched ways to seed in the Boss Run in the Rat Kingdom.


    <i>And the conclusion they came to was the Five-Minute Theory.</i>


    The theory was that if Trebinzer wasn¡¯t defeated within five minutes, the giant rats would arrive.


    Once people realized this, the very concept of the Boss Run vanished from yers'' minds.


    <i>Because it¡¯s impossible to kill the boss in under five minutes.</i>


    Even a yer at level 85 with all Rare equipment found it impossible to hunt Trebinzer within five minutes.


    <i>But the five minutes isn''t for fighting Trebinzer.</i>


    Kai considered these precious five minutes, even ten minutes, as preparation time to set up the stage for a one-on-one battle with Trebinzer.


    He raised his left hand high to create the stage.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    With a loud noise, part of the ceiling copsed and blocked the only entrance to the boss room!


    <i>It''s as powerful as always.</i>


    The destructive power of Holy Explosion was enough to bring down the dungeon''s ceiling.


    It was a strategy Kai came up with after trapping Fermi by copsing a ceiling before. After all, thinking of different ways to use an established skill lead topletely different ideas and strategies!


    "Krrrgh!"


    Trebinzer, its red eyes full of murderous intent, was enraged. Hostility toward the invader who had damaged its home continuously flowed out.


    <i>There''s just one thing to be careful about.</i>


    Unlike the Orc Lord, Trebinzer possessed an instant-kill technique. It was a fearsome technique where if it bit the target with its front teeth, it would continue to tear apart its target until the their health waspletely depleted.


    <i>As someone without any other teammates, it''s the skill I have to be most wary of.</i>


    At the same time, it was a technique that Kai could exploit to his advantage at the moment.


    "Krrr."


    Then Trebinzer quickly circled around Kai.


    <i>Is it looking for an opportunity?</i>


    After allowing a deadly attack, the creature had be significantly more cautious.


    <i>If so, I can just create one for it.</i>


    Kai¡¯s movement abruptly stopped. To Trebinzer, it seemed that Kai had momentarily lost control of his movements. It was a perfect act!


    "Kaaagh!"


    Reminded of the previous pain, Trebinzer charged at Kai with even more ferocity than before.


    <i>Closebat is wee!</i>


    Despite their bipedal movement, giant rats had short arms and legs. Ultimately, their only closebat weapons were their giant front teeth, ws, and tails.


    <i>For me, this distance is the best right now!</i>


    Kai instinctively found the most advantageous distance for himself. It was a risky distance where just one sword''s length could finish everything off!


    In a fight where one gained an advantage, the other would inevitably be at a disadvantage.


    "<i>Squeak</i>!"


    It was too far for a front tooth attack but too close to use its tail. It could have used its ws but that was its weakest offensive options.


    Eventually, Trebinzer chose to back off to regain distance. However, the moment it moved back, its small eyes doubled in size.


    "Krrr!?"


    It was because of Kai.


    As Trebinzer backed away, Kai matched its pace, consistently maintaining the distance between them.


    "<i>Squeak</i>!"


    The situation drove Trebinzer crazy as it tried to figure out what to do.


    However, Kai was also desperate.


    <i>Getting too close would result in me getting struck by its front teeth, and if I distance myself too much, that whip-like tail woulde striking at me.</i>


    Therefore, the most ideal situation for Kai was to force Trebinzer to use only its ws.


    Ultimately, maintaining this distance was crucial for him to control the battle! And once he established the distance, the fight began to flow in his favor.


    "Argh!"


    <i>ng, ng, sh!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sword, which shed with Trevenzer''s ws and sparked continuously, struck Trevenzer''s weak points from time to time.


    Even though Swordsmanship of the Dawn was considered a trash skill, leveling it up to intermediate level 7 was now paying off.


    <strong>[88%... 87%... 86%...]</strong>


    Fermi''s Venom and the sword consistently targeted its weak spots!


    And these two attacks steadily decreased Trebinzer''s health.


    <i>Phew, It¡¯s working, I can win!</i>


    Fully immersed in the rhythm of the battle, Kai continuously pressured Trebinzer.


    "Krrr, krrrgh!"


    With a distance close enough to hear each other''s breathing, Trebinzer¡¯s ws and Kai¡¯s sword powerfully shed once more.


    Then, something snapped loudly, striking their eardrums.


    "Huh...!?"


    "Krrr!?"


    While Kai''s lips curled upward, Trebinzer''s front teeth trembled.


    <strong>[Trebinzer''s left w has been destroyed.]</strong>


    It was an unexpected favorable condition during the fight!


    Empowered by this news, Kai¡¯s movements became even more quicker.


    <i>Just need to focus on the left now!</i>


    <i>sh, sh, sh!</i>


    Having lost one means of defense, Trebinzer quickly found itself cornered.


    Eventually, with its health dropped to 50%, it crouched down and touched the ground with all four limbs.


    "<i>Squeak</i>!"


    <i>Wait, that stance is...</i>


    Kai''s eyes sparkled. That was the posture Trebinzer showed before doing its lethal front teeth attack!


    <i>It¡¯s finally doing it!</i>


    Kai, who had continuously maintained the same distance, suddenly kicked off the ground backward and put his back to the wall.


    <i>I just need to dodge it once.</i>


    A solemn expression crossed Kai''s face.


    Trebinzer''s lethal move was dangerous to both itself and its opponent. If sessful, the attack could definitely kill its opponent, but during the execution, it wasn¡¯t able to move.


    <i>That''s why some parties get caught in that lethal move on purpose.</i>


    A well-known strategy involved the sturdy tank getting struck by the front teeth attack on purpose, while healers continuously healed the tank and damage dealers took down Trebinzer.


    However, two conditions were necessary to use this method. One was having enough health and defense to withstand Trebinzer''s incredible attack power. The other was having teammates to heal and attack while Trebinzer was busy biting someone.


    <i>Unfortunately, I don''t have the health and defense of a tank, nor do I have any teammates.</i>


    The 30-minute cooldown for summoning gnoll undeads had long passed, but he had no intention of using them.


    <i>The level 50 skeletons would be instantly summoned back the moment they''re bitten anyway.</i>


    That wouldn¡¯t allow his n to be executed.


    Kai crouched down, muttering as if he had a trick up his sleeve, "...Come at me."


    As if Trebinzer understood Kai, it stretched its body backward on all fours, and thenunched forward like a bullet.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    Its massive body cut through the air as it charged.


    <i>Not yet.</i>


    Kai''s body instinctively flinched sensing the danger, but he suppressed those emotions and waited.


    <i>Not yet....</i>


    "Kaaagh!"


    As Trebinzer came close, it opened its mouth wide, showing itsrge front teeth.


    It was also then that Kai moved, quickly maneuvering his hands.


    <i>Now!</i>


    <i>Crunch! ng!</i>


    Trebinzer''s eyes shed. It was certain it had bitten into its opponent''s weapon. It grasped the target with both hands and began to tear it apart. At the same time, a screeching noise filled the room like nails on a chalkboard.


    <i>Screech, screech, screech!</i>


    "Ugh!"


    Unknowingly covering his ears, Kai slowly opened his eyes.


    <i>Screech, screech, screech!</i>


    He sighed in relief, seeing Trebinzer busily chewing on his sword.


    <i>It worked!</i>


    Then, as Trebinzer looked at Kai¡¯s relieved expression, its eyes curved maliciously, as it knew that the durability of Kai¡¯s equipment would drop drastically as long as it was in its front teeth.


    However, as Trebinzer kept chewing on the sword, it realized something was wrong.


    <strong>[Trebinzer''s front teeth have decreased the durability of the Iron Will Longsword.]</strong>


    <strong>[This equipment does not lose durability.]</strong>


    <strong>[Effect does not apply.]</strong>


    No matter how much it chewed, the sword continued to shine and retain its smoothness.


    Kai smiled as he saw Trebinzer taken aback.


    "I can''t use it myself due to level requirements, but I can drop items."


    Kai formed a gun shape with his fingers and mockingly shot at Trebinzer who didn¡¯t know what to do.


    <i>You just bit the bait.</i>


    ***


    <strong>[You defeated the King of the Filthy Rats, Trebinzer.]</strong>


    <strong>[+100,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+32 silver.]</strong>


    "Phew...."


    As expected of a closed dungeon, the rewards were somewhat disappointingpared to the effort put in.


    However, he didn''t feel particrly disappointed since he had low expectations to begin with.


    <i>More importantly....</i>


    Kai swallowed nervously and cautiously looked at the interface window that appeared before him.


    <i>The dungeon results window.</i>


    It was essentially a report card that neatly summarized what parts of his y were good and what werecking.


    "Check dungeon results."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[yer Level: 68.]</strong>


    <strong>[Number of Hits Taken: 75.]</strong>


    <strong>[Number of Attacks: 234.]</strong>


    <strong>[Number of Critical Attacks: 122.]</strong>


    <strong>[Monsters Remaining: 102.]</strong>


    <strong>[Clear Time: 1 hour 12 minutes 34 seconds.]</strong>


    <strong>[Calcting final total score...]</strong>


    <i>Having itid out like this really makes it easier to understand.</i>


    During the hectic fighting, it was impossible to keep track of how many hits he took or made.


    As Kai closed his eyes and waited for the total score, a familiar notification sounded.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Total Score: S-]</strong>


    <strong>[Solo Ranking: 1st ce.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Instance Dungeon Champion.]</strong>


    "Huh...?"


    Kai rubbed his eyes with a dazed expression. However, the results remained the same even after rechecking.


    <i>I¡¯m 1st?</i>


    Of course, even Kai himself noticed that the clear time had drastically decreased.


    The previous 1st solo ranker, Raktasha, had a clear time of 3 hours 42 minutes 16 seconds.


    <i>Well, I didn¡¯t hunt a single giant rat, so of course the time was reduced, but....</i>


    Originally, if the others could have ignored the giant rats and just killed Trebinzer, they would have done so too. But they hadn¡¯t. No, they couldn¡¯t.


    <i>Part of Trebinzer''s pattern involves calling the giant rats into the boss room.</i>


    Unless someone removed the entrance entirely like Kai did, being surrounded by giant rats and dying was the typical ending of a Boss Run.


    "That means...."


    The deductions for the remaining monsters were outweighed by the bonus points for his level being only 68 and the exceptionally fast clear time.


    <i>Well, this is going to cause quite a stir.</i>


    He could already envision the uproar from people iming it was a bug.


    However, Kai soon muttered with a happy face, "Well, does it even matter?"


    <strong>[Please enter the name to be recorded in the rankings.]</strong>


    "Unknown."


    After all, all the attention would be directed toward Unknown.

 Chapter 64: Sage of Water, Tardal

    <h4>Chapter 64: Sage of Water, Tardal</h4>


    A cheer like thunder erupted when someone came out from the instance dungeon.


    "He''s finally out!"


    "Good work!"


    "Haha, thank you all for cheering me on."


    It was Greemz, who had hunted with all his efforts that his robe was soaked in sweat. He thanked the yers who cheered him on, feeling relieved.


    <i>This would be myst timeing here now.</i>


    This was hisst challenge. He had reached level 86 afterpleting the challenge. This meant he had graduated from this dungeon, which also meant he could no longerpete for the record unless he leveled down.


    Dragging his tired body to a nearby rock, he sat down.


    <i>I''ve done the best that I could.</i>


    Greemz was an extremely eager beaver. Everyone around him called him that.


    Whenever he learned a new skill, he would practice on the spot until his Mana ran out. He would contemte how to use the skill, its range, power, and even what changes could be made with different controls. He even wondered what the developer thought while creating the skill and what they were eating at the time.


    With such dedicated effort, he was able to be a better wizard than others.


    "Phew, this is refreshing."


    Greemz, feeling the cool breeze drying his sweat, checked his watch.


    <i>It''s almost on the hour...</i>


    Every in-game hour, the instance dungeon rankings were updated.


    This made Greemz''s heart flutter.


    <i>I really have a good feeling this time.</i>


    It wasn''t just a hunch or a whim. He had significantly shortened his clear time and reduced the number of times he was hit.


    <i>Today is finally the day...</i>


    He had the nickname of Forever Second ce because he could never surpass Raktasha. But now, it was time to clear that name and finish strong!


    Greemz had no doubt about it.


    "It''s been updated!"


    "What ce is Greemz?"


    "Wow, why am I so nervous even though it''s not my record?"


    Greemz''s final record attempt gained considerable attention from the yers. They all wanted to see if effort could surpass talent. And this record would clearly provide the answer.


    "Oh..."


    "Um..."


    "Dang..."


    Greemz slowly stood up and approached the ranking board. At the same time, his head tilted to the side.


    <i>Why are they reacting like that?</i>


    The first thing that came to mind was anxiety.


    <i>Did I... not surpass it?</i>


    With overwhelming anxiety about the giant obstacle that was known as talent, he bit his lip and shook his head.


    <i>It¡¯s a despair I¡¯ve faced hundreds of times already. Once more... won''t change anything.</i>


    But it <i>was</i> different. All the past hundreds of challenges had been seeds he nted for today''s final attempt.


    Greemz knew this better than anyone else, and he approached the leaderboard with a trembling heart.


    "<i>Ahem</i>."


    "Uh, <i>ahem</i>."


    "Um... it¡¯s okay."


    "You were just a bit unlucky."


    yers looked at him with expressions that screamed pity, bitterness, and even disbelief.


    Greemz''s lips curled into a bitter smile as he observed the reactions of those around him.


    <i>Did I... ultimately fail to surpass it?</i>


    Any glimmer of hope melted away like snow as he received encouragement. If he had overtaken Raktasha and became first, he would''ve received congrattory remarks instead.


    <i>I was just unlucky? No, it''s simply because I wasn¡¯t good enough. I don''t rely on such excuses.</i>


    Based on his calctions, he should''ve surpassed Raktasha. But if he didn''t, it must have been by the thinnest of margins.


    Greemz swallowed his disappointment forcefully and checked the leaderboard.


    <strong>[Rat Kingdom - Solo Party Rankings]</strong>


    <strong>....</strong>


    <strong>2. Greemz LV.85 3h 41m 54s. Total score: A+</strong>


    <strong>3. Raktasha LV.85 3h 42m 16s. Total score A+</strong>


    "Oh!" The moment Greemz noticed Raktasha''s name below his, a loud exmation burst out of his mouth. "I... I won!"


    He had thought he hadn''t surpassed Raktasha due to the sympathetic cheers he received from the other yers.


    <i>But I did it! I finally escaped second ce! I won!</i>


    The efforts and time he dedicated to this one moment shed through his mind.


    Greemz, who felt something surge up inside him, smiled as the area around his eyes became red.


    <i>These folks, they must have prepared a lot to surprise me.</i>


    Finding the idea amusing, Greemz chuckled and said to the yers around him, "Your acting skills are amazing! Are you all secret actors or something? I almost fell for it..."


    Everyone stayed silent.


    Greemz looked around as he noticed the expressions of the yers around him.


    <i>What is this vibe?</i>


    The atmosphere showed no signs of returning to normal!


    Moreover, the pitiful looks directed at him persisted.


    <i>Why?</i>


    He couldn''t understand. He overcame Raktasha after tremendous effort and shed the title of the Forever Second ce...


    <i>Wait, hold on.</i>


    Greemz''s head turned as fast as lightning.


    If he had surpassed Raktasha, who had been first ce, he should now be in first ce, but...


    With a confused expression, he checked the leaderboard again.


    <strong>1. Unknown LV.68 1h 12m 34s. Total Score S-</strong>


    <strong>2. Greemz LV.85 3h 41m 54s. Total Score A+</strong>


    <strong>3. Raktasha LV.85 3h 42m 16s. Total Score A+</strong>


    Greemz''sposure shattered.


    <i>I''m... I''m second... I''m in second ce...! I beat Raktasha, but I''m still in second ce...!</i>


    Greemz cried, the other yers cried, and even the rats in the sewers cried.


    ***


    ¡°Wow,¡± Kai said in surprise as he looked at the newly registered title in the book.


    <strong>[<u>Instance Dungeon Champion</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to a yer who has achieved first ce in an instance dungeon.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +5 to all stats per dungeon in which yer ranks first.</strong>


    <strong>(This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    "So this is how titles are given."


    Instance dungeon rankings changed every day and in the case ofpetitive ones, every hour.


    <i>It''s true that first ce in an instance dungeon is a significant achievement, but giving such powerful effects to everyone who ranks first would be troublesome.</i>


    Doing that would diminish the meaning of a special title.


    "So, this is the type of title they came up with."


    It was a special title that lost all benefits the moment they lost their first ce position!


    "Wait, then..."


    Kai recalled his own record.


    <i>Isn¡¯t my record unbreakable? It would be tough even if I tried to break it.</i>


    It was a record that could never be achieved by someone who didn¡¯t have the ability to remodel the dungeon like Kai did!


    "I see..."


    That meant all his stats would be permanently boosted by 5.


    <i>That''s like leveling up five times.</i>


    Kai nodded with a satisfied smile.


    <i>If I get the chance, I should visit instance dungeons from time to time.</i>


    If there were other ces like the Rat Kingdom where he could set records, he would challenge them.


    <i>And if I set another unbeatable record again...</i>


    The name Unknown would be forever fixed at the top of the leaderboard.


    Pleased with that thought, Kai approached the soldiers that came into sight.


    "Huh? Back again?"


    "Tsk... Why are you back already when it¡¯s only been a few hours?"


    "I didn''t expect you to be so persistent."


    Naturally, the soldiers shook their heads!


    However, Kai, relying on the Friendly Brother skill, warmly said to them, "Come on, don''t be like that when we have a bond."


    "We? Bond? What are you talking about?"


    "What do we have with you?"


    "Haha you guys are funny."


    But Kai was quickly taken aback when he felt their cold stares ring at him through their helmets.


    <i>Wh-what¡¯s happening?</i>


    He quickly checked but found that the Friendly Brother skill was still active.


    <i>Then why are they reacting so coldly?</i>


    Not being able to know why, Kai stepped back.


    "I''ll, um,e backter."


    After hurriedly returning to the city''s streets, Kai had a serious expression. There was only one hypothesis that made sense to him.


    <i>Is this skill... a one-time use?</i>


    If he was correct, he would need to be more careful when using the skill in the future.


    "I¡¯m curious, so let''s find out."


    Kai used the skill while visiting a bakery and bought bread and milk at a discounted price. He quickly devoured the bread filled with sweet red bean paste and topped with sesame seeds, and gulped down the cold milk!


    Then after about thirty minutes, he revisited the bakery. The Friendly Brother skill was still active.


    "Could you give me a discount on the bread and milk again? You gave me one a bit ago."


    "What? A discount? After I gave you one already? Get out of here!" the bakery owner scowled and yelled at him.


    Seeing this reaction, Kai quietly left the bakery.


    <i>The Friendly Brother skill is definitely one-time use.</i>


    Of course, there was a chance it had a cooldown time, but checking that would take too much time and effort. Since he had many things to do, he didn''t feel the need to check right away.


    <i>I should just be more careful from now on.</i>


    He never knew when or which NPC''s favor he might need. So from now on, he had to be careful each time he used it.


    <i>Even a Mythic-rank ss isn''t all-powerful.</i>


    He had gained the Friendly Brother skill as a bonus reward in the first ce, so considering the type of bonus reward it was, he should be grateful!


    "Oh, right... I have to win over the soldiers first."


    Then Kai returned to the bakery with a long face.


    ***


    "Huh?"


    "<i>Sigh</i>."


    The soldiers guarding the Sage of Water Tardal''s mansion furrowed their brows. Seeing the same person three times a day, especially after sending them away twice already, would inevitably be irritating.


    "Do you need to be taught a lesson?"


    "I¡¯m warning you, we¡¯re not holding back because we¡¯re weak."


    "Of course, who would dare think such a thing? Please, sirs, don¡¯t be mad." Unlike before, Kai smiled warmly and pulled out some freshly baked bread and a bottle of ice-cold milk from his inventory. "Oh, you must be having a hard time working in this heat. You must be hungry. How about a snack to keep you going?"


    "We don''t ept food. How do we know you haven¡¯t done something to it?"


    "Besides, these could be considered a form of bribery."


    <i>Dang...</i>


    Even the soldiers in <i>MID Online</i> followed anti-graftws so strictly!


    Kai, with no other choice, put the food back and bowed his head. "Please, I''m begging you. Give me a chance to prove my skills."


    "What?"


    "Are you mocking us? It was just a few hours ago you left, saying you¡¯d prove your skills..." The soldier''s voice, which had been raised, began to trail off.


    "Wait a minute." The soldier quickly scanned Kai''s body, then their eyes widened.


    From the moment he saw the soldier''s reaction, Kai had already started smiling.


    <i>NPCs are pretty convenient in this regard.</i>


    They could check a yer''s status without having to say a word. In other words, he didn''t have to go into detail about what he had aplished.


    "Then, do I have permission to enter?" he asked politely, but with confidence in his voice.


    <i>I doubt they''d turn me away after seeing my aplishments.</i>


    And that expectation soon became reality.


    The soldiers, with awkward expressions, looked at each other and nodded.


    "We didn''t realize you were such a skilled adventurer."


    "And in such a short time... That¡¯s surprising."


    "We''ll inform Lord Tardal right away."


    <strong>[Affinity with Aquaria Soldier Yurik increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with Aquaria Soldier Hessen increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with Aquaria Soldier Redin increased.]</strong>


    Indeed, people tended to favor those with skill and good manners!


    As he continued his friendly conversation with the soldiers, whose affinity had just increased, a servant from the mansion approached.


    "Lord Tardal has granted a meeting. Please follow me."


    <i>Creeeak.</i>


    The tightly shut doors of Tardal''s mansion opened, revealing its interior.

 Chapter 65: Sage of Water, Tardal (2)

    <h4>Chapter 65: Sage of Water, Tardal (2)</h4>


    Kai was led into the mansion''s study where warm afternoon sunlight came through an entire wall of ss. An elderly man with white hair, looking to be in his seventies, sat on a wooden chair as he read by a table. He was Tardal.


    Even after the servant announced Kai¡¯s arrival, he didn''t rise from his seat.


    The servant left immediately after introducing Kai but even then, Tardal¡¯s wrinkled hands quietly continued to turn the pages. Kai waited in silence until he finished reading.


    Finally, Tardal closed the book and raised his head. He removed the reading sses from his nose and set them on the table, looking at Kai. His eyes were nk and aloof, revealing no hint of what he was thinking.


    Kai bowed at a ny-degree angle before Tardal could even speak. "Hello, my name is Kai."


    The Sage of Water, Tardal Asus, was the former chancellor of the Kingdom of Rashion and was admired by numerous nobles and royals. He was a named NPC that was known only to a few; even Kai had only learned about him recently.


    <i>I never thought I''d meet him like this.</i>


    Many nobles and royalty respected him as a mentor so meeting someone like that was a significant opportunity for Kai.


    Tardal silently stared at Kai before slowly saying, "You came by Arsen''s rmendation?"


    "Yes sir, that is correct."


    "Impressive. That kid has a good eye for people, and he doesn''t fall for shady dealings."


    "I-is that so?"


    Tardal treated Baron Arsen as if he were a child!


    Kai finally realized what kind of person he was standing before, and gulped.


    "The way you proved your skills is impressive. Quite excellent."


    "If you give me the chance, I promise to show you more." Kai slightly bowed his head again.


    If the opposing person was as easy going as Baron Arsen, Kai would have shown a modest level of humility since that would have been an effective way to earn affinity.


    <i>But with someone like Tardal, there''s no point in downying my achievements.</i>


    Though he''d only seen him briefly, Kai quickly understood what kind of person Tardal was.


    <i>He''s a person who values results above all else.</i>


    Even the fact that he only met adventurers who had proven their skills supported this. In terms of his mindset, he seemed more like an inflexible wizard than a sage.


    Tardal then said in his characteristic monotone voice, "I heard you have something you want to ask."


    "Oh, yes! I would like to know the identity of this item."


    Kai took out the Essence of Darkness Fragment from his inventory and ced it on the desk.


    Tardal nodded once in realization. "I see. You made the right choice ining to me."


    <i>Indeed, he''s the Sage of Water...!</i>


    Could he determine its identity just by looking at it?


    While Kai waited quietly for an exnation, Tardal delivered shocking words, "But I can''t just tell you what it is for free. Borrowing my wisdom doesn''te cheap."


    "Pardon...?"


    Kai blinked in confusement.


    That was the only reason he hade all the way to Aquaria, and even achieved first ce in the dungeon ranking.


    "B-but..."


    "But. That is the word I hate most."


    Tardal''s eyes suddenly shed. His sharp gaze, unbelievable for a man in his seventies, pierced through Kai.


    <strong>[Your opponent''s Dignity is overwhelmingly high.]</strong>


    <strong>[You are afflicted by Wither.]</strong>


    <strong>[Magical defenses slightly resist the status condition.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats temporarily decreased by 25%.]</strong>


    <i>Th-this is ridiculous!</i>


    Kai felt a chill down his spine, as if he were a frog before a snake. How could such an effect really happen just from a difference in Dignity stats?


    But now wasn''t the time to think about that.


    Tardal, his expression still indifferent, said slowly, "You proved your skills to stand before me, didn''t you?"


    "That means..."


    It meant that he had to pay again for the answer to his question.


    <i>Should I use the Friendly Brother skill here?</i>


    He considered it for a moment but then shook his head. He decided it was best to save that card up his sleeve until the end.


    "What do I need to do?"


    "You¡¯re quick on the uptake."


    <i>Rustle.</i>


    Tardal handed him a small piece of paper.


    Kai''s eyes lit up as he took it.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[epted Tardal''s Test quest.]</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tardal''s Test]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: None</strong>


    <strong>Retrieve the scale of a monster you have in yourself within 30 days time.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Receive Tardal¡¯s answer to your question, acquire a rted quest.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Affinity with Tardal greatly decreases.</strong>


    <i>What a brutal quest.</i>


    Tardal was showcasing his characteristically strict personality even now.


    If Kai¡¯s affinity with Tardal dropped significantly, it meant he would never be able to see him again.


    It was a muchrger failure penalty than he anticipated.


    However, the most concerning part for Kai was the quest''s content.


    "Excuse me... sir. It doesn''t specify what kind of scale I need to bring."


    "Bring back the best you can get."


    Tardal''s answer was straightforward. His response indicated he intended to thoroughly evaluate Kai''s abilities.


    Kai''s mind raced.


    <i>Among the monsters I can hunt at my level, which ones drop scales...</i>


    He thought of various monsters, but his expression grew darker.


    <i>Bringing scales from regr monsters would likely be pointless.</i>


    This quest was a test to gauge his level. Whatever it was, he had to bring a scale that surpassed Tardal''s expectations. And there was also a thirty day time limit!


    But Kai had only one course of action he could take. "I won''t disappoint you."


    "I¡¯ll look forward to it."


    After finishing his conversation with Tardal, Kai left the mansion.


    <i>Monsters below level 100 that drop scales.</i>


    To find that information, Kai headed not to the library but to the Information Guild.


    ***


    In MID Online, the Information Guild was officially recognized as a guild after it paid substantial taxes to the continent''s kingdoms and empires, but at its roots, it was an underground organization that belonged in the shadows.


    The man currently assisting Kai seemed quite sketchy as well.


    "You''re looking for monsters that drop scales?"


    "Yes."


    "Wait here a moment."


    When the man said <i>a moment</i>, he really meant it; Kai waited less than three minutes before he was back with information.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    It was only a moment, but he brought back an impressive amount of documents.


    When Kai reached for the documents, the man pulled them toward himself. He rubbed his fingers togethers, the universal sign for "Pay me."


    "Is it your first time here? We always take payment first."


    "How much?"


    "5 gold."


    "Sounds good," Kai replied with a nod, his voice carrying the rxed tone of someone well off.


    <i>Damn it, I should''ve asked for more.</i>


    The Information Guild''s Rogue grumbled internally as he epted the 5 gold. "Anything else you''re curious about? I can give you a discount if you ask now."


    "Not at the moment."


    With the short response, Kai left the Information Guild shaking his head.


    <i>This ce seems like they''d steal everything from you if you close your eyes.</i>


    He couldn''t believe such a ce could be an official institution.


    In the outskirts of Aquaria, Kai sat on the edge of a rock by the beach and began to check the documents he had purchased.


    <i>"Wyrm Lizard, harpy, wyvern, blood snake..."</i>


    The documents contained the appearance, characteristics, level, and habitat of monsters that dropped scales.


    <i>They¡¯re more efficient with their work than I thought.</i>


    Re-evaluating the Information Guild, Kai let out a light sigh.


    <i>The most challenging one I can catch around here is... the Steel Tortoise.</i>


    It had a shell made of steel on its back and tough scales covering its arms and neck. The creature was quite rare, but fortunately, the documents included a way to lure it.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe I need to go fishing just to catch a tortoise.</i>


    It said that the steel tortoise enjoyed feeding on Blood Worms, which were level 2 monsters.


    Kai stood up to buy a sturdy fishing rod and Blood Worms.


    <i>But the Steel Tortoise is a rare monster. I can''t waste thirty days just hoping it shows up.</i>


    Kai decided on one week. If the Steel Tortoise didn''t appear within that time, he would give up on it without hesitation.


    That was the n Kai had decided on.


    ***


    "...Singles go to heaven, couples go to hell."


    Kai, with a grumpy expression, walked along the beach carrying a fishing rod longer than his own height.


    "Hehe, babe! Catch me if you can!"


    "Haha, you''re so fast, my love!"


    "I love you, darling."


    "Haha staaap!"


    "Ughhh."


    Just hearing those lines was enough to make Kai get goosebumps.


    The source of these cringe phrases were from the couples on Aquaria''s beach.


    Naturally, seeing their romantic behavior made Kai jealous... no, furious.


    "Why''re they flirting and not ying the game! That''s not what capsules are for!"


    Moreover, they were doing these envious... no, embarrassing things in public, not in private!


    <i>I''ll get my revenge by doing the same thing someday.</i>


    Swearing revenge, Kai left the beach and headed toward the outskirts of the shore.


    After walking for thirty minutes, there were no more signs of yers or even NPCs.


    Aquaria''s white, clean buildings became more rundown as he moved to the outer regions, until only shacks were in sight.


    "Hmm. This seems like a good spot."


    Feeling that it was a great spot, Kai sat on a rock that also felt just right and hooked a Blood Worm to his fishing rod.


    "Now, lure in that Steel Tortoise."


    He cast his fishing rod with all his might and focused his attention, but the dobber didn''t even move.


    <i>Well, I guess the Steel Tortoise isn''t a beggar who''s been starving for three days.</i>


    Fishing was not about catching fish, but about catching time.


    After a bit, he began feeling bored so he secured his rod and decided to organize his inventory.


    "Let''s throw this away... Wow, how long has this Slime Core been here?"


    Cleaning his inventory while waiting for a bite was just as fun as cleaning during exam season.


    "Huh?"


    While in the middle of organizing, Kai grabbed a book.


    "Oh, right..."


    It was the fairy tale book he got as a reward from Deva after rescuing Rody''s family!


    He had promised himself he''d read it someday, but once he logged into the game, he always had too much to do and never had time to read the book.


    <i>But now I have some time... maybe I should nourish my mind a bit.</i>


    Kai dusted off the book and checked the title.


    <strong>[The Home of the Mermaids]</strong>


    "A fairy tale about mermaids, huh... how nostalgic."


    Kai smiled, remembering reading <i>The Little Mermaid</i> when he was a child.


    Reading a fairy tale at his age did seem a bit childish, but that didn¡¯t matter.


    <i>Since I needed something to kill time, I''ll just nurture my inner child.</i>


    The moment he opened the first page, an illustration caught his attention.

 Chapter 66: A Mermaid Who Loved a Knight (1)

    <h4>Chapter 66: A Mermaid Who Loved a Knight (1)</h4>


    "Wow...!"


    As if illustrated by the industry''s best artist with meticulous care, the illustration disyed an ocean filled with liveliness and mermaids swimming joyfully in it.


    <i>Even just one illustration makes it worth opening this book.</i>


    Kai quickly became emerged in the book.


    <strong>[...On nights when the full moon rises to its highest point, the mermaids enjoying ashore to sing their songs. They can feel the emotions of theirrades no matter how far they stray. Unlike the elves and dwarves, they are a yful and gentle race.]</strong>


    After reading for a while, Kai tilted his head.


    <i>The more I read, the more it doesn¡¯t seem like a fairy tale.</i>


    The book was more like a glossary guide than a fairy tale. Although he didn''t know who the author was, it was detailed and well-structured.


    <i>It describes what the mermaids like and fear. It''s incredibly detailed.</i>


    That wasn''t all. It seemed someone who had excellent knowledge about them had written the book as it even mentioned their kingdom, Aquavera, and the characteristics of their predators, the nagas, in detail.


    Kai''s eyes sparkled simultaneously.


    <i>Could the author of this book have visited Aquavera before?</i>


    The book''s contents were vast and detailed enough that it seemed hard to believe one person had imagined it all.


    Kai quickly flipped through the book to check the author.


    "Crawford Wonderfield."


    After seeing the author''s name, Kai began to wonder.


    <i>If this person is still alive and I could meet him...</i>


    Kai''s gaze shifted to the fishing rod, which didn''t move an inch.


    If he could meet Crawford, he would be able to acquire scales far better than those of any steel tortoise.


    <i>Aquavera must have plenty of monsters that can''t be found onnd.</i>


    Their scales would be the best he could obtain!


    But that wasn''t all. Aquavera housed one of the three sacred relics that could unlock the true power of a Sris Cleric.


    With this thought, Kai immediately reeled in the fishing rod.


    "Waiting patiently in a ce like this isn''t my style."


    Kai was the type who worked hard, always running around on his own two feet!


    As he returned to the Information Guild, he met the man who had given him information earlier, who furrowed his brows and said, "We need to make a living too. No refunds."


    "That¡¯s not why I came back. Didn''t you say you''d give me a discount if I asked for more information?"


    "That was earlier... but since you came back so quickly, I¡¯ll do it for you. What do you need now?"


    "I need to find someone."


    "Oh, an adventurer?"


    "No."


    The man showed an intrigued expression at Kai''s response.


    "An adventurer looking for a person of this world... that''s notmon. So, what¡¯s the name of the person you''re looking for?"


    "Crawford Wonderfield."


    The man, who had been wearing a smirk, lost his grin. "The name of the person you¡¯re looking for is Crawford Wonderfield?"


    "Yes."


    "Umm..." The rogue from the Information Guild, rubbing his forehead as if that would be troublesome, leaned forward and asked, "How did you even learn about him? That''s not a name outsiders would know easily..."


    "Outsiders? That means..." Kai picked up a hint from the Rogue''s slip of the tongue and asked again, "Crawford has connections with Aquaveria, doesn''t he?"


    "Dang, you''ve got a sharp sense." The Rogue, realizing his mistake, clicked his tongue and extended his hand. "Noment. You know our terms, payment first."


    "How much?"


    "50 gold."


    As Kai rummaged through his inventory, he red at the man.


    "Hey hey, don''t look at me like that. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m out to scam you or something."


    "If you''re not scamming me, how does that price make any sense?"


    "<i>Sigh</i>... listen, to be honest, we''d rather not deal with that information."


    "What do you mean?"


    The man pointed to the ceiling with his index finger. "It involves some important people and..." He pointed behind him with his thumb. "The lord of Aquaveria, here."


    Kai stayed silent.


    "You know, even a dog barks louder in its frontyard,[1] but... even for the Information Guild, that topic is a bit sensitive..."


    At those words, Kai quickly ced the fifty gold coins on the table, raising his chin as if demanding the Rogue borate.


    With a sigh, the Rogue pocketed the coins and stood up. "Wait here. I''ll bring the documents."


    Ten minutester, he returned and dropped a massive stack of papers on the table with a heavy <i>thud</i>. It was much thicker than before.


    "Crawford Wonderfield. He was originally a knight here in Aquaria. Skilled, virtuous, handsome, and young. In short, he had a bright future ahead of him."


    The Rogue quickly flipped through the papers, showing photos to aid his exnation.


    <i>He¡¯s definitely handsome.</i>


    Crawford Wonderfield had a sharp jawline, deep eyes, and a high nose, of which resembled a Western actor!


    As the Rogue had said, he seemed like someone with a bright future.


    "But you mentioned his bright future in past-tense... Does that mean he''s not anymore?"


    "Wow, our client sure catches on quick!" Impressed, the man shook the thickest bundle of papers and continued, "This is going to be quite a long story."


    "I have plenty of time."


    "Then I''ll get into it..."


    As he opened the papers, a message window popped up in front of Kai.


    <strong>[Will you view the Story of Crawford? If you ept, you may receive a rted quest.]</strong>


    <i>Yes.</i>


    Upon epting, Kai''s view changed as if he were watching a movie.


    ***


    Crawford Wonderfield was the most promising knight in Aquaria. Young, skilled, and virtuous. Naturally, there were countless women who admired him, but he already had a lover he adored¡ªsecret lover he couldn''t tell anyone about.


    <i>Ssh.</i>


    "You''re here."


    In a cave by a distant coast away from Aquaria, Crawford smiled lovingly at the woman waiting for him. Her beautiful emerald eyes revealed that she wasn''t just an ordinary person.


    "Sorry I''mte. Have you been waiting long?"


    "No, it¡¯s okay. I just got here myself."


    <i>Ssh, ssh.</i>


    The slender woman, who had been sshing her feet in the puddles on the cave floor, stood up to embrace him. It was ten minutes before she finally pulled away from Crawford''s broad chest.


    "You always smell so good," Crawford said with a hint of disappointment. For him, even ten minutes felt too short.


    yfully pouting, she asked, "You''re not teasing me for smelling fishy, are you?¡±


    "What? Hahaha!" Crawford burst intoughter at his lover''s joke, brushing her blue hair with his hand. "Not at all. You always smell amazing."


    "I probably just smell like the salty sea..."


    "No, you don¡¯t. Do all mermaids smell as good as you?"


    "I''m a little special."


    The woman with a mischievous smile was a mermaid and her name was Helene.


    As if it was destiny, the two had fallen in love when Helene had saved him from drowning. They only met once a month, but their love grew deeper with each meeting. It was a love that truly overcame species boundaries!


    "Helene, I have good news."


    "What is it?" Helene''s eyes sparkled with anticipation.


    "I think I''ll soon be resigning from my position as a knight, bing a free man."


    "What? Is it... because of me?"


    "No." Crawford shook his head with a bitter smile. "I just can''t bring myself to stay loyal to the current lord. It has nothing to do with you."


    The lord of Aquaria, Lord Bariton, had little respect for the honor of knights and was very greedy, and because of that, Crawford had be disappointed and wanted to leave.


    "But why is that good news?"


    "If I''m not a knight, I can see you every day." Crawford''s eyes curved into a gentle crescent shape as he looked at Helene with eyes filled with love and took her hand. "When that timees, will you marry me?"


    "C-Crawford... is this a...?"


    "It''s a proposal."


    "But I''m a mermaid... Do you think it¡¯ll be okay?"


    "It doesn''t matter. No matter what anyone says, you, Helene, are the one I love most."


    "Crawford..." With tears welling in her eyes, Helene nodded repeatedly. "I will. I''ll marry you, Crawford."


    Crawford''s proposal was sessful, and the scene changed as they shared a kiss.


    ***


    "It has been an honor to serve you."


    "Hm... are you really going to resign?"


    "...I''m sorry."


    Having taken off his armor and dressed in civilian clothes, Crawford bowed to Bariton.


    Seeing the unwavering determination in him, Bariton clicked his tongue. "I guess there''s nothing I can do. Thanks for your service. Take care."


    "May you stay well."


    Free from his obligations, Crawford stepped out of the lord''s mansion and felt like a new man.


    <i>Now all that''s left is to officially tie the knot with Helene and live a happy life.</i>


    He couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear at the thought.


    Moreover, he had also arranged to meet her at their usual spot tonight.


    They used to meet only once a month to avoid being seen, but on this day, Crawford couldn''t wait to be with her and insisted they meet.


    Crawford then used his savings to buy a beautiful ring.


    <i>I hope she likes it.</i>


    With anticipation, Crawford waited for her at their usual meeting ce that night.


    However, days went by, and she never showed up.


    ***


    <i>Why...</i>


    A weekter, Crawford returned to Aquaria with a pale face, dragging his feet.


    It was the first time she had not shown up after promising to be there.


    Unable to understand why, Crawford went to a bar and drank heavily.


    The bartender, who knew his usual demeanor, asked quietly, "Did something happen?"


    "Yes... I think I was... dumped."


    "What?! What kind of woman would leave a guy like you?" The bartender, looking genuinely concerned, nced around and then whispered, "Forget a person like that. And maybe check out the central square tonight."


    "Why the central square?"


    "You don''t know? The lord is exhibiting a mermaid he captured a week ago. They say she''s stunningly beautiful. Seeing her might help you forget your troubles."


    "...A mermaid?"


    The moment he heard the word, he used his Mana to sober up instantly.


    His once clouded mind became sharp, and he asked the bartender, "Where did they capture her?"


    "Huh? Well, I heard it wasn''t far. You know the twin caves to the west? They said it was caught near there," the bartender, startled by Crawford''s sudden intensity, stammered through his words.


    <i>Twin caves...</i>


    Crawford''s eyes lit up.


    Their usual meeting ce was near the twin caves.


    <i>Could it be because of me? Did Helene get caught because I pushed for us to meet?</i>


    Crawford then hastily got up and returned home.


    <i>Clink, clink.</i>


    He geared up with the sword and armor he thought he''d never need again, and waited for nightfall.


    ***


    Inside a massive and transparent tank resembling a swimming pool, the figure trapped inside avoided the stares from those looking at her with fear in her eyes.


    Helene, Crawford''s mermaid lover, wanted to retreat further into the tank but couldn''t move much.


    <i>nk, nk.</i>


    A tight cor restricted her movements and locked her in ce.


    <i>I miss you... Crawford...</i>


    Helene, observed like an animal in a zoo by the gathered crowd, wept mournfully.


    Then at that moment, a furious roar rang out, and the tank shattered.


    As the tank shattered and water poured out, Helene also spilled out along with it.


    Crawford, who had struck the tank and her cor with his sword, swept her into his arms and ran.


    "Ahhh, Crawford! Crawford!"


    "Hang tight for a bit. I''ll get you back to the sea."


    Baron Bariton was furious as he watched his prized possession get snatched away in front of hundreds of citizens.


    "Isn''t that bastard Crawford? How dare hey hands on my property!"


    Crawford, who was no longer his knight, had stolen his most valuable possession. And there was only onemand Bariton could give in such a situation.


    "Bring the mermaid back, even if you have to kill him!"


    With the rage-filledmand, Crawford''s story ended, and Kai''s vision returned to normal.


    1. The Korean saying is ??? ? ????? ? ? ?? ???? which basically means that everyone feels more confident in their home; even timid people can tell their guests to get out since this is my house. ?

 Chapter 67: A Mermaid Who Loved a Knight (2)

    <h4>Chapter 67: A Mermaid Who Loved a Knight (2)</h4>


    Kai slowly closed his eyes.


    As if he had watched a short film, Crawford''s story drifted in his mind, leaving a strong impression.


    <i>I see. So that''s Crawford''s story.</i>


    Crawford was a romantic knight who shared a love that overcame the boundaries between species. At the same time, that was also the reason he was able to write the book titled <i>The Home of the Mermaids</i>.


    Curious, Kai pressed the Rogue for more answers. "So how did the two of them end up?"


    "Helene returned to the sea safely. Crawford took on spears and swords and protected her until the end."


    "And what about Crawford?"


    The Rogue leaned back against his chair and opened his cigarette pack, taking one out. "Mister client, mind if I smoke?"


    "Go ahead."


    With a soft crackle, the Rogue lit his cigarette with a magical match, savoring the acrid smoke, and continued to say, "Crawford survived too. He''s still living as a resident of Aquaria."


    "...Really? Doesn''t seem like something Baron Bariton would allow."


    "It''s true. Crawford lives in a shanty town on the western outskirts of Aquaria, just fishing."


    <i>Thud.</i>


    Kai ced his bag of gold on the table and asked, "How much?"


    "Just 2 gold for this." Receiving the money, the Rogue handed over a map with Crawford''s location and continued his exnation. "Baron Bariton also has an image to maintain. After the fact that the mermaid was Crawford''s lover got out, the sympathy from the vigers poured in."


    "That¡¯s why he let him live?"


    "Not exactly. He¡¯s not living much of a life." With a sizzle and a flick, the Rogue put out his cigarette, tossed it into the trash, and looked at Kai. "If you know the baron''s temperament, he wouldn''t hesitate to kill Crawford and make it look like an ident. But the fact that he didn''t means..."


    "Means he wants something."


    "You indeed are a quick-witted client. Interested in a job here by any chance?"


    "No thank you. So, is the mermaid what Baron Bariton wants?"


    "Then what else? Of course... Crawford wouldn''t be oblivious to that."


    "Then why doesn''t he try to escape?"


    "Even if he wants to, he can¡¯t. He sustained serious injuries to his arms and legs while running away. Plus, two knights are always watching him."


    After listening to Crawford''s entire story, a quest window popped up.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong><u>[The Search for Crawford]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: E- </strong>


    <strong>Search for Crawford in the Western Shantytowns and have a conversation with him.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +10 Fame.</strong>


    <i>Ah, so there are linked quests too.</i>


    Quests to find someone usually led to a series of connected tasks.


    Knowing that, Kai slowly got up from his seat. "Thank you for the good information."


    "Of course."


    By the time Kai stepped outside after bidding the Rogue farewell, the sky had already turned pitch-ck.


    <i>A knight who loved a mermaid...</i>


    Kai wondered what their true ending was and wished to see it with his own eyes.


    ***


    "Is anyone there?"


    The next morning, Kai knocked on Crawford''s door after arriving at his house.


    Soon, a wary voice came from inside. "Who is it?"


    "I''m just a passing adventurer. I have something to ask you."


    "...Come in."


    Entering, Kai furrowed his brows..


    <i>Is this really where a once-promising knight lives...?</i>


    The ce was in poor condition, not fit for anyone to live in, evoking a sense of pity.


    A man in his mid-forties, presumed to be Crawford, limped toward Kai. "What does an adventurer have to ask me?"


    The young, handsome man from Crawford''s story was nowhere to be found. The long hair and scruffy beard gave him the look of a homeless person.


    "Was this book written by you?"


    As Kai pulled out <i>The Home of the Mermaids</i> from his inventory, Crawford''s eyes widened.


    "This book is...!?" With trembling hands, Crawford took the book and slowly turned the pages. As he read through them slowly, one by one, he nodded. "Yes, I wrote this book and gifted it to Helene... my lover."


    "I came across this book by chance and learned about you and Helene''s story."


    "Hmm..." Crawford gave a bittersweet smile, recalling the lover he once loved. "Now it''s just a thing of the past, merely a memory."


    "Why do you think it''s all over?" Kai pounded his chest with his fists and looked at Crawford, conveying that he was trustworthy. "I will help you find Helene."


    "I appreciate your kindness, but it''s impossible. I¡¯ve wanted to see her for the past twenty years, but the knights¡¯ surveince kept me from doing so. If she were to be captured again... I wouldn''t be able to save her this time."


    Crawford looked down at his body,pletely resigned to his fate. With weak arms barely capable of holding a spoon, and legs that limped while walking, he was not fit to save anyone.


    "But if you''re an adventurer who knows Helene... then I have something to ask of you."


    Limping, Crawford moved to the corner of the room and pulled out something from a pile of books, handing it to Kai.


    "What''s this?"


    "It''s a letter. I can''t see her because of the knights'' surveince... but as an adventurer, you might be able to. Could you give this to her?"


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You sessfullypleted the quest: The Search for Crawford.]</strong>


    <strong>+10 Fame.</strong>


    <strong>Linked quest, Crawford''s Heart, unlocked.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Crawford''s Heart]</u></strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: D-</strong>


    <strong>Knowing better than anyone that he will never meet his lover again, Crawford asks for one final wish: that she forget about him and live life anew.</strong>


    <strong>Meet with Helene and deliver Crawford¡¯s letter to her.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +5 Benevolence, Mermaid Scale.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: -5 Benevolence.</strong>


    With the letter in hand, Kai silently stared at the quest window, deep in thought. For Kai, the quest posed no risk, but the reason for his hesitation was simple.


    <i>Can I really let their story end like this?</i>


    Helene and Crawford, neither of them had done anything wrong. They only ended up like this because of Bariton''s greed, despite their only crime being that they loved each other.


    <i>If Bariton hadn''t been so greedy...</i>


    An image naturally formed in his mind. A childughing and running along the beach, watched over by a couple holding hands, Crawford and Helene.


    However, reality was harsh.


    <i>They weren¡¯t able to see each other in over twenty years, and Crawford is barely surviving in this rundown house.</i>


    In this situation, delivering a mere letter would be pointless.


    Making his mind up, Kai handed the letter back, shaking his head. "I decline."


    Then a notification sound rang simultaneously.


    <i>Dun, dun, dun!</i>


    <strong>[You failed the quest: Crawford''s Heart.]</strong>


    <strong>[-5 Benevolence.]</strong>


    Despite the shocking message, Kai didn''t even blink. He was stubborn, sticking to what he believed was right!


    Even Crawford seemed taken aback by his response. "B-but why? I thought you said you would help me?"


    "I said I''d help you meet Helene. I never said I''d deliver a scrap of paper."


    "But I can''t see her anymore."


    "I told you I''d help you."


    "It''s not that simple!" Crawford, pounding his chest with his fists, shouted in a voice filled with anger and frustration, "Don''t you think I want to see her? I¡¯m probably the one who wants to see her the most in this whole world!"


    "Then why..."


    "Because I already failed once!" Crawford shouted angrily, then clenched his lips tightly before dropping into his chair.


    His voice, now calm and subdued, followed, and he continued in a sobbing tone, as if ming himself, "...I saw her cry because of my greed. If she were to get hurt again because of me, I... wouldn''t know what to do..."


    <i>Hmm, perhaps that¡¯s reasonable.</i>


    Crawford was weighed down by guilt, believing he was the reason Helene was captured by humans.


    <i>But it wasn''t your fault.</i>


    Why should someone who did nothing wrong live in regret, trapped in the past?


    Kai took out the Sris Cleric pendant from around his neck, holding it with both hands, and closed his eyes. "Crawford, sir, it wasn''t your greed that caused this. Only those who crushed your beautiful love in their greed are guilty."


    "...I see you''re a cleric of the Church of Sris. But it''s toote. I''ve already hurt her. She probably resents me a lot."


    Crawford covered his face with both hands, criticizing himself.


    Watching him, Kai asked, "Crawford, do you resent Helene? Do you think it''s her fault for getting caught by humans and causing this situation?"


    "Of course not! I''d never think that..."


    "That¡¯s likely the same for her."


    When Crawford looked up, he saw Kai''s gentle smile.


    Kai gently ced his hand, warm with Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, on the crown of Crawford''s head. The negative thoughts in Crawford''s mind slowly washed away, and his wounded heart began to heal.


    Kai then asked with a soft voice, "Why is it that you don¡¯t resent Helene?"


    "Well, because... because I still... I still love her."


    All the talk about Helene being just a memory was aplete lie. Even the letter telling her to forget him and live a new life was a lie.


    Crawford, hiding behind lies and deceiving even himself, couldn''t contain the sadness swelling in his heart and eventually burst into tears. They were the tears of a man with a burning heart who hadn''t been able to see his lover for twenty years.


    "Right, because you still love her. Then how do you think Helene would feel?"


    "If it were her..."


    "If it''s the Helene you know, do you think she would really resent you, her love faded?"


    "...If it were her, no... she wouldn''t."


    Crawford, knowing Helene better than anyone, closed his eyes, realizing she wouldn''t do that. The truth was, he had never once thought she might resent him. He just felt sadness and fear from not seeing her, so he justified it to himself in that way!


    "Humans aren''t gods. We can''t read each other''s thoughts or know their feelings." The golden light from Kai''s fingertips filled the room in an instant. "But love, that great emotion, can make the impossible possible."


    With Kai''s warm words offort, Crawford closed his eyes tightly and asked, "Would it... really be okay for me to be greedy...?"


    "Don''t call it greed. It''s simply your true feelings."


    After repeated persuasion, Crawford eventually understood and epted his feelings.


    Then he said, crying, ¡°I miss her... Helene... I want to see my dear love so desperately..."


    Over the past twenty years, she had never left his thoughts, not even for a moment.

 Chapter 68: A Mermaid Who Loved A Knight (3)

    <h4>Chapter 68: A Mermaid Who Loved A Knight (3)</h4>


    Kai watched as the grown man cried openly, then handed him a handkerchief.


    Crawford, who had cried for a while, finally calmed down and wore an awkward expression. "...Thanks. This is quite embarrassing."


    "You''re realizing that now?"


    Facing Kai''s yful smile, Crawford scratched his head and asked, "So what are you nning to do? As I said, two knights are always watching over me."


    "I''ll handle them, so don''t worry about that part... Do you know any way to meet Helene?"


    "...There is a way." Crawford pulled out a small conch from under his pillow. "It''s a conch made of a seashell. When Helene gave it to me, she said that if I blew into it, she woulde to me, no matter where or when."


    "That''s romantic."


    "...Yeah, she''s unbelievably wonderful. Unlike me."


    "If you also shave and style your hair I bet you''d still look like you¡¯re in your prime.¡±


    Kai wasn''t exaggerating. Crawford may have looked like a homeless person now, but Kai had seen him during his glory days as a knight.


    <i>He was astonishingly handsome!</i>


    Even now, his good looks were just hidden behind the beard and long hair.


    "Let''s head out first."


    "...Where?"


    "Surely you''re not nning to meet Helene like this, right?" Kai responded, slightly taken aback at Crawford''s question.


    Crawford looked down at himself and mumbled in a timid voice, "It''s embarrassing, but I have no money..."


    "Don''t worry about that," Kai said with a smile. "I''ll take care of everything for you from head to toe today."


    ***


    <i>Snip, snip.</i>


    "Oh my..."


    "Wow..."


    Stylists working on their clients'' hair in a salon in Aquaria paused their work and eximed as they couldn''t help but let out their admiration.


    Crawford opened his eyes to see his reflection in the mirror.


    "Uh..."


    Though he had aged and developed a few wrinkles, it was the same face he had when he and Helene had been passionately in love. Even he hadn¡¯t seen his own face like this in ages, so it was no wonder others were surprised.


    Kai took him out of the shop once his hair and beard were trimmed.


    <i>He''s really handsome.</i>


    Crawford was really a picture-perfect middle-aged man! While he had just been a good-looking young man before, his years of sadness had given his gaze a deeper, more mature feeling.


    "Now let''s go buy some clothes."


    "No, I can¡¯t let you do that much..."


    "I told you I¡¯d fix you up from head to toe today."


    Kai urged him along, taking him to a tailor and a shoe shop, transforming Crawford into a perfect gentleman.


    "Hmm, looks good."


    If they advertised with before-and-after photos of Crawford, they would make a fortune!


    <i>I can¡¯t believe a person can change this much. Indeed, it¡¯s crucial to take care of oneself.</i>


    Kai had forgotten how, just a few days ago, he had barely escaped looking like a mess at his own mother''s birthday party. Surely, it was easy to forget where one came from!


    Leading Crawford, Kai headed to the final destination.


    Then Crawford suddenly stopped and said, "Hold on a second. This ce is..."


    Grasping Kai''s shoulder, Crawford looked up at the store''s sign with a wistful gaze.


    "Is there a problem?"


    "...No, not at all."


    Crawford quietly followed Kai into the shop.


    "Pick whatever you like."


    "Me?"


    "Or should I choose for you?"


    "...No, I''ll choose."


    Crawford spent a while gazing at the ring disy in the jewelry shop before returning to Kai.


    "Have you chosen one?"


    "I couldn¡¯t decide."


    "Should I choose for you then?"


    "No." Crawford shook his head and smiled. "I¡¯m sorry, but I''d rather deal with the ring on my own if that¡¯s okay."


    "Pardon? But I thought you said you didn''t have any money..."


    "There''s a ring I¡¯ve always wanted to give her."


    It was the proposal ring he couldn¡¯t give to her twenty years ago!


    Kai, recalling this, silently nodded. "Sure, let''s do that then."


    "Thanks."


    "No problem. It''s less money out of my pocket."


    When Crawford started walking, Kai followed with a faint smile on his face. They varrived at a beach where twin caves could be seen in the distance.


    "This the right spot?" Kai asked to check.


    "Yes, we used to meet around here."


    "Then go ahead and blow the conch to call Helene."


    "Are you sure you''re gonna be okay?" Crawford seemed to worry how Kai would deal with the consequences.


    "Even if I''m not, I''ll have to be. I need to prepare."


    Kai quickly changed into his Armor of the Undead gear and turned his back to Crawford to face the two knights approaching in the distance.


    ***


    <i>nk, nk.</i>


    Two knights in full te armor entered the beach. Then they observed Crawford, who was blowing the conch at the edge of the beach, and approached him.


    However, someone stepped in to block their path. It was an adventurer dressed in full ck armor, Kai. "From now on, he''s going to be busy, so let''s talk over here."


    "...What are you doing?"


    "We''re carrying out our orders from Baron Bariton, the lord of Aquaria."


    The knights growled at Kai, who was standing in their way.


    "Surely you''re not nning to defy the orders of Baron Bariton, are you?"


    "I''m following the will of the Srian God, Helix. Are you suggesting that a mere baron would defy a god? Should I report it as sphemy to the church?" Kai retorted.


    "Watch your mouth!"


    The knights, realizing Kai wasn¡¯t going to back down through a conversation, quickly drew their swords.


    At the same time, Kai entered his battle stance, his eyes glowing.


    <i>Let''s test the waters first, shall we?</i>


    Kai''s sword spun in an instant as he lunged off the sand. "Flood of des!"


    "Argh!"


    One of the knights groaned as he swung his sword to block Kai''s surprisingly fast attack.


    <i>ng!</i>


    <i>They have good reflexes. Judging by their attack power, they''re probably... around level 100.</i>


    The level gap was overwhelming, even tougher than facing an Orc Lord, and now he had to deal with two of them.


    <i>Plus, these guys aren''t as dumb as Orcs.</i>


    NPCs were designed to think just like people, and these knights had a background of decades of sword training.


    "Dover! I''ll keep him busy, so go get Crawford!"


    "Got it!"


    The knight named Dover dashed past Kai. And in that moment, Kai''s eyes lit up.


    <i>Got him.</i>


    He quickly spun around and followed Dover, shouting, "Now!"


    As he shouted, the sand burst into the air like an explosion. And out of it, came six gnoll skeletons, alltching onto Dover''s left leg.


    "Wh-what are these things!?"


    Every time Dover swung his sword, the weak gnoll skeletons were instantly unsummoned.


    However, it was enough time for Kai.


    "Flood of des!"


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Full te armor was favored by knights for its strong protection and a sword that swung with such defense was deadly!


    <i>But there''s also a disadvantage.</i>


    The joints were the disadvantage of full ted armor. To maintain mobility in a suit of armor made of solid material, the joints had to be somewhat flexible. And leather was usually used to fill those gaps.


    Kai''s sword was sharp enough to sh throught the leather at the armor''s calf joint to hit Dover''s leg.


    "Aaagh!"


    As Dover''s leg got shed in an instant, he screamed in pain and swung his sword.


    However, Kai was already out of range, dodging the sword''s path.


    <i>Shit, my left leg...</i>


    It was too damaged to move. The moment Dover realized this, he called for help from his fellow knight, Brafa.


    "I can''t handle him alone! I need support!"


    "Shit... Then let''s end it quickly!"


    <i>Got them!</i>


    Kai let out a sigh of relief as he had at least prevented the worst-case scenario of the knights reaching Crawford.


    Of course, six gnoll skeletons had been sacrificed in the process, but it was a small price for the result.


    <i>Now, let''s do this.</i>


    Kai''s eyes shined as he faced the two knights, or rather, his prey.


    ***


    Dover made the first move. He quickly realized his left leg had lost its function, and his mobility was severelypromised.


    <i>If that''s the case, I''ll have to hold him in one spot.</i>


    Meanwhile, his colleague, Brafa, would decapitate Kai!


    It was a simple yet highly effective strategy.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    The sword of a knight with decades of experience came down like lightning toward Kai.


    Compared to Kai''s vertical strikes, this was a clean downward sh!


    <i>However...</i>


    A clean attack meant there were no extra movements, making it easier to predict. Thus, if one could react in time, dodging it was the simplest thing.


    Kai kept his eyes on the attack and pivoted on his left foot to avoid the sword. Then came his counterattack!


    Kai thrusted his sword.


    ¡°Aaagh!¡±


    This time, it was Dover''s left knee.


    Dragging his now tattered leg, Dover cursed. "You bastard, you keep aiming at my left leg, huh!?"


    "Isn''t targeting an opponent''s weakness the basics ofbat?"


    "You''re an impudent bastard who doesn¡¯t even know the honor of a knight..."


    "And stalking a man with severed limbs and pressuring him is what an honorable knight does?"


    As Kai casually dismissed Dover''s bullshit and confirmed Dover could barely stand properly, he became certain of something.


    <i>Master Huey said the most important thing in swordsmanship are the roots.</i>


    And by roots, he meant strong, stable legs. If those were crucial on solid ground, it was even more so on this sandy beach.


    <i>Dover won''t even be at half his usual strength now.</i>


    There was nothing easier than dodging a sword with an unbnced center of gravity. And even if he swung it, it wouldck power.


    After judging so, Kai rolled across the sand and lunged forward.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    "You bastard!"


    This was an unfair fight, a two against one battle! Kai faced Dover while keeping an eye on Brafa approaching from behind.


    Given the unfair odds, he had to perform at 150% of his usual skill to stand a chance.


    <i>My level is way lower than theirs... but if I use Supernova, I¡¯ll gain a temporary advantage.</i>


    Supernova, which raised all stats by 30, produced surprising synergy with the title Saint of Glendale.


    <i>The Saint of Glendale increases the effect of all skills using Holy Power by 10%.</i>


    In short, that meant instead of 150 stats being increased, he would get a boost of 165!


    <i>In that case, although only just for a moment, I won''t be at a disadvantage.</i>


    It would boost his health, attack power, speed, and even dodge rate!


    Having gained confidence from this, Kai stood up and brushed off the sand.


    <i>Now, my job is to disrupt their perception.</i>


    Kai had already used all of Fermi¡¯s Venom he had to slowly restrain and impede his enemies.


    But despite that fact, he smiled as the sand getting brushed off his body caught his attention.


    <i>If I don''t have any venom, I can just make some.</i>

 Chapter 69: A Mermaid Who Loved A Knight (4)

    <h4>Chapter 69: A Mermaid Who Loved A Knight (4)</h4>


    Brafa and Dover looked at the adventurer who slowly approached them; their expressions showed they thought the situation was ridiculous.


    "Hah, you''re going to fight us knights in closebat?"


    "He must be crazy."


    That was clearly disrespecting them as knights!


    They were so furious that they swung their swords, intending to sh the arrogant adventurer at once. They showedplex swordsmanship that was different from the style that ordinary soldiers and adventurers learned.


    No matter how keen-eyed and quick to react Kai was, it was impossible topletely avoid this sophisticated swordsmanship he had never seen before. The durability of Kai''s armor quickly diminished, and scratches increased on his body.


    <i>But I need to endure it!</i>


    Kai raised his arms to guard his vital points and stood still, provoking them even as he got hit. "Is that all the skill you knights have? I''m disappointed!"


    "Let''s see if you can still talk like that after you''re dead!"


    "And you, have you forgotten how to swing a sword after taking a few hits?" Kai responded.


    "Hmph, this guy who can''t even react to my sword and just keeps getting hit sure has a big mouth!"


    Brafa and Dover''s swords became even faster. This speed was actually a strain for them, but seeing the adventurer hold on despite getting hurt, their pride was piqued.


    "This is so ticklish! Scratch harder!"


    Besides, there were also unexpected provocations that came out of nowhere!


    "<i>Huff,</i> <i>huff</i>."


    "<i>Huff, puff</i>."


    After swinging their swords wildly for ten minutes, they finally noticed that something was odd.


    <i>Why hasn¡¯t this adventurer bastard copsed yet?</i>


    <i>We''ve hit him dozens of times already!</i>


    Even counting only the urate strikes, they had hit Kai three figures worth! In a normal situation, he would have died several times over.


    <i>But why...?</i>


    As they started feeling an unknown danger, Kai, who had only been defending, slowly lowered his arms.


    "Already tired?"


    "Don''t be ridiculous. We wouldn¡¯t be tired with just this..."


    ¡°Right... we shouldn¡¯t be, but...¡±


    Brafa and Dover, who were about to scoff, checked the status of their bodies and were shocked.


    <i>W-why does my body feel so heavy?</i>


    <i>My breathing is at the limit! My heart is racing too fast!</i>


    Normally, they had to swing swords continuously for an hour during training to get this tired. It was true that they had overexerted themselves just now, but it had only been ten minutes.


    Unable to ept this situation, they red at Kai with widened eyes.


    "What have you done to us!?"


    "What did I do? I didn¡¯t do anything," Kai casually replied while installing the Spring of Restoration beside him.


    <strong>[Recovering 1 Health every second.] </strong>


    <strong>[Recovering 1 Stamina every second.] </strong>


    Kai checked his slowly recovering Health and Stamina, then looked at them. "You¡¯re the ones who¡¯ve been swinging your swords non-stop, even on this sandy beach."


    "What? We obviously knew this was a sandy beach..."


    "No, you didn''t." Kai grinned. Humans were creatures of adaptation.


    If he had pranced around, fighting with them, they would have noticed the sandy beach and conserved energy by fighting carefully.


    <i>So I just stood still, letting them hit me.</i>


    And he kept provoking them, cleverly pushing them to the brink of madness!


    Brafa and Doverughed at Kai, who couldn''t even react to their attacks, but that very fact was actually tightening the noose around their necks.


    <i>To the point that they forgot where they were standing.</i>


    As Kai stood still, the guys who had beaten him probably paid no attention to where they were. Of course, ignoring it didn¡¯t change the fact that the ground beneath them wasn¡¯t solid but sandy.


    <i>It would have taken several times more energy just to swing their swords once than usual.</i>


    And, crucially, Kai had a recovery skill that could replenish his Health.


    In the end, the knights had just wasted all their energy!


    Kai, who had let his sword drop, slowly approached them.


    "Supernova. Flood of des."


    The beast revealed its hidden fangs and suddenly kicked up the sandy beach.


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    A cloud of sand filled the air! Before those grains even hit the ground, Kai''s sword swept through the knights.


    <i>ng, ng!</i>


    "As expected, full te mail is really solid."


    It felt like they had suddenly been pped in the face with the unexpected hit!


    Naturally, Kai didn''t n to stop with just one attack and raised his sword again. "One more time, Flood of des."


    <i>ng, ng, ng, ng!</i>


    Kai''s sword relentlessly struck Brafa and Dover. They tried to resist, but even in a normal state, dealing with Kai''s Supernova was difficult. And now, with their energy drained, they were just puppets in Kai¡¯s hands.


    <i>Vital point, vital point, vital point!</i>


    Kai aimed persistently at their vital points because he knew that hitting there would cause much more damage!


    <strong>[Critical hit. Additional 1.5 times damage inflicted.] </strong>


    <strong>[Critical hit. Additional 1.5 times damage inflicted.] </strong>


    <strong>[Critical hit...]</strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    Immersed in the fight, Kai didn''t even pay attention to those messages, and continued swinging his sword.


    That it was in that moment.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[With incredible focus, you havended over 50 critical strikes on your enemies.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Proficiency in Swordsmanship of the Dawn has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn increased to intermediate ranking.]</strong>


    <i>Huh?</i>


    Kai''s eyes widened a bit.


    <i>Swordsmanship of the Dawn just increased to intermediate rank?</i>


    It was a sudden change to his swordsmanship skill, which was previously at Beginner level 9!


    Kai quickly distanced himself from the two knights to check the skill info.


    <strong>[<u>Intermediate Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.1. Passive.</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Does 200% damage when attacking enemies with your de.</strong>


    <strong>Attacks to additional holy damage based on Holy Power stat.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency: 0/100</strong>


    As his swordsmanship skill reached the intermediate rank, additional abilities were unlocked!


    After seeing this, Kai''s eyes widened.


    <i>Additional holy damage proportional to the Holy Power stat? If this is efficient...</i>


    He would need to level up both the Strength and Holy Power stats together going forward.


    With smoother, more fluid movements, Kai swung his sword and looked at the knights before him.


    <i>Let''s test it out first.</i>


    Brafa and Dover had quickly fallen from duel opponents to test subjects! However, they had saved some energy, so they weren¡¯t just going to sit back and do nothing.


    <i>We''ve roughly figured out that bastard¡¯s attack patterns.</i>


    <i>His attacks aren''t as sharp as they seem.</i>


    When Kai charged at them, the two knights brought up their swords.


    "Argh!"


    The swords of the two knights aimed at Kai''s heart and head.


    Kai, who was watching the trajectory of the attack until thest moment, suddenly dropped to the ground. The moment his fallen body hit the uneven ground of the sandy beach, his center of gravity was greatly shaken. Then he reflexively adjusted his body and bnced and gained perfect bnce again.


    Kai''s posture, springing up from a low stance, was literally perfect. And perfect swordsmanship emerged from the perfect stance!


    <i>sh!</i>


    In the blink of an eye, Kai''s de grazed Dover''s throat.


    Dover, who couldn''t believe what had just happened, coughed out blood, his eyes widened. "Kugh!"


    Both Dover and Kai were stunned by the turn of events.


    <i>W-wait. Does a skill be this strong after it leveled up once from the normal rank?</i>


    It felt like his attack power had increased by at least 1.5 times!


    Kai quickly opened his skill window to check the detailed information.


    <strong>[<u>Intermediate Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.1 Passive.</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Rank: Rare</strong>


    "It¡¯s Rare!?" Kai''s mouth fell open in surprise.


    <i>When I first learned it, it was definitely a Normal skill.</i>


    The book that master Huey gave him had been tattered with a subtle gray color. Most importantly, he was confident because he had examined the skill thoroughly several times.


    <i>So the grade also increased as it reached the intermediate rank.</i>


    It was a skill that ranked up as he leveled up!


    Kai had never heard of such a strange skill before, but he understood it at the same time.


    "Well... if it''s swordsmanship from Patrick, I guess it should be at least this powerful."


    He had always found it odd that the skill''s abilities were too poorpared to its grand name. But he never expected it to have a hidden secret like this!


    Already a monster, Kai had gained even sharper ws.


    The moment Brafa and Dover realized this fact, their faces turned dark with despair.


    ***


    <strong>[Aquarian knight Brafa defeated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Aquarian knight Dover defeated.]</strong>


    <strong>[When Baron Bariton discovers your actions, you will be marked as an enemy, and a bounty will be ced on your head.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Stat points.]</strong>


    "Amazing."


    Finally, his level started with a 7.


    Then Kai fell into serious thought.


    <i>The efficiency of the Swordsmanship of the Dawn has improved much more than I expected. What should I do?</i>


    Kai''s base stats had decreased by 5, bringing his total Holy Power stats to 259!


    To be honest, there were parts that Kai had to sacrifice when focusing on Strength.


    <i>First of all, the healing amount doesn¡¯t increase any further. Also, the destructive power of Holy Explosion remained the same.</i>


    Furthermore, the constant duration of Supernova had always been somewhat frustrating. However, with Swordsmanship of the Dawn reaching the intermediate rank, a path to increase damage by boosting the Holy Power stats had opened.


    <i>If that''s the case, raising the Holy Power stats is definitely beneficial...but what ratio should I aim for?</i>


    Purely from the perspective of attack power, it was better to increase Strength than Holy Power. However, raising Holy Power brought a lot of additional effects.


    After weighing the pros and cons of the two stat types, Kai reached a conclusion.


    <i>I¡¯ll allocate 3 points to Strength and 2 to Holy Power every time I level up, at least for a while.</i>


    The decision he made was to give slightly more weight to Strength because even with a few additional Holy Power stats, it would be challenging to see immediate effective results.


    <strong>[<u>Apprentice Knight¡¯s Longsword</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 82 - 115</strong>


    <strong>+5 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+3 Agility</strong>


    <strong>A longsword crafted by the Kingdom of Rashion¡¯s workshop, provided to apprentice knights upon their knighthood.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 100+, Knight ss, Strength 130+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 81/100</strong>


    Afterpleting item farming, Kai approached Crawford.


    After blowing into his conch for quite some time, Crawford stood still on the sandy beach, staring out at the sea.


    <i>What¡¯s happening? Is Helene not going toe?</i>


    While sympathy swept across Kai''s face, a trembling voice came out from Crawford''s quivering lips. "He... lene..."


    At the same time, something approached quickly through the sea from a distance. It had sun-kissed brown skin,rge shells covering the chest, and the most notable was a tail fin instead of legs.


    "Oh, Crawford, Crawford, Crawford!"


    Helene swam across the sea in an instant, leaping into Crawford''s arms like a fresh flying fish. As soon as she came out from the water, her tail fin transformed into legs, and she wore what looked like shorts made of seaweed.


    "Helene...!"


    Crawford, who held his lover he had missed for twenty years in his embrace, shed tears.


    Helene, gazing up at him, started crying while teasing him, "What is this? You''ve be a crybaby while we¡¯ve been apart."


    "...You''ve be even more beautiful since Ist saw you."


    "And you''ve be even more handsome, Crawford."


    As they gazed into each other''s eyes with affection, their lips slowly came together.


    Watching them, a gentle smile crept across Kai''s lips.


    <i>That¡¯s it, the best ending for those who love and care for each other is supposed to look like this.</i>


    He was d they had finally reunited.


    As Kai closed his eyes with relief, a flood of messages appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Helene and Crawford, who had not forgotten each other for 20 years, have finally reunited. Your benevolence has changed the tragic ending of these two lovers into a happy one. Seeing love beyond the boundaries of race, Srian God Helik praises you with tears in his eyes.]</strong>


    <strong>[Birds begin to sing the story of Crawford, Helene, and the adventurer, Kai. +3000 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[+800 Contribution to the Srian Church.]</strong>


    <strong>[Spread of the word of the Church of Sris increased by 10%. Those who wish to confirm their eternal love may now marry under the officiator of a cleric of the Srian Church.]</strong>


    <strong>[+30 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <i>...Does a god actually cry over something like this?</i>


    Kai chuckled, then smiled as he looked at the man and woman blessed by the blue sea and the warm sunlight.

 Chapter 70: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (1)

    <h4>Chapter 70: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (1)</h4>


    Kai waited patiently without interrupting the reunion between the two people.


    After spending an hour exchanging stories they hadn¡¯t been able to share over the past twenty years, they finally approached Kai. ¡°Thank you for waiting.¡±


    ¡°No problem. It¡¯s been twenty years since you twost met. I¡¯m happy to wait,¡± Kai replied.


    ¡°Thank you so much." Crawford then turn toward Helene. "Helene, this is Kai, the adventurer who helped us meet.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, then you¡¯re our savior!¡±


    ¡°Yes, we owe him a debt we could never repay.¡±


    Helene and Crawford looked at Kai with eyes full of gratitude.


    In an instant, Kai smiled kindly and responded with the most exemry response. ¡°I was just doing what anyone should do.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re so humble!¡±


    ¡°You really are...!¡±


    <strong>[Helene¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Crawford Wonderfield¡¯s affinity has increased.]</strong>


    Their affinity levels were rising rapidly!


    Kai, looking at the message window with a look of satisfaction at having guessed correctly, asked, ¡°So, what will you two do now?¡±


    Bariton would be furious once he found out the knights he assigned to Crawford had gone missing. And naturally, Crawford wouldn¡¯t be able to safely roam around Aquaria or the nearby territories.


    ¡°Oh, about that...¡± Helene raised her hand shyly and looked at Crawford. ¡°Crawford, do you remember the suggestion I made to you before? You said you''d think about it.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I haven''t forgotten a single word you said.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Crawford...¡±


    Kai cut off their tender moment before it went too far. ¡°So, what was that suggestion about?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I once suggested to Crawford that we live underwater together.¡±


    ¡°Underwater, as in...?¡±


    ¡°The home of us merfolk and the only kingdom located underwater, Aquavera.¡±


    ¡°But humans can''t breathe underwater, right?¡±


    Kai''s question made Helene chuckle. ¡°You don¡¯t think I would suggest something harmful to Crawford, do you? There¡¯s a spell that allows him to breathe underwater.¡±


    ¡°For a lifetime?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d have to cast the spell for him as long as we live.¡±


    Kai gave Crawford a sympathetic look. ¡°...You should stay on Helene¡¯s good side, Crawford.¡±


    ¡°Ahem, yes, I¡¯ll make sure to treat her well for the rest of our lives.¡±


    It was a harsh married life where Crawford could drown if they were on bad terms!


    Understanding this, Kai shivered and replied, ¡°So when do you two n to leave?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to leave right now if that¡¯s okay... Crawford, do you need more time?¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t really have much to take with me.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s leave immediately before the humans arrive.¡±


    As Helene prepared to leave, Kai carefully asked, ¡°Excuse me, Helene. Is there any special requirement for visiting Aquavera?¡±


    ¡°Anyone who¡¯s a friend of the merfolk is wee.¡±


    ¡°Th-then, could I go with you too?¡±


    ¡°Pardon? Weren¡¯t you nning toe along? You should at least give us a chance to repay our savior.¡±


    ¡°Taking me to Aquavera is more than enough! Visiting that ce has been one of my dreams for a long time,¡± Kai, whose dream had started just two weeks ago, bowed his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to what you¡¯ve done for us, Kai. Now, wait just a moment, both of you.¡±


    Helene, with her eyes closed, murmured something, then waved her hand toward Crawford and Kai. At the same time, a clear bubble appeared over both of their heads.


    ¡°Helene, what is this?¡± Kai asked as he stared at the hubble on his head with curiosity.


    ¡°It¡¯s a spell that allows you to breathe underwater. The effectsts only a day, but I can cast it whenever needed, so don''t worry.¡±


    ¡°I see. But how do you get to Aquavera? Is it by dolphin, perhaps?¡± Kai remembered the fairy tales he had read as a child


    ¡°Pardon? What are you talking about?¡±<i> </i>As Helene snapped her fingers, a portal appeared in front of her. ¡°We use teleportation magic, of course. Dolphins are way too slow. Why would we use them?¡±


    Kai was speechless at the evidence that merfolks were a race that freely wielded magic!


    With a slightly embarrassed expression, Kai entered the portal first as they suggested. Then, the scene shifted.


    ¡°Wow...!¡±


    Suddenly, he felt as if his body was weighed down with lead. He tried taking a step, but it was as slow as walking in a swimming pool.


    <i>I won''t be able to fight like this.</i>


    However, the developers wouldn¡¯t have added such a penalty without a solution.


    With a rxed attitude, Kai began to look around. He saw several-meter-tall kelp and beautiful corals of various colors.


    <i>This is the underwater scenery!</i>


    Kai became the only human to explore the deep sea without a modern submarine!


    Schools of fish moving in formation and curious marine creatures crawling along the seafloor caught his attention.


    <i>I always thought the deep sea would be terrifying...</i>


    But the scenery was much more open but also cozier than expected. He thought it would be pitch ck without any light, but many glowing jellyfish floated around, and, above all, magic streetmps were embedded in the ocean floor, preventing it from bing dark.


    ¡°Do you like the underwater scenery?¡±


    Helene¡¯s voice came from behind, and Kai nodded.


    <i>But how do you talk underwater?</i>


    Noticing Kai''s concern, Helene smiled and exined, ¡°Just speak as you normally would onnd. Magic is quite convenient.¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Kai realized his voice came out clearly and said, ¡°I didn''t realize the underwater world would be this beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Haha, thank you for thinking so. Shall we head to Aquavera now, my hometown?¡±


    Helene seemed excited, eager to show off Aquavera.


    ¡°Yes, but... is that Aquavera?¡± Kai, looking confused, pointed ahead and asked.


    The entrance to Aquavera appeared shabby,cking even basic fortifications like a wooden fence, let alone city walls.


    He wondered if the merfolk collectively suffered from ack of concern for safety.


    ¡°Pardon? Safety? No need to worry about that,¡± Helene replied with a confident voice, brimming with pride. ¡°In the sea, the only real enemies are the nagas, and they can''t breach the magical barrier surrounding Aquavera. In fact, finding Aquavera itself isn''t easy.¡±


    ¡°There''s a magical barrier?¡± Kai asked, searching for the invisible wall that wasn''t there.


    ¡°The barrier is invisible to guests who¡¯ve been formally invited by the merfolk. If you hadn''t been invited by me, you wouldn''t even know Aquavera was right in front of you. The entire kingdom has a spell that obscures spatial perception.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡±


    ¡°Amazing.¡±


    Aquavera''s level of security clearly demonstrated why magic was called all-powerful.


    As Kai and Crawford voiced their admiration, Helene led them into Aquavera, a city that seemed less secure than Frica Vige. Therefore, Kai wasn''t even entirely convinced he was really in Aquavera until he saw the message pop up.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Unique title acquired: Discoverer of Aquavera.]</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Discoverer of Aquavera</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title bestowed upon the person who was first to discover Aquavera.</strong>


    <strong>Effects: +10 to all stats, +30% movement speed when swimming. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    ¡°Woow.¡±


    Only after achieving the aplishment of being the first to discover Aquavera did it sink in that he was in an underwater city.


    When Kai noticed that his body felt lighter and that he could move more fluidly, he began walking slowly, admiring the surrounding architecture.


    <i>Sure is different from human buildings.</i>


    Most of the merfolk buildings were made from modified giant m shells or conches. Fish and dolphins swam freely between buildings as if they were at home, while young merfolk yed with them. It was a truly beautiful scene, one that seemed to cleanse a soul tainted by the mundane world.


    <i>And merfolk aren''t just one type, huh.</i>


    Kai had thought all merfolk would look the same, but that was a huge misconception. While they all shared themon trait of having human upper bodies and finned lower bodies, they seemed toe from different species.


    <i>Are they orca-type merfolk? Their fins are ck and white. And is that person argehead hairtail?</i>


    Each merfolk''s fins had unique colors and characteristics!


    As Kai watched and observed them, the merfolk began to show interest in him.


    ¡°Humans came to Aquavera!¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t humans only from books?¡±


    ¡°Mom! Those people don¡¯t have fins!¡±


    ¡°Strange! Scary! But intriguing!¡±


    Curious merfolk quickly gathered around.


    As Kai watched them darken the waters with their approach, he let out a deep sigh.


    <i>So, this is what it¡¯s like to be famous, huh?</i>


    It was like the struggles top stars faced at airports, but even worse in some aspects. While they only had to watch their front, back, left, and right, Kai had merfolk swimming over his head.


    ¡°Human visitors havee to the city?¡±


    A clear, energetic voice reached Kai¡¯s ear. At the same time, the crowd of merfolk parted as if Moses himself had appeared. Swimming through them was a male merfolk with bright blue fins.


    <i>A shark...?</i>


    His fin had the iconic shape of a shark''s dorsal fin, and his upper body,rger than other merfolk, showed impressive muscles.


    Swimming powerfully, he suddenly grabbed Kai''s hand. ¡°Wee to our merfolk city, stranger. I''m Cyrus, son of Karius, the benevolent king who watches over his people.¡±


    ¡°My name is Kai. I¡¯m an adventurer.¡±


    After greeting Kai, Cyrus also greeted Crawford, then looked at Helene. ¡°By the way, Helene, I thought you were a regr spinster, but now you''re bringing home two husbands? You¡¯re more capable than I thought.¡±


    ¡°P-pardon!? It¡¯s not what it seems like!¡± Helene shouted, hugging Crawford tightly to defend her point. ¡°This is my fianc¨¦, Crawford. He''s the only one. That other man is the adventurer who helped us meet!¡±


    ¡°Oh, you only said you were bringing back your husband when you left, so... My bad, I misunderstood.¡±


    Scratching his head, Cyrus apologized and invited Kai''s group to his home. Cyrus'' home, with its exterior made from a massive coral reef, was impressive enough to befit a crown prince.


    As he served cold drinks, Cyrus slowly began to say, ¡°This is the first time in hundreds of years that humans havee to our city, so it¡¯s natural for the merfolk to be this excited. Please forgive them if they were rude.¡±


    ¡°No, it was actually nice to get attention from the beautiful merfolk... <i>ahem</i>. I wasn''t bothered at all.¡±


    As Kai quickly waved his hands to dismiss any concern, Cyrusughed heartily and continued saying, ¡°In fact, I''m a merfolk who is also personally interested in...¡±


    <i>Bzzz, bzzz.</i>


    ¡°...Humans, so the moment I heard humans were in the city, I...¡±


    <i>Bzzz, bzzz.</i>


    ¡°Rushed to find you two...¡±


    Cyrus'' words were repeatedly cut off, then continued.


    It wasn''t just Kai who noticed, and all four of them turned their gaze to the same spot.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that all of a sudden?¡± Cyrus tilted his head with a confused look.


    But Kai, who had spotted the bright golden light emitting from an object, smiled and murmured, ¡°...Found it.¡±

 Chapter 71: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (2)

    <h4>Chapter 71: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (2)</h4>


    <i>Bzzz, bzzz.</i>


    The ring floating in the air vibrated in sync with Kai''s heartbeat. It was as if it was asking why he was only arriving now and saying it had been waiting for him.


    At the sound of vibrationsing from the ring, Kai stayed silent.


    <i>The holy artifact sleeping in Aquavera was the Holy Ring Petra.</i>


    Kai''s lips curved upward as he found one of the three sacred artifacts Patrick had mentioned.


    <i>Things are working out easily. Now that I have the holy artifact, all I need is the scales, and I can head back.</i>


    Just then, Cyrus, who had been looking back and forth between the ring and Kai with a confused expression, said, ¡°Wait, hold on. If the ring that¡¯s been unresponsive for hundreds of years is reacting... Could it be...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Let me reintroduce myself.¡± Kai stood up and bowed his head with a graceful movement befitting of the Sris Cleric. ¡°I¡¯m Kai, the adventurer who has taken over the title of Sris Cleric from Patrick.¡±


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Cyrus''s face lit up with excitement, and he grabbed Kai''s hand. ¡°It must be fate that you havee at this time!¡±


    ¡°P-pardon?¡±


    Kai, surprised by Cyrus''s sudden change in demeanor, tried to pull his hand away, but he couldn''t escape his firm grip.


    <i>W-what¡¯s going on? Why is he acting that way? Something feels off...</i>


    Cyrus bowed deeply to Kai, who was looking around to understand the situation. ¡°Please, save our kingdom... Save Aquavera!¡±


    ¡°...Pardon?¡±


    Something was wrong. And that thought hit Kai like a ton of bricks.


    ***


    ¡°So... you''re saying the nagas¡¯ attacks are fierce?¡±


    ¡°The naga offsprings are. It¡¯s a bit embarrassing to say, but we can''t handle them with our strength.¡± A deep sense of despair crossed Cyrus''s face. ¡°Do you know that the nagas are the enemies of us merfolk?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did know about that,¡± Kai nodded, remembering the information he had read about it from <i>The Home of the Mermaids</i>.


    <i>Merfolk are physically weak and primarily use magic, while nagas have high natural magic resistance and excel in closebat.</i>


    The most disliked by Wizard yers were closebat ss yers with high magic resistance. If those nearly immune to damage closed the distance with a charge skill, there was no escaping it.


    ¡°But I heard from Helene that there''s a spatial perception-disrupting magic barrier over the entire city?¡±


    ¡°That''s actually the biggest problem.¡± Cyrus sighed deeply. ¡°The magic handed down and developed by our merfolk ancestors is remarkable.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    If they could maintain a bright civilization in the deep sea, their magic level was undeniably high.


    ¡°But recently, the nagas have changed significantly.¡±


    ¡°In what way, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Well, even though the nagas have always been our enemies, we managed to avoid them with our magical skills without suffering major losses. We only lost when we faced them directly, but we could always run away. However, recently, the nagas have be different. Their temper has be violent, and their strength has increased absurdly.¡±


    <i>All of a sudden they have a violent temper and increased strength?</i>


    Kai furrowed his brows as that reminded him of what he experienced in the Forest of Spiders.


    <i>If the nagas were tainted by the essence of darkness...</i>


    The sudden aggression and immense strength made perfect sense.


    ¡°Have they been able to pierce through the spatial perception-disruptive magic barrier as they¡¯ve be stronger?¡±


    ¡°No, that''s not it. But that is the most troubling part...¡± Cyrus sighed softly, and water bubbles came out of his mouth. ¡°Please take a look at this.¡±


    A three-dimensional map unfolded in Cyrus''s hand, and Kai couldn''t help but exim, ¡°Oh! Is this Aquavera?¡±


    "Yes. This is a three-dimensional representation of Aquavera. Do you see this part here?"


    Cyrus pointed to a cave located on a cliff quite a distance from the city, from which thin smoke continuously drifted toward Aquavera.


    ¡°Yes, I see it. But what is that smoke?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a strange device the nagas suddenly obtained one day. The waves emanating from this device are weakening the magic that protects our kingdom.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°Of course, we are pouring all our efforts into reinforcing the magic, so the city''s location won''t be easily discovered. But...¡±


    ¡°You mean it''s only a matter of time?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Kai, deep in thought, sensed something was off and asked again, ¡°But as far as I know, Aquavera moves around constantly doesn¡¯t it? Is it not possible to just avoid the nagas and keep moving?¡±


    ¡°We do change location continuously, but once every five years, we need to stop to recharge our power to keep moving.¡±


    ¡°...And that time has ovepped with the current situation.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes.¡± Cyrus looked at Kai with a desperate look in his eyes. ¡°The records of our ancestors say that the apostles of the Srian God Helik possess incredible power. Please, destroy that device and drive out the nagas to save us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well... that is...¡±


    Kai scratched his head in frustration.


    <i>When I shook hands with Cyrus, I noticed that he was level 210.</i>


    Additionally, given that he was the prince of the merfolk, he would be quite powerful here. Sure, his opponents were just naga offsprings, but even they would be at least level 150.


    <i>This is beyond my capabilities.</i>


    If there was too much of a level difference, attacks wouldn¡¯tnd, or monsters would dodge all of them. In short, Kai couldn¡¯t provide help, even if he wanted to!


    <i>Perhaps collecting holy artifacts can only be done smoothly with a level over 200.</i>


    He should have realized this when Patrick mentioned the Elven Forest, but it was toote. Without his help, the merfolk could face massive losses. He couldn¡¯t just ignore the situation once he knew about it.


    After rubbing his chin in thought for a moment, Kai said, ¡°May I have the holy artifact first?¡±


    ¡°Of course. We were just holding onto it. Now that you''re here, we should give it back.¡±


    Cyrus got up and carefully brought the Holy Ring Petra to Kai with both hands.


    From close up, it emitted a constant radiant glow, with an intricately carved sun at its center. Although it was just a carving, the craftsmanship was so exquisite that it felt like it was almost radiating heat.


    ¡°It''s stunning.¡±


    ¡°Helene, one day I will buy you a ring as expensive as this.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Crawford. Although that ring is beautiful, I still love the engagement ring you gave me the most.¡±


    Ignoring the middle-aged couple''s affectionate conversation, Kai reached out with trembling hands to pick up Petra.


    ¡°Item information.¡±


    <strong>[You greatlyck the skill needed to discern information about this item.]</strong>


    <strong>[This is a sealed item. A premium identification skill is necessary to show information about this item.]</strong>


    <i>Tsk, of course.</i>


    Kai anticipated this could happen. If he was correct, the holy artifacts were likely legendary or beyond that, requiring a high-level ss to use. And with his appraisal skill at beginner level 4, the information Kai could obtain wasn¡¯t much.


    <strong>[<u>Sealed Sris Ring - Petra</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: ???</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 200+, Sris Cleric ss.</strong>


    Kai let out a deep sigh at the significantck of information.


    <i>I thought I could find out the grade at the very least... but I guess not.</i>


    Furthermore, the Holy Ring Petra required an advanced-level appraisal skill, not an intermediate one.


    <i>Needing an advanced appraisal skill means... I¡¯ll have to do quite some work.</i>


    Of course, in major cities, he could find NPCs who appraised items for a fee, but if he used them, there would inevitably be traces left behind.


    <i>This isn''t just an ordinary item. If rumors spread...</i>


    It didn''t matter if the rumors weren''t vague or detailed. In <i>MID Online</i>, even a small hint or spection could trigger PKs to go on a rampage.


    <i>I''d probably never be able to hunt in peace.</i>


    In the end, the best option was to increase his appraisal skill level and check the information himself. And to improve his appraisal skill, he would need to identify a lot of items!


    Turning his head to look at Cyrus, Kai said, ¡°Is there a time limit for dealing with the naga offsprings by any chance?¡±


    ¡°Well... we are still holding out. But the sooner, the better.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I need to think of a way to deal with them. Moving underwater is also quite a challenge, so...¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can help with that.¡±


    Cyrus asked an attendant to bring something. A momentter, the attendant brought a set of jewelry made from blue pearls.


    Helene was the first to be amazed. ¡°Oh, Cyrus, is that...?¡±


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d recognize it, Helene.¡±


    Kai, listening to their conversation, asked cautiously, ¡°Cyrus, what are these?¡±


    ¡°These are treasures held dear by our royal family.¡±


    ¡°I-is it okay for me to ept something so valuable?¡±


    ¡°Of course. If you can help protect us from our enemies, this cost is nothing. Please, take a look at them.¡±


    Kai, looking at Cyrus''s confident expression, carefully checked the items¡¯ information.


    <strong><u>[Mermaid''s Sapphire Ne]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 201</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 187</strong>


    <strong>+20% Underwater Movement Speed</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 70+, 100+ Intelligence.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 37/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Mermaid''s Ruby Bangle]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 174</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 157</strong>


    <strong>+20% Underwater Movement Speed</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 70+, 100+ Strength</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 45/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Mermaid''s Emerald Ring]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 152</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 129</strong>


    <strong>+20% Underwater Movement Speed</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 70+, 100+ Underwater Movement Speed</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 28/100</strong>


    "This is...!"


    Kai''s eyes widened as he checked the information.


    <i>It¡¯s a set item, and it even has underwater movement bonus!</i>


    It could also be understood as the underwater movement bonus being the only advantage of the set. But for Kai, who felt frustrated by his movements underwater, this was like rain during a drought!


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t a good idea to quickly judge a set item by only looking at the effects of the individual items. Like the ck Gnoll set, the true value was found in the effects of the whole set itself.


    <strong>[Set: The Three Treasures]</strong>


    <strong>When each of the Mermaid¡¯s three treasures are equipped, gain +5 to all stats and an additional +5% to underwater movement and attacks.</strong>


    <i>W-what¡¯s with these lovely options!?</i>


    Kai''s expression brightened so much that it could brighten up the deep sea. The set¡¯s effects were very good, given the strict requirements!


    Thinking about the set¡¯s unbelievable effects, Kai slowly nodded.


    <i>Amazing. Not many people would be able to use this set.</i>


    There were very few who usually increased Strength, Agility, and Intelligence at the same time, and it was certain that less than 1% of all users did so.


    In other words, unless someone had the Benevolence stat that raised all other stats like Kai did, they couldn¡¯t enjoy the full benefits of these items. Most would only be able to wear items rted to their main stat.


    <i>But I can wear all three pieces of jewelry.</i>


    After helping unite Helene and Crawford, he had gained an additional 30 Benevolence stats, pushing all his stats past 100 except for Dignity!


    This meant that Kai could bring out the full potential of The Three Treasures set.


    <i>+15 to all stats, +15% to underwater movement speed, and +15% to underwater attack, huh...</i>


    Then Cyrus asked Kai, who was smiling happily, "So, did it help? It might be a bit challenging for humans to use..."


    "Not at all." epting the three pieces of jewelry with care, Kai shed a confident expression. ¡°It helps immensely. More than enough, really.¡±


    With the title Discoverer of Aquavera, Kai''s underwater movement speed now reached a whopping 105%! It was almost ridiculous that this allowed Kai to move more fluidly and quickly than he could onnd.

 Chapter 72: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (3)

    <h4>Chapter 72: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (3)</h4>


    Kai left Cyrus''s house after finishing their conversation.


    Following a step behind, Crawford asked, ¡°So, what''s your n?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Kai tried to sort out his tangled thoughts.


    <i>Though I''ve solved the problem of underwater movement, it''s still far from enough to face the nagas.</i>


    He felt the need to grow stronger first. Moreover, the quest to find Tardal''s scale had a thirty-day time limit. Given that time wasn''t on his side, he had to proceed with meticulous nning.


    <i>First, let''s explore the city and gather some information.</i>


    Since Kai was the first to discover Aquavera, it was a city not yet revealed to other yers. Naturally, this meant he had exclusive ess to the surrounding dungeons, quests, and shop items!


    ¡°I n to explore the city first. What about you, Crawford?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna head to Helene¡¯s house to rest. All the events today have left me quite tired.¡±


    Although Crawford imed he was tired, his face looked much brighter than the day before. Knowing this was due to his reunion with his loved one, Kai offered his sincere congrattions.


    Crawford replied, ¡°Thank you. But if you ever need my help, don¡¯t hesitate toe find me. I¡¯ll assist with anything I can.¡±


    ¡°Same with me too. And make sure to find me before the day is over, since you''ll need to renew the magic to breathe underwater,¡± said Helene.


    ¡°I''ll keep that in mind.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t risk drowning after reaching the underwater city!


    Nodding, Kai watched as they walked away, then headed into the street.


    <i>Come to think of it, it''s definitely...</i>


    His body felt light, likely due to The Three Treasures set. Realizing this, Kai lightly kicked off the ground andunched upward. As he used freestyle strokes he had learned as a kid, his speed was unlike back then.


    <i>If they held a swimmingpetition in MID Online, I''d win for sure.</i>


    He had even achieved this speed without a swimming skill, which was impressive! If he continued swimming and ultimately acquired a skill, he would be as good as a sea lion.


    Kai swam upward to get a better view and observed the city buildings that came into view.


    <i>Just looking at the exterior is hard to know what is where. For now...</i>


    He quickly spun his body and swam down into an open area that looked like a za.


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that a human?¡±


    ¡°I haven''t seen a human in hundreds of years.¡±


    The merfolk showed mild curiosity as soon as Kai appeared!


    Approaching a group of them, Kai offered a bright smile and said, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Kai, an adventurer exploring the most beautiful city in the world.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Aquavera is indeed beautiful.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s probably no city more beautiful than this anywhere in the world.¡±


    Ifpliments could make whales dance[1], it would certainly be the same for merfolk!


    Breaking down their wariness in no time, Kai nced around with an embarrassed expression. ¡°This is my first time in a merfolk city, so I''m not familiar with my way around. Could you kindly show me around please?¡±


    Since the merfolk used their own characters, just looking at the signs on the buildings didn''t reveal much about their purpose.


    <i>Exploring everything myself would be inefficient.</i>


    <i>MID Online</i> was full of unknowns. No matter how smart a yer was, without the right skills, they couldn¡¯t figure everything out.


    <i>And NPCs are there to answer questions when you don''t know something.</i>


    Going around confidently asking various questions to NPCs was the basic approach for yers when visiting a new city.


    Luckily, the friendly merfolk were more than willing to share their knowledge.


    ¡°Thank you. That was very helpful.¡± Kai gratefully thanked them.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We haven¡¯t had an outsider visit in hundreds of years, so it was actually a wee change.¡±


    ¡°Come by the tavern if you have timeter! We¡¯d love to hear stories from the human world.¡±


    ¡°I''ll make sure to drop by if I can.¡±


    After parting ways with the merfolk, Kai quickly swam to the weapon shop.


    ¡°Wee.¡±


    ¡°Do you mind if I look around?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Ignoring the weapon shop owner''s cold tone, Kai inspected the weapons.


    <i>Hmm, most of the weapons are made from bone. Probably because this is an underwater city.</i>


    Due to the nature of the underwater city, they couldn''t use fire to work with steel. Moreover, metal weapons would corrode quickly in saltwater, making them unsuitable for long-term use.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Then Kai noticed a weapon made from a unique material. It had a blue hue like it had absorbed moonlight, and it had a level of precision and sharpness that rivaled steel weapons onnd without any sign of corrosion.


    ¡°Excuse me, what metal is this sword made from?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, that¡¯s bluesteel, of course.¡±


    ¡°Blue... steel?¡±


    ¡°One of the metals mined only in the deep sea. It doesn''t corrode and doesn¡¯t have much water resistance, making it ideal for weapons."


    ¡°But how was it forged into this shape? You don''t have fire to work with, right?¡±


    ¡°Once a month, cksmiths go to the surface and forge a few items there.¡±


    The weapon shop owner nced at Kai up and down, as if he were looking at an idiot.


    <i>I... I guess that makes sense. Merfolk are known to be adept at magic.</i>


    Even Helene used teleportation magic to move instantly, so the cksmiths who made weapons would be no different!


    ¡°May I try swinging it?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    With the owner''s permission, Kai lightly swung the sword from side to side.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely...¡±


    Even though he swung the sword underwater, it didn''t seem to encounter much water resistance.


    <i>Then what about the Long Sword of the Awakened One?</i>


    Kai took out the sword from his waist and swung it the same way.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    He furrowed his eyebrows. Then he shook his head with a serious expression.


    <i>This can¡¯t be used underwater.</i>


    As he swung the sword, his wrist felt the strain from the intense water resistance.


    Although his underwater movement had improved, that only applied to Kai''s body. Neither the Armor of the Undead nor the Long Sword of the Awakened One he had equipped could ovee underwater resistance.


    <i>That means I''ll have to get new equipment for underwaterbat...</i>


    And that meant spending more money.


    Kai let out a soft sigh and brushed away the bubbles in front of him before addressing the shopkeeper, "What currency do you ept...?"


    "Gold, of course."


    <i>Well, at least perhaps that¡¯s a relief.</i>


    He was worried that the merfolk might use their own kind of currency, but they used gold too!


    Kai looked around the shop and picked up a sword that caught his eye. "How much is this?"


    "A handful of gold."


    Kai tilted his head, puzzled by the unusual pricing method.


    <i>A handful of gold? How much even is that...?</i>


    He took out a single gold coin from his inventory and showed it to the shopkeeper. "So how many of these would you need?"


    "Ugh, you''re being such a nuisance with all these questions... huh?"


    The shopkeeper, who had been expressing clear annoyance, suddenly showed widened eyes. He stared intently at the gold coin Kai held and asked with a shaky voice, "W-what is this?"


    "Huh? It''s just a gold coin."


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m asking about this intricate craftsmanship!¡± The shopkeeper picked up the gold coin with a dazed look and examined it from all angles. "Wow, I heard even the royal family has only a few gold coins with such fine craftsmanship..."


    <i>Oh! Could it be...?</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes lit up as he realized something from the shopkeeper''s reaction.


    <i>Of course. This is an underwater city where fire isn¡¯t used regrly.</i>


    Weapons were essential for the survival of the species, so cksmiths would go to the surface once a month to make them, but that wasn¡¯t the case with their currency.


    <i>Kingdoms onnd have royal mints that produce gold coins.</i>


    The reason for creating gold with their national symbols was simple. Currency made transactions easier and established a clear value system.


    <i>The merfolk''s trading methods are very unstructured. Humans don''t trade like this.</i>


    It was due to the merfolk''s innocence and also because Aquavera was the only underwater kingdom. With few trading partners, they mostly only traded amongst themselves and didn''t feel the need to mint currency.


    <i>And it¡¯s also hard to produce it underwater.</i>


    Creating a dedicated mint for gold onnd would have been realistically challenging.


    <i>So, that means...</i>


    Kai was the only one in this city with such borately designed gold!


    Understanding the situation with his keen instincts, Kai put on a business-like smile and said, "What do you think of it?"


    "<i>Ahem</i>, it''s quite impressive."


    "If you don''t mind, may I exin the value of this gold?"


    "The value of gold?" The shopkeeper blinked, nodding with a bewildered expression. "Let¡¯s hear it."


    "First, look at the front of the gold. There''s a finely detailed eagle symbolizing the sky."


    "Oh, so this is the bird called an eagle? I''ve read about it in books!"


    The merfolk would never have the chance to see eagles, as they only inhabited the ind regions of <i>MID Online</i>. Perhaps because of this, the shopkeeper nodded eagerly, disying an excitement that seemed unfitting for his age.


    "And on the back is an engraving of the pce of the royal family of Rashion."


    "Oh! So that''s where the human king resides?"


    "Yes, it''s a massive pce that rivals most viges in size."


    "Wow..."


    The shopkeeper, with his mouth wide open, was already letting his imagination run wild.


    "On the front, there''s an eagle soaring in the sky! And on the back, an engraving of a massive royal pce. This isn''t just currency. It''s almost an art piece."


    "I agree. It is very beautiful. However... I can''t lower the price of the sword. One coin won''t be worth a handful of gold. You''d need at least twenty of these coins."


    <i>20 coins was... 20 gold!</i>


    A mere Magic-grade sword cost 2 million won!


    Kai felt like screaming at this outrageous price, but he calmed himself down.


    <i>I can''t just pay that straight out.</i>


    While it was true his wallet had gotten fuller recently, spending millions for a set of Magic-grade items seemed foolish.


    <i>Think, think...</i>


    After crunching numbers in his mind, Kai suddenly showed a rxed expression and shook his head. ¡°That''s unfortunate. I thought all merfolk were intelligent, but it seems someone here knows one thing but not the other...¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    As the shopkeeper scowled, Kai flicked the coin with his finger. The coin, slowed by water resistance, rose slowly and then gently fell back into his hand.


    Easing the tension a bit with that action, Kai said, ¡°Sorry, what''s your name?¡±


    ¡°...I''m Kaul.¡±


    ¡°I see. As someone who also shares the character <i>Ka</i>, I¡¯ll share a useful piece of information.¡±


    Kai nced around as if he was about to share a secret and then whispered, ¡°I might be holding this gold now, but what do you think will happen when I leave the city?¡±


    ¡°Well... no one will have it.¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Kai smiled slyly, tapping Kaul¡¯s hand with his index finger. "Wouldn''t it be you who would hold this gold?"


    "I... I see, but that¡¯s only if we went with the transaction."


    "Right, so think about it again. As you know, Aquavera could never produce such intricate coins."


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>, aren¡¯t you underestimating the skills of merfolk a bit too much? We could make them if we wanted to.¡±


    Though Kaul seemed slightly ufortable, Kai''s smile only grew broader. "Well, this is disappointing. Are you underestimating the skills of dwarves?"


    ¡°D-dwarves?¡± Kaul asked with a surprised expression.


    The legendary craftsmanship of dwarves was well-known among all species.


    "You don''t really think humans made artwork of this level, do you? These were produced under the supervision and guidance of dwarves working in royal workshops."


    That wasn¡¯t wrong. Dwarves managed and supervised the molds for minting gold coins. Of course, gold was automatically produced 24/7.


    ¡°I see... I did think it was quite beautiful when I first saw it.¡±


    Denying it would be simr to admitting his poor taste!


    Then Kaul, slightly flushed, nodded in acknowledgment.


    "So, how much would this piece of dwarf-crafted art be worth?" asked Kai.


    "Hm..." After thinking for a while, Kaul extended out his hand with a surrendered expression and said, ¡°...Just give me two coins.¡±


    <i>Sess!</i>


    With a few words and a clever idea, Kai managed to lower the price by a whopping 90%!


    As he clenched his fist in triumph, a notification window appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You convinced Kaul, the shopkeeper of Aquavera¡¯s weapon shop, who is known to be picky.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill generated.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have reduced the price of an item by 90% with your witty remarks and eloquent speech.]</strong>


    <strong>[Bargain skill generated.]</strong>


    1. A South Korean saying that means no one is immune topliments ?

 Chapter 73: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (4)

    <h4>Chapter 73: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (4)</h4>


    The Silk Road was the name of the trade route that passed through the desert and the cities around the oases. Countless merchants ventured onto this road of dreams, each with their own goals. But why was it called the road of dreams?


    <i>Because goods from other civilizations brought in money.</i>


    Humans of all eras had a desire to collect! And items from other civilizations were enough to fulfill this desire.


    ¡°It was a good deal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was a good deal.¡±


    The weapon shop owner Kaul, grinned widely, holding 30 gold coins stamped with the Rashion royal seal.


    Of course, Kai also had a wide smile on his lips as he watched.


    <i>It was truly a good deal.</i>


    Getting a full set of magic armor and weapons made from bluesteel, suitable for level 70, for just 30 gold was undoubtedly a bargain.


    <i>The sword''s performance is lower than the Longsword of the Awakened One, but the armor is better than the Armor of the Undead set.</i>


    Of course, since it wasn¡¯t a set item, itcked sweet options like cooldown reduction or damage reduction, but the basic options between level 50 armor set and level 70 bluesteel armor were significantly different!


    Kai left the weapon shop, checking his increased defense and magic resistance.


    <i>The first... Now I understand why rankers are desperate to earn that title.</i>


    The benefit of being the first to discover something, being able to monopolize everything was an advantage that couldn''t bepared to anything else.


    <i>Now then, shall we take full advantage of the perks of being the first to discover?</i>


    Kai strolled through the city with a rxed attitude, like a child with a yground all to themself at dawn.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    While leisurely walking down the street, Kai suddenly tilted his head.


    Some merfolk were swimming around with tridents or swords on their backs.


    <i>But I heard merfolk have great magical talent?</i>


    So why were they carrying closebat weapons?


    Unable to contain his curiosity, Kai approached them and asked for the reason.


    ¡°Huh? Of course, we can use magic. Like this.¡± In response to Kai¡¯s question, one of the merfolk showed a ball of light in their hand, continuing with a smile, ¡°But closebat, which the naga excel at, can be tough to counter with magic alone. So we started practicing both magic and weapon skills.¡±


    ¡°Both magic and weapon skills?¡±


    That meant they weren¡¯t too different from the Magic Knight ss!


    As Kai''s eyes widened, the merman with the trident nodded. ¡°We were on our way to the training hall. If you''re curious, why not join us? I''d like to see human swordsmanship as well.¡±


    ¡°That would be great, thanks.¡±


    Naturally joining them, they arrived at a dome-shaped training hall.


    The muscr merman who appeared to be the master had a long, flowing white beard.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s a human doing here?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to observe, so I brought him along, sir. Plus, I¡¯d like to see human swordsmanship too.¡±


    ¡°What? You didn¡¯t even ask for permission from the master...¡±


    When some of the other trainees protested, the white-bearded master raised his hand to quiet them. ¡°I heard from the prince that he¡¯s a trustworthy human, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡°I... I see.¡±


    The students fell silent after just one word from the white-bearded master!


    The master, who showed overwhelming charisma, then ordered the merman who brought Kai. ¡°Since you brought him, you should test his skills.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Though the sparring match happened unexpectedly, Kai was full of confidence.


    <i>Yeah, I feel good about this.</i>


    In Frica, he fought the Wyrm Lizards, in Glendale he faced the Orc Lord and Orc Sorcerer, and in Aquaria, he battled Trebinzer, the King of the Filthy Rats, and two level 100 knights. All those enemies had a much higher level than himself.


    Kai was ustomed to fighting against the strong, growing by breaking down high, solid walls one by one.


    <i>And now my body feels lighter than ever.</i>


    With The Three Treasures set and bluesteel equipment, his movement was freer than onnd.


    His recent experience and excellent condition boosted Kai''s confidence.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you start?¡± The merman, holding a two-meter-long trident, beckoned him with a finger.


    Instead of getting angry, Kai nodded with a pleased smile.


    <i>Opportunities like this are rare.</i>


    Merfolk were at least level 150 high-leveled NPCs.


    It was his first time sparring with them, and it was his first underwater sparring too.


    <i>I should adapt to underwaterbat by sparring with the merfolk.</i>


    With his decision made, Kai''s body bent back like a bow and then swiftly cut through the water.


    At the same time, the merfolk watching the sparring let out their amazement.


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°He''s a surprisingly good swimmer for a human!¡±


    ¡°Looks like Diergon might have met his match today!¡±


    The merfolk''s reaction stemmed from seeing a human who could swim so well.


    Kai, having made a strong impression with his swimming skills, naturally raised their expectations.


    <i>Seems like he''s a great warrior among humans.</i>


    <i>No wonder the prince treats him as a guest of honor.</i>


    <i>When you think about it, an average person wouldn''t be able toe to Aquavera.</i>


    However, as Kai and his opponent''s weapons shed relentlessly, the expressions of the merfolk became subtly uneasy.


    <i>But...</i>


    <i>What''s with this weak human?</i>


    Kai only showed simple sword strikes that made his swimming skills seem wasted!


    Although Kai tried to add rotational force to his thrusts to surprise his opponent, Diergon deflected them effortlessly with his trident, scoffing.


    As the sparring match didn''t go as nned, Kai''s expression darkened.


    <i>Underwaterbat... it''s more challenging than I thought!</i>


    Front, back, left, right, and maybe on top, fighting onnd required only those five directions.


    <i>However...</i>


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Diergon propelled himself upward with great force from the ground, thrusting his trident.


    And all Kai could do was twist his body awkwardly and desperately deflect the attack!


    <i>ng!</i>


    In his five months of gaming, Kai had never encountered attacksing from below.


    <i>The range I need to watch has only doubled... but the difficulty feels like it''s increased at least threefold.</i>


    Unable to withstand Diergon''s pressure, Kai was quickly pushed into a defensive stance and cornered. Seeing this, Diergon whipped his fins and rushed toward Kai, aiming to deliver a clear defeat.


    <i>Then I''ll go for the win here too!</i>


    Kai''s movements instantly sped up as he used Supernova, allowing him to slip behind Diergon for the first time since the fight began.


    <i>Here''s where I use Flood of des!</i>


    Attacking the opponent''s blind spot and striking at a weak point was the pattern that had granted Kai countless victories!


    But the next moment, Kai found himself crashing to the ground without even knowing why.


    ¡°Kugh!¡±


    Everyone would have likely experienced it at some point. Walking down a flight of stairs, thinking they''ve reached the bottom, only to realize there was one more step. With no ce to step, one would lose their bnce, and their vision spinning.


    Kai, feeling a simr sensation, gathered himself and got up.


    "Ugh, what just happened...?"


    Kai, unable to understand what even happened, asked in a dumbfounded voice, and Diergon shook his head.


    "The master will exin it to you."


    "Not sure what there is to exin..." The white-bearded merman quickly scanned Kai from top to bottom and nodded. "I can see what your problem is."


    "My problem?"


    Kai''s eyes lit up. Amon trait among yers who didn''t improve was their inability to recognize their own mistakes. But if someone pointed out their ws and they could correct them, their skills would definitely improve.


    After a brief silence, the white-bearded master gestured toward the training arena with his chin. "First, watch them spar. I''ll exin afterward."


    "Alright..."


    Kai, tilting his head in confusion, quietly sat on a coral chair by the training hall''s wall to observe the sparring.


    ***


    Casting was the term used to refer to the time it took for most skills to be cast in <i>MID Online</i>.


    Naturally, most yers just stood still during this time. This way, they could concentrate and increase the uracy of their uing skill.


    And this wasn''t much different for NPCs. Even the wizards in the Wizard¡¯s Tower stood still and focused while casting spells.


    <i>But... what is that?</i>


    Kai felt as if he had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer, then hit again in the same spot.


    They were casting skills while swinging their weapons! That was the unbelievable skill demonstrated by the merfolk.


    <i>Of course, there are a few rankers who can cast while moving, but...</i>


    Even among yers, most couldn''t even attempt it.


    Casting time was the time to prepare a skill in the first ce. Naturally, if one were attacked or lost focus during that time, the skill would be canceled. Therefore, that was an extremely risky move as the cooldown time and mana could go to waste!


    <i>It''s hard to maintain focus while constantly moving.</i>


    But the merfolk took it even one step further.


    "You''re too slow today!"


    "Hmph, that¡¯s not for you to say!"


    <i>Boom! Boom!</i>


    While constantly shing their weapons, they continued casting spells with the other hand. As soon as they retrieved their swords, their spells were ready and struck like lightning.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    They fired mes that evaporated the surrounding water and ice magic that froze even those mes!


    As Kai watched their intense duel with his mouth dropped open, the white-bearded master approached him.


    "What do you think?"


    "Huh? Pardon?"


    "Do you know what technique you were hit by now?"


    "Given what I¡¯ve just seen, there¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t know." Kai scratched his nose and continued, "I was hit by a spell, right? A spell from the other hand right after my sword was parried."


    "Correct. To be precise, you were hit by Explosion, magic that explodes the air."


    "I see..."


    The white-bearded master nced at Kai, who was dispirited, then turned his head.


    He looked proudly at the merfolk who had begun sparring in separate areas and said, "Those kids are the future of us merfolk."


    "Future?"


    "Yes. We merfolk may excel in magic, but when the nagas high in magic resistance charge at us, it¡¯ll be really tough to deal with."


    "Well, yes, because you¡¯re at a disadvantage."


    "Right, we are. But in war, constant defeat isn''t something you can just ept because of that term."


    "I... guess so."


    While it could be just a simple story for yers, war for NPCs was a battle that could determine the future of their species. That meant it wasn''t something they could simply ept because of unfavorable matchups.


    "So, we merfolk pondered and researched continuously how we could slow down the nagas¡¯ advance, and how we could use magic more efficiently and extensively."


    "And that''s how you developed thatbat method?"


    "Yes. There were many trials and errors, and it took a lot of time. But this is the final technique that our blood, sweat, and coboration produced. Moving Casting."


    "Moving Casting..."


    "It¡¯s a technique designed to sh directly with the nagas¡¯ weapons on the front line while striking powerful magic right to their faces."


    Kai was speechless as he was purely impressed.


    Given the dire situation that could determine the future of their race, he thought about how many merfolk would have worked together toe up with this. Kai couldn''t even begin to imagine their pain, anxiety, and fear.


    "I heard from the prince."


    Kai was confused.


    "That you''re nning to take down the naga offspring."


    "Ah... so you did hear that."


    ¡°I''m telling you in advance, there''s no way you can do it in your current state.¡±


    "I agree..." Kai dropped his head in embarrassment.


    How pathetic it must have seemed to im he could handle the nagas when he couldn''t even beat a single merfolk!


    But the white-bearded master''s next words took him by surprise. "I''ll train you."


    "Train?"


    "Yes. Others may see you as a human swordsman, but that''s not quite true, is it?"


    "...How did you know?"


    Kai looked surprised when the master discovered a secret no other NPC had noticed.


    "First, your technique is too basic. I''ve seen human knights a few times when I¡¯ve gone to the surface. Their techniques areplex but hold significant room for growth. And if I fought some of them onnd, I couldn''t guarantee I''d win against some of them.


    However, your swordsmanship, in good words, shows strong basics that are fundamental, but bluntly speaking, it¡¯s too basic. It makes it seem like you''re a beginner who knows nothing else."


    "Well..."


    Kai couldn''t say anything because it was true.


    <i>The only sword skill I have, other than the passive Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill, is Flood of des.</i>


    Kai, realizing an unexpected w in an unexpected ce, showed eyes that were renewed with determination. "So what do I need to do?"


    "There''s a saying among the merfolk: when you''re in the sea, follow the sea''s rules."


    "The sea''s rules..."


    When Kai showed eagerness to learn, the white-bearded master smiled through his beard and said, "Brace yourself. I''ll teach you underwaterbat from A to Z."

 Chapter 74: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (5)

    <h4>Chapter 74: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (5)</h4>


    Having epted the proposal from the white-bearded master, Kai immediately followed him to the personal training hall.


    <i>I guess the sea doesn''t require worrying aboutnd costs, so the training halls can be quiterge.</i>


    The rectangr training hall, which seemed to be at least 300 pyeong[1] by human standards, appeared sturdy from floor to walls to ceiling.


    "There''s a special magical barrier inside so it won''t copse from most shocks."


    "Impressive."


    "I''ll say it again, but to follow my training, you¡¯ll need a burning desire to be stronger no matter what. If you''re taking this lightly, you''d better quit now. That would be the best way to save each other''s time."


    "You won''t need to worry about that; I won''t be taking this lightly at all."


    Kai''s confidence rose again. Unlike before, this time, he had his reasons. His source of confidence was that he had already endured the harsh training under Huey, the master at the Training Grounds of the Dawn.


    "Hmm. Then don''te backter withints."


    "Of course not."


    "Right. So, could you tell me what your original job is?"


    Since the white-bearded master asked about his job, it seemed Prince Cyrus hadn''t mentioned Kai''s role as the Sris Cleric.


    With a proud expression, Kai introduced his job, "I''m a Cleric."


    "...A Cleric?"


    "Yes, a Cleric."


    "Do you mean the kind who heals others among humans?"


    "Yes, exactly that Cleric."


    "Huh..." The master''s long beard quivered in mild shock. "Well, that¡¯s unexpected, but as long as you have the desire to learn, your job doesn''t matter. There are only two things I¡¯m going to teach you."


    "I''m all ears," Kai replied in a serious tone.


    <i>It seems it will be rewarding to teach you. </i>The master thought as he stared at Kai''s eyes reflecting his determination to fully absorb the teachings.


    With a faint smile, the master slowly swam around Kai with his hands held behind his back. "As you might have guessed, those two things are underwaterbat techniques and Moving Casting."


    "Yes, sir."


    Indeed, Kai had already anticipated that, so he nodded with a neutral expression.


    <i>Underwaterbat techniques can''t be used onnd, but Moving Casting is different.</i>


    It would overhaul his simple and straightforwardbat style from head to toe. A truly revolutionarybat method!


    Kai was determined to master that skill.


    "I will give freedom to your sword. Do you understand what that means?"


    "No. I''m sorry, sir, I don''t understand it at all."


    "Think about it, it''s actually quite simple." When the master reached out his hand, the trident hanging on the far wall instantly flew into his grip. "To give a weapon freedom means to not be constrained by form."


    "Not constrained by form? Isn''t that what I already do?"


    The only sword skill he had, Swordsmanship of the Dawn, had no fixed sword paths. It was a basic sword style with only vertical, horizontal, diagonal shes, and thrusts.


    Hearing Kai''s question, the white-bearded master furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Don''t be mistaken. Removing form doesn''t mean you should swing your sword thoughtlessly like you do."


    Kai fell silent, stunned by the blunt correction.


    The master continued to say, "A sword that''s not bound bymon sense. To wield a sword that''s freer than anything, you have to think even more. If your opponent dodges, what move should you make? If they counterattack, how do you avoid it? After dodging, how do you strike back? You must visualize all possible oues in your mind before making your move."


    "I-is that even possible?"


    Just hearing the exnation made his head ache!


    "Of course it''s possible. In fact, it''s a level you must eventually reach if you hold a sword."


    "Ugh..."


    Kai had always fought using almost instinctive movements and tactics. Thus, expecting him to suddenly calcte everything was nearly impossible.


    "But don''t worry too much. In the next two weeks, I''ll make you at least proficient inbat, if not a master."


    Kai gulped, feeling the remarkable fact that one could break out in a cold sweat even underwater.


    ***


    "Whew, one done. Now, the next video to edit is..."


    Michael Reynold, a professional editor who specialized in <i>MID Online</i> videos, opened his email inbox. What appeared on his monitor was a heap of tasks that would take months toplete.


    Michael clicked on the bottom-most email, and his brows furrowed. "Please fix it good...?"


    It was a simple, elementary-level phrase that even a kid could write!


    He scrolled down, but that was all the email contained.


    <i>What? Where are the requirements? What am I supposed to fix?</i>


    Michael, facing a situation like this for the first time, looked baffled.


    The best knew the best! Thus, those who sent videos to him were always the top yers in <i>MID Online</i>. They''d naturally specify how to edit the video, what sections to emphasize, providing so many notes that it was almost irritating.


    <i>But there''s nothing? Really?</i>


    He wondered if it was a joke, but checking his bank ount confirmed he had even received the advance payment.


    "Then what...?"


    That ultimately meant he could edit the video however he wanted.


    <i>But doing a sloppy job... is not what a professional does.</i>


    Michael let out a big yawn as he clicked on the video with no expectations. Since this was the first time he received no specific instructions, he thought he could just do enough to earn the payment.


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    But it didn''t take long for that thought to change. Michael, who had now shrugged off his drowsiness, analyzed the video with a sharp gaze.


    "If I cut the intro scene into smaller segments and put them together, it would have more impact."


    "In this part, I''ll boost the explosion sound effect to the max..."


    "For the battle scene with the Orc Lord, a slow-tempo song would enhance the cinematic feel."


    The customer''s request was just one line asking him to make a good video. A moment ago, that request felt quite frustrating, but that wasn¡¯t the case anymore.


    <i>I can add all the effects I want and edit the video however I please!</i>


    Usually, he wouldn''t be this fired up, but the content of the video Michael had watched was amazing.


    <i>I don''t y the game myself, but I do know these guys.</i>


    They were the ck Bees, one of the top ten guilds in the world that have been around for a long time.


    Yet, the owner of this video not only delivered a surprising blow to them but also soloed two raid boss monsters.


    There was nothing else this video could be called but a major hit.


    Michael, unconsciously excited, began to work on the video. What even was sleep?


    ***


    Two weeks could be considered a long time or a short time.


    And for Kai, these past two weeks felt like the former.


    <i>It was horribly long.</i>


    It seemed like time would never end.


    At least learning swordsmanship from Huey at the Training Grounds of the Dawn hadn¡¯t involved getting beaten to the point of near-death. Of course, he had passed out and logged out a few times, but...


    <i>I never thought those would be the better days.</i>


    Kai nced at the white-bearded master with a terrified look.


    The master was an expert at hitting people. He knew exactly how much pain someone was experiencing and whether they¡¯d pass out if he hit them harder. He was truly a merman with uncanny skill being able to adjust his force knowing all these details!


    As a result, Kai couldn¡¯t let his guard down for even a minute over the past two weeks.


    "But this suffering ends today."


    "Of course, you''ll have to pass the final test for that," the white-bearded master muttered as he gripped his trident with both hands.


    "I''ll prove myself with my actions."


    After speaking, Kai unsheathed his sword gracefully and slowly moved forward.


    He didn''t use Supernova like before or even attempt to get behind the white-bearded master.


    "Hmm...¡± However, as the master faced Kai slowly approaching, he seemed to find it challenging.


    <i>This human is a monster... Are all humans like this these days?</i>


    He thought Kai was like a sponge absorbing everything he was taught.


    ¡°Here I go.¡±


    ¡°Come.¡±


    The next moment, Kai''s sword sliced through the seawater as elegantly and softly as a flower in spring. Anyone mesmerized by its beauty would be making a grave mistake as Kai''s sword held a deadly sting, ready to pierce a vital point.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The master blocked Kai''s attack with his trident, immediately twisting his wrist. At the same time, his trident spun, delivering a powerful thrust.


    <i>But I''ve seen this attack hundreds, even thousands, of times.</i>


    Unfazed, Kai shifted his weight backward and took a big step back.<i> </i>Then heunched himself up by pushing off from the ground and then the water.


    Although Kai didn''t have fins, he had powerful legs capable of stepping on water. This was the method Kai devised during the two weeks of underwaterbat. It was a movement technique only a human like Kai could use!


    <i>After dodging,es the attack, which...</i>


    It was an attack that would be impossible to avoid due to its speed and direction!


    <i>Swish!</i>


    In an instant, Kai''s body bent at a ny-degree angle as he dropped toward the ground. Simultaneously, he swung his sword. It was a chilling downward sh that could remind an observer of the cold winter wind!


    "Argh!"


    The master grunted briefly, momentarily surprised, but he was still skilled. As he swam backward with a powerful flick of his fins, he spun his trident to deflect the sword.


    Of course, Kai wasn''t about to let this opportunity slip. Giving his opponent no time to rx, he chased the master like a ma.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    The two weapons shed continuously. Neither side intended to yield, their intense exchanges urring in the blink of an eye!


    <i>And now is when he would use it.</i>


    Moving Casting, the ultimate technique used by merfolk against the nagas, and a skill Kai had faced before.


    <i>Among them, the one the white-bearded master uses most is Explosion.</i>


    Explosion was a magic skill that collected air and then burst it.


    And just before it was about to explode toward him, Kai''s other hand moved.


    "Sacred Barrier!"


    A bright white barrier instantly formed in front of Kai!


    Then, a powerful st of air apanied by seawater, crashed against the shield.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The Sacred Barrier shattered after just one attack.


    ¡°Nice try, but the skill''s defense was too weak!¡± the white-bearded master shouted boldly as he pushed off from the ground.


    His trident spun again from his fingertips!


    <i>His left hand isn¡¯t even ready. If he charges now, I''ll win again. He still has more to learn.</i>


    The white-bearded master had been confident of his victory, but suddenly his eyes widened in disbelief.


    <i>Wait, why is his sword here...?</i>


    The sword that should have been in Kai''s hand was now flying toward him at a fierce speed. Unfortunately, it was toote to dodge!


    "Kugh!"


    <i>ng!</i>


    The trident he swung instinctively barely deflected the sword.


    But before he could even sigh with relief, Kai''s voice reached his ears.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Water was water, and a merman was a merman! A powerful white beam sted the seawater and the white-bearded master into the wall!


    Kai, who hadn¡¯t felt this sense of thrill in a long time, slowly descended to the floor.


    ¡°...Since when did you n on doing that?¡± the white-bearded master asked as he sat in a daze.


    ¡°When you started preparing for Explosion. You knew my shield couldn''t withstand Explosion, right? And it was already toote to cast Holy Explosion with my left hand.¡±


    So, Kai had used Sacred Barrier and simultaneously threw his sword with all his might, then cast Holy Explosion with his right hand. It was a strategy that caught even a master off guard!


    ¡°...I''ve beenpletely defeated.¡±


    Shaking his head while looking at the human before him, the white-bearded master smiled, seemingly pleased.


    <i>The nagas are going to have a hard time with you.</i>


    1. Korean unit used when measuring area and floorspace. 1 pyeong is about 35 square feet. ?

 Chapter 75: The Sapling With Potential (1)

    <h4>Chapter 75: The Sapling With Potential (1)</h4>


    Kai bowed his head deeply. ¡°Thank you so much for the teachings over the past two weeks.¡±


    ¡°It was all for the sake of us merfolk.¡±


    ¡°Still, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that I received your kindness.¡±


    As he lifted his head, the confidence that wasn¡¯t there two weeks ago shone in Kai¡¯s eyes.


    Watching this, the white-bearded master stroked his beard and chuckled, ¡°Seeing you, I realized how amazing humans are. You may not have a unique trait of their own, but you absorb other cultures, civilizations, and technologies at an incredible speed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m honored,¡± Kai responded as he scratched his cheek with a shy expression.


    The white-bearded master reached out his hand to Kai as he said, "Though it''s a lot to ask, us merfolk are putting our future into your hands."


    Kai shook his hand as he replied confidently. ¡°Just leave it to me.¡±


    Then he left the training hall, organizing his thoughts.


    <i>Tardal¡¯s quest has about two weeks left. Logically, I should enter the dungeon at least one week from now.</i>


    And he also had to think about a way to breathe in the dungeon for a week.


    <i>I should go to Cyrus and ask him about that first...</i>


    <i>Ding!</i>


    Suddenly, a notification sound rang in his ear, and Kai tilted his head.


    The interface window was shing with an email icon. It meant he had received an email at the address linked to his <i>MID Online</i> ount.


    ¡°An email at this hour?¡±


    It was already early morning. A time when even spam texts were unlikely toe!


    Kai quickly checked his inbox and let out a brief exmation, ¡°Oh!¡±


    It was the edited video from Michael Reynold, which he had been waiting for!


    Kai couldn¡¯t contain his excitement seeing it had arrived.


    <i>Did it turn out well? It must have, right?</i>


    He had paid a whopping 5 million won to hire the best in the industry. Of course, he couldn''t ask for detailed requirements due to his limited English skills, but...


    In a hurry, Kai downloaded the file and yed the video, and he was left speechless.


    After watching the video that was about twenty-minutes long, Kai immediately reyed it from the beginning without a break. The second viewing felt different from the first. More importantly, he watched the same video continuously for forty minutes without stopping.


    <i>Some people may not see it at all, but no one will see it only once...</i>


    That was Kai''s honest impression after watching his video.


    It was a shy, movie-like video that made it hard to believe he was the one in it!


    At the same time, something close to intuition shed in his mind.


    <i>This is going to be a hit.</i>


    ***


    The site, Miracle Dream Online Community, also known as MDOC, was a site that even people who didn¡¯t y the game asionally visited out of curiosity because of its fame.


    Because people from all over the world used it, the number of simultaneous users never dropped below 50 million at any time, and it had a state-of-the-art system that could instantly trante into anynguage at the user''s request. It was no wonder why it was called an ocean of information!


    Even in today¡¯s peacefulmunity chat room, those who wanted to argue argued, and those who wanted to chat chatted.


    Then, a new chat log appeared in that room.


    -Hey! It¡¯s out!


    ©¸ What, did a Rare item drop?


    ©¸ Is it a hidden quest?


    ©¸ Did you get caught by your mom?


    ©¸ No, not that! I meant the new video from Unknown is out, you morons!


    Unknown¡¯s reputation in thismunity wasn''t particrly high.


    Sure, he had gained some poprity through the getting schooled video, but it was just like a pebble tossed into ake. And the small ripples it created were enough to catch the attention of those tired of watching the same patterns from top-ranking yers. Therefore, it was natural for those people to be fascinated with Unknown''s new kind of videos.


    However, this also negatively impacted his overall evaluation.


    -Well, guys like Unknown are sort of a meme. Kind of like PPAP from back in the day.


    -The <i>Getting Schooled</i> video was somewhat fun, but... this new one, I''m not so sure how it¡¯s gonna be.


    -I realized after rewatching a few times, but Unknown isn¡¯t even that skilled.


    -If this new one is simr to the one before, it''s not worth watching.


    After Unknown¡¯s video, countless copycats¡ªpeople who wanted to get on the trend, people who wanted to be famous¡ªhad emerged. To them, the<i> Getting Schooled</i> video felt like a gateway to a new world.


    Even excluding those who failed, hundreds of videos showing someone single-handedly defeating a guild were uploaded. So, the yers who got their fill of these videos were more than satisfied.


    And it wasn¡¯t easy to satisfy customers who were full, even for the best chefs.


    -Well, I¡¯ll at least take a look since it¡¯s Unknown, after all.


    -I found thest one pretty interesting, so I guess it''s only polite to watch the next one.


    -But if it¡¯s the same as before, I¡¯m canceling my subscription right away.


    A low level of expectations was paired with a strict and rigorous standard of judgment. Oveing these conditions to satisfy the clients was almost impossible.


    -But isn''t the new title kind of strange?


    -Tag of Death?


    -It¡¯s not gonna be about rounding up a bunch of monsters and running away, is it?


    Of course, if someone could pull that off, they would gain attention whether they wanted it or not, as a powerful contender aiming to be the next top-ranked yer.


    ***


    ¡°Damn, amazing.¡±


    At the same time, in the luxurious guild house that the Cheonhwa guild rented in Muria Castle, a man lying on therge sofa in the lobbyughed as he watched the video ying in midair.


    ¡°Dang, he¡¯s so good! Smash those ck Bee bastards! Yes, that''s it!¡±


    The man yelled loudly as if the guild house was his own home.


    He appeared like a nobody on the outside, but anyone who knew him would never underestimate him. The second-inmand of the Cheonhwa guild, the queen''s right hand, and the seventh-ranked Wizard, were all titles that would receive respect even on their own. And the one who held all of these titles was Boyd.


    ¡°Wow, it feels like all the stress I''ve had for ten years is melting away.¡±


    That was why no one could stop him from making so much noise in the guild house lobby. Except for one person.


    ¡°Shut up. If you have time to idle around, you should be hunting.¡±


    ¡°Oh... Mdy.¡±


    Boyd immediately stood up, sensing the cold gazeing from above his head. Of course, being a top-level Wizard, he quickly thought of the best excuse for this situation!


    ¡°Mdy, something big happened.¡±


    ¡°What,¡± Seol Eun-Yeong replied with a nk expression.


    Her eyes suggested that any big news from him probably meant nothing more than a bathroom break.


    ¡°Have you seen this video?¡±


    Boyd quickly shared the link of Unknown''s new video with her.


    The first thing that caught her attention was a name that anyone who watched videos couldn¡¯t ignore.


    <i>Producer Michael Reynold?</i>


    They had tried to hire him for the Cheonhwa guild''s video editing team but were rejected because he didn''t want to be tied to apany.


    Her gaze grew a bit colder as the intro began.


    What she saw first was a wall ofrge wooden logs, and Wizards in ck robes walking leisurely toward it. Anyone who saw the emblem on their chests would know who they were.


    <i>ck Bee.</i>


    They were the guild that surpassed the Cheonhwa guild with overwhelming power to im the title of one of the world''s top ten guilds. In the past, and even now, it was a guild they always watched closely, considering they were a rival they must eventually surpass.


    The man leading them said in a rxed voice,


    ¡ªAlright, now let''s also get out of here.


    Leaving all the cornered NPCs and yers behind as if they were trash, the ck Bee guild members leisurely walked away from the battlefield.


    Even an outsider could deduce the situation, and the words ''dirty'' and ''despicable'' were on the tip of Seol Eun-Young¡¯s tongue, but they never came out of her mouth. Instead, they went back down her throat.


    Just like she swallowed her words, the sword literally shoved its way through as it pierced the throat of one of the members. At the same time, the screen turned ck and white, and the scene froze.


    <i>Thump, thump, thump.</i>


    A song with a heavy beat that could awaken every cell in one¡¯s body began to y, and someone slowly walked out from the burning logs. It was the only person with color in the ck-and-white world.


    "Who?"


    "Mdy?"


    "I said, who is that?"


    "Oh, that''s Unknown. He''s like a rising star in themunity video board. I guess he¡¯s finally made a name for himself with this video."


    Seol Eun-Yeong barely listened to the exnation and directed her gaze back to the video.


    The video showed Unknown from various angles, almost like a movie hero making an entrance.<i> </i>Unknown then slowly raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.


    <i>¡ªSnap!</i>


    Before anyone could understand what had happened, the scene changed.


    Then an enraged Orc Sorcerer charged at the ck Bee guild, while Unknown ignored them and ran toward the Orc Lord.


    The pounding music gradually softened until it fadedpletely.


    And Unknown, having driven off all the NPC knights, stood confidently before the Orc Lord. His voice was muffled, making it impossible to understand what he said, but it was clear he would have delivered a cool deration of war!


    At least, that was themon thought among those watching the video.


    After all, the Orc Lord had said,


    ¡ªAre you challenging me, Urghan, the chieftain of the Jagged Boulder tribe, to a duel? Bwahaha! This will be fun!"


    A sh followed immediately after the eptance of the duel.


    A giant ax and sword collided in midair. The determination to destroy each other emanated from their weapons.


    At the same time, the song changed, and the video began to y a bit slower.


    "This song..."


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s previously expressionless eyes slightly widened.


    The new song that yed was ¨¦dith Piaf''s "Non, Je ne regrette rien." It was often known as the soundtrack from the movie <i>Inception</i>, and was a song released in 1960 by France''s greatest singer at the time.


    Due to its slow pace, the song generally didn''t fit withbat scenes.


    <i>Why this song?</i>


    Even Seol Eun-Yeong, who had acknowledged Michael Reynold''s skill and once attempted to recruit him, was puzzled at this moment.


    Then thebat shifted unexpectedly. The intense fight where they seemed ready to kill each other like diators in a colosseum disappeared. And now, it was just a deadly game of tag between the hunter and the prey!


    Meanwhile, Unknown dodged every attack from the Orc Lord as if they had prearranged it.


    Most people would ept it and move on, but Seol Eun-Yeong and Boyd saw the truth. Then they silently looked at each other.


    <i>He''s dodging the Orc Lord''s attacks by anticipating them... in advance.</i>


    <i>Awesome, right?</i>


    Even the great Seol Eun-Yeong had to acknowledge the move.


    Then Boyd, watching the video beside her, suddenly said what came to mind, ¡°But do you think this Unknown guy will be okay? He just messed with the ck Bee guild.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already heard the answer to that.¡±


    ¡°Mdy?¡±


    Instead of responding, Seol Eun-Yeong crossed her arms and gestured to the video with her chin.


    They could still hear it in their ears, the timeless ssic left by ¨¦dith Piaf, "Non, Je ne regrette rien" (No Regrets).

 Chapter 76: The Sapling With Potential (2)

    <h4>Chapter 76: The Sapling With Potential (2)</h4>


    -Is dodging attacks all Unknown can do?


    ©¸ Who would face a raid boss monster head-on? Plus, he''s alone. He definitely can''t do anything more.


    ©¸ But he does.


    ©¸ ^^^Literally.


    ©¸ Watch from 10:23. Unknown does it.


    Unknown constantly ran away until now. So in boxing terms, as he was continually punched while keeping his guard up, he suddenly threw a straight punch. Moreover, that attack was highly effective against the Orc Lord! That fact alone made the duel between Unknown and the Orc Lord worth watching.


    Of course, even those with deep knowledge of the game, like Seol Eun-Yeong, couldn¡¯t overlook this.


    <i>His sword attacks aren¡¯t working. At best, it''s a well-made production... but even considering that, it¡¯s quite something.</i>


    She knew that Unknown''s head-on battle with the Orc Lord was just a show for disy. But even considering this, his courage and the agility, judgment, and movement to avoid all attacks were movements that deserved apuse hundreds of times over.


    What was even more important is that all of this was just the beginning.


    -This time he''s up against ck Bee!


    -It''s Unknown after all! If you''re going to go crazy, you''ve got to go all the way like him!


    -Last time he went up against some random group called Crimson Fist or something lmao And suddenly he¡¯s up against top ten guilds lol


    ©¸ The first round was easy mode, then suddenly the second round is like hell lol


    -But is he going at the Orc Lord because he¡¯s confident?


    ©¸ I guess we''ll see.


    ©¸ Given that he¡¯s attacking, he must have some safety measures in ce.


    A fierce battle was taking ce between the Orc Sorcerer and the ck Bee guild, and then, without warning, Unknown intervened. He revealed his sharp ws immediately upon intervening, like a predator mingling among sheep.


    -Oh! There are gnoll skeletons!


    -The Skeletons have appeared! They''re so cute!


    The magic spells they desperately cast decorated the air, and at the same time, Unknown''s feet moved in a dizzying dance.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom!</i>


    One step, another step, and then another, dodging all the spells while advancing effortlessly, Unknown''s presence wasparable to that of an absolute ruler. His overwhelming presence downgraded the Wizards from the world''s top 10 guilds to mere supporting roles or extras!


    -Wow... Is this movement for real?


    -This mad movie is insane... I''m just reying that section over and over right now.


    -I''m a ranker, but that kind of movement is impossible. It has to be a hack.


    ©¸ If it were a hack, why would they confidently upload a video lol The admins would check immediately.


    ©¸ Just saw a notice about the query email I sent lol Pegasus stated that the video contains no rtions to a hack.


    ©¸ Yup, next loser ranker please.


    If the first half of the fight with the Orc Lord was a slow Grave tempo[1], the battle with ck Bee and the Orc Sorcerer was like a lightning-fast Prestissimo tempo[2]. The difference in speed between the two battles was iparable.


    In an instant, all members of the ck Bee guild were dead, and what followed was the climax of the video. It was none other than a fierce brawl with the Orc Sorcerer, exchanging blows!


    -Daaaang! This guy, Unknown, I thought he was cheeky, but he¡¯s a real man.


    ©¸ He dodged a skill right after you said that lol


    -What is that spinning de skill? It wasn''t shown in the previous video.


    ©¸ I''m certain after watching today¡¯s video. He didn''t show all his skillsst time. There''s no way his skills could have improved this much in such a short time.


    ©¸ Does that mean he might still have some tricks up his sleeve?


    ©¸ Thinking about it gives me the chills. Just a while ago, when the Rat Kingdom ranking was updated, Unknown''s level was 68.


    ©¸ That wasn''t much different from the date of the Glendale raid... So it must have been simr when this video was shot too, right?


    ©¸ Mid-60s level and he annihtes two boss raid monsters and ck Bee! Triple kill achieved! lol


    Even after the video ended, themunity and chat were flooded with discussions about Unknown. There were even people watching the video for the second and third time, analyzing Unknown''s movements!


    "What do you think?" Boyd asked as if he was a child who aced a test and was seeking praise from his parents.


    However, Unknown''s new video fell a bit, or rather, significantly short of eliciting the response he hoped for.


    "Amusing."


    "...Is that all?"


    "And intriguing."


    "No, I wasn¡¯t asking for such a brief review."


    "What more do you want?"


    Seol Eun-Yeong looked annoyed as she red at Boyd.


    Frustrated, Boyd pinched his cheek and furrowed his brows. "Ow, that hurts, so it''s not a dream... Um, Mdy. Aren''t you going to recruit him?"


    "Recruit?" Seol Eun-Yeong blinked several times, looked at the ck-filled screen as the video ended, and shook her head. "There will be no recruiting Unknown."


    "...Why not?" Boyd asked as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. It was illogical for Seol Eun-Yeong, who loved talent, to pass over such a gem. "When was it again? Oh! When you found out that the top ten guilds were running a project for prospects! You said then that we should also form a prospect team. And Unknown is the best gem among the best new talents, isn¡¯t he?"


    "Of course, I acknowledge Unknown is good. He has strong showmanship and star quality."


    "But?"


    "Hecks what it takes to bear the name of Cheonhwa."


    At Seol Eun-Yeong''s firm tone, Boyd asked in disbelief, "If you¡¯re referring to his level... Mdy, do you remember when you first met Yoo Ha-Rin? Her level was 15 at that time, right? But you were desperate to recruit her."


    "Get your facts straight. I don''t get desperate. And Yoo Ha-Rin?" When Boyd mentioned the person she failed to recruit whom she cherished the most, Seol Eun-Yeong scolded him in a slightly angry voice, "How can you evenpare Unknown to her?


    Yoo Ha-Rin was a masterpiece from the beginning. She was already a finished product. It was a foregone conclusion that she would be a ranker. The only question was how high she would go."


    Everyone knew she would do well, but no one had expected her to rise to first ce.


    Seol Eun-Yeong always thought she should have bet bigger when Yoo Ha-Rin stood out in the novice field. And that thought constantly circled in her mind, leaving a deep sense of regret.


    "And the biggest issue is that clear limitations can be seen in Unknown''s y."


    "I see... Is it because of hisbat style?" Feeling the same about that part, an exnation naturally flowed from Boyd''s mouth, "His attacks are certainly too simple. His talent for reading and dodging the opponent''s attacks is outstanding, but..."


    "His attack power is also weak. At first nce, he seems like a Knight ss, but he has only reached that level of skill in thete 60s. He might have talent, but he seems like the type who doesn''t put in the effort. A typical case of being swallowed by his own talent. At best, he''ll only y around the top 1,000 rankings."


    Boyd winced and stepped back at Seol Eun-Yeong''s harsh criticism.


    Even she saw that Unknown''s talent was considerable, but that was only by rookie standards.


    <i>If his level is in thete 60s... honestly, he would be past beginner level.</i>


    He wasn''t sure how Unknown yed the game, but with that level and that much talent...


    <i>Well, by my standards, he''s still in the upper ranks.</i>


    Boyd nced at Seol Eun-Yeong''s wless white skin, which seemed imprable even by a needle.


    <i>It seems he¡¯s not good enough for her though.</i>


    Reading Boyd''s dissatisfied gaze, Seol Eun-Yeong immediately furrowed her brows. "If you have something to say, say it."


    "No. It''s not so much that I have something to say... but who knows about the future, right? Even I''mzy, aren''t I?"


    "You have overwhelming talent."


    "Th-thosepliments won''t bring anything else out of me. Mdy..."


    "Master," Seol Eun-Yeong corrected Boyd.


    The corners of Boyd''s mouth instantly twitched. He was right, and so was Seol Eun-Yeong.


    Boyd indeed was azy person who enjoyed loafing around, but his talent for games was overwhelming, and he especially melded remarkably well with the concept of magic.


    "<i>Ahem</i>. Master. But in Unknown¡¯s case... what shall I say...his potential for growth is really big. The difference in skills between the first and second videos is unbelievable."


    "Show me the first video."


    "Just a moment... Here it is. I had it saved."


    As soon as Seol Eun-Yeong watched the first video that Boyd brought up, she slightly nodded.


    "It has increased. But the fundamental problems haven''t changed."


    "What if he ovees those shorings in the next video?"


    Pondering deeply at Boyd''s question, Seol Eun-Yeong responded, "Unknown and ck Bee. If we put those two on a scale right now, the weight would tilt to one side."


    "Obviously to the ck Bee side, right?"


    "Right. The damage of engaging in a full head-on battle with the ck Bee guild, is it worth the risk? No."


    "But what if he shows apletely changed appearance in a new video?"


    "We''ll have to see the details in the video, but if he shows enough talent to impress me..." Seol Eun-Yeong furrowed her brows again and red at Boyd. Eventually, sending him a look as if to say, do I have to say this, she finally turned her head and said, "Then we would have to bring him. Only the best can bear the name of Cheonhwa."


    "That best Cheonhwa hasn''t even made it into the world''s top ten guilds..."


    "What did you just say?"


    "Nothing. Just talking to myself. Talking to myself."


    Leaving an awkwardugh, Boyd looked at the ck screen with a strange expectation in his eyes.


    <i>I did my best, Unknown.</i>


    Boyd thought of Unknown as an interesting person, someone he would like to work with at least once.


    ***


    -Wow, this video is amazing.


    -Unknown really took a big gulp of courage and caused amotion!


    -It''s a buy one, get one free raid boss monster event!


    ©¸ Plus, the ck Bee guys are a special bonus! Don''t miss this opportunity!


    The reactions of the users of themunity exploded, not in a negative way but in a positive direction. The atmosphere on all sorts of boards and chats was truly a frenzy!


    Kai muttered as he watched the users go wild in their discussions, "...It really exploded spectacrly."


    Every time he refreshed the page with a dumbfounded expression, the number in the donation section climbed by hundreds of thousands.


    <i>How much hase in just two hours since uploading?</i>


    Kai had paid 5 million won to edit this video, but he had regained that amount in just twenty-three minutes after the upload. No, to be exact, he had doubled it to 10 million won in those twenty-three minutes. It was the immediate influx of funds after people watched the video once.


    <i>Based on the data from the Getting Schooled video...</i>


    His first work had brought him 9 million won despite his unimpressive editing skills, and even this morning, donations were stilling in by tens of thousands.


    Then what about this Tag of Death video?


    <i>It could at least reach thousands, no, maybe even millions.</i>


    At this point, Kai started to feel a bit greedy.


    <i>Now that I think about it, I''ve received a lot of sponsorship offers as well...</i>


    Since the <i>Getting Schooled</i> video, he had umted over 2,000 messages.


    Among them were messages from cksmiths and tailors. They wanted to sponsor him with equipment they made, asking him to wear them in videos.


    Of course, Kai hadn''t even nced at those messages.


    <i>My current equipment isn''t bad.</i>


    It was true that his first thought was why he should go to such lengths.


    <i>If I startmunicating with more people, the risk of my identity being exposed increases.</i>


    At the moment, there was only one person who could contact Unknown directly. That person was a streamer known as Aris, the only one who knew his virtual message ID. Fortunately, she had not contacted him since asking to inform her of the interview date.


    For Kai, it was truly a relief.


    <i>It''s nice she doesn''t bother me. But I can''t guarantee everyone will be like her. I need to avoid contact.</i>


    As Kai turned his head, he saw messages from guilds as well. Naturally, they were primarily invitations to join Unknown''s guild. Some were from well-known domestic guilds as well.


    <i>Of course, none yet from the big top ten guilds though.</i>


    And the most important messages were those offering sponsorships.


    Typically, the senders werepanies or streaming sites. Among them were ces like AmericaTV, Tewitch, and MewTube.


    <i>If I sign a contract with one of these, I could make even more money. However...</i>


    That would mean he would need to regrly supply videos.


    After a moment of consideration, Kai shook his head.


    <i>Forget it. I''m not that desperate for money.</i>


    The thought of having to create something under pressure felt like it could choke him.


    Whenever he yed the gamefortably and felt that the video turned out well, that was when Unknown would appear with a new work.


    <i>Now that I¡¯m checking, I''ve received more interview requests.</i>


    <strong>[Hello, this is TBM Broadcasting.]</strong>


    <strong>[This is streamer Arirang. If it''s not too much trouble, I would like to interview you...]</strong>


    <strong>[This is OnGames, the channel for gamers...]</strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    This time, not only individual streamers but also cable TV stations had sent messages!


    Kai nced through them and shook his head.


    <i>Now is not the time to show myself off.</i>


    It was a sentiment he had felt even after posting the <i>Getting Schooled</i> videost time. It was time to hide his ws even more and grow stronger. And more so now than before.


    He definitely felt that the summit was getting closer.


    <i>But a little more... It''s not enough yet.</i>


    Kai suddenly felt a burning thirst. It was not simply a physical thirst. It was a craving for strength to be a dominant solo yer who couldpete alongside those at the top of the game.


    Kai wanted to be such a person.


    1. Slow and solemn, tempo of 20-40 beats per minute ?


    2. Speed and urgency, to y at the highest tempo possible while maintaining precision and control ?

 Chapter 77: Naga Slayer (1)

    <h4>Chapter 77: Naga yer (1)</h4>


    View count: 32,115,741


    Likes/Dislikes: 4,424,154 / 125,710


    Just two hours after the <i>Tag of Death</i> video was uploaded, the video had reached the number one spot in the popr videos. It was unprecedented for a non-ranker to achieve this!


    However, Kai, the person at the center of all of it, was a bit disappointed.


    ¡°Well... if this were a game, I would have gotten a special title.¡±


    There was no end to human greed!


    Of course, there were rewards in reality as well. Instead of a title, he waspensated in the form of money.


    <i>I thought about reading all thements... but that seems impossible now.</i>


    For everyment he read, dozens more appeared. It felt like running endlessly down a never-ending hallway!


    <i>It¡¯s my work, but the result is truly outstanding.</i>


    Compared to the view count, the likes were high and the dislikes were significantly low!


    After seeing that themunity was all talking about him, Kai closed the inte window with a happy heart.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough watching.¡±


    That was enough. The video was a hit, and Unknown¡¯s brand value had not just hit a jackpot but a super jackpot.


    He also now knew that his bank bnce was leaping by hundreds of thousands by the second.


    <i>Well then. I should forget about it now.</i>


    After all, from Kai¡¯s perspective, the Tag of Death was a thing of the past.


    If it were someone else, they could cling to this past for days and be happy about it, but Kai was a man aiming higher and could not waste his time in such a manner.


    <i>I should go meet Cyrus first.</i>


    Kai immediately went to Cyrus and discussed his concerns.


    ¡°A way to breathe underwater? Hmm...¡± Cyrus stroked his shark fin while pondering, then nodded, ¡°Alright. I can handle that for you.¡±


    ¡°Is there a way?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It''s not a permanent solution, but it¡¯s not impossible. Have you heard of the Magic Conch?¡±


    ¡°No, I haven''t.¡±


    As Kai shook his head, Cyrus smiled faintly. ¡°It''s one of the royal treasures. For that reason, I can¡¯t give it to you permanently, but I can lend it to you until this matter is resolved.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. So, I can breathe if I have this Magic Conch?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. Hmm... simply put, even if I cast a specific spell on you right now, it wouldst for a maximum of three days.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°But if you use the Magic Conch, we can extend this period up to a week.¡±


    ¡°Wow...!¡±


    It was truly a revolutionary item!


    But one must listen until the end¡ªCyrus added with a hesitant expression, ¡°However, there¡¯s something you must be cautious about before using it. You must not forget this part.¡±


    ¡°That sounds scary. What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that only the Magic Conch knows which spell''s duration will be extended.¡±


    ¡°...That means...¡±


    ¡°Yes, it means it¡¯s random.¡±


    In short, which buff skill''s duration would be extended was random!


    As Kai''s expression grew serious, Cyrus smiled broadly. "Haha, don''t worry too much. I rmended this method because there is a solution to that part."


    "Phew, I was worried for a second there... So what is the solution?"


    "You use the Magic Conch while only having the breathing spell on you."


    "So... limit the choices to just one and use it? Is that what you mean?"


    "You catch on fast. Yes, if you use the Magic Conch in that state, the duration of the breathing spell will naturally extend."


    "Then there shouldn''t be any major problems."


    Cyrus, having reassured Kai, stepped out of the room for a moment, then returned with the Magic Conch.


    ced on a blue cushion, the white conch shell about the size of two adult male fists emitted an elegant presence.


    "Item information."


    <strong>[<u>Magic Conch</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>When used, this item extends the duration of a buff affecting the user by 1/3/5/7 days.</strong>


    <strong>(30-day cooldown upon use.)</strong>


    "Oh..."


    Kai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed.


    <i>I thought it was just the type of buff that was random... but the duration is random too?</i>


    The anxiety he thought he had shaken off creeped back.


    <i>Looks like I need to go back tond.</i>


    Even if it meant spending money, he felt the need to buy potions and items rted to the Luck stats.


    In case the duration only extended by one day, that would create variousplications.


    "Please be careful not to lose this royal treasure."


    "Of course, I will handle it with utmost care." He nned to just keep it in his inventory, so there wouldn¡¯t be any issues. "Oh, and could you tell me the location of the nagas? I think I might go there soon."


    "Oh, you''re finally going!" Cyrus clenched his fist, visibly excited, and handed over a map. "I''ve been waiting for you to say that. Do you need... any of the merfolk warriors by any chance?"


    "No, I will go alone." Kai shook his head.


    Of course, having the help of merfolk warriors would make navigating the dungeon easier.


    <i>But I¡¯m not yet at the point where I can afford to protect others in battle.</i>


    Despite the innovative invention of Moving Casting, the reason the merfolk were losing the war was simple. That technique was tricky to learn and required additional training in swordsmanship or with a trident. And naturally, there weren¡¯t many merfolk warriors who had mastered both skills.


    On the other hand, the nagas produced many offsprings at once, and they even hatched quickly! In short, the merfolk were overwhelmingly outnumbered.


    <i>It''s better to go alone. That way, I can also escape if necessary.</i>


    If the warriors were wiped out, he wouldn''t be able to face merfolk again.


    Understanding Kai¡¯s thoughts, Cyrus''s eyes held gratitude for Kai''s consideration. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."


    "No, I should be the one sorry for continually needing various kinds of help."


    "Please don''t feel sorry about that. Is there anything else I can help you with?"


    "Could I possibly go to the maind once more?"


    "To the maind? Is there something troubling you...?"


    "Not really, but I need to prepare some items before tackling the dungeon."


    "Hm... If that''s the case, I understand. When you wish to return, just break this orb."


    "I see it¡¯s kind of a return scroll, then. Thank you very much."


    Kai stored the orb in his inventory and was instantly transported to Aquaria through Cyrus''s teleportation magic.


    <i>Magic Conch. I will use it to its best.</i>


    Kai''s cunning had already nned the usage to thest detail!


    Changing into his cleric robe, Kai immediately entered the auction house. The items he focused on there were mostly rted to luck.


    <strong><u>[Luck Potion LV.5]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases luck by 30 for 5 minutes when consumed.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Lucky Guy''s Hat]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 14</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 11</strong>


    <strong>+5 Luck</strong>


    <strong>A hat favored by a man who swept the gambling tables with his innate luck.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 10+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 42/100</strong>


    Kai was fully equipped with items rted to the Luck stat from head to toe! He spent 3 million won in the process, but surprisingly, he didn''t regret it at all because Kai felt like he was Mansour at the moment!


    <i>Donations are pouring in by the tens of thousands every second.</i>


    With a light heart, Kai left the auction house and headed straight for the Alchemy guild. Upon entering, he was immediately hit by the acrid and bitter smell that deterred many from visiting the Alchemy guild.


    But ignoring this, Kai boldly approached the counter and took out his gold pouch.


    "Give me a potion of endurance, worth 21 gold and 60 silver."


    ***


    The Potion of Endurance, known among yers as a painkiller, was an unrivaled hit product of the Alchemy guild. Taking one bottle reduced pain significantly for a duration of one hour!


    Thanks to this, it was popr among yers who were afraid of being hit by monsters and among female yers.


    <i>This little thing costs ten thousand won per bottle?</i>


    Kai smirked as he looked at the 216 bottles of the potion stored in his inventory.


    The first discovery reward of a dungeonsted three days in real time, nine days in game time.


    <i>If things go well and the Magic Conch extends the duration for 7 days...</i>


    That meant he could have the pain reduction effect for the entire duration of the dungeon!


    Using the Returning Crystal Orb given by Cyrus, Kai returned to Aquavera and immediately went to find him.


    "Have you already returned?" Cyrus tilted his head as Kai returned in an hour after going to the maind. "But why do you look so ufortable... Oh!"


    Realizing that Kai, having returned from thend, couldn¡¯t breathe underwater, Cyrus quickly cast a spell on him.


    "Phew... thank you."


    "Oh my, I''m sorry for noticingte."


    Cyrus apologized, scratching his head, to which Kai gave a sly smile.


    "The spell you just cast. It willst three days, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Have you heard this saying onnd? Strike while the iron is hot."


    "I haven''t heard of it, but... you''re not suggesting..."


    "Yes. I will be going now."


    Cyrus, surprised by the sudden announcement, asked with a worried expression, "Are you sure it''s alright? We still have time, you can prepare more before you go."


    "There''s no reason to dy thanks to the Magic Conch you gave me." Kai chuckled as he saw Cyrus, who didn''t understand, tilting his head. "I¡¯ll be back."


    "Well, it seems you''ve already made up your mind. I''ll transport you nearby then." Cyrus opened a teleport gate and looked worried until thest moment. "Please be careful. And if you think it''s too much, pull out immediately."


    "I will. But don''t worry too much."


    Because that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    Then Kai bowed his head and stepped into the teleport gate.


    His view changed in an instant. Unlike the bright city, the pitch-ck abyss made Kai''s chest feel tight.


    <i>Stay calm...</i>


    By ssing Sacred re, the surroundings were brightened a bit, and asionally, he could see swarms of jellyfish swimming in the deep sea, so it wasn''t impossible to make out what was ahead.


    <i>And the nagas¡¯ nest is...</i>


    He could check the mini-map, but that seemed unnecessary.


    "Kyaaak, kyaaak!"


    "Kyaaa!"


    <i>Below.</i>


    From below, creatures were screaming as they ascended. They were covered in scales like lizards. The upper body resembled a human, but the lower body extended like the long tail of a lizard. They were the nagas!


    Three young naga warriors, each clutching their weapons, were fiercely charging at the intruder.


    <strong>[Naga Soldier LV.154]</strong>


    <strong>[Naga Scout LV.141]</strong>


    <strong>[Naga Patrol LV.137]</strong>


    <i>Even the young ones have high levels.</i>


    But Kai also had his beliefs.


    In an instant, Kai stepped on the water and his form dropped sharply downward. At the same time, Kai''s eyes widened! His vision captured the scene of the tridents attacking him.


    <i>Dodge this.</i>


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    A trident whizzed past, barely grazing Kai''s earlobe.


    <i>Dodge that.</i>


    Kai twisted his body while kicking through the seawater, but another trident grazed his side.


    <i>Also dodge this.</i>


    However, Kai had only learned how to engage in underwaterbat, not yet mastering it perfectly. This meant he couldn¡¯t dodge every attack!


    Unfortunately, Kai failed topletely avoid thest trident. What was worse was that it was an attackunched by the level 154 naga soldier!


    <strong>[Critical Hit! You¡¯ve received 23,142 damage.]</strong>


    "Kugh...!"


    The pain felt as if he was unexpectedly stabbed in the chest with the tip of a pen! With that, a notification window appeared before Kai, causing his expression to involuntarily scrunch up.


    <strong>[You have died.]</strong>


    Allowing just one attack resulted in a devastatingly powerful strike enough to kill him!


    At the moment of death, all yers lost all buff statuses and disintegrated into polygons. And this was an inescapable fate for Kai, even as the Sris Cleric.


    But just as he seemed about to turn into polygons, a dark red energy began to flow out from his body.


    <strong>[Undying Will activated. You have resisted death.]</strong>


    <strong>[Regain 1% of total health as part of Undying Will¡¯s effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[Invulnerable status activated for 5 seconds as part of Undying Will¡¯s effect. All abilities gain a 10% bonus while in this state.]</strong>


    "Kekeke!"


    "Guaaagh!"


    The young nagas mocked Kai for recklessly rushing them and facing death! But the one whoughedst was the true victor.


    Without bothering to hide his smile, Kai said, "Open inventory! Use Magic Conch."

 Chapter 78: Naga Slayer (2)

    <h4>Chapter 78: Naga yer (2)</h4>


    Kai immediately brought the Magic Conch that appeared in his hand to his ear.


    Then, a notification ring flowed out in a voice as clear as marbles rolling.


    <strong>[Do you wish to use the Magic Conch?]</strong>


    "Right now."


    <strong>[Current buff applied includes Invulnerable.]</strong>


    <strong>[Magic Conch¡¯s effect applied to Invulnerable buff.]</strong>


    <strong>[Invulnerable buff''s duration extended from 5 seconds to 7 days.]</strong>


    <strong>[Magic Conch will fall into a deep sleep for a month.]</strong>


    The Magic Conch that shone brightly lost its brilliance and turned gray. But that didn¡¯t matter because its brilliance had already transferred to Kai''s face!


    <i>It¡¯s done!</i>


    The extension of the Invulnerable buff state was the method Kai had thought of as soon as he received the Magic Conch. If it was sessful, it would be simr to using a powerful hack!


    In fact, Kai had now shed the most frightening risk of death.


    <i>This is all thanks to the luck-rted items.</i>


    Though Kai didn¡¯t actually have the Luck stat yet, he overcame this with the power of equipment and potions!


    For just 3 million won, Kai was willing to pay for 7 days of the Invulnerable buff as many times as necessary.


    <i>Of course, this would be thest time using the Magic Conch...</i>


    It was a family treasure of the merfolk royalty, after all.


    Kai, feeling a deep regret, swallowed those feelings and switched his equipment with the Luck stat for his bluesteel armor.


    At the same time, he slightly furrowed his brows.


    <i>But as expected, this method has side effects too.</i>


    Those side effects immediately engulfed Kai.


    <strong>[You cannot breathe due to ack of oxygen. Your breathing has be rapid.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Headache status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Dyspnea status effect.]</strong>


    Being human, he couldn¡¯t breathe underwater!


    The magic spell Cyrus had cast was also dispelled simultaneously with death, making it useless.


    <i>Hmm, this is quite...</i>


    Not being able to breathe was more ufortable than he had imagined. Of course, it wasn''t as agonizing as actually being submerged underwater in reality because no matter how realistic it seemed, this was a game!


    There had to be minimal safety measures in ce to prevent yers from experiencing cardiac arrest.


    <i>Breathing does feel difficult.</i>


    If breathing under normal circumstances felt like inhaling light air, now it felt heavy and suffocating, akin to gulping down lead or iron. To make aparison, it was like trying to breathe with one nostril blocked.


    However, Kai had already prepared countermeasures for this.


    <strong>[Do you wish to take the Potion of Endurance?]</strong>


    "Yes."


    <strong>[All types of damage greatly reduced for 1 hour.]</strong>


    As soon as he used the alchemist guild''s medicine, also known as the painkiller, the asional stabbing headaches and the suffocating symptoms of breathlessness affecting his chest and nosepletely disappeared.


    <i>Phew, now I feel like I¡¯m alive again.</i>


    Despite being deep under the sea, it felt asfortable as his own living room!


    Kai clenched his fist as he watched the dark red smoke continuously puffing out around his body.


    There was a distinct difference in the force he applied and the resistance he felt from his muscles.


    <i>I''ve never experienced it before... but it feels like I''ve been reborn.</i>


    All of this was because the Invulnerable buff had increased all his stats by 10%!


    <i>And additionally...</i>


    Kai''s lips curled up, unable to hide his joy.


    What came into his view was none other than his Holy Power gauge. Normally, it would have been used up, but now the number 8 was disyed.


    <i>With the Invulnerable state, Holy Power and mana are infinite!</i>


    Of course, he could understand the thinking of Pegasus. The original duration of the Invulnerable skill was merely five seconds. It was intended to burn out everything like a dying candle before vanishing gloriously!


    <i>But they probably didn''t know this state wouldst for a week.</i>


    Who could have known?


    The Will of Invulnerable and the Magic Conch were both Unique-grade skills and items. And Kai was just fortunate to have obtained both items, which would normally be nearly impossible.


    <i>Well, it''s their fault they didn''t foresee this. It''s not a hack, so.</i>


    He had just cleverly linked the effects of each item and certainly hadn¡¯t done anything illegal.


    Kai rotated his neck as he adjusted to the feeling the overflowing power. "Alright, let''s do this. Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Bless, Sacred Barrier."


    <strong>[Attack power, magical attack power, and holy attack power increase for 1 hour.]</strong>


    <strong>[Physical defense and magical defense increase for 1 hour.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased by 10 for 30 minutes.]</strong>


    <strong>[Protected by Sacred Barrier.]</strong>


    Powerful buffs that he had not activated earlier now enveloped Kai''s body.


    The nagas flinched, only able to stare at each other''s faces in response to Kai''s suddenly changed energy! From their perspective, that was the only response they could have.


    Kai''s normal stats were already abnormally high, but with all his stats increased by an additional 10%, and the ability to use Supernova at will, he was unstoppable.


    "If you won''te to me, then I''ll go to you."


    Kai danced through the deep sea, but it wasn''t a refined and elegant dance with a partner. It was more like a tyrant on stage showing an overwhelming dance that disheartened the dancers sharing the stage!


    In an instant, Kai''s position moved from above the heads of the nagas to below their feet.


    "Kyaak?"


    "Kuaaagh!"


    The moment the nagas'' turned their bodies, a gush of blood burst from their chests. At the same time, their health bars dropped by 10% each. They hadn''t been able to reach to Kai passing by them.


    <i>Now this is more manageable.</i>


    Kai waspletely at ease facing high-level monsters 80 levels above him!


    "Kyaaak!"


    "Keeeek!"


    As if they refused to admit they had been attacked in an instant, the nagas let out a shriek and charged forward like arrows.


    Kai looked at them.


    <i>Just like before. But let''s not repeat the mistake.</i>


    He anticipated not only the attacks in front of him but also the one that woulde from behind. In a few seconds, he predicted from which direction and in what manner the attacks targeting his neck or head woulde.


    All these calctions had to be made during the heat of the battle. It sounded easy in words, but in reality, it was a high-levelbat technique that most couldn¡¯t perform!


    <i>But unlike before...</i>


    He was able to react to their movements. That was the critical difference!


    Kai deflected the first trident aimed at his heart with the back of his hand. Simultaneously, a sword made of bluesteel pierced through the throat of a naga.


    "Krugh!"


    That wasn¡¯t all.


    Stepping on the water, Kai used the body of a naga as a shield and soared upward.


    But the nagas were unconcerned about the life or death of their fellow mates! They justunched their attacks, ignoring their captured fellow.


    <i>There''s no sense of camaraderie.</i>


    Kai, having gained this information, no longer needed a hostage.


    Then he shed the body of the naga he was holding hostage with his sword. The naga''s body shook as its began to die.


    Pulling out his sword, Kai discarded the body and stepped on the water again. Spinning like a top, he naturally deflected two iing tridents!


    At the same time, his left hand emitted a light that was rare to be seen in the deep sea.


    <i>Holy Explosion!</i>


    The secret technique of the merfolk, Moving Casting! That technique was fully shown at the tips of Kai''s fingers.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The seawater along the path of the beam evaporated instantly.


    Of course, the hole was immediately filled by the surrounding water. But the important thing was that a naga at the end of the light crashed into the deep seafloor.


    Moreover, the damage inflicted by Holy Explosion was a significant 25%.


    <i>Hmm. They said their magic resistance was high, but fortunately, the damage from Holy Explosion is significant.</i>


    Though it was a divine spell, Holy Explosion didn¡¯t diverge from mana-based magic and was actually made from Holy Power!


    No matter how hard the nagas'' scales could be, they couldn''t withstand the divine punishment.


    <i>Then that''s all I need to know.</i>


    Kai came to a conclusion and slowly raised his sword.


    <i>There''s no more information to gather.</i>


    At the same time, Kai, who had shot down to the deep seafloor, struck his sword. His target was the heart of the naga!


    "Kuaaagh!"


    The naga hastily grasped the sword embedded in its chest, but instead, its hand was sliced off. This was decisive proof that Kai had also used Flood of des!


    <i>This dungeon raid is going to be easier than I thought.</i>


    Normally, one would expect to be killed by even minor monsters, let alone clear the dungeon, but Kai was currently invulnerable. That meant, no matter how long it took, victory was assured.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the three nagas to turn into a polygon mess.


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 Stat points.]</strong>


    <i>Quite a bit of XP too.</i>


    Surprisingly, he hadn''t even entered the dungeon yet.


    After dealing with all the nagas outside their nest, Kai immediately entered the entrance to the deep sea cave.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have discovered the Naga Spawning Grounds dungeon.]</strong>


    <strong>[Item drop rate increased by 30% for 9 in-game hours.]</strong>


    <strong>[+75,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+3,000 Fame.]</strong>


    As Kai had predicted, the dungeon was an underwater cave fully filled with water.


    <i>Is this a dungeon shaped like an ant nest?</i>


    That was one of the types of dungeons that yers disliked the most! Due to its maze-like twisted structure, there was a high possibility of being surrounded, which greatly increased the risk of annihtion.


    Moreover, the ant nest shape of a dungeon also contributed to the high number of enemies.


    <i>So, in other words, this dungeon has a lot of creatures, huh?</i>


    They were all XP for Kai! Nothing more, nothing less.


    Kai, having lost the emotion of fear, boldly entered the first tunnel.


    "Krrr?"


    "Kagagak!"


    Young nagas were tending to unhatched eggs so it was natural for them to be angry upon detecting an intruder!


    Instantly, ten nagas armed with weapons charged at him.


    And at the same time, Kai''s eyes curved into a crescent moon shape.


    "Come at me, this is your first time facing Invulnerable, right?"

 Chapter 79: Naga Slayer (3)

    <h4>Chapter 79: Naga yer (3)</h4>


    The average level of monsters that appeared at the Naga Spawning Grounds was 155.


    Given that it was underwater, navigating the dungeon wasn¡¯t easy, and there were many enemies. Therefore, the developers had set the appropriate level for tackling this dungeon at 180 or above.


    "Hmm."


    Of course, the developers'' expectations were not always urate. If that were possible, the world would have long been free of game bugs and hacking programs.


    However, even miscalctions had a certain margin of error. The developers thought that a yer who was exceptionally skilled, well-equipped, and lucky could attempt this dungeon at level 160.


    "Hup."


    Level 71 was jokingly referred to as a boring level that didn''t have the excitement of a novice or an expert, it was in between.


    A typical level 71 yer couldn¡¯t even approach this dungeon and naturally, hunting inside the dungeon would be unthinkable.


    <i>sh!</i>


    But there was only one person among over 600 million yers worldwide who could do it¡ªKai.


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 Stat points.]</strong>


    <i>I¡¯m leveling up insanely fast.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, a yer who killed monsters much higher in level faced a XP penalty. However, the vast level difference of 80 levels was enough to offset that penalty.


    Kai had entered the dungeon at level 71 but had gained a whopping 14 levels in just three days!


    He had done in three days what would have taken others more than a month. However, that did mean he was extremely tired.


    <i>Phew, I think I''m gonna die.</i>


    The week-long duration of the Invulnerable buff was an opportunity for him; a precious opportunity that wouldn¡¯te again, so Kai couldn¡¯t afford to waste time.


    <i>If I sleep for eight hours outside... a day will have passed here.</i>


    Thinking he could raise his level by 2-3 levels in that time made it hard for him to fall asleep. Because of this, Kai reduced his sleep to four hours a day until the buff ended.


    <i>It''s fine. Four hours is enough for a good sleep.</i>


    He could go without sleep altogether if he set his mind to it, but that wouldn¡¯t be efficient as it was obvious that his gamey would be hindered if his brain wasn¡¯t functioning smoothly.


    <i>First, let''s distribute the stat points...</i>


    After clearing the twelfth tunnel and filling his satisfaction with fresh fruit juice, Kai distributed his stats.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 85</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 26,000</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 33,000</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 298 Stamina: 260</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 168 Agility: 166</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 330 Dignity: 130</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 93</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +33</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense +44%</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement 116%</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Attack Power +17%</strong>


    <strong>Invulnerable State</strong>


    It was an incredibly impressive stats window! The 10% bonus to all stats in the Invulnerable state wasn''t just about the stats themselves. It literally meant a significant enhancement of all the beneficial abilities Kai possessed!


    <i>Even though they''re my stats, I''m speechless looking at them.</i>


    Kai let out augh at the absurdity of the situation.


    Putting Dignity aside, just the sum of all other stats would be what a yer of at least level 200 would have!


    <i>There''s still a long way to go.</i>


    Kai set down his can of fresh fruit juice and nced at the remaining time.


    <i>All the nagas in the dungeon have been cleared.</i>


    There were a total of twelve tunnels in the Naga Spawning Grounds. Of course, a yer didn''t need to engage in battle in all the tunnels if they weren¡¯t detected. But Kai roamed around the dungeon on purpose, and it was obviously for the sake of XP.


    <i>There are only four days left of the Invulnerable buff.</i>


    Kai quickly started calcting.


    <i>There''s still time left after clearing the dungeon.</i>


    He didn''t know how strong the boss of this ce was, but it wouldn''t take long to defeat it. That meant about four days would remain of the Invulnerable buff duration.


    <i>Four days. What would be the most effective thing to do in that time...</i>


    The first thing that came to mind was the other dungeons nearby. But all Kai could gain there was merely more XP. In the long term, that was definitely not a benefit.


    <i>Levels can be raised quickly any time.</i>


    The Invulnerable state would soon disappear, but his high stats wouldn¡¯t.


    In that case, what Kai needed now was something that could only be done while he was Invulnerable.


    With his eyes closed, Kai deeply pondered what that might be, then slowly opened his eyes again.


    <i>In the end, that¡¯s the only thing.</i>


    No matter how much he thought, there was one clear answer!


    Having reached a conclusion, Kai drew his weapon.


    <i>Let''s clear the boss of this ce first.</i>


    ***


    <strong>[Warning: Entering the boss room will disable logout and return until the battle is over. Would you still like to proceed?]</strong>


    "Enter."


    A massive stone door opened, and icy cold water flowed out from between them.


    Entering inside, Kai immediately sensed a presence without needing to look around.


    <i>It¡¯s big.</i>


    It was at least three times the size of the young nagas he had been facing.


    The imposing aura emanating from its massive form was indeed befitting of a boss.


    <strong>[Hakhas, Second Prince of the Naga Lv.165]</strong>


    <i>A prince?</i>


    The spawning ground, the future of the tribe, could rightly be called a precious ce.


    <i>Well, I guess not just anyone would be in charge of such a ce, after all.</i>


    Havinge to terms with this, Kai drew his weapon and Hakhas¡¯ eyes glowed yellow as he roared.


    "Kraaaagh!"


    Hakhas was enraged at the loss of the offsprings of his tribe and the soldiers he had led.


    The once calm flow of water turned rough, forming swirling waves that struck Kai.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve taken 10,272 damage from getting caught up in the wave¡¯s current.]</strong>


    <strong>[The effects of Undying Will have prevented your death.]</strong>


    <strong>[Struck by a rock swept by the waves. You¡¯ve taken 5,018 damage from being struck by a rock swept up by the waves.]</strong>


    <strong>[The effects of Undying Will have prevented your death.]</strong>


    However, this fight was predetermined from the start!


    "The promised victory of the Invulnerable skill!"


    Kai shot forward like a bullet.


    However, Hakhas was not just a high-level monster, but was also the prince of the naga tribe! In the water, a slight statistical advantage was of little use against him.


    "Kraaaagh!"


    When Hakhas swung his trident, the direction of the water flow reversed once again.


    ¡°Kugh!¡±


    Even though Kai¡¯s movements in the water were corrected, that didn''t mean he could move freely in the tsunami-like swirling waters.


    He was barely managing not to be swept backward by stepping on the water flow!


    For Kai,unching an attack against Hakhas was unimaginable at the moment.


    <i>Damn it...</i>


    He wouldn''t die, but he couldn''t kill his opponent either!


    Frustrated to his bones, Kai pounded his chest and shouted, "Fight fair and square without using strange skills!"


    It was a rather unconscientious statement for someone who was using the Invulnerable skill!


    Hakhas casually ignored this and drove his thick fingers into the ceiling.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    As he clenched his fist, the ceiling crumbled, and rocks started falling. Hakhas grabbing the rocks wasn''t simply because he wanted to y with them! The next moment, he hurled the rocks he was holding at Kai.


    <i>Truly cowardly to the very end!</i>


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    Kai narrowly dodged the rocks by the narrowest of margins!


    But even though Hakhas realized that this attack wasn''t effective, he didn''t stop throwing them.


    <i>This bastard...!</i>


    Kai bit his lower lip in frustration. Dodging the attacks wasn¡¯t difficult, but the situation of being unable to do anything himself was maddening.


    <i>I need to change the flow of the battle.</i>


    Even a brief moment, a mere instant would suffice. One moment of freedom for his body would be enough!


    As Kai racked his brain, rocks continuously flew at him.


    "Give me a break, let me think for a second!"


    Using moving casting, Kai fired Holy Explosion!


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The rocks shattered instantly upon contact with the beam. Moreover, the seawater where the beam passed evaporated, and as the surrounding water filled the void, the flow of the water briefly changed.


    Kai''s eyes widened as he observed this.


    <i>Right, the flow of the water!</i>


    The reason Kai was suffering such humiliation was all due to the flow of the water. The tsunami-like water flow relentlessly thrashed him! He couldn''t approach Hakhas because he couldn''t fight against that water flow.


    <i>All of this is because Hakhas controls the water.</i>


    Hakhas was the prince of the naga tribe that could freely manipte seawater. Kai couldn''t even manage half his usual speek in the turbulent water that Hakhas controlled.


    <i>But what if I can escape this damned water flow and his sight?</i>


    He would have a chance to approach Hakhas. And if he could just get close, he was certain he could win.


    <i>Alright. Then... I''ll start by creating a distance he can''t react to.</i>


    The next moment, Kai''s feet, which had been busily moving, suddenly stopped.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Then a fierce stream of water seized the opportunity and sted him backward.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "Ugh..." Kai let out a short groan after hitting his back against a rock.


    The pain wasn¡¯tpletely relieved even with the effect of painkillers!


    However, Kai was already initiating moving casting as he was swept away by the water. Despite his vision spinning, he showed terrifying concentration inpleting the spell!


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    As the beam burst forth, Hakhas raised his trident as if to brace for the attack. But the beam wasn¡¯t aimed at him, but the ceiling!


    While Hakhas squinted, wondering what Kai was plotting, Kai kicked through the water and slipped into the path opened by Holy Explosion in the ceiling.


    <i>Here, he won''t be able to see me.</i>


    The space he entered was blocked on three sides, except for the entrance he came through! There, Kai leisurely caught his breath, and his left hand shone once again.


    <i>Hakhas''s position was... about there, was it?</i>


    Without hesitation, Kai pulled the trigger with his finger.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Holy Explosion sted forth with overwhelming destructive power.


    As a white beam suddenly shot from the ceiling, Hakhas swung his trident to deflect the attack. Then as he scoffed and turned his head, a human form filled his vision. Before he could wonder why a human was there, a sword flew toward his forehead.


    "Flood of des!"


    ¡°Kraaaaaagh!¡±


    The thick and tough scales of the naga tribe that the merfolk had always wanted to prate!


    <i>Please pierce through!</i>


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The spinning de created a crack in Hakhas''s tough scales. But that was it as Flood of des, having lost its rotational force, couldn¡¯t pierce further.


    "Kekekek."


    As Hakhas breathed a sigh of relief and sneered btedly, Kai spread out his left hand and firmly pushed the sword¡¯s handle.


    "There''s one shot left."


    With a loud noise, a white beam shot out.


    The power of Holy Explosion pressed on the sword, and the crack in the scales began to widen uncontrobly.


    Hakhas looked to the left and right, unsure what to do. But all he could do was pray that his scales would hold up as always!


    <i>Sorry, but you''re done.</i>


    Those who relied on their talents alone could never surpass those who made effort, researched, and thought. That was the conclusion Kai had reached after living twenty-two years!


    The merfolk had always desired to pierce the scales of the naga tribe, but it was Kai wielding the merfolk''s weapons that was able to do so.


    "Kyaaak, kyaaaaak!" Hakhas screamed in overwhelming pain, the first he had felt in decades.


    He thrashed in an attempt to escape the pain.


    "But I can''t just let you go."


    Kai, tightly gripping the sword handle with both hands, strangled Hakhas''s thick neck with his legs.


    <i>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!</i>


    The flow of water under Hakhas''s control furiously swirled in an attempt to shake off Kai.


    <i>But it''s already toote.</i>


    Kai''s sword was embedded in his forehead!


    "Flood of des, Flood of des, Flood of des!"


    "Kryaaaak!"


    It took just over fifteen minutes for Hakhas, one of the rulers of the sea, to be a polygons.

 Chapter 80: Using Spare Time Effectively

    <h4>Chapter 80: Using Spare Time Effectively</h4>


    <strong>[You killed Hakhas, Second Prince of the Naga.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1,472,000 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 Stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[You killed Hakha, Second Prince of the Naga, by yourself. +17,000 Fame.]</strong>


    <strong>[Unique title acquired: Enemy of the Naga.]</strong>


    ¡°Phew.¡±


    Kai had gotten used to these messages because he saw them so much and it had be the norm, yet it still made him somewhat excited.


    <i>My XP bar wasn¡¯t even full when I started, but I leveled up three times... Hakhas, you are amazing!</i>


    As Kai was unable to hide his excitement, he slowly descended as the water that had filled the dungeon was being drained away from the moment he cleared the dungeon.


    Having breathed in the game for the first time in a while, Kai moved forward with a refreshed expression.


    <i>Let¡¯s see, tigers die and leave their hides, but what have you left behind?</i>


    Although now turned into polygons, Hakhas had once been the second prince of the naga tribe during his lifetime! Therefore, the items he possessed were bound to be remarkable.


    <i>ng!</i>


    When Kai kicked the summoned chest forcefully with his foot, the lid opened. His expression brightened when he peered inside.


    There was arge cluster of green shimmering scales, a trident, and gold essories!


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve left behind scales.¡±


    <strong>[Hakhas¡¯ Scales x100]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>A beautiful scale possessed only by naga royalty. Has the ability to grant high magical defense when used in equipment crafting.</strong>


    <i>With this amount...</i>


    Seeing how massive Hakhas had been, it wasn''t quiteparable in the amount left behind but after taking a moment to estimate how many he would need, Kai nodded energetically. He had enough.


    <i>I should be able to make a decent set item.</i>


    He had been thinking it was time to update his armor. The Armor of the Undead set was a good set item, but it started with a level requirement of 50.


    <i>Now that my level is at 88, it¡¯s about time for an armor change.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, armor wasn¡¯t just a simple tool. Depending on the grade and type of equipment, it was an essential factor that could bring a yer¡¯s skill to 100%, or even beyond.


    <i>High-performance equipment enhances a yer¡¯s skills, but conversely, low-performance equipment hinders them.</i>


    Kai was thetter case.


    Until now, he had barely managed by relying on the overwhelmingly superior Armor of the Undead set. However, since he was now approaching level 90, Kai felt the need for new equipment.


    <i>People don¡¯t spend hundreds of thousands for nothing.</i>


    To be stronger and better, purchasing high-quality equipment was essential.


    Kai nced at the bluesteel equipment he was wearing.


    <i>But using bluesteel gear onnd wouldn¡¯t be the best.</i>


    Bluesteel equipment was entirely focused on underwaterbat. Of course, he would continue to use the Three Treasure essories set onnd, but not the armor.


    <i>I should take the scales and go see Solid. It¡¯s been a while.</i>


    After all, Solid was the best cksmith Kai knew at the moment. Moreover, since he had a high affinity with him, he was sure to get high-quality equipment made.


    ¡°The next item is the trident.¡±


    The trident used by Hakhas was a decent Rare item.


    <i>Tridents are a weapon used by yers who practice spear techniques, so it should sell for a decent price.</i>


    Next, he examined the essories made of gold. Each was ssified as a kind of artwork.


    <i>I see. Since this is the deep sea, they put these in ce of gold coins as a reward.</i>


    Having finished thinking, Kai finally picked up a small marble from inside the box.


    "As expected, there¡¯s one here as well. An Essence of Darkness Fragment."


    What this was would be exined by the Sage of Water, Tardal.


    However, there was still a week left until the quest''s time limit was over. With his Invulnerable state right now, there was no reason toplete the quest.


    <i>I should destroy the device first.</i>


    Looking around, Kai''s gaze settled on one spot.


    "...Is it that?"


    He looked at a huge magic circle that covered an entire wall of the boss room!


    He hadn''t noticed it while the room was filled with water. But now that the water hadpletely drained, the wall with the magic circle emitted an impression that no one could ignore.


    <i>If my guess is right, that¡¯s the device that locates Aquavera.</i>


    Whether he was right or wrong, he would find out by checking!


    Approaching the wall, Kai drew his sword without hesitation.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    As the wall cracked in half, the magic circle lost its light.


    At the same time, a message appeared.


    <strong>[The magic circle used to find Aquavera has been destroyed.]</strong>


    <i>I was right.</i>


    With this, Kai had finished all that needed to be done and looked at the effects of his newly acquired title.


    <strong>[<u>Enemy of the Naga</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title bestowed upon an adventurer who kills a naga of royal blood.</strong>


    <strong>Effects: +5 to all Stats, maximum aggro gained against all naga enemies, +5% damage against all naga enemies, +50% underwater movement speed.</strong>


    <strong>(This effect remains even when the title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <i>Nice.</i>


    It was indeed a special title given by a level 165 boss monster!


    Though he had be an enemy of the naga tribe, it was something he had already foreseen the moment he knew he would defeat Hakhas.


    <i>So does that mean nagas will now rush at me madly whenever they see me?</i>


    It wasn''t a big concern. After all, once he left Aquavera, the nagas would be monsters he wouldn¡¯t be able to meet even if he wanted to.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going then.¡±


    The ce Kai headed was not Aquavera, but the maind.


    ***


    The remaining time for the Invulnerable state was about three days and a half. Kai wandered through a dungeon, deliberating over and over how to use this time.


    <i>What would be the best way to take advantage of it?</i>


    He first ssified the things that could be gained by investing time into four categories: Level, money, Fame, and Stats.


    <i>But I can level up anytime I want, and I have enough money.</i>


    For those reasons, those two options were dismissed. What remained was the final contest between Fame and Stats.


    <i>Honestly, it wouldn''t be bad to crush the morale of the ck Bee guys once...</i>


    Then Kai shook his head.


    <i>The Fame of Unknown would rise, but at the same time, it would raise alertness elsewhere.</i>


    The power of the world''s top ten guilds was not something an individual could challenge. Even if Kai were given enough time, nothing would change. A game where one yer could fight against hundreds, thousands of yers and win didn¡¯t exist.


    Kai also had no intention of engaging in a direct full-scale war when he eventually confronted the ck Bee guild.


    <i>After all, the advantage lies with the individual. It¡¯s a sess if I just manage to crack the reputation they have built.</i>


    A thorough small-scale guerri warfare was the maximum struggle and war an individual could wage against a guild.


    <i>Moreover, the ck Bee guys can''t even find me right now. If I mess with them just to gain some Fame...</i>


    It would be like lighting a fuse!


    Furthermore, other guilds would start to feel the danger.


    The guilds that had burst intoughter when ck Bee got thrashed by Unknown considered the incident a mere happening and pointed fingers at ck Bee''s ipetence andcency.


    However, if the same thing happened again, and Unknown, using his Invulnerable state, crushed them with his power, things would be troublesome.


    <i>They woulde together. That¡¯s the nature of groups.</i>


    Such a solidly united guild, like a fortress, would leave no room for even a needle to get through. In the long run, it would only be bad for Kai!


    <i>In that case, that means I should be earning stats points during this time...</i>


    The quickest shortcut to gaining stats was none other than obtaining a special title. However, this was by no means a guaranteed method.


    <i>Even if I achieve a great feat, if someone else had beat me to it, it¡¯s all for nothing.</i>


    Ultimately, Kai needed a guaranteed method that would raise his stats.


    And if someone were to challenge him asking if such an easy path in life exists, Kai would say:


    "There is."


    ***


    "<i>Huff,</i> <i>huff</i>."


    Breathing heavily, Kai kicked the scattered polygon clusters with his foot andy down.


    Then a notification window appeared in his view.


    <strong>[Please enter the name to be recorded in the rankings.]</strong>


    "...Unknown," he replied in an exhausted voice and let out a sigh of relief along with his ragged breath.


    At the same time, another notification window slid up.


    <strong>[The effects of Undying Will have been dispelled.]</strong>


    <strong>[You are no longer under the protection of Undying Will.]</strong>


    "Phew, that was a close call to death."


    As if releasing one side of a tightly stretched rubber band, the tension in his body abruptly dissolved.


    Kai had cleared five instance dungeons over the past three days non-stop.


    He felt his vision blur and closed his eyes.


    <i>I need to sleep well first, hunting and everything else can wait.</i>


    Even for Kai, who was practically addicted to gaming, ying over neen hours continuously for three days was excessive.


    Especially since <i>MID Online</i> wasn¡¯t just a simple game of moving the keyboard and mouse and was a game where the yer had to think and physically move, it was no wonder Kai felt extreme fatigue.


    "Still..."


    As the saying went, no pain, no gain.


    Kai was able to significantly increase his game character¡¯s stats at the expense of his real health.


    <strong>[<u>Instance Dungeon Champion</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to a yer who has achieved first rank in an instance dungeon.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +5 to all stats per dungeon in which yer ranks first.</strong>


    <strong>(This effect remains even when the title is unequipped.)</strong>


    The secret to being able to do that was the special title he acquired by ranking first in the solo ranks of the Rat Kingdom! It was a title that increased all stats by 5 for each dungeon he ranked first.


    Needless to say, thanks to this title, Kai was able to increase all his stats by 25 over the past three days.


    <i>If only it had been this easyst time...</i>


    When clearing the Rat Kingdom, Kai had a significant risk at hand. Even he had been afraid of the threat of death that came with boss runs.


    However, things were different this time. He just ran and ran to the boss room, then hit the boss!


    Through this simple and unsophisticated method, Kai created an outstanding record.


    <i>I don¡¯t think anyone¡¯s going to be able to break this until MID Online shuts down.</i>


    Kai had reduced the record gap to 2 hours at least and 3-4 hours at mostpared to second ce! He was confident that this record would never be broken.


    <i>And... soon, my Strength stat will be simr to the Holiness stat.</i>


    Though his total stats had reduced by 10% since the effects of the Invulnerable state ended, his Strength stat was at 316 and his Holiness stat was at 330, which were still quite high.


    <i>I¡¯m not afraid of facing head-on battles with closebat sses anymore.</i>


    Even without using Supernova, his Strength stat was not far off from a warrior of the same level. Moreover, Kai was equipped with various powerful skills!


    After achieving an all-strength cleric, the greatest confidence had settled in him.


    ¡°Then first...¡±


    As Kai was about to continue speaking, his eyes gently closed.


    <strong>[User''s sleep state has been detected.]</strong>


    <strong>[User''s connection will be safely ended.]</strong>


    Kai slept continuously for two days without a break.

 Chapter 81: Friend of the Merfolk

    <h4>Chapter 81: Friend of the Merfolk</h4>


    "Oh no...!"


    Having woken up and seen the clock, Han Jung-Woo got up with a startled expression.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "Argh...!"


    He bumped his head on the capsule, but that wasn¡¯t what was important at the moment!


    Clutching his head, Han Jung-Woo rushed to the bathroom and started by taking a shower, which he hadn¡¯t taken for the past two days.


    <i>And now I eat!</i>


    He quickly toasted a piece of bread, spread savory cream cheese on it, and shoved it into his mouth.


    There was only one thought that filled his mind as he busily carried out a series of actions.


    <i>How long did I sleep?!</i>


    The deadline for Tardal''s quest was this very afternoon. And not setting an rm, thinking he wouldn¡¯t sleep for two days, was a mistake.


    <i>Alright. Let''s not panic. There¡¯s still some time left.</i>


    Being anxious wouldn¡¯t help matters!


    Realizing he still had a few hours left, Han Jung-Woo regained hisposure and first logged into the game.


    <i>First, I need to go straight to Aquavera.</i>


    His first objective was to go there to inform the merfolk that the nest of the nagas had been cleared.


    <i>And while I''m at it...</i>


    Kai nced at the Magic Conch sleeping in his inventory. If he could permanently own this item, he could be a supreme being once a month.


    "Return."


    Using the return orb Cyrus had given him, Kai was instantly transported to Aquavera. Then he took out Hakhas¡¯ scales from his inventory, hung it on his bag like an essory, and swam through the streets with pride as if he was a triumphant general.


    The merfolk who saw Kai began to whisper among themselves.


    "Why does that human suddenly have so much confidence?"


    "I¡¯m not sure... Wait, could those scales on his bag be...?"


    "<i>Gasp!</i> I¡¯m sure I... I¡¯ve definitely seen those on the battlefield before! Those big, hard green scales are Hakhas''!"


    "What? Hakhas?!"


    The eyes of the merfolk on the street changed dramatically. They showed a mix of admiration and respect! But the greatest emotion they showed was gratitude.


    <i>Hehe, as expected, the promotional effect is certain.</i>


    Kai, surveying his surroundings, showed off a big smile.


    There was a reason he had deliberately hung a few of Hakhas'' scales on his bag.


    <i>Obviously, it''s to make them recognize it!</i>


    And indeed, he was receiving tremendous attention.


    Then, suddenly, a merman swam hurriedly toward Kai.


    Kai rapidly moved his body and tried to say something to them.


    "Hm? What''s that... Is it like a human-style expression of greeting?"


    <i>Glug, glug...</i>


    Kai was unable to breathe underwater!


    As bubbles continuously escaped from his mouth and nose, the merman hurriedly cast a spell.


    "Hey! If you can¡¯t breathe, you should have asked for a spell!"


    "<i>Huff, huff.</i> I couldn¡¯t because we¡¯re underwater... Thank you for the spell." Having released his pent-up breath, Kai looked at the mermanwho had approached him and made an awkward expression. "But... why are you in the street at this time instead of at the weapon shop?"


    It was Kaul, the owner of the weapon shop, and the one who had sold bluesteel armor to Kai for 30 gold.


    "<i>Ahem</i>. I hurried here after hearing the news. Did you... really defeat Hakhas?"


    Kaul''s expression and eyes were serious, a look he had never shown even when bargaining.


    Pressed by this, Kai responded without realizing, "Yes, as you can see."


    Kai shrugged his shoulders to make the scale on his bag more visible.


    After checking the scales, Kaul slowly said, "...It really is true."


    "This is all thanks to the excellent weapons you sold me... huh?"


    Kai, who was about to continue to speak, was suddenly taken aback. It was then he first realized that merfolks¡¯ eyes also turned red when they cry.


    For some reason, Kaul began to sob uncontrobly without care of his age! It took about ten minutes for his crying to stop.


    "Phew..."


    As if he had released all the burdens in his heart, Kaul, now looking refreshed, showed a smile he had never disyed even during their dealings.


    "Boy, do you know why I run a weapon shop?"


    "...I don''t know."


    "I lost my son. It was the day we shed with the army led by that Hakhas bastard..." He pulled out the handle of the bluesteel sword hanging on Kai''s shoulder and stroked the de. "During the battle, his weapon broke, and a trident from a naga pierced his heart."


    "Th-that¡¯s..."


    "Of course, I know. Even if my son had been wielding an extraordinary sword... the chances of surviving on the battlefield would have been slim. But still, if only... if only my son had had a better weapon, a more durable sword, or armor... perhaps he might have survived. And I couldn¡¯t help but be haunted by these thoughts."


    "Then the reason why you run a weapon shop is..."


    "To prevent another from ending up like my son." Kaul handed the sword back to Kai. "And to ensure that the weapons of our people never break against the nagas again through quality inspection."


    The surrounding merfolk gathered and patted Kaul on the shoulder, offeringfort.


    "It''s not just me. All these people here are the same. Families, lovers, friends lost to the nagas. We all share the same kind of pain."


    Kai looked around without even realizing it. Hundreds of merfolk had gathered. Their moist eyes, as if contagious, continued to spread around.


    With a deep bow, Kaul said in a ringing voice, "Thank you... truly, thank you for avenging my son!"


    "Thank you for avenging my father!"


    "...For avenging my husband... <i>sob</i>... thank you."


    Words of thanks burst out chaotically, loud enough to ring in the ears everywhere.


    Normally, Kai would have furrowed his brows, but he listened intently, not wanting to miss even a whisper. The pain and wounds hidden beneath the merfolks¡¯ bright smiles were conveyed to Kai through their words.


    <i>...They''ve all been suffering so much.</i>


    And there was enough reason to be so. Their enemy, the nagas, had been constantly lurking around, posing a deadly threat to their tribe. The nagas had killed their people and the pain of losing a loved one was an immense sorrow, a sorrow that transcended species.


    <i>But I''m not a hero like they say I am.</i>


    Initially, Kai had started helping others not because he wanted to be a hero, but to satisfy his own selfish desires. He didn''t know how others saw him, but his only purpose was to fulfill his own desires.


    <i>However...</i>


    If his actions could heal someone''s wounds, if he could clear the knots in someone''s heart like he was now, he was d.


    <i>It doesn''t really matter what they call me.</i>


    The fact that he was helping someone remained unchanged.


    "Hm..."


    As amanding voice was heard, the merfolk instantly bent their fins.


    When Kai looked around in bewilderment, a familiar figure enter his line of sight.


    <i>Cyrus and the white bearded master. And...</i>


    There was another merman with the fin and stature of a giant shark. He wore a crown made of white crystals on his head and was dressed in luxurious clothes.


    Kai had never seen him before, but he could immediately guess who he was.


    <i>It''s the King of Aquavera, Karius.</i>


    Hovering high above, Karius slowly swam toward Kai. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Karius''s descent caused the merfolk to move to the side, creating a path.


    "I apologize for thete greeting. I''ve been continuously casting magic to keep the city''s location hidden, so I couldn''t leave my post."


    "Oh... yes, I understand."


    Kai, understanding why he hadn''t seen him before, faced Karius directly.


    His face was the very definition of the word majesty. He exuded a heavy presence, as if he would neverpromise.


    "I am Karius, King of Aquavera. You are Kai, the adventurer and apostle of this era who has saved our tribe from danger, correct?"


    "Yes."


    Upon hearing Kai¡¯s answer, Karius, like the other merfolk, bent his fin.


    At the same time, his eyes, which Kai had to look up to due to his nearly three meter height, came down to meet Kai''s level.


    "Y-your Majesty!"


    "Father!"


    "Quiet." Raising his hand to silence the surrounding merfolk, Karius said in a calm voice, "He is the savior of our tribe and a hero who has fulfilled our long-cherished wish. Such a greeting is only natural. Do not make a fuss."


    With a greeting that was almost too formal, Karius stood up and looked around at the merfolk. Simultaneously, a deep, resonant bass voice filled the sea as if summoning an opera singer.


    "My people, from this moment, the adventurer Kai is dered a friend, a brother, and family to the merfolk. Though of a different species, he is a grateful hero who unhesitatingly helped us in our time of crisis. In turn, we merfolk will extend our hands when he is in danger, as dered here."


    "Wh-what''s all this...?"


    It was a bolt from the blue! Kai''s mouth dropped open in shock, he wasn''t able to say anything.


    But it was different for all the merfolk in attendance.


    "We will follow His Majesty''smand!"


    "We will follow His Majesty''smand!"


    "It''s not sudden." Karius looked at Kai and smiled. "You are an adventurer deserving of such treatment. Without you... none of us would have survived."


    "That¡¯s..."


    Kai couldn¡¯t deny his words. Had Kai not destroyed the nagas¡¯ device, Aquavera''s location would have eventually been exposed. And what would have followed was predictable.


    <i>A one-sided massacre would have happened.</i>


    Hakhas, the other princes, and the armies led by the king of the nagas would have invaded Aquavera, and a one-sided massacre would have followed.


    That would have been the merfolk¡¯s fate if Kai hadn¡¯t intervened.


    "On behalf of the merfolk, I extend our gratitude. Thanks to you, the nagas can no longer discern our location. Thanks to you, even if we move, they won''t be able to follow us. Now... we are thinking about moving to a safe ce."


    "Why not move closer to thends of humans? That way, if Kai is in danger, we can always help him,¡± suggested Cyrus.


    "That''s a good idea."


    The moment identical smiles appeared on Karius and Cyrus¡¯ faces, and a notification window popped up.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The main episode quest ¡°Fallen Mermaid Kingdom¡± quest activation requirements have disappeared.]</strong>


    <strong>[¡°Fallen Mermaid Kingdom¡± episode no longer exists.]</strong>


    <strong>[1,524 rted quests no longer exist.]</strong>


    <strong>[Srian God Helik heaps praise upon you.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Contribution to the Church of Sris greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have be an enemy to the Church of Muldine.]</strong>


    <strong>[The merfolk will begin interactions with humans.]</strong>


    <strong>[Aquavera, the city of merfolks, has been revealed to humanity.]</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    Kai tilted his head at the sight of the messages he had never seen before.

 Chapter 82: Darkness Hunter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 82: Darkness Hunter (1)</h4>


    Kai was stunned, but only for a moment. He quickly got his bearings and began to sort out what could have happened.


    <i>So... the merfolks would have fallen, but their downfall won¡¯t happen now because I destroyed some device that belonged to the nagas?</i>


    If things had gone as originally intended, the merfolk would have perished as per the scenario set by the developers of the game.


    Although obvious, it needed to be said again: there wasn''t any yer who could be active on the ocean floor at this point of the game. Even if Kai were asked to do it again, he wouldn''t be able to do so.


    <i>Because almost 99% of it was thanks to the Magic Conch.</i>


    When the developers received the news tomorrow morning, they would most likely look devastated. Because of Kai alone, an entire main episode was gone, along with 1,524 meticulously crafted and arranged quests.


    However, Kai was not without his excuses.


    "It¡¯s their fault they made such an important dungeon essible to even a level 70 yer."


    If the developers had heard this, they would have had heart attacks and lined up for hospitalization!


    <i>And...</i>


    A chill ran down Kai''s spine as he realized one more thing.


    <i>This is insane... Then the original quest to find the Holy Ring Petra was meant to be much harder?</i>


    He would have had to wander around in the destroyed city of the merfolk, scouring the deep ocean floor and battling the nagas to search for the holy items.


    Thinking of all that hard work, Kai shuddered.


    <i>It was all pure luck... but thank goodness.</i>


    While he was unsure about the other two items, obtaining the Holy Ring Petra had been very easy.


    However, there was still something he did not understand.


    <i>The Church of Muldine? What even is that?</i>


    After Kai thought about who these people were that had now be his enemy, Kai reached a conclusion.


    <i>Could they have something to do with the Essence of Darkness?</i>


    If his guess was correct, then Tardal would exin itter.


    Then Kai looked up and smiled awkwardly at the merfolk staring only at him.


    ***


    "N-no...!"


    "We don¡¯t have a choice," Cyrus said in an unsympathetic tone.


    Then the Magic Conch disappeared from his hand!


    Kai couldn''t help but burst into tears as he saw that.


    <i>My dream of bing the strongest every month...</i>


    Of course, even he acknowledged that the Magic Conch was an overpowered item that disrupted bnce. However, double standards were a thing¡ªunfair if someone else did it, but reasonable if he did it.


    <i>Well, it is unfortunate, but it¡¯s necessary to extend the magic used to obscure spatial perception... so I guess it can¡¯t be helped.</i>


    The merfolk couldn''t always stick around and perform magic 24/7. Moreover, the Magic Conch was a treasure of the merfolk intended to hide Aquavera.


    "Ugh." Swallowing his disappointment, Kai turned to Karius. "So, you''re nning on moving now, sir?"


    "Moving? Hm, I guess you could put it that way. That¡¯s right. We''ve evaded the nagas¡¯ tracking, and Tartar has eaten enough... so it''s time to move."


    "Tar... what?"


    "Tartar. You must have seen it at least once, haven¡¯t you?" Karius asked with a puzzled tilt of his head, wondering what Kai was talking about.


    However, Kai certainly had no memory of seeing any strange-named object or creature. "I haven''t..."


    "...It seems like Cyrus didn''t exin it to you on purpose to surprise you. Then you will be quite surprised."


    Smirking Karius stepped outside; his robe fluttered around him.


    Kai hurriedly followed him, tilting his head in confusion. "Sir, what is that?"


    He saw several merfolk holding gigantic horns made of conches to their mouths.


    "Ah, it''s time to wake it up."


    <i>Time to wake up? Wake what up?</i>


    Before his question could fade, a piercing horn sound tormented Kai. "Argh... Wh-what is this...!?"


    "Just endure it for a moment. Tartar has sensitive hearing and will wake up soon..."


    <i>So what exactly is Tartar!</i>


    The horn sounds stopped the moment he finishedining. At the same time, the city began to shake.


    "Uh... Uhhhhh!" Standing at the bottom of the ocean, Kai felt an earthquake and swam upward. "Th-there''s an earthquake!"


    Kai had heard ofndslides in mountainous areas due to noise, but it was his first time hearing about an earthquake in the deep sea!


    However, the surrounding merfolk just smiled at Kai.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Then a gigantic pir came into Kai''s view. "Wh-what on earth is..."


    Before he could even finish his question, the tall pir turned its head. What met Kai''s eyes wererge, ck pupils. Then the creature cried out loudly.


    Kai knew of only one marine creature with such a long neck. "So Tartar is that turtle?"


    "It''s no ordinary turtle. It''s a divine beast that has lived for thousands of years, protecting our merfolk."


    "Then... what I''ve been stepping on all this time is...?"


    "It wasn''t the ocean floor, but Tartar back shell."


    That was indeed shocking news!


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    Tartar diligently moved its legs and suddenly stomped on the ground.


    <i>Swooooosh!</i>


    Kai had never experienced such speed since riding the Eagle¡¯s Fortress in Evend and the Gyro Drop in Lotte World. Yet, astonishingly, neither the city, the merfolk, nor Kai himself were thrown backward.


    This was because a barrier of water in front of Tartar protected them.


    "...What kind of turtle is this fast!"


    "Did you not know? Turtles are quite fast in the water."


    <i>That''s an understatement...</i>


    Kai quietly swallowed hisint and turned his head toward a strange noiseing from behind.


    "Kyaaak!"


    "Kraaagh!"


    The nagas were seen swimming hard after they spotted Tartar, but they never managed to catch up with it.


    ***


    Having settled in shallow waters near the kingdom of humans, Tartar went back inside its shell and fell asleep.


    Kai scratched his cheek as he looked at the hundreds of merfolk who came to greet him. "Are you really going to live here? It might be bothersome with all the humans around..."


    "It will be bothersome, but we''ll endure it. The fact that you... an apostle has appeared means that darkness will soon engulf the continent." Karius showed a moment of worry but soon smiled kindly. "But don''t worry. No matter what dangers or darkness push against you, we merfolk will always be on your side."


    "Sir..."


    "Kai. We are always ready to help you."


    Reassured by Cyrus''s reliable answer, Kai shook his hand and then approached Helene, Crawford, and the white-bearded master.


    "I hope the both of you stay happy," Kai said to Helene and Crawford.


    "Thanks to you, it seems we no longer need to live in fear of the nagas. We are truly grateful."


    "Yes, really... the two of us and..."


    Helene then stroked her belly with a shy smile.


    Shocked, Kai¡¯s mouth twitched. "W-what? How many days have passed since you reunited again?"


    "<i>Ahem</i>. Well, after sharing twenty years worth of love..."


    ¡°Th-that¡¯s enough!¡± Kai red at them and turned his head. "Master, I will be going now."


    "Hmm, the two weeks we spent training together were enjoyable."


    "Yes, it hurt a lot, was sad, tough, and I always wanted to quit, but it was fun."


    "Come back again next time."


    That was essentially saying he''d legally beat Kai up some more!


    Just as Kai backed away with an awkwardugh, Kaul bid him farewell, "Thank you, really."


    "...What for? I am more grateful." Kai mumbled, avoiding Kaul''s gaze, but then he immediately raised his hand. "I¡¯ll really get going now. I''ll bete for my appointment."


    ¡°Get up there safely."


    "Goodbye!"


    "Drop by anytime. I''ve provided you with plenty of return crystals."


    Kai then energetically stepped on the water, being seen off by the group of merfolk. The sea water burst out spectacrly, like fireworks showing the bright future for the merfolk.


    Simultaneously, Kai''s figure soon emerged from the sea.


    "Whew!"


    Kai, pushing back his wet hair, turned on the minimap with a grin.


    His destination was the nearest teleport gate, and of course, meeting Tardal was his top priority.


    ***


    -Isn¡¯t it a bug?


    ©¸ They said it''s not.


    ©¸ Still, isn¡¯t it a bug?


    ©¸ Still, they said it''s not.


    ©¸ Wow, but how is that even possible? Maybe it''s...


    ©¸ They said it¡¯s not a bug.


    Before the craze of the <i>Tag of Death</i> had subsided, Unknown''s name once again heated up themunity. This time, the name was mentioned due to the new solo dungeon rankings he had set.


    -Look, how does it make sense to clear five dungeons in three days? Not to mention, with such overwhelming records?


    ©¸ But he did it.


    -Even if you look at the level... What does this guy do for a living? Wasn''t he level 68 just recently?


    ©¸ Oh? Now that you mention it, that¡¯s true. When did he hit level 88?


    ©¸ This is suspicious. 20 levels aren''t easy! It usually takes at least two months...


    -It seems like he used a bug or hack that the developers can''t catch. If they admit it, their stock would plummet, so Pegasus must be denying it.


    Unknown had used bugs, and Pegasus was lying to cover it up! That opinion seemed usible, and thus the rumor spread more in themunity.


    -Unknown''s videos are all CGI[ref]Computer-generated imagery.[ref], and manipted.


    -Exactly. I''m a member of the Crimson Fist guild, and we actually won that time.


    ©¸ Nope, at least that¡¯s not true.


    ©¸ I''m the Orc Lord, and actually I won that time. Squeal!


    ©¸ I''m the Orc Sorcerer...


    Rumors were malicious gossip. They were no different from delusions. Moreover, there were always people who wanted to undermine sessful people!


    As the rumors grew uncontrobly and people began to bash Unknown, Pegasus, which had always maintained silence in any incident or ident, finally made a statement.


    <strong>[We have no record of Unknown ever using any bugs. Furthermore, as a result of our monitoring, Instance Dungeon rankings have been updated through used items and skills.]</strong>


    It was a short statement, but it was a powerful blow that silenced those who were indulging in spreading rumors!


    However, while the statement was shocking, it was insufficient to deliver a knockout.


    -Of course they would say it''s not a bug.


    ©¸ A bug in <i>MID Online</i>? Naturally, that would cause the stock to drop.


    yers, already viewing things through skeptical lenses, didn¡¯t trust Pegasus''s official announcement.


    As a result, an emergency meeting was convened at the Pegasus headquarters.


    "Everyone, please present your ideas to ovee this situation."


    At the voice of Marco Frederic, the president of Pegasus, the employees only bowed their heads.


    Despite their roles in developing and managing the game, they couldn¡¯t freely share someone''s personal video because the game''s terms of service stated that they wouldn¡¯t interfere in any way that infringed upon individual freedoms.


    "<i>Tsk</i>. Then there''s only one way left." Jim, observing the silent meeting room from a corner, sighed. "We have to buy the video from its owner, Unknown."


    "...Would he sell it? Besides, even if the video is released, it would cause problems. yers would demand to know why Unknown doesn''t die even when attacked... Unknown would never ept that."


    Once a yer reached a certain level and became a ranker, each of their skills became a hidden weapon.


    Just as martial artists in novels were said to always keep 30% of their power hidden, it was the same in <i>MID Online</i>. If one wished to reign as a ranker for a long time, their skill and item setups, and stats had to remain confidential.


    "...Regarding that, we''ll need to discuss it with Unknown. Of course, we must amodate his opinions as much as possible."


    In the end, Pegasus raised the white g.


    There was never a bug to begin with, but what mattered was whether the investors and yers thought there was one because no one would want to y a game that could be cheated by using bugs.


    <i>...It¡¯s the guy back then. Who knew he would still be doing well.</i>


    In a blink of an eye, the fool who had boldly dered he would soon face Helik''s judgment and lose his job had be a figure who gained the upper hand against the gamepany.

 Chapter 83: Darkness Hunter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 83: Darkness Hunter (2)</h4>


    When Kai came back to Tardal''s mansion, Tardal''s eyes opened as if he had been waiting for Kai.


    "You''vee," Tardal nced at the clock as he spoke. Then he nodded slightly and continued, "The timing is just right. Let''s see the scales you brought."


    "Yes, sir."


    Kai took out the scales of Hakhas, the prince of the naga tribe, from his inventory.


    Then Tardal''s eyes slightly widened as he stared at the greenish scales on the table. He, who always maintained a poker face, unusually showed a hint of surprise.


    Tardal quickly looked up at Kai. "Last time you certainly had said... you wouldn¡¯t disappoint."


    "Yes."


    "Good." Praise, which rarely came from Tardal, slipped out. "The Essence of Darkness. You said you were curious about what it is?"


    "Yes."


    The Essence of Darkness was a marble that made the nature of monsters cruel, and strengthened their power!


    ording to Kai''s guess, this whole thing definitely wasn''t rted to just a minor sub-quest.


    <i>It¡¯ll at least be rted to the main episodes.</i>


    Kai had already confirmed two Essences of Darkness, and the Essence of Darkness associated with the naga tribe was directly rted to a main episode.


    "Have a seat."


    For the first time, Tardal offered Kai a chair.


    When he sat down, Tardal began to say in a serious voice, "This will be a rather heavy story. If you are an adventurer who enjoys freedom and romance over duty, I will give you more than enoughpensation, so you can stop here."


    "I cannot do that," Kai said with a determined expression. "With just this item, the residents of Glendale and the merfolk have suffered greatly. I am stillcking in many ways, but as a Cleric devoted to the Siran God, I want to uncover the secrets rted to the Essence of Darkness and bring justice to those who used it."


    "...Your courage and intent aremendable. But behind this marble are mighty enemies that you can''t even dare to look at with your current skills. Do you still have the confidence to swing the hammer of justice without hesitation?"


    "Mighty enemies I can''t even look at... Then I will strive and climb until I can meet them eye to eye. As I said before, if you give me a chance, I am confident I won''t disappoint you."


    He wouldn''t disappoint. Kai had already said that once and had produced the excellent result of Hakhas'' scales.


    "Hmm."


    Tardal closed his eyes and fell into thought, listening to Kai''s eloquent words.


    Of course, Kai was only able to speak so smoothly because he had already anticipated this situation.


    <i>The Essence of Darkness is definitely rted to a main episode quest. So... I probably won''t be able to.</i>


    Although level restrictions were just a small numerical difference, in the game, those numbers meant everything.


    Moreover, Kai had stopped his progress in the main episode quest at level 40! But that didn¡¯t mean there was no way.


    <i>In MID Online, there may be shortcuts and different paths, but there''s no wrong path.</i>


    Whether he went left or right, as long as he reached the destination, it was fine.


    Ultimately, it was the NPCs¡ªthe real power holders of this world¡ªwho gave quests! If he could win their favor, he could even skip prerequisite quests.


    "First... I need to exin some background information," Tardal spoke again after a long silence. "Since you are a Cleric as well, let me ask you. Which order wields the greatest holy power in thisnd?"


    "Of course, it is the Church of Sris that worships the Srian God, Helik."


    This was a fact, not a sense of belonging or pride. In fact, 86% of yers who had changed their job to Clerics had joined the Church of Sris.


    "That''s right. Nowadays, the influence of the Srian Church shakes the continent. But what do you think it was like a thousand years ago?"


    "Hmm... Wasn''t it still the Srian Church back then?"


    The era when the first and second Sris Clerics were active was also about a thousand years ago.


    However, Tardal shook his head. "Wrong. A thousand years ago, it was the Church of Muldine that boasted the greatest power in thisnd."


    <i>The Church of Muldine!</i>


    Kai felt his mind clear and his eyes widened.


    <i>The Church of Muldine is...</i>


    They had be his enemies after he unintentionally destroyed the merfolk city episode!


    <i>But they were the most powerful a thousand years ago?</i>


    This was entirely new information!


    Seeing Kai''s bewildered expression, Tardal nodded. "From the look on your face, it seems you didn¡¯t know. It''s understandable. The Church of Muldine was considered heretical throughout the continent. You can only find records of them deep in the archives of royal and imperial libraries."


    "What on earth... did they do?"


    "The evil god, Muldine. Those who served him tried to summon the demons, Demon King, and then Muldine himself to thisnd."


    Kai was left speechless in shock.


    "In the process, countless people were sacrificed as offerings. Feeling the crisis, all the forces in the world united against them."


    <i>United forces...</i>


    It was a history lost in <i>MID Online</i>, found nowhere in the library or mentioned by anyone in themunity.


    "The warsted for a hundred years."


    "A... a hundred years?"


    Cold sweat trickled down Kai''s back.


    A single force against the united forces of the world. The power difference should have overwhelmingly favored thetter.


    <i>But... they endured? Not just for a day or two, but for a hundred years?</i>


    He even wondered if he should bring a gift set and go apologize right away!


    But Tardal calmed him with a rxed voice, "Don''t be too scared. The war overwhelmingly favored the united forces. The warsted only a year in reality. The remaining ny-nine years were just cleaning up the remnants."


    "I... I see."


    "History says that every single trace of the Church of Muldine was eradicated... or so it ims."


    "But they were wrong."


    Tardal nodded silently. "Darkness inevitably arises wherever there is light. The stronger the light, the darker the shadow. They hid, sharpening their des for revenge, evading the light."


    "Then the Essence of Darkness..."


    "It was one of their favorite wicked methods used in the past war."


    In that case, there could only be one reason why the Essence of Darkness was being found everywhere at this point.


    <i>The Church of Muldine. They''ve returned.</i>


    Of course, it was obvious they wouldn''t return without a n after their initial defeat.


    <i>Come to think of it...</i>


    The Church of Muldine had already been on the verge of destroying the merfolk. Had Kai not helped them, the merfolk would surely have perished.


    <i>They are already moving in the shadows.</i>


    Even if they hadn''t surfaced yet, they were actively operating deep below.


    "The Essence of Darkness is rted to such a formidable organization. Do you still hold the same thoughts?" Tardal questioned Kai''s resolve.


    "Yes."


    It was needless to say, rejecting such a massive opportunity thrown his way would be something only a fool or an idiot would do.


    Tardal, who had been staring at Kai''s determined eyes, stood up and moved to the cab at the back. "In that case, I will ept you as a member of the Darkness Hunters from this moment."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Group: You have be a member of the Darkness Hunters.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Darkness Hunters are an organization formed to counter the newly resurfaced Church of Muldine. You are the 1,258th yer to join, and you can now receive missions rted to the Church of Muldine from Tardal.]</strong>


    <strong>[Main Episode Quest, Rumors About the Raiders, has been deleted.]</strong>


    <strong>[Main Episode Quest, The Bandits of Wheellet Mountain, has been deleted.]</strong>


    <strong>[Main Episode Quest, Report from Baron Valparen, has been deleted.]</strong>


    <strong>....</strong>


    <strong>[Main Episode Quest, The Pursuit of Darkness,plete.]</strong>


    <i>Awesome.</i>


    Rumors About the Raiders was the Main Episode Quest he had stopped at level 40. Originally, he would have had to progress step by step, dealing with the Looter Veghas, but now he didn¡¯t have to.


    <i>It¡¯s all deleted.</i>


    And it directly transitioned into the Darkness Hunter Quest, an ideal scenario.


    If he had progressed through the Main Episode Quest one by one, it would have taken at least two months. After all, the Main Episode Quests weren''t designed to bepleted overnight.


    <i>Two months? It could have taken three or four months if I were unlucky.</i>


    Kai didn''t have any information. Of course, there was extensive information in themunity, but it was mostly useless.


    <i>The important stuff is always hoarded by those in the know.</i>


    That was why guilds were so crucial in <i>MID Online</i>. Even if individuals were weak, guilds could fully leverage the advantages of being an organization. For starters, they had more people to do the work.


    <i>For instance, I have to gather information, collect materials, explore maps, fight, and receive quests from NPCs all by myself...</i>


    But a guild could divide all those tasks. Information gathering, quest progress, andbat roles, dividing these tasks systematically was the basic requirement for a top guild!


    And Kai, unable to expect such support, had to aplish everything by himself. However, this fact didn''t particrly sadden him.


    <i>If I seed, I get a bigger piece of the pie than those guys.</i>


    Unlike those who had to share a cookie, he could have it all to himself.


    That was why Kai had stuck to solo y since acquiring the Sris Cleric job, and why he intended to continue doing so.


    "I believe that you know your skills are muchckingpared to others."


    "Of course. But I will work several times harder than them."


    "Effort alone isn''t enough. Frankly speaking... if the scales you brought weren''t this impressive, I wouldn''t have epted you." Tardal said, tapping Hakhas'' scales, "Keep proving your skills."


    "Yes, sir."


    Kai instinctively felt that Tardal was about to assign him a new mission.


    <i>It''s called a mission, but it''s actually an extension of the test.</i>


    The missions, which were essentially tests, would likely continue until Kai''s skills caught up with others.


    But he had noints. In fact, he weed this type of test.


    Tardal pulled out a map from the drawer andid it on the desk.


    Kai immediately checked the map and tilted his head. "Konderun Hunting Grounds...?"


    "There''s a request for support from other Darkness Hunters."


    "A support request? What do I need to do?"


    "Go there and assist the other Darkness Hunters."


    "What¡¯s the timeframe?"


    "I hope you can arrive within three days."


    "I will depart right away."


    Tardal''s voice stopped Kai as he stood up to leave. "Oh, and once the mission ispleted, return immediately." Tardal said, tapping Hakhas'' scales, "Then I''ll exin then why Darkness Hunters retrieve scales as an initiation test."


    "Yes, sir. Then, I¡¯ll be going."


    Kai bowed deeply and activated his minimap as he left the mansion.


    <i>Three days... that''s plenty of time.</i>


    ncing at the scales in his bag, Kai headed straight for Glendale.

 Chapter 84: Black Lizardman (1)

    <h4>Chapter 84: ck Lizardman (1)</h4>


    "This ce has gotten more people while I¡¯ve been gone," Kai briefly remarked as he looked at the bustling street, dressed in his cleric robe.


    <i>And the line at the cksmith''s has gotten even longer.</i>


    It was a long line that looked like it would take at least an hour to wait!


    But Kai headed to the back of the cksmith''s shop without hesitation.


    <i>I was told there was no need to wait in line from now on.</i>


    Being given special treatment by Solid, Kai was allowed to use the back door.


    When he opened the door with the key he received from Solid and entered, a passageway leading directly to the workshop appeared.


    "Hm?" Solid, who heard the back door open, turned around, and upon discovering Kai, his eyes widened. "Who do we have here? If isn''t it Kai!" Solid immediately let out a heartyugh and put down his hammer as he approached Kai. "We''ve met sooner than I thought. How have you been?"


    "I''ve been well. How about you, Solid?"


    "A cksmith is well as long as he has the strength to swing a hammer. By the way..." Solid, looking over Kai''s body, let out a small exmation, "What have you been eating? You''ve gotten so strong in such a short time..."


    "I''ve been busy traveling here and there, and it just happened."


    "Haha. That''s the best kind of greeting for an adventurer. So, I guess you''vee looking for new equipment since you''ve gotten stronger."


    "Yes, and I managed to acquire some good materials."


    "Oh, hearing ''good materials'' from a modest person like you makes me excited."


    Unable to hide his eagerness,Solid made a gesture to quickly show the materials.


    When Kai ced Hakhas'' scales on the table, Solid eximed in shock. "Ohhhh! These are undoubtedly the highest quality scales I''ve seen in my life!" Solid, examining the scales closely, even brought a hammer to tap on them. "They''re hard and seem to have high magic resistance. The color is a bit too shy, but... you don''t mind that, do you?"


    "No, as long as the performance is good, I don''t care about the appearance."


    "Tsk tsk... You''repletely different from the young adventurers these days." Solid criticized Kai for hisck of fashion sense, but he was still smiling. "Well, I do like you for your calm and practical approach."


    Solid affectionately patted Kai on the shoulder as he hugged the scales before cing them on his workbench before asking, "With this amount, I think I can make one set... but you need to choose. Should I make equipment you can wear now with slightly reduced performance, or equipment you can''t wear yet but fully utilizes the material''s potential?"


    "Hmm..." Kai furrowed his brows, deep in thought.


    <i>Hakhas'' scales did indeede from a level 165 boss monster...</i>


    If Solid went all out, he could produce a set item with a level 165 requirement.


    <i>But that won''t work.</i>


    What Kai needed right now was equipment that could immediately enhance his power.


    <i>My current level is 88... so items around level 100 would be just right.</i>


    With his recently increased Benevolence stat, he was confident he could manage with the Armor of the Undead set until level 100.


    "I don''t need to wear it right away... but it would be a bit troublesome if the level requirement is too high."


    "Hmm. So, you''re saying I should make it to a level you can wear after just a bit more growth?"


    Solid understood perfectly even without precise words!


    When Kai smiled and nodded, Solid responded with a big smile, "Alright. I''ll try and create the best masterpiece just likest time."


    "Thank you. Oh! How much will the payment be..."


    "Let''s see..." Solid calcted for a moment and then said, "Meh, I''ll do it for free this time."


    It seemed like calcting the price was more work than he wanted to do


    "...Really?" Kai blinked with a dazed expression.


    Considering that it had cost 7 gold to make the Armor of the Undead set, he thought Solid would charge at least 15 gold this time.


    However, Solid instead showed a grateful expression. "Thanks to you, my skills have improved. The rewards from the royal family for acknowledging my skills have gotten better. And since the number of customers has increased, think of this as a token of my gratitude."


    "But I thought I received all your gratitudest time..."


    "So, are you not going to ept it?"


    "No! If you offer it, I''ll gratefully ept."


    Kai never refused twice!


    Solid, scratching his head with the back of his hammer, said, "By the way, it seems this time it will take quite a bit of time. Come back in about two weeks."


    "That sounds perfect."


    Two weeks was more than enough time for Kai to reach level 100.


    "Instead, bring a good bottle of liquor next time youe!"


    "You can look forward to it."


    ***


    The most famous hunting ground near the Konderun was none other than the Lizardmen Swamp.


    Not only were the floors always sticky, but the lizardmen also understood tactics and used that to their advantage. Just one of those elements alone would be annoying, but this had both and was famous among yers as a ce that delivered a real headache.


    <i>Is it here?</i>


    The stone tower piled up at the entrance of the swamp was the rendezvous point mentioned by Tardal.


    As Kai stood next to it, looking around aimlessly, a man approached. "You arrived early. Nice to meet you."


    When Kai grasped his outstretched hand, a name appeared above his head.


    <i>Neil... an NPC.</i>


    Neil was a level 130 guide NPC.


    He immediately guided Kai into the swamp. "I don''t know if Tardal exined it to you, but today you''ll just be observing."


    "...I didn''t hear anything like that."


    "Haha. Tardal is very reserved. It''s hard to give difficult tasks to a neer who just joined, so think of it as getting a feel for how your seniors work in the field."


    In other words, there would be no stage for Kai to shine today!


    Swallowing a bit of disappointment, Kai nodded. "I guess it can''t be helped. So, what should I do?"


    "I heard you''re a Cleric of the Church of Sris. If other hunters get in danger, just support them appropriately."


    "Got it."


    Neil skillfully navigated the swamp. Soon, they arrived at a small hill located near the center of the swamp. There, seven men and women were huddled together, resting.


    Kai slowly looked over their faces and then slightly nodded.


    <i>Looks like there are no other yers.</i>


    In other words, today was a cooperative hunt with NPCs!


    The Darkness Hunters who saw Kai''s arrival spoke up.


    "I heard you mighte in three days, but you arrived sooner than expected."


    "Tsk, I still don''t know if an adventurer who doesn''t understand the greater cause suits the Darkness Hunters."


    "He even looks pretty weak."


    Their gazes were far from friendly as they evaluated Kai.


    "Anyway, we''ve been ordered to take this rookie along, so we have no choice. Let''s get going."


    The Barbarian Warrior, who seemed to be the leader of the group, slung his ax over his shoulder and led the way with a strong stride.


    Neil, who joined the tail end of the procession, continually taught Kai various facts. "You might feel a bit offended... but please bear with it, Kai."


    "Why are they acting like that? Did I do something wrong?"


    "Oh! Please don''t misunderstand. It''s not that they particrly dislike you. It''s just... they tend to reject adventurers."


    Kai turned his head and stared intently at Neil.


    Under the gaze that clearly demanded an exnation, Neil scratched the back of his head and said in a quiet voice, "As you know, adventurers grow quickly. They used to help adventurers in every way possible, believing that rapidly growing adventurers would be a powerful force for the Darkness Hunters.


    But some adventurers, once they became strong, started looking down on and ignoring them. Since then, they''ve started to dislike adventurers."


    "Hmm."


    Despite hearing the exnation, Kai''s grumpy expression did not ease.


    <i>Then why don''t theyin to the ones who looked down on them? Why take it out on me?</i>


    It was like getting pped by one person and venting the anger at another!


    Naturally, Kai, who had be the target of their venting, did not feel good about it. The only reason he could suppress his anger was because Neil kindly exined various things to him.


    "Kai, you''ll also be performing various tasks in the future, but you probably won''t have any solo missions for a while."


    "Howe?"


    "For adventurers to take on solo missions, they need to have excellent performance records or exceptional abilities. So, until you build up your record, you''ll mostly receive support missions like this."


    "Hmm..."


    In apetitive society, demonstrating one''s abilities was best done through outstanding performance!


    Kai nced at Neil and asked, "So, what are we hunting today?"


    "Oh, right, my mind is all over the ce. Today, we''ll probably be hunting the ck Lizardman."


    "ck Lizardman?" Kai showed a puzzled expression at the name of a monster he had never heard of.


    "It''s not an official name yet, but it will soon be called that. Do you know that if you kill a monster that has absorbed the Essence of Darkness, the Essence of Darkness will emerge?"


    "Yes, and the nearby monsters also weaken again."


    "That''s right. That''s the main job of us Darkness Hunters. Our main goal is to kill monsters tainted by the Essence of Darkness and restore the surrounding monsters to their normal state."


    "Then who tracks down the Church of Muldine?"


    "That''s a task for the more skilled among the Darkness Hunters to handle solo. We''re not there yet, haha."


    Kai, ncing at Neil, who was scratching his head and responding, switched the topic again. "So, this ck Lizardman is a creature that has swallowed the Essence of Darkness?"


    "Yes. I don''t know what it was doing before it got tainted by darkness... but from what we''ve seen from afar, it carries two scimitars, so it seems it was a lizardman warrior."


    "I see."


    "Stop." The Barbarian Warrior raised his hand, halting the group.


    Following his lead, Kai stopped and caught sight of the ck Lizardman sitting on a rock ahead.


    <i>That''s the ck Lizardman.</i>


    As described, it had two scimitars strapped to its back and its entire body was covered in lizard-like scales.


    "We''ll surround it from seven directions and finish it quickly."


    "Let''s finish this and move on."


    "I can¡¯t believe it''s such a defenseless creature... I guess even the Church of Muldine makes mistakes."


    The hunters, watching the ck Lizardman''s back, prepared for the uing battle with a rxed demeanor.


    "Oh, I almost forgot." The leader, the Barbarian Warrior, turned to Kai and pointed to the ground with his finger. "We''re going to hunt it now, so just watch and don''t get in the way. You can hide behind a nearby tree or rock if things get messy."


    When Kai just crossed his arms and didn''t respond, the Barbarian Warrior chuckled as he picked up his ax. At the same time, the expressions of the hunters became fierce. Regardless of their personalities, their stance with prey in sight was definitely professional.


    <i>nk.</i>


    The moment they drew their weapons, the ck Lizardman''s ears twitched. At the same time, the creature that had been sitting started to rise slowly.


    "Dang, it heard us even from this distance?"


    "Even if it realizes now, it''s toote,"


    "First, narrow the encirclement so it can''t escape!"


    The seven hunters, fanning out in a semicircle, surrounded the ck Lizardman from the front.


    Then, at the same time, a female Wizard chanted a spell. "Earth Wall!"


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    The earthen wall that shot up through the swamp perfectly blocked the creature''s rear.


    In front were the seven hunters, and behind was the earthen wall! With no escape route, the creature''s yellow eyes glowed with a murderous re.


    <i>It¡¯s already over.</i>


    Even though it wasn''t to his liking, Kai had to acknowledge the hunters'' skills. The way theypletely surrounded the creature in less than two seconds showed they had worked together for more than just a day or two.


    "Argh!"


    The Barbarian Warrior lunged forward, swinging his massive ax. It was a fast strike that didn''t match the size of the weapon or the Warrior''srge frame!


    However, the next sound wasn''t that of flesh or bone being broken. It sounded as if a huge rock had fallen into the water.


    At the same time, Kai, whose arms had dropped from their crossed position, furrowed his brows.


    <i>...What was that speed?</i>


    It was a speed that could truly be called godlike.


    Then, the ck Lizardman, looking down at the Barbarian Warrior struggling beneath its foot, licked its lips with a tongue split like a snake''s.


    <i>Slurp.</i>

 Chapter 85: Black Lizardman (2)

    <h4>Chapter 85: ck Lizardman (2)</h4>


    Kai closed his eyes, recalling the scene he had just witnessed.


    <i>In that brief moment when the ax flew, three actions were taken.</i>


    The moment he closed his eyes, the movements disyed by the creature reyed in his mind.


    The creature had instantly drawn two scimitars from behind its back to block the ax. At the same time, it wrapped its tail around the opponent¡¯s calf and pulled, then kicked its foot up to press down on the Barbarian Warrior''s chest.


    The movements were so natural that it seemed only natural for the Barbarian Warrior to fall backward!


    ¡°Wh-what on earth?¡± Neil asked in bewilderment from besides Kai.


    Simultaneously, the hunters shouted.


    ¡°That speed is impossible!¡±


    ¡°Damn, Jeff got screwed over.¡±


    ¡°Lena and I will draw its attention, so rescue Jeff first!¡±


    Even though theirrade had been hit, the hunters moved with synchronized precision, not allowing anger to cloud their actions.


    Their sequential attacks were fierce enough to be called a relentless assault. However, no matter how powerful an attack was, it was meaningless if it didn''t reach the enemy.


    <i>Crunch, crunch.</i>


    The ck Lizardman slowly walked forward, trampling on the Barbarian Warrior¡¯s chest and head.


    It looked at the iing attacks until the end and twisted its body grotesquely. With minimal movement, it positioned itself to evade the attacks optimally.


    Every time its body moved, the fierce attacks aimed at it became futile strikes.


    ¡°H-how does it move like that...?!¡±


    ¡°Lena, trap it first.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Earth Wall!¡±


    Once again, a wall of earth rose up, shaking the ground!


    But having experienced it once before, the ck Lizardman responded swiftly. Stepping in a zigzag pattern up the rising wall, the lizardman soared into the air before the earthen prison could close! The creature, now airborne, used the protruding branches to leap toward the female wizard.


    ¡°Oh no, Lena!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Air Bomb!¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The surrounding mana gathered like a vortex and exploded into an air bomb right in front of Lena.


    Of course, the ck Lizardman, hit at close range, was...


    ¡°Unharmed?!¡±


    With Lena¡¯s piercing scream, the two scimitars crossed like a shield fell apart. What emerged behind them was the fierce gaze of the ck Lizardman.


    <i>Swish!</i>


    Like scissors, the scimitars flew from both sides aiming at Lena¡¯s neck!


    <i>ng, ng!</i>


    Two Warriors who quickly supported Lena deflected the scimitars and pulled her back.


    But the moment its attack failed, the ck Lizardman spun its body! Its spiked tail did not allow their retreat.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    ¡°Gah...!¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    ¡°Ahh!¡±


    The hunters, struck by the thick tail, flew back with their bones and organs crushed.


    Unable to watch any longer, Neil drew his weapon and looked back at Kai. ¡°No matter how I think about it, this is a miscalction! Who would have thought a lizardman would be this strong through the Essence of Darkness...! I¡¯m gonna support them, so you should go back to Tardal immediately and ask for additional support...¡±


    Kai, who had been standing still and listening, raised his hand to cut Neil off. ¡°That creature doesn¡¯t seem to have such intentions.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean...?¡±


    <i>Swish!</i>


    The next moment, an ax flew toward the two of them.


    "Duck."


    "Argh!"


    Kai swiftly pressed Neil''s head down, canceling the attack, and then looked at the lizardman.


    The ck Lizardman, with greedy eyes glowing as if it wouldn¡¯t let a single person escape, licked its lips in disappointment as the ax it picked up from the ground sliced through the air.


    At the same time, the creature lightly trampled Lena''s head with its massive foot.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    ¡°Aaah!¡±


    It was as if it was telling them that they could run if they wanted to but then the others would surely die!


    Provoked by the monster, Kai shrugged and looked back at Neil. "Oh, what should we do now? I really want to run away, but it won¡¯t let us," he said in apletely emotionless voice, without a trace of soul!


    Neil, still dripping cold sweat and rubbing his chilled neck, looked up at Kai.


    <i>But... how did Kai, a Cleric, dodge that attack just now?</i>


    Before Neil could even wonder if it was just a coincidence, Kai said, "It can''t be helped. I''ll handle it first, so take care of those guys over there. Sris Blessing, Sris Armor..."


    "What? What do you mean? No matter how powerful adventurers are with resurrection abilities, it¡¯s not usual for a member on their first mission to fight!"


    "Then is it normal for those so-called sunbaes to be lying on the floor like that?"


    ¡°W-well, that¡¯s...¡±


    Neil, his face turning red, stuttered but couldn''t let out a retort.


    "Use this to heal them first."


    Kai threw a few bottles of red potion to Neil and quickly started running down the hill.


    He ran with the form of a track athlete, his eyes fixed solely on the ck Lizardman.


    <i>This creature, it''s incredibly strong.</i>


    As if Kai wasn''t the only one who felt this, the ck Lizardman also licked its lips in excitement for the iing sh.


    In the next moment, it wrapped its tail around Lena and flung her at Kai!


    ¡°Argh!¡± Kai caught her in midair and tossed her into the swamp.


    ¡°Ahh!¡±


    It was a bold move only possible because the swamp would prevent any injuries!


    ¡°Krrrr.¡±


    The ck Lizardman, watching as if entertained, whipped its tail fiercely as the distance between them closed.


    <i>Its tail attacks are strong but slow. That¡¯s why it always uses its tail for deterrence.</i>


    Kai, who had been analyzing the creature during the battle, shifted his body just one step to the left.


    <i>Swish!</i>


    That slight movement perfectly avoided the attack, and the tail struck the swamp instead. Water droplets sprayed into the air as if a bomb had exploded in the swamp!


    In the visibility-obscured situation, the ck Lizardman chose to swing its scimitars.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    The two scimitars certainly tore through something. But because it wasn''t the human flesh it expected, the ck Lizardman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Krrr?!¡±


    What the scimitars had cut was not Kai''s body but his fluttering cleric robe!


    As it hastily retreated and lifted its head, Kai¡¯s palm gently touched the lizardman''s face.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    No matter how monstrous the creature''s reaction speed was, there was no way to avoid an attack at point-nk range.


    The creature, having taken a tremendous impact, was crushed like a box in a pressure machine and fell into the swamp.


    <i>With this much, at least the initial intimidation should be... perhaps not enough.</i>


    Like a wounded beast, the creature''s eyes clearly showed its anger without any restraint! Then, from its mouth came a loud roar that echoed through the swamp.


    "Kraaagh!"


    <strong>[ck Lizardman¡¯s Roar intimidates you.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your Dignity stat halves Roar¡¯s effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your high Magic Resistance further halves Roar¡¯s effects.]</strong>


    <strong>[You resisted the ck Lizardman¡¯s Roar intimidation.]</strong>


    "Oh?"


    Kai was thoroughly experiencing the power of his recently increased magic resistance!


    The ck Lizardman, seeing that Kai was not intimidated, revealed its teeth and growled.


    <i>I might have been slightly scared seeing that in the past...</i>


    But now, even though no one had told a joke, Kai burst into a lightugh.


    He hadn''t been scared even during the battle with Hakhas a few days ago. So now, there was no reason to be afraid of a level 110 lizardman lying in a swamp.


    "Open inventory, change to Armor of the Undead set."


    As Kai''s entire body became covered in pitch-ck armor, the lizardman emerged from the swamp.


    "Kyaaaagh!¡±


    Once again, it roared to assert its presence!


    The creature snatched the scimitars from the ground and charged at Kai. While lizardmen usually walked on two legs like humans, they moved on all fours like a lizard when it needed to run the fastest. And that was exactly what it did now.


    In the blink of an eye, it closed the distance, leaping from the ground and shing upward with its scimitars.


    <i>ng! ng!</i>


    The distance between them closed so rapidly that they could feel each other''s breath.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Then they quickly separated again.


    Kai nced at his still-tingling hand.


    <i>It''s not just fast. The attacks are precise and powerful.</i>


    From a distance, he thought it was quite fast, but shing swords with it directly was on a whole different level. It felt as if the perceived speed had more than doubled!


    Even a moment of carelessness would result in a fatal injury from this extremely dangerous opponent.


    <i>In terms of safety, the battle with Hakhas was safer.</i>


    Back then, thanks to the Undying Will skill, he was at least assured he wouldn''t die. However, with a cooldown of thirty days, that skill was unfortunately inactive now.


    "Ugh, I thought things would get easier these days..."


    Muttering in disappointment, Kai watched as the ck Lizardman began circling him rapidly.


    The creature crawled around the ground like a lizard, drawing a circle around Kai! Its movement speed, almost impossible for Kai¡¯s eyes to fully follow, suddenly vanished.


    ¡°Wh-what the...?¡±


    Kai, startled, hastily looked around.


    <i>It¡¯s gone?</i>


    He checked the front, back, left, right, and even the tops of the trees, just in case!


    With the creature nowhere in sight, he tilted his head in confusion.


    Then suddenly, a scimitar shot up from the ground.


    <i>sh!</i>


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    Kai, reacting a second toote, allowed the first attacke through!


    Meanwhile, the ck Lizardman ttened itself to the ground again and disappeared.


    <i>Is that... a stealth skill?</i>


    It was a strange skill that made it disappear right in front of him!


    As Kai, confused, kept wary of his surroundings, Neil shouted from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t rely on your eyes!¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Camouge used by some lizardmen!¡±


    ¡°Camo... Camouge? This is Camouge?¡±


    Camouge was French for disguise or trickery. In other words, the ck Lizardman was synchronizing its skin color with the surroundings like a chameleon!


    Realizing this, Kai shouted, ¡°Damn it! Change its name right now! It¡¯s not a ck Lizardman then!¡±


    ¡°W-well, as I mentioned, it¡¯s not an official name yet...¡±


    Leaving the mumbling Neil behind, Kai looked around again. No matter how wide he opened his eyes and searched, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the creature, which had blended with the leaves, trees, and rocks.


    <i>Damn, who would have thought it would be this hard to find a creature with scimitars.</i>


    The Camouge skill made it almost impossible to detect without tracking or enemy detection skills!


    <i>I won¡¯t be able to find it with my eyes.</i>


    Realizing this, Kai rxed his body. His neck and shoulders, which had been stiffly upright, drooped like a high school senior leaving the study room at two in the morning.


    Even the ck Lizardman, lying t on the ground waiting for an opportunity, was baffled by his actions!


    Kai¡¯s actions were iprehensible not only to the lizardman but also to his fellow humans.


    ¡°K-Kai, what are you doing? It¡¯s dangerous!¡±


    ¡°Did he decide he can¡¯t win and give up the fight...? This is why adventurers are...!¡±


    ¡°Wait, that guy is just standing there drinking a potion!¡±


    Ignoring the NPCs¡¯ worried andining remarks, Kai recalled a few days ago.


    <i>Aquaria. I went fishing there to catch the steel tortoise.</i>


    No one jumped into the water because they couldn¡¯t see the fish well when fishing. One had to wait patiently in one spot, no matter how long it took.


    <i>And usually, the winner in fishing is...</i>


    <i>Rustle.</i>


    With the sound of damp leaves being stepped on, the lizardman lunged at Kai from behind.


    Simultaneously, Kai turned around as if he had been waiting and muttered, ¡°...The one who waits the longest.¡±


    <i>ng!</i>


    Kai threw the red potion bottle he was holding!


    The bottle that crashed with the ck Lizardman shattered and left red stains on its skin.


    ¡°Or, the one who¡¯s a bit cleverer.¡±

 Chapter 86: Black Lizardman (3)

    <h4>Chapter 86: ck Lizardman (3)</h4>


    The startled ck Lizardman ttened itself to the ground again and used Camouge. However, it couldn¡¯t erase the red potion stains on its skin.


    "You can''t use that skill anymore." Having said that, Kai charged at the creature while using Holy Explosion.


    Realizing that Camouge wouldn¡¯t work anymore, the creature''s skin, which had turned the color of gray rocks, turned back to ck. Its yellow pupils continuously expanded and contracted.


    <i>It¡¯s observing me.</i>


    Kai, now under prioritized observation, used his right hand and fiercely wielded his sword.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The creature¡¯s two scimitars crossed and gripped onto Kai¡¯s sword like teeth. At the same time, it subtly rotated its wrists. Then suddenly, the distant de closed in on Kai¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Kai, startled, pulled his sword back and retreated backward.


    His furrowed brows reflected his frustration.


    <i>These scimitars... are troublesome.</i>


    The des of the scimitars weren¡¯t straight like the Long Sword of the Enlightened One. Instead, they bent sharply at the middle, making them look more like boomerangs from a distance. This design allowed for a significantly wider attack range with just a slight twist of the wrist.


    <i>Dealing with one of them is already a pain, but there¡¯s two of them...</i>


    Deciding to reduce the threat to one sword, Kai''s left hand suddenly emitted light.


    ¡°Krrk!¡±


    Even while observing how it countered Earth Wall, Kai noticed that this creature had an incredibly fast learning ability.


    As Holy Explosion emanated from Kai''s left hand, the creature ducked the moment Kai''s left hand glowed. It had remembered the previous encounter and had been extremely guarded against it happening again.


    <i>However...</i>


    Kai was well aware of the creature¡¯s intelligence from observing its battles!


    ¡°It¡¯s a feint, you idiot!¡±


    <strong>[HP restored.]</strong>


    <strong>[HP restored.]</strong>


    ¡°Krrk?!¡±


    What shone from Kai¡¯s left hand was Sunlight¡¯s Warmth! The real attack came from the index finger of his right hand, gripping the sword.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°Kraaaagh!¡±


    The terrifying creature twisted its body to avoid a direct hit!


    However, Kai¡¯s eyes shined as he saw one of the scimitars spinning away.


    <i>I didn¡¯tnd a direct hit, but I¡¯ve reduced it to one sword.</i>


    Now things were manageable.


    As soon as Kai made this judgment, his body shot forward, ignoring air resistance.


    <i>sh!</i>


    Kai''s sword, swift as lightning, aimed at the ck Lizardman¡¯s neck.


    The creature tried to block it with its tail, relying on the defense of its scales. But while the creature knew its own defenses well, it underestimated Kai¡¯s attack power. And that was its crucial mistake.


    Kai¡¯s attack power was more than enough to tear through its scales.


    <i>sh!</i>


    "Kraaaagh!"


    As the thick tail hit the ground with a thud, it screamed and retreated.


    Of course, Kai was determined not to miss this momentum and quickly followed it.


    "Flood of des!"


    <i>Whirrrrr!</i>


    The wind swirling around Kai''s sword rotated at a terrifying speed, sending the creature¡¯s scimitar flying.


    "Finally."


    The ck Lizardman lost its means of attack.


    "Rest in peace."


    As Kai raised his sword for the final blow, something struck his exposed side.


    ¡°Urgh!¡±


    Kai rolled on the ground, falling backward. He quickly lifted his head to see what had attacked him.


    ¡°...What is that?¡±


    In his sight was the creature''s tail, swaying gently.


    It was a new tail, still covered in a sticky liquid, proving it had just regrown!


    <i>As expected from a lizard, its tail grows back.</i>


    Of course, this fact wasn¡¯t significant enough to change the favorable situation. But a thought shed through Kai¡¯s mind.


    <i>Could it be...?</i>


    Brushing off the dirt and leaves, Kai stood up and picked up the creature¡¯s severed tail from the ground.


    <strong>[<u>ck Lizardman Tail</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>A tail covered in hard, dense scales. The leather can be skinned to craft equipment, and the remaining tail makes an excellent cooking ingredient!</strong>


    "...Oh?"


    After that, Kai¡¯s gaze toward the ck Lizardman changed drastically.


    ***


    ¡°One, two, three, four...¡±


    Kai''s counting of the tails neatlyid on the ground ended at twelve.


    "Is that all?"


    ¡°Krrgh...¡±


    The ck Lizardman, looking at Kai with a gloomy expression, quickly lowered its eyes when their gazes met.


    The once confident creature now looked pitiful.


    But considering its perspective, anyone would react the same.


    Kai was a terrifying figure who cut off its tail every time it regrew, waiting for the tail to regenerate! And if it stubbornly refused to regrow the tail, Kai would look disappointed and go for its neck!


    In the end, the ck Lizardman had no choice but to desperately regenerate its tail.


    ¡°Is that it? Try using your lower abdomen muscles.¡±


    ¡°Krr...¡±


    The creature grimaced as if straining, but no new tail sprouted.


    ¡°Seems like it''s really over. Now to kill... huh?¡± Kai, who was about to draw his sword, tilted his head.


    <i>But was its skin always this color?</i>


    The ck Lizardman''s original skin color was ck. That''s why it had the word ck in its name.


    But now, its skin color was closer to gray than ck.


    <i>Come to think of it, its skin color seemed to change slightly when I cut off thest tail...</i>


    While Kai pondered whether to kill the creature, Neil, who was examining the tails on the ground, shouted, ¡°K-Kai! Pleasee here for a moment!¡±


    "...What is it?"


    When Kai approached Neil, he shook something he had taken out of the tail. "Look at this! It''s the Essence of Darkness!"


    "Why is that there?"


    "It was found in thest tail. It seems that during the tail regeneration process, the Essence of Darkness identally got incorporated."


    "...That can''t be." Kai red and looked at the ck Lizardman. "You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you?"


    "Krrk?"


    The creature shook its head vigorously with innocent eyes, as if to say it didn¡¯t know anything!


    Kai looked at it with an incredulous expression and let out a hollowugh.


    <i>Ha, they¡¯re really not just ordinary smart beings.</i>


    Realizing that the Darkness Hunters were hunting it because of the Essence of Darkness, the creature had expelled it through its tail!


    Though it had be ferocious from consuming the Essence of Darkness, it was originally intelligent enough and found the best way to survive.


    "Hmm... so what should we do with this guy?"


    The creature, no longer tainted by the Essence of Darkness, was just a ck Lizardman.


    As Kai repeatedly grabbed and released his sword handle, debating whether to kill it or not, the creature¡¯s expression continuously shifted from hopeful to fearful.


    Then after long deliberation, Kai waved his hand and said, "Hmm... off you go."


    "Krrk!"


    The ck Lizardman let out a cry. It seemed to have interpreted Kai¡¯s words as a death sentence!


    Then Kai waved his hand again, saying, "I¡¯m not going to kill you, just go."


    Having obtained the Essence of Darkness, which was his original goal, and twelve lizardman tails, Kai could afford to be merciful.


    <i>Sigh, this is why I get called a handsome pushover angel...</i>


    He was even able to engage in real-time self-reflection!


    "...Krrrk?"


    The creature looked at him with a suspicious gaze, afraid of being tricked.


    At this, Kai raised an eyebrow and warned, "If you don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯ll just capture you."


    Hearing that, the lizardman''s eyes widened. It had an expression that showed it couldn''t believe the opponent who had been its enemy just moments ago was now letting it go!


    "Are you not gonna go?¡±


    "Krrr."


    The creature gestured for him to wait for a moment, deep in thought. Then after a brief pause, it suddenly lowered itself on the ground, bowing its head deeply!


    "What are you doing...?"


    As Kai looked on in confusion, a series of message windows popped up in front of him.


    <strong>[The ck Lizardman is moved by your mercy and offers a bow of submission.]</strong>


    <strong>[The lizardmen follow the strong. Sensing your strength and mercy, it wishes to follow you.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can now tame the ck Lizardman.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can equip tamed monsters with gear, andter use skill books for summoning and unsummoning.]</strong>


    <strong>[Good deeds are good deeds, no matter the species, friend, or foe. Helik, the Srian God, approves of your benevolence toward monsters.]</strong>


    <strong>[+3 Benevolence.]</strong>


    "...Huh?"


    Kai, startled, read the message once, then read it again.


    <i>What is this? Monster taming?</i>


    Monster taming literally meant taming a monster to use as a summon.


    However, Kai, not being of the tamer ss, had never imagined he would be able to tame a monster.


    <i>Of course... I have seen level 1 non-tamer yers tame rabbits or squirrels before.</i>


    He had seen it, but even though they were ssified as the same monsters, the difference between a rabbit and a lizardman warrior in innate intelligence, strength, and even level, was vast.


    <i>Well this is bewildering.</i>


    Kai looked down at the ck Lizardman bowed before him with a truly bewildered expression.


    In fact, this situation was a near-miraculous event that had ovee almost impossible odds.


    The ck Lizardman had be ferocious from being tainted by the Essence of Darkness and had attacked Kai twelve times, losing each time. And in the process, its self-esteem had eroded while its will to live had grown inversely.


    But when Kai spared its life and showed mercy, the creature expelled the Essence of Darkness and returned to its usual temperament, feeling a wave of gratitude like a tsunami as there was no reason for it to feel grateful, considering its attacker was now forgiving it!


    <i>...Is this a suspension bridge effect or what?</i>


    Kai shook his head and looked at the message window in front of him.


    <strong>[Would you like to tame the ck Lizardman?]</strong>


    <strong>[Yes / No]</strong>


    <i>epting this wouldn''t be...</i>


    There was nothing bad about it. In fact, having just fought it, Kai was inclined to ept. The moment he epted this creature, he was confident it could be used effectively immediately.


    Ultimately, Kai voiced his agreement, "...Yes."


    <strong>[You have tamed the ck Lizardman.]</strong>


    <strong>[A new selection window has been added for your pet¡¯s status.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can check the status of the ck Lizardman in the pet status window.]</strong>


    "Pet status window."


    In the newly appeared interface, the ck Lizardman was represented as an adorable SD character.


    <strong>[<u>ck Lizardman</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Field Boss</strong>


    <strong>The greatest of all Lizardmen soldiers. Also called the reincarnation of Ataka, the legendary Lizardman. Uses dual curved des masterfully and possesses the ability to blend in with its surroundings. Its outstanding abilities and brain led to bing an object of obsession for the Church of Muldine to insert an Essence of Darkness.</strong>


    <strong>Happiness: 41/100</strong>


    <strong>Loyalty: 35/100</strong>


    "Oh wow, it shows so much detail."


    Below, there were also descriptions of the items equipped by the ck Lizardman and his skills.


    <i>The equipped items are just two scimitars. As for the skills...</i>


    <strong>[<u>Novice Lizardman Swordsmanship LV.1</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Camouge LV.1</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Regeneration (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Animalistic Agility (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Acumen (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    ¡°Dang...¡±


    For a mere monster, these were luxurious skills!


    However, the grades of the skills, which were at least intermediate level, were all nerfed to novice level 1.


    <i>...Well, taming is all about growing them.</i>


    Quickly epting the situation, Kai extended his hand to the ck Lizardman. ¡°Let¡¯s get along from now on.¡±


    ¡°Krrr!¡±


    The creature grasped his hand with a grateful expression!


    <strong>[You can make a name for the ck Lizardman.]</strong>


    <strong>[Loyalty will increase by 5 upon making a name.]</strong>


    ¡°Hmm, a name huh...¡±


    Kai rubbed his chin in thought.


    <i>The species name is ck Lizardman, so... ck is too childish. ckie? That sounds racist. Then...</i>


    Kai felt as indecisive as when choosing a game character ID!


    Then after five minutes of pondering, he suddenly pped his hands.


    "Alright! Let¡¯s go with Blizzard!"


    It was a shortened form of ck Lizardman!


    Plus, the name alone gave off a powerful vibe, like a spell used by a wizard over level 200.


    Neil gave Kai a subtle look at his questionable taste, but the ck Lizardman seemed pleased, nodding his head repeatedly. And with that, the lizardman was named Blizzard.

 Chapter 87: Gambling Is The Shortcut To (1)

    <h4>Chapter 87: Gambling Is The Shortcut To (1)</h4>


    Kai bid farewell to Neil at the entrance of the Lizardmen Swamp.


    ¡°You¡¯re going your own way from here?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I have a ce to go straight away.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Neil revealed deep regret. Then he said with an apologetic expression, ¡°Since this was your first mission, I wanted to teach you a lot... but I ended up learning a lot instead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ttered.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>.¡± While saying goodbye to Neil, the Barbarian Warrior cleared his throat and slowly stepped forward.


    <i>What? What''s he going to say now?</i>


    When Kai looked at him with a deeply dissatisfied expression, he just scratched his nose with a slightly reddened face.


    He had been opening and closing his mouth, but then finally began to speak. ¡°Uh... I''m sorry for looking down on you because you''re an adventurer. And... thank you for saving my and myrades'' lives.¡±


    ¡°...Well at least you know now. Not all adventurers are the same, so I hope you won''t generalize in the future.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the advice. I''ll keep it in mind.¡±


    As the Barbarian Warrior was the first to apologize, the other hunters also started to apologize one by one with embarrassed expressions.


    ¡°I''m sorry for mocking you for looking weak. I shouldn¡¯t have judged a person by their appearance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for saving us earlier. And I''m also sorry for looking down on you.¡±


    ¡°Although it may not be enough as a token of our gratitude, I will record your achievements in detail and submit a report to Tardal.¡±


    ¡°Hm. Adventurers like you are truly suited for tracking Muldine. I wish you continued sess. Andstly, thank you.¡±


    Even if they were prejudiced against adventurers, they weren''t bad people at heart.


    <i>Well, they are Darkness Hunters after all. They decided to oppose the Church of Muldine to protect something precious no matter what.</i>


    Kai readily epted their apologies, slightly bowed his head, and turned away.


    The hunters waved their hands until his figure became as small as a dot and he disappeared form sight.


    ***


    ¡°Wait here.¡±


    ¡°<i>Slurp</i>.¡± Blizzard, wearing a Cleric''s robe, nodded while flicking his tongue.[1]


    Kai, who patted the obedient creature''s head affectionately, immediately left the inn room in Aquaria.


    <i>I need to get a summon/unsummon skill book first.</i>


    Skill books were usually sold at the Wizard¡¯s Tower, but the only w was that they were expensive!


    Of course, for a yer like Kai who didn''t worry about money, there was no ce more convenient than the Wizard¡¯s Tower.


    ¡°Wee. What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I''d like to purchase a skill book.¡±


    ¡°Please tell me the type of skill you want.¡±


    ¡°A skill to summon/unsummon a pet.¡±


    ¡°Ah! You want a skill book rted to familiar spirit summoning. Please wait a moment.¡± The counter staff, who had ended the conversation cheerfully with a smile, immediately controlled a magical crystal ball, but soon looked troubled. ¡°Uh... sir. I''m sorry, but currently all skill books rted to familiar spirit summoning have been sold out at the Wizard¡¯s Tower...¡±


    ¡°Pardon? How is it possible for skill books to be sold out at the Wizard¡¯s Tower?¡±


    ¡°Well... we tend to produce the skill books that adventurers frequently seek, so the stock of less popr skill books is not good. But if you order now, it will bepleted within a week.¡±


    A week wasn¡¯t a long time but quite lengthy to keep hiding Blizzard every time.


    In the end, Kai shook his head. ¡°Then I''ll look somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for the inconvenience.¡±


    Kai left the Wizard''s Tower and headed to the auction house.


    However, there was no sign of skill books rted to summoning. In the end, Kai registered items for sale, including the Naga''s Trident, and sighed deeply as he came out to the za.


    <i>Is there no other way?</i>


    Even though he had money, he couldn''t get a skill book!


    Scratching his head in frustration, Kai immediately logged onto themunity.


    <i>The donations are still piling up well... but what''s the use? I can''t even buy a skill book.</i>


    However, harboring a bit of hope, Kai began to browse themunity. Of course, the keyword he searched was skill book!


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Just then, a post written about a month ago caught Kai''s eye.


    ¡ºTitle: Tip on Getting Advanced Skill Books


    Author: MacHenro


    Content: Want to get a skill book? Then head to the Old Bookstore! They sell something called a riddle skill book, which is like a random box in other games. The skills thate out are random, including the effect, grade, and usage restrictions. I got a Rare skill from it.¡»


    -Yup, you¡¯re just a bitte to the game, buddy.


    -You just got lucky, idiot.


    -With the money to buy three or four riddle skill books, you could buy a decent skill book. Who would buy that?


    ©¸ Who knows? Someone with overflowing money and confidence in their luck might.


    -I bought seven of these and failed, never even looking at them again.


    -Why is this in the tips and info board? Move it to the deal board.


    -Huh? Wasn''t this really popr a long time ago?


    ©¸ It was.


    <i>Oh right! There¡¯s the Old Bookstore!</i>


    The moment he saw the post, Kai''s forgotten memory was revived. The riddle skill books had caused a brief craze in the past!


    <i>Who was it again? One of the rankers pulled a Unique-grade skill book from here, and everyone rushed to the Old Bookstore. I remember now.</i>


    Of course, he also remembered what happened afterward. The riddle skill book craze didn''tst long.


    The ten days itsted was called the Ten Days of Frenzy. During that period, thousands of posts about the riddle skill book results were uploaded to every board in themunity daily.


    However, due to the terrible drop rates and the trash skill books most yers obtained, they flooded themunity with curses never seen before, and eventually, it was concluded that the ranker who pulled the Unique-grade skill book had used up all his luck for life, ending the incident.


    <i>I actually wanted to buy one back then too...</i>


    A bitter smile appeared on Kai¡¯s lips.


    At that time, he didn¡¯t have the money to buy one, even if he wanted to. As a level 20 Cleric with no allowance, his wallet was never full.


    Recalling his past poverty for a moment, Kai got up with a smile. ¡°An unfulfilled wish from the past. Let¡¯s fulfill it today.¡±


    ***


    A musty smell pricked Kai¡¯s nose and he scrunched his nose a few times as he entered the Old Bookstore.


    ¡°Hm?¡± An old man with a stern face adjusted the reading sses on his nose and looked at Kai. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since an adventurer visited. What¡¯s your business?¡±


    ¡°I heard you sell riddle skill books here.¡±


    ¡°Hah, it¡¯s been a while since someone looked for those too. They¡¯re over there, pick one yourself.¡±


    The ce the bookstore owner pointed to was a dusty corner shelf.


    <i>People must note here often.</i>


    Then Kai picked up one of the riddle skill books covered in dust.


    <strong>[<u>Riddle Skill Book</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>Creates a skill book with random grade, effect, and requirement when used.</strong>


    ¡°Hm.¡± Kai shook the skill book and asked, ¡°How much is one?¡±


    If his memory was correct, it was about 10 gold per book.


    <i>That''s why people said it was better to buy a normal skill book from the Wizard''s Tower for 30 gold than buying three of these.</i>


    But an unexpected answer came from the owner¡¯s mouth. ¡°It¡¯s been unsold for months. I was nning to clear out the stock soon anyway... so I''ll give it to you for 6 gold each.¡±


    That was 60,000 won per book!


    Kai¡¯s eyes widened at the surprisingly low price.


    <i>In that case... it might not be a huge loss, after all.</i>


    The riddle skill book often produced a variety of trash skill books. Skills like clearing a stuffy nose, increasing drop rate by 0.3%, and even an unexinable skill where a fanfare erupted with a 1% chance upon attack to cheer the yer on.


    <i>Those are skills that wouldn¡¯t sell even if listed at the auction house.</i>


    However, if he could pull a decent normal skill book, selling it for 200,000 to 300,000 won per book wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable.


    <i>And if I get useful skills, I can learn them right away.</i>


    After a brief contemtion, Kai counted the remaining riddle skill books and headed to the counter.


    "Hm? Not buying anything?" The bookstore owner frowned as he looked at Kai''s empty hands.


    But Kai smiled and pointed to the shelf of riddle skill books. "Sir, if I buy all the skill books there, can you give me a discount?"


    "...All of those?"


    There looked to be at least fifty riddle skill books!


    The old man, calcting in his head for a moment, shook his head first. "No. I used to sell them for 10 gold each. I¡¯ve already reduced it by 4 gold, what more do you want?"


    "But they haven¡¯t sold, have they? For almost a year now."


    <i>MID Online¡¯s</i> time was three times faster than that of real life! It had been three months in reality since the riddle skill book craze, so nine months had passed in the game.


    "Hmph... You''re hitting where it hurts."


    The bookstore owner readjusted his sses and pondered.


    Indeed, if Kai bought fifty at once, it wasn''t a bad deal for him as he could consider it stock clearance for items that no longer sold.


    After a moment, the bookstore owner asked in a slightly rxed voice, "So, how much are you willing to pay?"


    "I''ll give you 275 gold for fifty."


    "You''re asking for a discount of 50 silver per book?"


    "I''m buying a whopping fifty books, so you should at least do that much. And honestly, if it wasn''t me, but another adventurer, wouldn''t you still give them for 6 gold each?"


    "Hmph..." The bookstore owner remained silent, merely grumbling. He had indeed considered selling the dust-gathering riddle skill books for 3 gold each anyway.


    "...Alright. Take them."


    The bookstore owner finally gave in, and Kai, with a broad smile, ced 280 gold on the counter.


    "...That¡¯s an extra 5 gold."


    "I felt sorry for bargaining too much. Consider it my apology."


    "Huh, funny guy."


    The bookstore owner, who had seemed slightly annoyed, burst into augh at Kai''s charm. Though he felt a slight loss, the unexpected 5 gold lightened his mood!


    <strong>[Favor with the book meister increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your sessful haggling saved you 20 gold.]</strong>


    <strong>[Bargain skill reached Beginner Lv. 3.]</strong>


    <strong>[You will now roughly identify the other party¡¯s feelings during any negotiation.]</strong>


    <i>Great.</i>


    Kai smiled at havingpleted a sessful transaction.


    His goal was to haggle the price down without greatly offending the other party! That was why he had added 5 gold at the end, even though it meant a slight loss.


    <i>In the end, it''s a win-win.</i>


    Kai believed that the best oue was a deal where both parties parted with smiles.


    <i>Oh, except for those in the top ten guilds, of course.</i>


    Kai suppressed augh as he thought of Sandro from the ck Market, who would¡¯ve made a sour face when transferring the money.


    "Since things have turned out this way, let me give you a piece of advice. If you use a Luck Potion sold by the Alchemist guild before using the books, you might get better results."


    "Thanks for the tip. I¡¯ll keep it in mind."


    Smiling, Kai left the bookstore but didn¡¯t head to the Alchemist guild.


    <i>I still have some.</i>


    He still had the luck-rted equipment and Luck Potions he boughtst time to get the best result from the Magic Conch.


    1. Previously, the ck Lizardman was referred to as "it" since it was a monster and didn''t talk, but we''ll be going with "he" due to his pet status and to denote closeness to kai. ?

 Chapter 88: Gambling Is The Shortcut To (2)

    <h4>Chapter 88: Gambling Is The Shortcut To (2)</h4>


    The most suitable ce to gamble varied depending on a person''s character. Even for Kai, he would typically have hid in an alley in some vige corner to open skill books.


    However, when it came to arge sum of money, people were quick to be influenced!


    <i>So, this ce is the best spot, huh?</i>


    Kai was at the town square of Aquaria, facing the Blue Forest''s Rest inn, sitting on a bench with a broken armrest. He even timed it to midday, when the bright sunlight shone down.


    <i>The conditions are the same.</i>


    It was exactly the same ce and time as when the ranker sparked the riddle skill book craze by pulling a Unique skill book!


    Imitating this, Kai equipped all sorts of lucky items and even took a Luck Potion.


    Then, he closed his eyes and prayed.


    <i>Oh, gods of heaven and earth... please grant me a Unique... no, at least ten Rare skill books.</i>


    Kai, dressed in a pure white cleric robe, slowly opened his eyes with a reverent and holy expression, much like a pilgrim on a sacred journey.


    ¡°Here we go.¡±


    Kai took a riddle skill book from his inventory and opened it.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into an ashen splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Golden Punch (Normal).]</strong>


    ¡°Golden Punch?¡±


    It was a skill he had never heard of! Although it was of Normal grade, the name was intriguing.


    <i>It''s not bronze or silver, but gold! Even if it''s not a jackpot, this is a decent win, isn¡¯t it?</i>


    Gambling often started with a beginner''s luck!


    Filled with anticipation, the skill description appeared before Kai''s eyes.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Golden Punch</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>Attack your foes with a fist of pure golden light. There is a 1% chance the enemy will drop 1 gold.</strong>


    <strong>(Cooldown: 1 hour)</strong>


    It was a trash skill book, the worst of the worst, that almost made Kai say he was doomed.


    However, instead of getting angry, Kai took a deep breath and calmed himself.


    <i>Beginner''s luck is all nonsense. How does that even exist in gambling? It''s all about the odds.</i>


    He showed a textbook example of self-rationalization!


    Calming his mind, Kai immediately opened the second skill book.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into an ashen splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Golden Punch (Normal).]</strong>


    ¡°Oh my, seriously?!¡±


    As Kai shouted, the yers passing through the za were startled and looked at him.


    Feeling embarrassed, Kai bit his lower lip and suppressed his anger.


    <i>This is just too much, isn¡¯t it? Come on, seriously.</i>


    It was unclear whom he was addressing, but it was a warning filled with the anger he was currently feeling!


    And perhaps because the warning worked or not, the third skill book he opened with trembling hands was definitely different from the previous two.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into a purple splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Holy Chains (Rare).]</strong>


    ¡°Yes!¡± Kai, grinning from ear to ear, let out a shout!


    He looked at the skill book with a loving gaze, much like Gollum staring at the One Ring.


    <i>Holy Chains, this is something you can¡¯t buy even if you have the money!</i>


    It was a skill highly sought after, mainly by the Pdin ss yers, and a versatile skill that used Holy Power to create chains forbat!


    While it was possible to learn the skill from the church, it requiredpleting very tedious and difficult quests and building high contributions and affinity with the church, so most yers just waited for the skill book to be listed for sale.


    <i>We¡¯re off to a good start. Forget about Golden Punch now.</i>


    Opening three books and getting one good item was definitely a jackpot!


    Having obtained a skill book worth at least 300 gold, Kai hummed a tune and opened the fourth skill book.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into an ashen splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Golden Punch (Normal).]</strong>


    ¡°Ugh,e on!¡±


    ***


    If someone had observed Kai for the past thirty minutes, they would be certain of one thing right now. The best way to lose weight was by failing at gambling.


    In fact, Kai looked half his normal size after thest thirty minutes, and the passing yers shook their heads as they saw Kai.


    <i>Jeez, he¡¯s opening skill books. That trend passed so long ago.</i>


    <i>Is he a rich kid or something like that?</i>


    <i>How many skill books has he bought? He¡¯s been opening them for thirty minutes straight.</i>


    Kai let out a deep sigh.


    The saying that beginner¡¯s luck was just that, luck for beginners, seemed a bit believable now. Out of the forty-three skill books he opened after getting Holy Chains, all of them were failures.


    Of course, not all of them werepletely useless, as some were decent enough to sell at the auction house.


    But the problem was that he still didn¡¯t get the pet summon/unsummon skill he wanted, and there was no other skill he could use after Holy Chains.


    <strong>[<u>Surprise Party (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Normal</strong>


    <strong>There is a saying, ¡°Don¡¯t hit a woman even with a flower.¡±</strong>


    <strong>When attacking female monsters, your weapon turns into a flower.</strong>


    <strong>When attacking male monsters, weapon attack power increases by 30%.</strong>


    <strong>However, when attacking male monsters, there is a 1% chance that the weapon will disappear.</strong>


    ¡°What the hell, another garbage skill!¡±


    Kai wanted to grab the developers by the cor and demand an exnation for creating such a crazy item!


    ¡°Whew...¡±


    Kai stared at the three remaining riddle skill books in his inventory.


    <i>I opened forty-seven and got one good hit... What difference will these three make?</i>


    It was true that negative thoughts were creeping in, but he had already bought the skill books!


    Giving up, Kai opened one of the remaining skill books.


    Simultaneously, a purple radiance burst out!


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into a purple splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions. You acquired Skill Book - Enhanced Summoning (Rare).]</strong>


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    People were more thrilled when they received something good when they weren¡¯t expecting it at all, rather than when they were filled with high expectations.


    Kai blinked, unable to grasp the situation immediately.


    <i>Wait a minute, Enhanced Summoning means...?</i>


    Kai quickly checked the skill book¡¯s information.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Enhanced Summoning</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>This allows you to register up to five pets and summons. All may be summoned and recalled at will. When summoned, a random buff will be applied, including on the summoner.</strong>


    <strong>(Cooldown: 10 minutes)</strong>


    ¡°Th-this is amazing.¡±


    Kai¡¯s face lit up with joy. He felt like dancing with excitement, but he restrained himself due to the people around him.


    <i>This is exactly what I wanted... no, it¡¯s even better than what I wanted.</i>


    Not only could he summon pets, but it also gave random buffs to both the user and the pet each time. This meant he could receive a random buff every ten minutes!


    <i>Depending on the buffs, the two of us could dominate the battlefield.</i>


    Of course, there was a precondition for this to work.


    <i>Blizzard. It depends on whether he can perform well.</i>


    Kai could already handle most enemies on his own, but he was still just one person. He could fend off two or three, but not dozens.


    If the ck Bee guys discovered his identity and came after him, he would have to y the game while hiding.


    <i>So it would be better not to reveal Blizzard in any videos for now.</i>


    Kai tapped his knee as he quickly thought things through.


    <i>Yeah, that makes sense. I¡¯ll keep him as my trump card.</i>


    Sometimes, an unnoticed, simple attack from behind was scarier than a visible fierce attack. Therefore, keeping Blizzard a secret until it grew stronger seemed the best approach.


    Moreover, Kai nned to pass on the Armor of the Undead set to Blizzard once he reached level 100.


    <i>That will increase his attack power too. I also need to get it a pair of Rare-grade weapons... and restore the nerfed skill proficiency, and raise its level. Busy times ahead.</i>


    Despite the many thoughts, Kai enjoyed this moment because it wasn¡¯t just a time where he had to think too much but a time to think about how to get stronger.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s quickly open the remaining two skill books.¡±


    Without thinking, he opened another book, and both Kai and the surrounding yers were shocked.


    ¡°W-wait a minute. I-is that...?¡±


    ¡°A red radiance means...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Unique!¡±


    ¡°What the hell! This game is rigged!¡±


    Envy, jealousy, and curses! Kai, the target of all these emotions, stood there with his mouth open, staring at the message windows.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into a red splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Ethereal Body (Unique).]</strong>


    ¡°Wh-what is this?¡±


    Someone had said giving up would be better, and Kai felt an impulse to hug, kiss, and even buy dinner for whoever had said that.


    <i>And it¡¯s Ethereal Body. It¡¯s a skill I¡¯ve never seen on themunity or at the auction house.</i>


    That was the nature of Unique-grade skill books. Even the ranker who hit the jackpot with a riddle skill book had only shared a screenshot of the grade, keeping the effect a secret.


    Of course, Kai didn¡¯t think badly of it.


    <i>It¡¯s only natural. If it¡¯s good, you should keep it to yourself. Why reveal your power?</i>


    His mouth watered so much that swallowing made his throat sting!


    Kai slowly examined the contents of the Ethereal Body skill.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Ethereal Body</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Turns your body into a ghostly form for 10 minutes. You will be immune to all physical damage, but magical damage will hurt you twice as much. Furthermore, your attack power is reduced by 50% while active.</strong>


    <strong>(Cooldown: 1 hour)</strong>


    <i>Good. It¡¯s definitely good, but...</i>


    It wasn¡¯t a skill that boostedbat power. It was indeed an upgrade in terms of specs, but he couldn¡¯t quite grasp its full potential yet.


    <i>Being immune to all physical damage is certainly good. But taking double damage from magic and having all attack power reduced by 50% is...</i>


    He wondered if he would really use it.


    <i>Well, my magic resistance is high, so even double damage shouldn¡¯t be too bad.</i>


    Thanks to various title effects and his Unique passive skill, Beginner¡¯s Skin of Magical Resistance, Kai had very high magic resistance. Therefore, the only drawback of Ethereal Body, taking double damage from magic, didn¡¯t pose a significant disadvantage, which was a relief.


    <i>Well, even if it¡¯s not immediately useful, it still feels good.</i>


    As Kai smiled broadly, other yers hesitantly approached him.


    ¡°Um... could you share what skill it is?¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to sell it? I have a lot of money. I¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see a guild mark. If you don¡¯t have a guild, our Brave guild...¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Kai stood up and smiled at them. ¡°...Have an urgent appointment, so I need to leave now. Oh! But before that...¡±


    Sitting back down, Kai opened thest remaining skill book.


    <strong>[The Riddle Skill Book explodes into an ashen splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book - Golden Punch (Normal).]</strong>


    <i>Right. I wondered why you weren¡¯t showing up, you jerk.</i>


    Kai let out a brief burst of anger and quickly left the za, reflecting on the lesson that gambling was indeed a shortcut to rapid growth.

 Chapter 89: Class Reunion (1)

    <h4>Chapter 89: ss Reunion (1)</h4>


    Kai left the za and headed toward Tardal''s mansion.


    ¡°You¡¯ve returned.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Kai, who had sessfullypleted the first mission given by Tardal, nodded confidently.


    It might have seemed arrogant to some, but Tardal did not reprimand him.


    In fact, the results Kai had produced this time were impressive.


    ¡°I read the report that came in. You performed quite impressively.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not easy for someone to continually amaze like this.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I wouldn¡¯t disappoint you, sir.¡±


    ¡°...Indeed.¡±


    Unlike his conversation with Baron Arsen, there was no false humility or ttery between them.


    However, Tardal and Kai acknowledged each other, which allowed them to continue their calm conversation.


    ¡°The second mission will take some time. As it seems... I shouldn¡¯t treat you like the others.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for seeing me in a favorable light.¡±


    Kai showedposure, but his heart was already pounding.


    <i>It¡¯s done. I¡¯ve earned Tardal¡¯s recognition!</i>


    Tardal was the strictest NPC Kai knew, but he was also someone who understood what fairness meant. Therefore, he properly acknowledged Kai this time and promised to treat him ordingly.


    <i>Maybe the next mission will involve tracking down the Church of Muldine.</i>


    If that was the case, he would need to prepare for that because chasing after the Church of Muldine would be far more intense and difficult than battling a lizardman.


    Seeing Kai¡¯s eyes, Tardal looked pleased. ¡°Seeing your face, it seems I don¡¯t need to give you any advice.¡±


    ¡°I will be as strong as possible.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to it.¡±


    ¡°And as always...¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t disappoint, will you?¡± Tardal chuckled softly and pulled out a jewel box from a drawer. ¡°I believe I mentioned before why you needed to bring scales for the Darkness Hunter¡¯s entry test.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡±


    Kai remembered hearing about it.


    As he nodded, Tardal continued, ¡°Bring the best scales you can find. That was my request.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I remember.¡±


    ¡°I believe it to be the fairest test. Do you know that the test was a rtive evaluation?¡±


    ¡°...That was a rtive evaluation?¡± Kai, hearing something he had never known before, reluctantly voiced his question.


    ¡°Think about it. Two adventurers bring lizardmen scales. But if one adventurer¡¯s skills are vastly inferior to the other, who would you choose?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I would choose the stronger...¡± Kai trailed off as he spoke.


    <i>Wait, but Tardal clearly said it was a rtive evaluation, right?</i>


    In that case, he would choose the one who achieved higher rewards with lower skills!


    ¡°You would choose the one with lower skills.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve caught on. That¡¯s right. We look for an adventurer''s courage, spirit of challenge, and potential. Walking the path of a Darkness Hunter will be tough because the Church of Muldine is that strong and vicious.¡±


    ¡°Is it to select an adventurer strong enough to stand against that?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. No matter how skilled, an adventurer who can¡¯t bring out their full potential doesn¡¯t fit a Darkness Hunter. In that sense, someone like you, who always brings out 150%, 200% of your ability... I have high expectations for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    <i>Click.</i>


    When Tardal opened the jewel box, a small round badge appeared.


    The green badge was engraved with dozens of stars.


    ¡°Tardal, sir, what is that...?¡±


    ¡°This is a badge made from the scales adventurers bring. It¡¯s a kind of identification badge. Take it.¡±


    <strong>[You have acquired a Darkness Hunter Member badge.]</strong>


    As Kai epted the badge, he felt its suitably heavy and cold texture and asked, ¡°What can I do with this badge?¡±


    ¡°Cooperate in investigations, request support, prove your identity. There are many uses.¡±


    ¡°...If I¡¯m correct, this isn¡¯t just within the Kingdom of Rashion, is it?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Tardal gave Kai a look as if asking why he was stating the obvious. ¡°The Darkness Hunters are the spiritual sessors of the former world alliance. We are a force gathered from kingdoms, empires, numerous trade guilds, and religious orders tobat the darkness that will once again sweep across the continent.


    The stars engraved on the badge represent the number of forces that united when the world alliance was formed. It means we inherit their spirit and achievements.¡±


    ¡°I see. So this badge can be used in other kingdoms and empires as well?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    Kai¡¯s face lit up as he obtained an item that couldn¡¯t be bought with money from an unexpected source.


    ¡°Of course, if you misuse that badge, the Darkness Hunters will be on your tail, so be careful.¡±


    ¡°I-I would never do such a thing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding,¡± Tardal finished his cruel joke and looked at Kai. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to give you your reward.¡±


    ¡°...Reward?¡±


    ¡°Why that look? Did you think the Darkness Hunters are a group that moves only for a great cause without any rewards?¡±


    ¡°Well, I...¡±


    ¡°Remember, the force behind the Darkness Hunters is the continent itself. We have more money than any other organization.¡±


    <i>...Now that I think about it, that¡¯s true.</i>


    In that case, refusing the reward would be impolite.


    Kai bowed his head. ¡°I will gratefully ept it.¡±


    ¡°I heard you tamed the ck Lizardman who had swallowed the Essence of Darkness.¡±


    ¡°...Yes, that is correct.¡±


    Kai wondered if Tardal was nning to take Blizzard away.


    As he froze, Tardal shook the bell on the table. Then, attendants appeared from outside, carrying a wooden rectangr box.


    ¡°I heard that fellow uses two scimitars very well, so I prepared this. I hope you like it.¡±


    ¡°May I open it now?¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡±


    When he opened the case, two scimitars, delicately crossed, revealed their elegant forms. Unlike the ones Blizzard originally used, which had des that bent at right angles, these swords were smoothly curved like crescent moons.


    <i>Blizzard really lucked out.</i>


    The swords were so impressive that Kai momentarily considered using them himself.


    Kai immediately checked the items.


    <strong><u>[ck Wolf]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 242-278</strong>


    <strong>+20 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+10 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>30% increased attack power when wielded with White Fox.</strong>


    <strong>A pair of curved swords said to have been forged by master craftsman Sirman for his son.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 130, Strength 360, Stamina 150.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[White Fox]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 257-269</strong>


    <strong>+20 Agility</strong>


    <strong>+10 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>10% increased attack power when wielded with ck Wolf.</strong>


    <strong>A pair of curved swords said to have been forged by master craftsman Sirman for his son.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 130, Strength 130, Stamina 150.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    It was ck Wolf and White Fox!


    The ck sword definitely had a rough feel, while the white sword seemed delicate like a female.


    Kai carefully packed the two scimitars and bowed his head. ¡°Blizzard will like these. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You have quite a unique naming sense. Keep up the good work.¡±


    ¡°So... when should I visit next?¡±


    ¡°As long as you carry that badge, someone from our side wille to find you.¡±


    ¡°S-so it has a tracking function too.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t have you using it recklessly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±


    Kai, having secured generous rewards, left Tardal¡¯s room.


    ***


    ¡°Whew...¡±


    With his hair soaked with sweat, Han Jung-Woo took off his headgear and removed his shirt in the boilingte summer heat.


    ¡°This is crazy. Why is it so hot in here?¡±


    Currently, Saturday afternoon, he went into the living room, and his sister, Han Ji-Hye, was lying on the sofa watching TV and furrowed her brows. ¡°Why is my brother walking around shirtless when he¡¯s not even built well? If your goal is terrorism, you¡¯ve seeded.¡±


    ¡°My room is so hot. Why isn¡¯t the air conditioner on in this heat?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m wearing a cardigan because it¡¯s cold?¡±


    ¡°Oh... now that you mention it.¡±


    The house felt cool the moment he stepped out of his room.


    <i>No, it¡¯s actually rather cold...</i>


    As he stood shivering, hugging himself, their mother came out of the master bedroom and said, ¡°Your room¡¯s air conditioner is broken.¡±


    ¡°...Then why not call a repairman?¡±


    ¡°Since you said you¡¯re moving out soon, I didn¡¯t think it was necessary.¡±


    Kai was double shocked! Was this really how a mother treated her own son?


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even found a ce yet...¡±


    ¡°Then you can find one today. Or should I help you find a decent ce?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just find it myself.¡±


    After all, he wanted to choose the ce he would live in.


    After taking a shower, Han Jung-Woo got dressed and nned his day.


    ¡°First, I¡¯ll visit a real estate agency, then stop by the bank to withdraw some cash... Oh, and I need to check out a movingpany.¡±


    Normally a homebody, when he did go out, he tried to take care of everything at once!


    With multiple errands nned, Han Jung-Woo left the house.


    ***


    ¡°Rent in Seoul is expensive.¡±


    Fortunately, the real estate agency rmended a good movingpany they knew.


    However, his mother insisted he not move too far, so he had to find a studio apartment in Cheongdam-dong, which was about thirty to forty minutes from Yeouido.


    <i>How is the deposit 30 million won and the monthly rent 1.7 million won for just one room?</i>


    The room itself was nice, though. The building was new and clean, and the room was spacious with a good kitchen and bathroom. Most importantly, the air conditioner was included in the basic facilities, which won his heart.


    <i>Moving day is already in two weeks.</i>


    Facing the unexpected reality of living independently, Han Jung-Woo felt disheartened.


    While he looked out the bus window with mncholy eyes, someone¡¯s phone rang.


    ??Why do you keeping to mind? It hurts my pride.??


    <i>Who is it? It¡¯s so loud, why don¡¯t they answer it?</i>


    As the phone¡¯s owner didn¡¯t answer for a while, Han Jung-Woo looked around.


    At that moment, a middle-aged woman, thinking it was her chance, suddenly said, ¡°Hey, student, aren¡¯t you going to answer your phone? It¡¯s driving me crazy!¡±


    ¡°Huh...? Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected it to be his phone! It had rung so few times over the past year that he thought it was broken, but apparently, it wasn¡¯t!


    When he saw the name on the screen, his eyes widened.


    <i>Min-Soo?</i>


    It was one of his high school friends. Even when some guys treated him like a pushover, Min-Soo had always stood by his side.


    <i>It¡¯s been a while. But why is he calling all of a sudden?</i>


    That was something he could ask.


    As soon as he answered the phone, Min-Soo¡¯s familiar voice rang in his ears.


    ¡ªHey! Are you even alive?¡±


    ¡°Why, do you want me to send you to voicemail to prove I¡¯m dead?¡±


    ¡ªYou must be alive if you¡¯re joking. You¡¯ve been ignoring my KakaoTalk messages.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I deleted KakaoTalk.¡±


    No one was sending him messages anyway!


    Feeling down, Han Jung-Woo asked bluntly, ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡ªI call you about twice a year, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°My birthday isn¡¯t for a while though.¡±


    ¡ªThen it must be for another reason, wouldn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Then...¡± Han Jung-Woo furrowed his brows. ¡°Is this about a ss reunion again?¡±


    ¡ªYeah. Don¡¯t worry, we didn¡¯t invite Seok-Woo¡¯s gang. Everyone else wants to see you. You shoulde.¡±


    ¡°No thanks. It¡¯s been so long, it would just be awkward.¡±


    ¡ªThat¡¯s why I want you toe before we forget each other¡¯s faces. A lot of the girls want to see you too. You were really popr, remember?¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Since taking a leave of absence from university, Han Jung-Woo hadn¡¯t gone out at all. Naturally, he had never attended a ss reunion either.


    <i>My high school friends...</i>


    Except for Seok-Woo''s gang, who mocked and took advantage of his good deeds, everyone else was normal and kind.


    In fact, he did want to see their faces and ask how they were doing.


    <i>Wait, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. They were the ones who did wrong. So why should I avoid them?</i>


    In his school days, hecked belief and confidence in himself, but now...


    <i>...Things are different.</i>


    Having made up his mind, Han Jung-Woo said, ¡°Min-Soo, can you invite Seok-Woo to this reunion by any chance?¡±


    ¡ªWhat? Don¡¯t you... really hate them?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve all grown up now.¡±


    That was right. They were all grown-ups now. The teenagers who entered society had be adults.


    <i>It might not be a bad idea to teach them a lesson this time.</i>


    He nned on teaching them what an adult fight was, especially one without the use of fists.

 Chapter 90: Class Reunion (2)

    <h4>Chapter 90: ss Reunion (2)</h4>


    The next evening, Han Jung-Woo changed his clothes with a calm expression.


    <i>That guy, I can¡¯t believe he told me about the reunion one day before.</i>


    Of course, Min-Soo passionately argued against this.


    <i>Are you kidding me? I tried telling you multiple times, but you ignored all my KakaoTalk and Facebook messages.</i>


    Since he hadn''t answered his phone because he was ying games all day, he had nothing to say. Of course, he could have linked his capsule to his smartphone to check messages and calls in real time while gaming, but Han Jung-Woo never activated that function.


    <i>It¡¯s disruptive to my gaming. I also heard rankers disable this feature too.</i>


    However, in Han Jung-Woo¡¯s case, it was simply because he had no friends to contact him!


    ¡°Good thing I bought thisst time.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo put on the stylish suit he wore for his mother¡¯s birthday and put on his shoes.


    Seeing him dressed up, his mother tilted her head. ¡°Where are you going all dressed up?¡±


    ¡°To a high school reunion.¡±


    ¡°...Reunion?¡± Her gaze changed instantly! Then she approached him like a lioness protecting her cub and interrogated him. ¡°Did <i>they</i> tell you toe?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I just feel like it¡¯s okay to meet them now.¡±


    At one point in time, it had been excruciatingly painful. The fact that the people he had trusted as friends had used him and hadn''t even considered him to be their friend had left a deep wound, leading him to alienate himself from society.


    He formed a slight distrust in people. Perhaps his reason for solo gaming wasn''t just to take all the rewards for himself, but because his distrust of people still lingered deep in his heart.


    ¡°...Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay?¡± His mother asked, voice filled with concern


    ¡°Whose son am I?¡±


    ¡°Me and my husband¡¯s, of course.¡±


    ¡°My parents always taught me this: don¡¯t start a fight you can¡¯t win. But if you start a fight, win it no matter what.¡±


    ¡°...That¡¯s right, we did.¡± With that, Kim Hyun-Jung asked no more questions on the matter. Instead, she opened her wallet, took out a card, and waved it. ¡°Do you need my card?¡±


    ¡°No, why would I?¡±


    If he had nned to use his parents¡¯ power to punish those guys, he would have done it years ago. But Han Jung-Woo didn¡¯t want that.


    <i>Back then, it was embarrassing to rely on my parents, but now...</i>


    Now, the reason was quite different.


    <i>My own strength is enough.</i>


    He had gained confidence¡ªthe belief that he could handle things on his own without borrowing someone else¡¯s strength.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll get going now.¡±


    ***


    The young adults of Korea often gathered in Hongdae on Sunday evenings. But instead of joining the crowds on the streets where the intense beat of hip-hop echoed, Han Jung-Woo and Min-Soo were in a luxurious restaurant where a mellow violin yed softly in the background


    Min-Soo kept fidgeting like a dog who needed to go out as he sat at a group table in the restaurant. ¡°Hey, are you sure about this?¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    Min-Soo leaned close to Han Jung-Woo and whispered, ¡°Haven¡¯t you looked at the menu here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking at it right now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see the prices? This ce is expensive!¡±


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m paying.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what worries me more. Do you know how many people are evening today?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three, right?¡±


    ¡°Hey! You told me to invite Seok-Woo¡¯s gang! Now it¡¯s twenty-seven!¡±


    ¡°Same difference.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo nonchntly read the menu with an indifferent expression.


    Min-Soo stared at him before letting out a deep sigh. ¡°Did you win the lottery or something... or did you borrow your parents¡¯ card?¡±


    ¡°Do my parents seem like the kind to just hand over their card? Well, my mom did offer to lend it this time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t take it.¡±


    ¡°Yup. I¡¯m nning to pay with my own money.¡±


    ¡°Who is this person in front of me? Is this really the Han Jung-Woo I knew?¡±


    Min-Soo looked at Han Jung-Woo with a curious gaze, slowly scanning him from head to toe.


    ¡°Get your eyes off me. It¡¯s creepy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just amazed. Honestly, I¡¯ve visited your house often enough to know you live well, but you were the closest to being amoner among us.¡±


    ¡°I was.¡±


    Both his mother and father ran small businesses, but Han Jung-Woo only received a small allowance. In middle school, it was 30,000 won per month, and in high school, it was 50,000 won per month!


    This was the educational philosophy of his self-made, sessful parents.


    <i>Money easily earned is easily spent. If you ask how to catch fish, we¡¯ll teach you, but we won¡¯t give you the fish.</i>


    His parents were stricter than anyone!


    However, Han Jung-Woo didn¡¯t have much resentment about it. Even his sister, Han Ji-Hye, was working as a junior employee at apany that didn''t belong to their parents.


    As he quietly read the menu, he asked casually, ¡°Do you y <i>MID Online</i>?¡±


    ¡°Is there anyone who doesn¡¯t y that nowadays? Of course, I do! And... don¡¯t be surprised when I tell you this, but I joined the Rush guild!¡±


    ¡°Rush guild...?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know it.¡± Min-Soo chewed on the ice from his water with a rxed smile. ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s possible to not know. It¡¯s ranked fourth in South Korea. Apparently, I have some talent for the game.¡±


    ¡°But you used to lose to me every time we yed games.¡±


    ¡°Hey! <i>MID Online</i> is nothing like StarCraft or League of Legends.¡± Min-Soo, who had been passionately exining, suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°Oh, now that I think about it, you¡¯ve been on break for two years. Do you not y <i>Mid Online</i>?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do. I¡¯ve been ying since the first day of the open beta.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then you must be at a high level. What level are you?¡±


    ¡°Level 88, I think.¡±


    ¡°Ugh...¡± Min-Soo furrowed his brows. ¡°That¡¯s pretty serious. What have you been doing... wait, with your personality, don¡¯t tell me...?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve just been helping people here and there.¡±


    ¡°I thought so. That¡¯s so you. If anyone¡¯s bothering you, let me know. I can handle most of them.¡±


    ¡°Even the top 10 guilds in the world?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±


    ¡°Never mind then.¡±


    Thinking Han Jung-Woo was joking, Min-Soo suddenly stood up. ¡°Hey! Over here!¡±


    The men and women who trickled in were familiar faces that even Han Jung-Woo remembered. They were the friends who had shared their school days with him, after all.


    ¡°Hey, this wasn¡¯t the original meeting ce, was it?¡±


    ¡°It seems pretty expensive...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This guy said he¡¯s treating us because he missed thest reunion.¡±


    ¡°...He¡¯s gonna treat us here?¡±


    With surprised expressions, they finally noticed Han Jung-Woo and greeted him.


    ¡°Yo, Jung-Woo, it¡¯s been a while, huh?¡±


    ¡°This guy ignored all my KakaoTalk and Facebook messages.¡±


    ¡°What? Yours too? He did that to mine as well!¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s because he deleted all the apps. For the record, he ignored mine too,¡± Min-Soo calmed theining friends and had them sit down.


    Meanwhile, the girls, now slimmer and prettier, whispered among themselves.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Jung-Woo seem different somehow?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He used to just seem like a nice guy before...¡±


    ¡°He still seems nice. But, how should I put it, he looks much calmer now.¡±


    ¡°He looks more mature!¡±


    ¡°And he seems to have be a bit handsome.¡±


    ¡°Is it just because he¡¯s treating us to dinner at a fancy ce?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that!¡±


    Of course, the boys¡¯ evaluation was less enthusiastic than the girls¡¯.


    ¡°Did Jung-Woo get a job?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so? I heard he took a leave of absence...¡±


    ¡°Besides, how could he afford this kind of ce on a single sry?¡±


    ¡°Oh! There was a rumor in school that Jung-Woo was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. So, is that true?¡±


    ¡°Jung-Woo? No way. He never showed any signs of that. Probably not.¡±


    That was the reaction of ordinary kids, the way people acted when reuniting with old friends after a long time.


    However, as with any gathering, there were those who ruined the mood.


    ¡°Well, well, Han Jung-Woo. It¡¯s really been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    A young man greeted him with a sly smile, swaggering as he spoke. It was Choi Seok-Woo, the very person who had caused Han Jung-Woo great emotional wounds in high school.


    Moreover, behind him, three guys still followed him around like a backdrop.


    ¡°Wow, seems like our Jung-Woo has made a lot of money, huh? Spending big bucks in a ce like this.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t ruin the mood. Just take a seat,¡± Min-Soo said in a slightly angry voice, frowning on Jung-Woo¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°Yes, yes, of course. We wouldn¡¯t dare disobey the elite who¡¯s now in the Rush guild.¡±


    Seok-Woo¡¯s gang exaggeratedly acted scared andughed among themselves.


    The other kids looked slightly displeased, but Seok-Woo, unconcerned, sat down with a nonchnt expression. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s see what expensive food our Jung-Woo is treating us to. What¡¯s the most expensive thing on the menu...¡±


    Soon, Seok-Woo¡¯s gang really started ordering the priciest dishes.


    The other friends, looking taken aback, tried to stop him.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a bit much.¡±


    ¡°If you order all that, it¡¯ll cost 530,000 won just for the four of you.¡±


    In response to their attempts to stop him, Choi Seok-Woo shrugged and gave an innocent look. ¡°What, he invited us saying he¡¯ll treat, and now we can''t order what we want? What kind of nonsense is that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± After a long silence, Han Jung-Woo finally spoke up. Though he didn¡¯t raise his voice, everyone¡¯s attention naturally shifted to him. ¡°Seok-Woo is right. If you want to eat something, order it. You all too, don¡¯t hesitate and order whatever you want.¡±


    Finishing his words with a gentle smile, Han Jung-Woo took a soft sip of water. With that, what could have been a tense situation was diffused by his words.


    ¡°Sh-shall we? If Jung-Woo insists...¡±


    ¡°Jung-Woo, are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Order whatever you want, including drinks.¡±


    As Han Jung-Woo naturally took the lead in the reunion, Choi Seok-Woo gritted his teeth.


    <i>In high school, this bastard used to flinch at just a word from me...</i>


    Using the gullible boy who considered him a best friend had been the most entertaining prank. Of course, when the boy found out and their rtionship became over, he felt a bit regretful, but not because he lost a friend.


    <i>If I pretended to be a little sick and asked him to buy snacks, that bastard would do it every time, even worrying about me.</i>


    The regret was about no longer being able to use him. That was the biggest part.


    <i>Well, those are just memories now.</i>


    Seok-Woo smirked.


    He had asked for the reason when Min-Soo, someone who hadn''t been close to him and his friend, had invited them to the reunion.


    <i>I don¡¯t know. Jung-Woo said he wanted to see you guys.</i>


    Hearing that response had been both amusing and surprising. Of course, he could guess why Jung-Woo had called them.


    <i>Looking at how he¡¯s spending today, he must have made some money.</i>


    So he must have called those who bullied him during school to embarrass them.


    And because of that, they had already coordinated how to act in advance. They decided that no matter what provocation or insult he threw, they wouldn¡¯t react.


    <i>If we don¡¯t give him the reaction he wants, he¡¯ll probably get mad and lose it.</i>


    Seok-Woo hid his smirk, waiting for Han Jung-Woo to start something. However, as time passed, his expression grew increasingly stiff.


    <i>This bastard... why the hell isn¡¯t he starting anything after inviting us?</i>


    He expected Jung-Woo to show off his wealth or use the expensive meal to pressure them.


    But all Jung-Woo showed him was indifference. It was as if he was demonstrating that Seok-Woo had no impact on his life whatsoever.


    This left Choi Seok-Woo and his gang feeling bewildered.


    <i>If he¡¯s going to ignore us like this, why did he even call us?</i>


    The taste of the expensive and delicious food was bing increasingly nd in their mouths.


    Then it was at that moment.


    ¡°Seok-Woo.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    <i>Here ites!</i>


    Choi Seok-Woo brightened up and replied, thinking that now Han Jung-Woo was going to embarrass him.


    However, what came out of Han Jung-Woo¡¯s mouth waspletely unexpected.


    ¡°Is there anything else you want? Order more.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what did you say?¡±


    Seok-Woo and his gang immediately wore dumbfounded expressions.


    However, the other friends started whispering as they saw Han Jung-Woo say that.


    ¡°Wow, Jung-Woo has really grown up.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Those guys used to bully him a lot in school.¡±


    ¡°But it seems like Jung-Woo has already forgiven them.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a different level ofposure. It¡¯s like the calmness of someone who¡¯s well-off.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, but what is Seok-Woo¡¯s gang doing? They¡¯re shamelessly eating the food Jung-Woo is treating us to.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they even apologized for what they did in the past?¡±


    ¡°If they had any conscience, they wouldn¡¯t havee here in the first ce.¡±


    <i>Wh-what the hell?</i>


    Seok-Woo furrowed his brows at the rapidly changing atmosphere. Back in school, he was the predator who ruled. He was tall, good-looking, popr, and strong. But what was this shitty atmosphere now?


    Unable to bear it, Seok-Woo¡¯s friends red at the other kids.


    ¡°Stop chattering behind our backs and shut up.¡±


    ¡°You losers couldn¡¯t even make eye contact with us in school...¡±


    Abusive words spilled out of their mouths, but they weren¡¯t high school students anymore. They were twenty-two year-old college students. Some had even already finished their mandated military service.


    Far from being scared by Seok-Woo¡¯s gang¡¯s harsh words, they immediately grimaced.


    ¡°Chattering? Shut up?¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are, ordering us around?¡±


    ¡°No one here wanted you guys at this reunion in the first ce. Why did you evene?¡±


    ¡°You avoid poop because it''s dirty, not because you''re scared. That was us during school."


    ¡°Wh-what?¡±


    Seok-Woo¡¯s gang looked furious¡ªtheir faces were red as if they were ready to throw punches.


    Han Jung-Woo, who had been silently watching the argument, secretly smiled, then shook his head with a guilty expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry guys. It looks like inviting Seok-Woo was my mistake.¡±


    ¡°How is that your fault?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s their fault for ruining the mood. By the way, you were the one who invited them?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Back in school, we were all young and made mistakes. I thought they would have reflected and changed by now. But...¡± Looking at Seok-Woo with contempt, as if he were seeing a swarm of mosquitoes or flies, Han Jung-Woo continued, ¡°You guys haven¡¯t changed at all.¡±


    ¡°What? You bastard...!¡±


    ¡°But now.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo ced a hand on Seok-Woo''s shoulder, his eyes shining intensely.


    For a moment, Seok-Woo felt a chill run down his spine, making him shudder.


    <i>Wh-what is this? Did I just flinch? Just from making eye contact?</i>


    He didn''t know the reason, whether it was because of the wealth Han Jung-Woo had disyed or because of the sheer rejection he felt in this ce, he wasn''t sure. But the important thing was that he had felt a moment of fear toward Han Jung-Woo. It was a fact he couldn''t and didn''t want to ept.


    Then Han Jung-Woo continued, ¡°We''re adults, right? So we should be able to understand each other¡¯s feelings. We¡¯re not kids anymore. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°You arrogant bastard, who do you think you are to lecture me...¡±


    Seok-Woo tried to retort angrily, but the others were already nodding their heads.


    ¡°Jung-Woo isn¡¯t even angry in this situation.¡±


    ¡°Did Jung-Woo already serve in the military? Why is he so dignified?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Jung-Woo was always like that¡±


    ¡°Seok-Woo should go to the military and grow up for once.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s exclude troublemakers from future reunions. Why ruin a good day?¡±


    There was no physical violence, but Seok-Woo and his gang were totally excluded from the group and couldn¡¯t process this unfamiliar situation.


    <i>H-how did we end up like this?</i>


    Unlike them, Han Jung-Woo, who had orchestrated this situation from the start, smiled.


    <i>Pat, pat.</i>


    He brushed Seok-Woo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Seok-Woo, eat more before you go. I¡¯ll cover the bill before I leave.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Seok-Woo¡¯s face turned red as he trembled. He wanted to shout something and even use violence, but he also had a brain and was capable of doing something called thinking.


    He was no longer a teenager, and he currently had nothing better than the guy he once considered beneath him.


    <i>I shouldn¡¯t havee here in the first ce.</i>


    This ce was Han Jung-Woo¡¯s trap meant to ensnare them. Once the trap was set, it clung to their ankles tenaciously and never let go.


    The moment he realized this, Seok-Woo¡¯s clenched, trembling fist loosened its grip.


    <i>No matter what I do, against this guy...</i>


    He couldn¡¯t win.


    Seeing Choi Seok-Woo engulfed by defeat, Han Jung-Woo smiled brightly and cheered him up. ¡°Well, take care. I¡¯m off.¡±


    Telling him to take care sounded like a curse, telling him to be troubled for the rest of his life.


    Experiencing the feeling of powerlessness for the first time in his life, Choi Seok-Woo slumped into his seat.


    ¡°Hey, wait up!¡±


    ¡°Shall we go for round two?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re pretty much done eating... let¡¯s head out together.¡±


    Unlike when he first entered, Seok-Woo''s eyes were lifeless as he watched Han Jung-Woo cheerfully waving goodbye to him and his friends before leaving.


    At the same time, it was like a heavy stone had lifted from Han Jung-Woo¡¯s chest.

 Chapter 91: Deal (1)

    <h4>Chapter 91: Deal (1)</h4>


    His crazy friends had wanted to keep partying until morning, but Han Jung-Woo managed to escape them after two more rounds¡ªthe second round had been at a bar and the third had been at a karaoke.


    <i>I am a bit dizzy, but it shouldn¡¯t affect my gamey.</i>


    He was pleasantly tipsy but not drunk enough to disassemble perfectly good items by mistake.


    Therefore, Han Jung-Woo logged into the game and led Blizzard to the nearby hunting grounds.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    Blizzard wagged his tail like an excited puppy, not knowing what to do with himself after receiving the gifts of ck Wolf and White Fox.


    After being well-fed and rested, his thick tail had grown back.


    <i>I should maybe take thatter too...</i>


    Oblivious to Kai''s gleaming eyes, Blizzard ran off, swinging his two new scimitars.


    ¡°Getting new weapons is always the best feeling.¡±


    Kai proudly watched him, recalling when he received a sword from Solid.


    After swinging the swords freely for about ten minutes, Blizzard approached Kai with a fierce look in his eyes.


    <i>He wants to hunt.</i>


    Perhaps just practicing in thin air wasn''t satisfying enough.


    Blizzard wanted a real battle.


    <i>Then I''ll give him a proper fight... no, never mind.</i>


    Kai shook his head. He felt it was necessary to fight alongside Blizzard at least once.


    <i>Besides, I need to test my new skills too.</i>


    Wondering where an appropriate stage for this would be, Kai opened the map and then quickly pinpointed a location on it.


    ¡°If we move a bit further, we¡¯ll reach the forest where the giant bears appear. Let¡¯s head there.¡±


    With their imposing three-meter height, the giant bears exuded overwhelming power. There were even rumors that many yers had been knocked out by their front Paw Smash.


    ¡°Krrk.¡±


    Nodding in agreement with Kai¡¯s suggestion, Blizzard followed closely behind him.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop here.¡±


    Kai raised his hand to stop Blizzard as they reached the forest''s entrance.


    In his view wererge w marks carved into the trees.


    ¡°From here on, it¡¯s the territory of giant bears. Let¡¯s be careful.¡±


    ¡°Krrk.¡±


    With just one step forward, the surroundings grew darker. Thick trees and leaves blocked out the sunlightpletely.


    <i>The atmosphere is great.</i>


    If he were alone, he would have been a bit scared, but Blizzard was by his side right now! Gaining courage by this fact, Kai stepped forward.


    <i>The new skills I learned are Ethereal Body, Holy Chains, and Enhanced Summoning.</i>


    Today, Kai was going to focus on Holy Chains.


    <i>I can guess the others, but I have no clue about this one. I¡¯m dying to find out.</i>


    Holy Chains was a Rare skill used by high-ranking NPCs like pdins and inquisitors.


    As far as Kai knew, no more than three yers had learned this skill.


    <i>Of course, there might be others who could be like me and hiding it.</i>


    Even considering that, it wasn¡¯t amon skill, which meant there was an advantage but also a downside to it.


    <i>There¡¯s no one to learn from.</i>


    Since it was such an important skill, he had to figure out how to use Holy Chains entirely on his own because there was no one to teach him or from whom he could learn.


    <i>And then there¡¯s also Blizzard¡¯s current skills...</i>


    Honestly, if it were the ck Lizardman he had fought against previously, he wouldn¡¯t be worried, but now, all of Blizzard¡¯s skill levels were at beginner level 1.


    He needed to urately assess how useful Blizzard could be in his current state. That way, he could n future strategies based on that information.


    ¡°<i>Sniff sniff</i>, krrk.¡±


    While walking along the path, Blizzard suddenly sniffed the air and grabbed Kai¡¯s sleeve.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Krrang.¡±


    Blizzard pointed ahead and then spread his arms wide to mimic something.


    Kai, observing him, pped his hands in realization.


    ¡°Oh! Is there a giant bear up ahead?¡±


    Blizzard nodded.


    <i>This buddy has a sharper sense of smell than I thought.</i>


    It was a true hunter¡¯s skill, honed from living in the wild!


    As Kai gently parted the bushes in front of him, sure enough, he saw a giant bear scratching the ground and ying.


    ¡°Blizzard.¡±


    ¡°Krrk.¡±


    ¡°You can go fight it.¡±


    ¡°<i>Slurp</i>.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but don¡¯t eat it. It¡¯s dirty.¡±


    ¡°Krrang.¡±


    As soon as Kai gave his permission, Blizzard sprang forward, his ck and white scimitars shining in the darkness as they swung down on the giant bear¡¯s neck.


    <i>Wow. Is it because Blizzard switched weapons? His swordsmanship has be a bit clumsier and slower, but... the damage seems to have increased.</i>


    Kai stepped back, analyzing Blizzard¡¯s abilities without interfering in the battle.


    <i>If he''s this skilled with beginner level 1 swordsmanship, he''ll be quite useful if I train his swordsmanship a bit more.</i>


    Currently, Blizzard would be able to go up against a level 90 swordsman. Therefore, with just intermediate level 1 swordsmanship, it could potentially take on level 140 yers.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Within five minutes, the giant bear fell onto its back. Both the ck and white scimitars were buried deep into its neck and chest.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    Lightlyplimenting Blizzard, Kai nced at the system log.


    <i>I was just cheering from here while he hunted, but I still received XP.</i>


    The split was about 80% for Blizzard and 20% for him, so he wondered what would happen in the reverse situation.


    Kai looked at Blizzard.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn, so stay here.¡±


    Just then, another giant bear wandered down the forest path.


    ¡°Holy Chains.¡±


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    With the skill activation, a short chain of light appeared on his palm.


    Kai grasped the chain firmly, feeling its texture.


    <i>It¡¯s cold, just like grabbing a metal bar on a yground during winter.</i>


    Although made of divine power, the chain felt heavy like metal and had a cold surface.


    <i>It seems the consumption of Holy Power varies with the length.</i>


    The chain Kai currently summoned was about thirty-centimeters long, consuming 300 Holy Power.


    <i>Then does it use about 10 Holy Power per centimeter?</i>


    This meant he could summon a one-meter chain with 1,000 Holy Power.


    In other words, Kai could extend the Holy Chain up to thirty nine-meters using all his Holy Power.


    ¡°Grawr!¡±


    The bear spotted Kai and charged.


    Kai immediately extended the chain and hurled it.


    <i>Shhh-clink!</i>


    With a satisfying sound, the chain wrapped around the bear''s neck.


    At the same time, a gasp escaped Kai¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    The Holy Chain wrapped around the giant bear''s neck so naturally! Then, as if he were in a trance, Kai''s hand pulled at the chain. The entire motion was fluid and seamless.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The giant bear fell clumsily, hitting its head on the ground.


    Kai just blinked and looked down at his hand holding the chain.


    <i>What is this feeling?</i>


    Skills in <i>MID Online</i> had some degree of system-based correction. This applied even to Wizards or Archers, who were known for their terrible uracy rates.


    However, that correction was minimal and only effective when the yer''s skill supported it.


    In other words, it only helped when the yer knew how to use the skill and practiced consistently.


    <i>Of course, Holy Chains would have some correction too.</i>


    However, that system-based correction wouldn¡¯t be enough to control a newly used skill so freely.


    Which meant only one thing¡ªthe yer had a natural talent for that weapon or skill. There was no other exnation.


    <i>Come to think of it, I''ve never used this type of skill before.</i>


    The closest spells simr to magic Kai used were Ray of Light and Holy Explosion. Both were skills that shot out in a straight line, leaving no room for talent to influence.


    <i>Well, okay. Let¡¯s say I have a talent for controlling skills like Holy Chains.</i>


    He wondered how he could use this talent.


    Kai¡¯s gaze, now lifted, focused on the giant bear as if the creature held the answer.


    ¡°Raawr!¡±


    The giant bear roared, trying to tear the chain from its neck. However, the chain wouldn¡¯t break.


    <i>If the giant bear could break it with its mere strength, it wouldn¡¯t be a Rare-grade skill.</i>


    When Kai lightly shook the chain, it released and returned to him.


    At the same time, the creature charged, shaking the ground with its enraged steps.


    <i>I should consider Holy Chains as a type of whip.</i>


    Though he couldn¡¯t study the Holy Chains skill directly, he could learn a bit by watching videos of rankers using whip-type weapons.


    <i>But first...</i>


    <i>Swish!</i>


    Kai¡¯s chain danced again. This time, his goal wasn¡¯t to bind the creature but to test the attack power of Holy Chains itself.


    <i>Clunk!</i>


    The chain struck the giant bear¡¯s nose, causing it to scowl. It looked as if a child¡¯s paper airne had hit it.


    ¡°The attack power kind of sucks. Swinging my sword once would be more effective than this three times.¡±


    With a light sigh, Kai dashed forward. He needed to determine if Holy Chains could be used in closebat.


    ¡°Roaaar!¡±


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The giant bear¡¯s right paw shed through the air, aiming at Kai. It was the same Paw Smash that had sent countless yers¡¯ minds and health bars plummeting!


    However, Kai, seeing the pawe right up to his face, calmly said, ¡°Ethereal Body.¡±


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Kai''s body instantly transformed into blue particles, taking on a ghostly form.


    Simultaneously, the giant bear¡¯s Paw Smash passed right through Kai, scattering his form without causing any damage.


    Naturally, Kai took no damage at all!


    ¡°Grr?!¡±


    The giant bear was visibly bewildered.


    Normally, it was a smart creature that would step back and assess the situation, but right now, it waspletely thrown off. In its confusion, it instinctively swung its left paw for another smash.


    ¡°Holy Chains.¡±


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    Although Kai''s attack power was reduced by 50% when he used Ethereal Body, he could still use his skills without any issues.


    The chain quickly shot out and wrapped around the giant bear¡¯s left paw, and Kai pulled the chain.


    <i>Holy Chains is useless for striking.</i>


    He had realized that the Holy Chain''s attack power was ridiculously weak after he hit the bear''s nose earlier with it.


    So, Kai changed the way he was thinking.


    <i>Then how would it be if it was used for joint locks?</i>


    Most people associated joint-lock martial arts with judo or jiu-jitsu.


    Simrly, Kai, who was no expert in martial arts, knew only these two.


    <i>I even learned a bit of judo in elementary school.</i>


    Although he had quit after three months, he still remembered what the instructor had said.


    <i>Never forget that judo is about oveing strength with softness.</i>


    Using the opponent¡¯s strength against them was a distinct characteristic of judo.


    Of course, while Kai didn¡¯t know any judo techniques, he currently possessed overwhelming physical abilities and, most importantly, keen eyes.


    <i>I can see the trajectory of the bear¡¯s attacks.</i>


    If he could read that, he could figure out how to use its strength against it, jJust like now.


    ¡°Grr...?!¡±


    The powerful Paw Smash altered its trajectory due to Holy Chains. It was an unexpected movement that strained the bear¡¯s body.


    <i>Craack!</i>


    Even athletes got injured if they couldn¡¯t perfectly control their bodies, and that was no different for a monster with overwhelming strength like the giant bear.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    <i>Holy Chains is useful for joint locks.</i>


    Using the bear¡¯s own strength, Kai twisted the trajectory of its attack just slightly, and that alone caused the level 95 monster to copse to the ground, its back broken, groaning in pain.


    ¡°Okay, nice.¡±


    Kai made a brief assessment that the new skills were definitely worth their price.

 Chapter 92: Deal (2)

    <h4>Chapter 92: Deal (2)</h4>


    After graduating from the prestigious Korea University with a degree in Business Administration, Kang Min-Gu went to the United States and joined Pegasus Corporation. Following that, he was continuously promoted as his abilities were acknowledged, and eventually, he was appointed as the head of Pegasus Corporation''s Korean branch, bing a legendary figure. He was like an elite racehorse, galloping down a smooth path!


    Kang Min-Gu looked at the scenery through the window of the office that he had worked for over the years. He could see the winding Han River and the forest of buildings densely packed next to it.


    But his usual confidence was missing from his expression.


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>...¡±


    He had quit smoking some time ago but he really wanted to smoke one right now.


    Recalling the orders from headquarters he received just a few days ago, he showed a bitter expression.


    <i>yer Kai... So, they want me to buy a video from Han Jung-Woo that would prove to the people that he''s not using a bug?</i>


    That was utter nonsense! In Kang Min-Gu''s view, Han Jung-Woo was a smart and cautious guy.


    <i>If not, there would be no reason for a yer with a Mythic job ss to move so cautiously. He must be drawing a big picture, whatever that may be.</i>


    Everyone sought fame. Especially when they achieved something others hadn¡¯t, their hands and mouths itched to show off!


    <i>This world is full of idiots who boast about their discharge as a sergeant for a lifetime. If he was the only Mythic ss yer in the world, it wouldn''t be strange to be full of arrogance because whatever he did, he would seed.</i>


    Kang Min-Gu''s thoughts weren¡¯t wrong.


    In fact, if Kai revealed his job ss right now, his face would be on the front page of every TV station, newspaper, and magazine. That was how deeply <i>MID Online</i> had naturally been implemented into reality.


    <i>In a world where even rankers are doingmercials, singing, and even acting, a yer of Kai''s skills would undoubtedly get high-end CF offers continuously.</i>


    However, by hiding his identity, Kai pushed all those conveniences away himself.


    <i>Doesn''t he have any greed? I don¡¯t understand.</i>


    Of course, from his perspective, it was natural not to understand. He would never have imagined that a game addict, distrustful of humans and isted from society, would acquire a Mythic grade job!


    <i>The mysterious concept was a smart move. He knows how to market himself. Currently, the Unknown character he ys is a secret in everything from job ss to his level. If those things start getting revealed one by one in the future...</i>


    Eventually, when his job was revealed, his fame would span the globe.


    Thinking this far, Kang Min-Gu couldn''t help but take out a piece of nicotine gum and chew it.


    <i>Sigh... why would a guy like that ept our offer?</i>


    A transaction happens only when both sides want something. A deal could never be made if only one side wanted something. But he had been ordered by the headquarters to do whatever it took to get Han Jung-Woo to sell the video.


    Of course, Kang Min-Gu also thought that, from Pegasus''s standpoint, it was the best transaction scenario.


    <i>But the best scenario for our side means Han Jung-Woo will suffer a loss.</i>


    That was because a transaction usually involved one side bearing a slight loss. Furthermore, Han Jung-Woo held the absolute advantage in the current situation.


    Kang Min-Gu couldn''t hide his troubled expression.


    ¡°Then first, I should alter the conditions.¡±


    Bncing the tilted scale was the first thing that had to be settled.


    Calming himself by chewing nicotine gum, he thought as he closed his eyes, <i>There is only one way to make a mutually satisfactory deal in this world.</i>


    A win-win transaction was something that only happened in a situation where one had something the other wanted, which they couldn¡¯t get anywhere else, while desiring something from them in return.


    <i>In that case, what does he want at this point?</i>


    It had to be something Kai wanted and something he could offer. At the same time, it also had to be something only Pegasus could provide.


    After thinking for a moment, Kang Min-Gu sighed.


    <i>I guess information is the only way to go.</i>


    Information about <i>MID Online</i> was no different from currency. Depending on its use, it could not only bring money but also enhance fame and level, making it a versatile currency.


    For this reason, Pegasus Corporation did not even post basic strategy guides on their homepage, which everyone else did.


    <i>We realized the importance and value of information early on. No, we intentionally made it that way.</i>


    Kang Min-Gu thought Han Jung-Woo wanted to catch up with the rankers.


    <i>Judging from thest time he caused a major disturbance against the world''s top ten guilds... he¡¯s not the type to bow his head and just be a frontman somewhere.</i>


    If Han Jung-Woo truly wanted to catch up with them, he would inevitably need information that could help him grow faster than others and narrow the gap with the frontrunners.


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>... I¡¯m going to get reprimanded for this.¡±


    With a grimace, Kang Min-Gu made a call to someone through his hotline.


    The name disyed on the screen was so famous that anyone would recognize it. After all, the person on the other end of the call was Marco Fredrick, the CEO of Pegasus Corporation.


    ***


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Kai scanned his message log.


    <i>The XP distribution ratio when I kill monsters is nine to one.</i>


    In other words, unless Blizzard was cking off, hunting together would elerate growth! Moreover, he could restore the original XP ratio by unsummoning Blizzard.


    ¡°Not bad. Not bad at all. I¡¯ve roughly figured out what I needed to know, so time for some hunting... hmm?¡±


    Kai squinted and looked at the notification shing at the bottom of the interface.


    <i>It¡¯s early morning right now in the real world. But an email at this hour, huh... did the items I listed at the auction house already sell?</i>


    As he opened his inbox, his face crumpled like a discarded stic bottle on the street.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    [Hello. This is the administrator. I have something urgent to tell you...]


    ¡°...It''s spam mail.¡±


    There used to be such scammers back when he yed PC games. They would impersonate administrators and ask for yers¡¯ IDs and passwords, a scam tactic as old as elementary school tricks!


    <i>It¡¯s ridiculous, but there were idiots who fell for it.</i>


    Supply followed demand. The presence of victims kept such scams flourishing.


    <i>But in this day and age...</i>


    Shaking his head, Kai was about to delete the email when he suddenly stopped.


    ¡°...Wait a minute, this is my personal email.¡±


    That was right. The email had arrived in the personal email he used to verify his ount when signing up for the game.


    <i>There are spam letters offering gold loans overflowing in my in-game inbox, but... they wouldn¡¯t know my personal email, would they?</i>


    He wondered if his information had leaked through Michael, whom he had entrusted with video production.


    Furrowing his brows, Kai read the email¡¯s contents once again.


    ¡°Hmm...¡± A subtle groan escaped his mouth.


    <i>This really seems to be from an actual administrator.</i>


    Not only did the email btedly congratte him on obtaining a Mythic job ss, but it also mentioned how they always enjoyed watching Unknown¡¯s videos and, being a fan, hoped for an autograph someday.


    However, the most important content was something else.


    <i>Is it because I swept all the rankings in the instance dungeons?</i>


    He ranked first ce in the solo instance dungeons and his records were such that they would never be broken!


    Of course, Kai also knew from browsing themunity that he was the subject of rumors.


    <i>At first, I thought it would die down as always, but...</i>


    It seemed he had more anti-fans than he thought as the mes of the rumor that Unknown was a bug yer grew stronger over time.


    <i>I even suspected that the ck Bee guys had hired people to leavements.</i>


    However, Kai had enough discernment to recognize the truth.


    The people talking about him were ordinary yers. They knew well how unbelievable Kai''s record was and were skeptical because of it because a sudden entity had produced a result that no ranker had ever achieved before.


    <i>And all in just three days.</i>


    Kai, feeling bitter, smacked his lips and looked at the email again.


    <i>A proposal at this point in time... it seems Pegasus is also taking a hit, huh?</i>


    In fact, Pegasus''s stock price had slightly dropped on the day the rumors spread. It was the first time the graph, which had only been rising since <i>MID Online</i>''sunch, had fallen!


    That was likely what prompted them to take action.


    <i>If I were in Pegasus''s shoes, what would I ask from a handsome yer like me?</i>


    They would ask him to prove he wasn¡¯t a bug. In simpler terms, they would eventually ask for his gamey video.


    Kai¡¯s mind raced.


    <i>Undying Will is a skill that must be kept hidden, but...</i>


    In this case, it was a bit different. The Undying Will skill resurrected him when he took fatal damage, but that fact wasn''t revealed in the video of Kai running the dungeon.


    <i>I had already used it when fighting the nagas in the sea. No one watching this video would have realized I was in an invincible state.</i>


    No one would think there was an invincibility skill that couldst through four dungeons.


    Therefore, in the video, Kai just seemed like an extraordinarily tough yer.


    <i>As long as I insist on not revealing the Undying Will skill, it¡¯s not a video I can¡¯t hand over.</i>


    The most important thing was what he could get in return for providing the video.


    Kai wasn¡¯t intimidated by negotiating with the gigantic corporation Pegasus.


    <i>Isn''t it the thirsty man who digs the well?</i>


    Even if this deal fell through, he would only get med on the inte, and not by his real name, nor by his specific yer ID. It would only be the mask of Unknown getting cursed out!


    For Kai, this was a light matter he could watch with a yawn and a scratch of his belly.


    But from Pegasus''s perspective...


    <i>They¡¯d be burning with anxiety.</i>


    If they didn¡¯t exin this rumor properly, both yers and Pegasus''s shareholders would be unsettled. They wouldn¡¯t want their investments andpany stocks to turn into mere data and paper scraps.


    <i>And there¡¯s something even more important.</i>


    Kai, with a nonchnt expression, stretched.


    ¡°Seems like the experience from thest time paid off.¡±


    Kai had experienced flexing his power to the fullest during the impromptu auction against the world''s top ten guilds!


    Even now, the master of the Titan guild¡ªGoliath¡ªmight wake up in the middle of the night to grab the back of his neck, pissed.


    ¡°If not for this opportunity, when would I get to make demands of Pegasus Corporation again?¡±


    With the eyes of a predator hunting prey, Kai promptly replied to the administrator¡¯s email with an overly polite and pretentious tone, like a wolf in sheep''s clothing.

 Chapter 93: Deal (3)

    <h4>Chapter 93: Deal (3)</h4>


    When Kai sent an email expressing his desire to meet, a meeting was immediately scheduled. Pegasus wanted to meet as soon as possible, and Kai had no reason to dy either.


    <i>Do we really have to meet here, though?</i>


    With a puzzled expression, Kai checked the email again.


    Pegasus had requested to meet at the za of Aquaria.


    <i>Sure, city zas are perfect as meeting ces, but...</i>


    Now that he was at the za, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. Soon, a man approached him.


    ¡°Hello! I''m Kim Jun-Pyo, your guide for today. It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t give you my business card since we¡¯re in game. <i>Haha!</i>¡±


    ¡°Ah, hello...¡±


    The talkative man led Kai to the outskirts of the city, making various small talk along the way.


    ¡°I really enjoy watching your videos. When will you upload again?¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have anything nned yet.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame. As I mentioned in the email, I¡¯m a huge fan.¡±


    <i>So you were the one who sent the email.</i>


    As Kai nodded along to his chatter, Kim Jun-Pyo stopped in front of a small two-story house.


    ¡°Please,e in.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Thank you... huh?!¡±


    Expecting a narrow, old interior like Crawford¡¯s house from before, Kai was stunned by the sight before him.


    <i>Ring, ring, ring!</i>


    ¡°Mr. Park! Please answer the phone!¡±


    ¡°Rewrite these documents. Do you think this will get approval from the higher-ups?¡±


    ¡°Is the bug report not done yet?!¡±


    ¡°It is eighty percentplete!¡±


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>. Mr. Park, should we take ap around the hunting ground nearby during lunch? I¡¯m not trying to get boosted or anything, so feel free to say no if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Oh, why would I refuse? I¡¯d be happy to apany you, sir.¡±


    The vast space didn¡¯t match the exterior of the house.


    People in suits sat in partitioned spaces, typing away on keyboards.


    No matter how one looked at it, it was definitely a corporate office.


    ¡°Kai?¡± Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo loudly sped his hands and smiled at Kai, who looked dumbfounded. ¡°Oh, my apologies. I forgot to exin on the way here.¡±


    Frustrated, Kai red at him. ¡°What do you mean...?¡±


    Despite talking so much on the way, he still somehow failed to mention something so important.


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo repeatedly bowed his head in apology.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. Truly, I am. I¡¯ll exin as we go. This way, please.¡±


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo walked down the corridor to their left and gestured to their surroundings. ¡°Our employees jokingly call this ce the Room of Spirit and Time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me a year here is...?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s too far-fetched.¡± Visibly horrified, Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo shivered. ¡°Time here flows at the same speed as it does for other yers, which is three times faster than reality.¡±


    ¡°So this ce used to boost work efficiency, then?¡±


    Kai was the one who looked horrified now. This exact issue had recently be a social problem.


    <i>With the same sry, they can make their employees work thrice as much... I thought only trashy smallpanies did that.</i>


    He couldn¡¯t believe something like this was happening at Pegasus.


    Noticing Kai¡¯s ufortable expression, Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo hurriedly waved his hands. ¡°Wait, stop! I know what you¡¯re thinking, but it¡¯s really not like that. We¡¯re a major corporation, you know. We¡¯re one of the top five in the world.¡±


    What he said was true. ording to the rankings published by Forbes, Pegasus Corporation had secured fourth ce in the world''s corporate rankings, outranking numerouspanies and banks.


    ¡°As you know, this is illegal if enforced coercively, but it''s not a problem if done voluntarily. We even sign a contract for this upon employment and get paid three times the normal sry. Of course, we can choose to work at the office anytime we want, but...¡±


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo smiled brightly.


    ¡°Working from home has its advantages, and the pay is three times higher, so some employees prefer to work here. Take me for example. There are only a few of us, though¡ªprobably just around a thousand. ¡±


    ¡°A thousand? This ce is quite spacious, but... can it really amodate a thousand people?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this is just the first floor. This building has twenty. It can probably hold three thousand people.¡±


    Pegasus Corporation''s audacity to build a skyscraper inside the game rendered Kai speechless.


    <i>Well, they are developers. It¡¯s only natural for them to pull off feats like this.</i>


    Although otherpanies had set up branches within the game, they unfortunatelycked the technology to turn a two-story house into a twenty-story building. They also had to pay astronomical sums to buy in-game buildings.


    <i>So Pegasus Corporation makes money this way too. I learned something new today.</i>


    The umted funds would offset the losses incurred when yers converted gold to cash.


    ¡°A thousand employees is actually quite small for a Pegasus branch. From minor fraud and theft torger PK cases, tens of thousands of incidents happen in <i>MID Online </i>daily. The yers even conduct unauthorized guild wars, a feature that hasn¡¯t been implemented yet. Without the staff working here, <i>MID Online</i> would have shut down long ago. I¡¯d bet on it.¡±


    ¡°Still... what if a passing yer or NPC opens the front door?¡±


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo cheerfullyughed, then tapped the ID hanging around his neck. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. Even the interior of this building just looks like a regr house to anyone who doesn¡¯t have this employee ID.¡±


    The two stepped onto a teleportation magic circle.


    ¡°Twentieth floor.¡±


    Their surroundings changed in an instant.


    Noticing Kai looking at the employee ID enviously, Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo quickly hid it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work outside this building, so please stop staring at it. You''re scaring me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡±


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo led Kai to the end of the twentieth-floor hallway and knocked on a door made of pure white material.


    ¡°Impressive door, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s made of solid mithril. If they give me even just the handle when I retire, I won¡¯t even need a retirement package...¡±


    Upon hearing a polite voice from inside the room, his endless chatter finally stopped.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s calling for you. This is where I take my leave. It was nice meeting you.¡±


    Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo winked. In response, Kai quickly entered the room, seemingly trying to escape from him.


    The moment Kai saw the man sitting at the desk, his eyes sparkled.


    <i>... He has to be Kang Min-Gu, the branch manager of Pegasus Korea. I¡¯ve seen him in the newspapers before.</i>


    Who would have thought that he would meet face-to-face and negotiate with someone he had only seen in the news and newspapers?


    As Kai was reminiscing about the past, branch manager Kang Min-Gu walked over to him and extended his right hand.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I am Kang Min-Gu, the branch manager of Pegasus'' Korean branch office.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Kai¡ªHan Jung-Woo, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Please use whichever you prefer. I¡¯m fine with anything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with Unknown, then.¡±


    A strange light flickered in Kang Min-Gu''s eyes, then quickly disappeared.


    Kai calling himself Unknown was a warning not to forget who held the power in this negotiation.


    <i>Interesting.</i>


    Kang Min-Gu instinctively felt that Kai would be difficult to handle.


    ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    Drawn by his now more polite tone, Kai sat down and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for a lengthy conversation, so if you don¡¯t mind, shall we get straight to the point?¡±


    ¡°... Let¡¯s do that.¡±


    Only Kang Min-Gu''s eyes showed his nervousness, the rest of his face emotionless.


    Since bing a branch manager, he had never had to make a concession to anyone. It had been so long since he hadst dealt with someone who could push him without giving him any room.


    ¡°As I¡¯m sure you already know, Kai¡ªno, Unknown, I called you over because of the instance dungeon record you set.¡±


    ¡°If Pegasus suspects it¡¯s a bug as well...¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t see it as one. As developers, we can verify that much. Youbined the effects of Undying Will and the Magic Conch, correct?¡±


    Kai nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Currently, many yers are asking if it¡¯s a bug. We feel obligated to promptly respond to their inquiries.¡±


    <i>Obligated, my butt. You¡¯re probably doing this because of the shareholders.</i>


    Kai decided to y along with the obvious act. ¡°I see. So you want my personal gamey videos, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Of course, your demands will be positively considered in return.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    After pondering for a moment, Kai prepared to leave. ¡°I¡¯m calling this deal off, then.¡±


    ¡°What? Wait, what do you mean...?¡±


    Kang Min-Gu¡¯s mask shattered, revealing a bewildered expression. He hurriedly stood up and followed Kai, who had declined the deal before they could even discuss the specifics.


    Kai sighed quietly. ¡°I¡¯m not here for you to positively consider my demands. I want you to absolutely meet them. You know what skills like Undying Will mean to us yers. This is a rightful demand, not greed.¡±


    ¡°But our position¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just as you prioritize Pegasus¡¯ stance, I¡¯m prioritizing mine. If our interests don¡¯t align, I¡¯m backing out of this deal.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Frustration enveloped Kang Min-Gu¡¯s face. Although he had already known that Han Jung-Woo was exceptional for his age, a part of him still underestimated the twenty-two-year-old.


    <i>I thought he¡¯d just nod along if I sweet-talked him...</i>


    However, upon meeting him in person, he quickly learned that Kai should not be taken lightly.


    Now aware that he wasn''t just dealing with some ordinary kid, he bowed ny degrees.


    ¡°I apologize for our inadequate preparation. I swear on my name that your reasonable demands will be absolutely met. Can we continue our discussion?¡±


    <i>Reasonable demands, huh?</i>


    Although Kai didn¡¯t get exactly what he wanted, he did reaffirm to himself and his opponent that he held the upper hand in this negotiation.


    Eventually, Kai reluctantly nodded and sat down.


    ¡°It¡¯s disconcerting to see you bowing like that, Branch Manager. Please, take a seat.¡±


    Kai treated Kang Min-Gu, the owner of the room, as if he were the guest!


    Suppressing a bitterugh, Kang Min-Gu quietly sat down.


    ¡°How about we start with what Pegasus has prepared in exchange for my videos?¡± Kai asked.


    ¡°As you wish. Initially, we prepared marypensation...¡± Reading the disinterest in Kai''s eyes, Kang Min-Gu quickly changed direction. ¡°... but we decided it would be better to provide information only our developers would know.¡±


    ¡°That sounds good.¡± Kai slightly leaned forward and smiled broadly. ¡°Whether our deal seeds or not will depend on the value of that information.¡±


    ¡°... I hope it meets your expectations.¡±


    Kai was clearly trying to get the most out of this opportunity!


    Facing Kai, who openly disyed such a predatory look, Kang Min-Gu forced a smile. ¡°We are nning an event.¡±


    ¡°What kind of event?¡±


    ¡°<i>MID Online</i> has about seventy million concurrent users right now, and our total yer count will soon exceed seven hundred million. We n to hold an event to celebrate reaching seven hundred seventy-seven million seven hundred thousand users.¡±


    ¡°... And the information you¡¯re giving me is about this event?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Depending on how you utilize this information, you can obtain items, levels, fame, and whatever else you desire to your satisfaction.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    It wasn''t a bad offer. Having exclusive ess to information unknown to seven hundred million users and using it to gain additional benefits was as easy as pie.


    <i>But it¡¯s not enough. It would be too disappointing if that information was all I could get from this deal.</i>


    After all, this would likely be thest time he¡¯d get to be in such an advantageous position against Pegasus Corporation.


    <i>Phew... this is driving me crazy. I want to get more out of this, but if I push too hard, I might antagonize Pegasus.... Should I push further or pull back?</i>


    While Kai was deep in contemtion, struggling with a once-in-a-lifetime dilemma, something happened that neither he nor Kang Min-Gu expected.


    <strong>[¡°Bargaining¡± skill activated. You can now partially identify the other party¡¯s feelings.]</strong>


    <strong>[Kang Min-Gu: Restless, Anxious. ???, ???.]</strong>


    At the same time, Kai made the dumbest expression he had made since entering Kang Min-Gu¡¯s office.


    ¡°... Huh?¡±

 Chapter 94: Deal (4)

    <h4>Chapter 94: Deal (4)</h4>


    "Hm? Is there a problem?" Kang Min-Gu tilted his head and asked at Kai''s dumbfounded reaction.


    "Oh, no. Nothing."


    Kai managed the situation with an awkwardugh, cold sweating as he looked at the interface window before him.


    <i>Bargaining skill? This is...</i>


    A past memory shed through his mind! It was the memory of purchasing the Riddle Skill Books at the Old Bookstore a few days ago.


    <i>Come to think of it, that¡¯s when the Bargaining skill level went up.</i>


    Moreover, a message had appeared, stating that he could slightly gauge the other party¡¯s feelings during bargains.


    <i>Okay. That much I understand. But that skill shouldn¡¯t work on other yers... would it?</i>


    However, the interface window still visible before him proved that this was indeed happening.


    <i>That means... Kang Min-Gu isn¡¯t a yer character!</i>


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t the first time such a thing had happened. In fact, some of the NPCs in the cash shop were operated by administrators.


    <i>So the Kang Min-Gu in front of me is a yable character based on an NPC.</i>


    Kai¡¯s guess was close to the truth. The Kang Min-Gu before him was an NPC character specially created for this transaction since the branch manager had no time to y the game regrly.


    <i>This is an opportunity for me.</i>


    Of course, branch manager Kang Min-Gu couldn¡¯t have predicted this situation. If he had known beforehand, he would have arranged a meeting in real life or created a personal character for the transaction.


    <i>Who would have thought a skill would activate by recognizing him as an NPC?</i>


    As a result, this situation was a huge advantage for Kai.


    <i>The Bargaining skill level is still low, so I can¡¯t get detailed feelings, but...</i>


    Even realizing Kang Min-Gu¡¯s emotions of anxiety and uneasiness allowed Kai to decide whether to roll the dice or not.


    ¡°Hmm... information about the event. I don¡¯t know about that.¡±


    Seeing the slightly uneasy expression on Kai''s face, Kang Min-Gu cautiously asked, ¡°Is there something about our offer that you find unsatisfactory...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. To be honest, I feel it¡¯s a bitcking.¡±


    Kang Min-Gu shut his mouth at Kai''s blunt words.


    <i>He¡¯s different from his gamey videos. Was he always this bold?</i>


    He never would have thought that Kai would y hardball in this situation!


    Kai didn''t give the slightly bewildered Kang Min-Gu any time to regain hisposure and said, ¡°There¡¯s actually one piece of information I want. Just add that one thing.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me what you have in mind, and then I¡¯ll decide.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. You¡¯re nning anothernd conquest event, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Kang Min-Gu fell silent,pletely caught off guard by the request.


    <i>Of course, we¡¯re nning thend conquest event, but... why is he asking about that suddenly?</i>


    From Kang Min-Gu¡¯s perspective, it was a puzzling question that naturally made him tilt his head.


    Conquest events were meant forrge and well-known guilds, which had no apparent connection to a solo yer like Kai!


    ¡°We are nning it, but... may I ask why you¡¯re interested in it?¡±


    ¡°I need to know at least the approximate date to prepare for it.¡±


    ¡°Prepare for it...?¡±


    Kang Min-Gu showed an incredulous expression, but quickly realized his mistake and erased his expression.


    <i>Could he really be thinking of participating in the conquest event? Alone?</i>


    Kang Min-Gu skillfully suppressed theughter that was about to erupt.


    <i>He¡¯s quick-witted and smart for his age... but he¡¯s still naive.</i>


    Kang Min-Gu felt a sense of ease. Even if he provided information about the conquest event update, Kai would achieve nothing.


    <i>That¡¯s the limit of a solo yer. The game is just like a society.</i>


    Moreover, <i>MID Online</i> was an unprecedented mega-society connecting the entire world!


    Of course, Kang Min-Gu understood Kai¡¯s mindset. As a sessful person himself, he could empathize with Kai''s feelings.


    <i>He¡¯s at the stage when he would be full of confidence. Everything probably looks within his grasp.</i>


    Since his promotion to a Sris Cleric, Kai¡¯s path had been nothing but triumph. Though he wore the mask of Unknown, he had be an overnight star and even the world¡¯s top ten guilds didn¡¯t scare him. Naturally, small and medium-sized guilds wouldn¡¯t catch his eye.


    <i>But he¡¯ll soon learn that the world isn¡¯t so easy. Perhaps this opportunity will make him a more mature adult.</i>


    Kang Min-Gu smiled, revealing his white teeth, and said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll provide the event schedule and thend conquest event update date in exchange for the video.¡±


    Despite some twists and turns, it was ultimately a deal both parties were able to smile about.


    ***


    The transaction proceeded smoothly.


    Kai thoroughly removed any parts from the video that could hint at his skills or identity, and Pegasus had no choice but toply with his demands.


    <i>Information about the event and thend conquest. This is perfect.</i>


    The official name of the uing event Pegasus was ¡®Invasion.¡¯ Event monsters and boss monsters would pour out across the continent, and yers would gather points by defeating them.


    <i>It¡¯s simr to the orc expedition event. However...</i>


    Back then, about two-hundred yers werepetitors, but now there would be 700 million! Or course, the rewards for the event would also be far superior to those of the past.


    <i>The conquest event update is still a few months away, so I can prepare for that slowly.</i>


    The reason Kai insisted on getting the date for the conquest event update was simple.


    ¡°I need to know the date to start preparing.¡±


    When the conquest event was updated, even guilds that usually stayed low-profile would start going to war. War meant opportunity, and that opportunity was to seize both money and fame!


    <i>And if pushes to shove, I can use the information I received as a bargaining chip.</i>


    The date of thend conquest update was still just a rumor, and only Kai knew it.


    Inevitably, the value of monopolized information was very high.


    <i>But for now, growth is more important than thinking about these things.</i>


    That thought was right.


    Getting ahead of oneself never ended well!


    In fact, Kang Min-Gu was estimating that the Invasion event would ur roughly one to two monthster. Since he would be informed of the exact dateter, he just needed to prepare calmly.


    <i>For the time being, I should just hole up in the hunting grounds and level up a bit.</i>


    Originally, Kai nned to hunt leisurely like everyone else because with his current specs, he was confident he could grow faster than others even while hunting at a rxed pace.


    <i>But judging by the situation, it seems I don¡¯t have much time to take things easy.</i>


    In that case, he needed to go to a hunting ground where he could exert all his strength to its fullest, 100%, or even 120%.


    It needed to be a hunting ground where he could level up to at least 100 without much trouble, and at the same time, where he could level up without attracting attention.


    ¡°No matter how much I think about it, there are only two ces.¡±


    One was the deep sea where he had been until recently. He couldpletely block out being seen by others and also get help from the merfolk. However, the only drawback was that the monsters in the deep sea were generally high-level.


    <i>And the other ce is...</i>


    It was a graveyard filled with skeletons, zombies, and wraiths! Since there weren''t many Clerics in <i>MID Online</i>, these hunting grounds weren¡¯t popr among other yers.


    <i>Hmm. If I were alone, I would go to the deep sea, but...</i>


    But now he also needed to raise Blizzard.


    Thinking of Blizzard floundering underwater, Kai shook his head.


    ¡°The graveyard seems to be the better option.¡±


    It was a ce where he could fully utilize his power as a Cleric.


    ***


    The Melbarun Graveyard was a ce inhabited by level 110 monsters, usually skeletons.


    Due to the nature of skeletons, the materials they dropped were just smelly bones. Moreover, Rare items rarely dropped, and asionally, the field boss ck Skeleton Knight appeared.


    In short, it wasn¡¯t an appealing ce unless one were a Cleric or a Pdin ss.


    The deserted graveyard looked so deste it seemed like a ghost might pop out at any moment.


    ¡°Summon Blizzard.¡±


    As he designated the location, a magic circle was drawn on the ground, and Blizzard was summoned atop it.


    As he was summoned, a message window appeared simultaneously.


    <strong>[Enhanced Summoning grants you ¡°increased attack.¡±]</strong>


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Kai''s face brightened.


    From various tests of Enhanced Summoning, the attack power increase buff was among the better oues.


    ¡°Crooaar!¡±


    As soon as he was summoned, Blizzard let out a roar!


    He hadn¡¯t yet been equipped with armor. To equip him, a hole needed to be drilled in the tail part, but there hadn¡¯t been time to visit the cksmith.


    <i>I¡¯ll just quickly level him up to 100 and then drill a hole in the Armor of the Undead set to equip him.</i>


    Kai swiftly sliced the air vertically in front of him with his index finger.


    ¡°You hunt on the left, I¡¯ll hunt on the right. Let me know if you¡¯re about to die.¡±


    ¡°Krrrk!¡±


    Blizzard mmed his tail on the ground, indicating he wouldn¡¯t die so easily! Then, after receiving the buff, he eagerly dashed off to hunt.


    ¡°Then I should get to work too. This is nostalgic, feels good.¡±


    When he conquested the Tomb of Gnolls, he had simrly faced a crowd of skeletons. However, what had changed since then was his growth.


    <i>Back then, I could only use Holy Explosion...</i>


    Now, Kai had a more diverse array of skills, and the purpose of this hunt was to practice using those skills more effectively!


    <i>I need to research the best damage-dealing cycle.</i>


    As Kai approached, a skeleton knight wandering the graveyard red at him.


    <i>-Human... I will... destroy your... bones and flesh...</i>


    ttering its jaw, the rude skeleton knight picked a fight out of nowhere!


    The sword it drew from its scabbard was heavily rusted.


    Of course, the moment one got hit, they would exim that it looks like it won¡¯t do much, but that its attack power is filthy high!


    <i>First...</i>


    In the past, Kai would have cautiously focused on defense and analyzed the enemy¡¯s pattern, but now, he didn¡¯t need to bother. He had grown to the point where he could ignore the patterns of such minor bone creatures.

 Chapter 95: Hunter’s Night (1)

    <h4>Chapter 95: Hunter¡¯s Night (1)</h4>


    <i>Craaack!</i>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    It had been six days since Kai arrived at the Melbarun Graveyard. During that time, he leveled up five times, bringing his level to 95, and his immediate goal of reaching level 100 was now within sight.


    <i>Blizzard has also grown a lot.</i>


    Blizzard¡¯s swordsmanship skills had improved to beginner level 7 after several days of hunting, bing much more agile.


    As the two skilled hunters, Kai and Blizzard, monopolized the hunting ground, their XP increased rapidly.


    ¡°This is whyrge guilds are so eager to take over hunting grounds.¡±


    No one would have thought that simply not havingpetition would result in such fast XP gains!


    After looking at the piles of bones around him, Kai lit a campfire and crouched beside it.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 95</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 28,500</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 34,900</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 370 Stamina: 285</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 226 Agility: 200</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 349 Dignity: 167</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 106</strong>


    <strong>Casting Time -30%</strong>


    <strong>Skill Cooldown -9%</strong>


    <strong>Damage Received -3%</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense +40%</strong>


    <i>Just a little bit more now.</i>


    There were only a few levels left before he would be able to upgrade from the Armor of the Undead set!


    The equipment hemissioned from Solid was likely finished by now, but he nned to pick it up after reaching level 100.


    <i>I can¡¯t use it just yet anyway.</i>


    Having gauged his skill, Solid would likely have made the equipment with a level 100 requirement, so picking it up now would only make him impatient.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s time to feed Blizzard. Unsummon, summon.¡±


    Blizzard, who had been hunting far away, was instantly summoned before him.


    Despite the sudden change in scenery, Blizzard naturally extended his hand without any sign of surprise. It showed he had gotten used to this routine over the past six days.


    ¡°Here, eat first and then get back to work.¡±


    When he handed over the bread and soup he had taken out from his inventory and heated, Blizzard ate it deliciously.


    Watching him, Kai also tasted the soup and opened themunity window.


    Although nothing earth-shattering had urred in the past couple days, quite a lot had still happened.


    <i>First, the bug controversy about me haspletely disappeared.</i>


    The video released by Pegasus Corporation had done its job perfectly. As a result, the number of hatements significantly decreased, and donations were gradually increasing. Of course, Pegasus Corporation''s stock price was also recovering.


    <i>And... those ck Market guys finally used it.</i>


    With the Wanderer¡¯s Guiding Bracelet he had sold to them, they entered the Ancient King''s Dungeon and sessfully conquered it. The conquest video was streamed live on TV, and now it could be purchased online for a fee.


    <i>I never thought ck Market, considered the weakest among the world''s top ten guilds, would have such strength.</i>


    ck Market was fundamentally a guild formed by artisans of crafting and production sses.


    Currently, Sandro was the guild master, but he couldn¡¯t control the guild however he wanted. Whenever something happened, the seven production ss artisans voted, and they only moved with a majority decision.


    Naturally, being a ce where production ss yers gathered, it didn¡¯t have many highly ranked yers.


    <i>...or so I thought.</i>


    But they were living in the 21st century, the era of capitalism, and the power money held was much more significant than expected.


    ck Market hired high-ranking mercenaries not affiliated with any guild at high prices, and produced a wless dungeon conquest video that raised awareness among those who had looked down on them.


    <i>They must have bought it at such a high price with this intention to begin with.</i>


    ck Market, which had been in a risky position even among the world''s top ten guilds, solidified its position by perfectly conquering the Ancient King''s Dungeon.


    <i>And more people are undertaking the second job change quest.</i>


    Six months into the release of <i>MID Online</i>, the title of master was now only given to those who had surpassed level 200, and the information they released was about the second job change quest!


    That was the reason why Kai had focused solely on hunting with a sense of urgency over the past few days.


    <i>No matter how much of a hidden ss I am, I can¡¯t dominate alone until the game ends.</i>


    While ordinary ss yers didn''t possess his overwhelming strength, they steadily grew stronger over time. If he became careless just because he was doing well now, it would only be a matter of time before he became azy rabbit.


    However, these concerns weren¡¯t what was most important at the moment.


    ¡°Ugh...¡±


    Melbarun Graveyard was an unpopr hunting ground, but it wasn¡¯tpletely deserted of yers. In fact, while hunting, Kai had seen quite a few parties hunting together.


    However, today was the first time rumors had spread about him hunting there, and the reason for the spread of the rumors was ridiculous.


    <strong>[Found Unknown hunting in Melbarun Graveyard! I asked for an autograph, but he refused. Sob sob ?_? #Unknown, #Unknown''spersonality, #Abitrudemuch? #Still cool.]</strong>


    ¡°Seriously...¡±


    Kai clicked his tongue lightly, holding his throbbing forehead.


    <i>I remember this party... Did they write this just because I didn¡¯t give them an autograph when they asked? They¡¯re doing this to screw me over, right?</i>


    The Armor of the Undead set had now be a symbol representing Unknown. In other words, as long as he wore it while hunting, nearly everyone would recognize him.


    Naturally, there were always yers pestering him for autographs while he hunted. Of course, Kai didn¡¯t see the value in it and always turned them down, but this was the first time something like this had happened.


    <i>At least I was hunting far away from Blizzard...</i>


    Since he only called Blizzard to eat, their rtionship hadn''t been exposed.


    However, the fact that they posted the photo without his permission, revealing his location, greatly annoyed Kai.


    <i>Tap tap.</i>


    ¡°Pua pua.¡±


    Having finished his meal, Blizzard put the bowl down and made a happy sound.


    ¡°Already leaving?¡±


    ¡°Krrooog.¡±


    ¡°You can rest a bit longer...¡±


    Blizzard shook his head.


    ¡°Well, alright then. Don¡¯t die.¡±


    Blizzard nodded. He was truly a promising warrior of the lizardman tribe! He loved hunting so much that it was second only to his love for fighting.


    <i>As his master, I can''t bezier than my summon.</i>


    Kai stepped on the campfire to put it out and looked up at the gloomy sky.


    <i>Days that start like this always end up being unlucky...</i>


    Based on the past two weeks, there were no significant dangers in this area. However, since his location was revealed, he thought the ck Bee guys could take some action.


    ¡°Damn it, should I move hunting grounds?¡±


    Scratching his head, Kai nodded as he looked at the skeletons respawning ahead.


    <i>I have no choice. It¡¯s better to be safe... Let¡¯s move to the Silent Forest nearby.</i>


    Looking once more at the photo of himself on social media, Kai irritably closed themunity window.


    ***


    "The tail gets caught if it¡¯s too long.[1]"


    The man with a threatening look and military-style short hair smirked as he massaged his shoulder with a hand the size of a pot lid.


    He was looking at a photo that a yer had posted on social media.


    "Apparently this guy is at Melbarun Graveyard."


    The one who responded was a Spearman who was also looking at the photo.


    "The photo was posted just twenty minutes ago. He probably hasn¡¯t gotten far."


    "Isn¡¯t the appropriate level for Melbarun Graveyard around 105?"


    "The monsters are around level 110, so that sounds about right."


    "But thest time Unknown''s level was revealed was..."


    "About a week ago. At that time, he was level 88."


    "So assuming he¡¯s been grinding hard, he would be around level 92 now, right?"


    "But to achieve that speed, he would need guild-level support..."


    "No. That guy can manage on his own. He''s quite exceptional."


    Rubbing his thick square jaw, the superior chuckled and said, "Who do we have near that area right now?"


    "Teams twenty-four and thirty-seven are hunting around there."


    "Let''s see... the team leaders are Melt and Havir, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Send them all. Kill this bastard and bring me a screenshot."


    "But both are around level 130. Even one team should be enough to handle Unknown..."


    "<i>Tsk, tsk, tsk</i>."


    The man who had got up from his seat patted the Spearman''s shoulder. Each pat made the Spearman''s body shake like an earthquake.


    "Don¡¯t you think I know that? I just want to teach this guy a lesson to show him whom he dared to mess with. To make it clear why an individual shouldn¡¯t mess with a group."


    "But if regr yers find out about this, we might face bacsh..."


    "Regr yers? Why should I care about them?"


    With a smirk, the man moved close to the Spearman and put an arm around his shoulders.


    "Who am I?"


    "You¡¯re the master of the Titan guild."


    "Right. I¡¯m the owner of one of the top ten guilds in the world. Imand hundreds of guild members, and TV stations, newspapers, and magazines are constantly requesting interviews."


    Though Goliath''s self-praise sounded quite obnoxious, it was all true. He was the number one ranked martial artist and eighteenth overall in the rankings. He was the giant Goliath, boasting a height of two meters. And the existence of Kai greatly irritated him.


    <i>How dare that punk kick me out of the chat room?</i>


    He recalled the time he called Unknown a madman and got forcibly removed from the chat room, leaving him staring nkly at the message that he was removed for four hours.


    Goliath''s face scrunched in anger and said irritably, "Tell Melt and Havir that if they need any support, they can ask for anything."


    "Hmm... it seems you are a bitte, Master."


    The Spearman, who felt an unfamiliar feeling as if a gori had its arm around his shoulder, grinned.


    "They reported spotting Unknown heading from the Melbarun Graveyard to the Silent Forest."


    "They didn¡¯t attack him right away, did they?"


    "Of course not. They said they would handle it as usual."


    The Titan guild was known for using the advantages of having numerous people better than anyone else. Their tactic was to torment their target, which was why the Titan guild had as many as one hundred teams.


    "So the hunt''s about to begin then," Goliathughed.


    1. A Korean proverb that means if one continuously does something, no matter how secretly they do it, they would get caught. ?

 Chapter 96: Hunter’s Night (2)

    <h4>Chapter 96: Hunter¡¯s Night (2)</h4>


    Perhaps humans had the ability to use foresight.


    There were days when one had a strong, inexplicable feeling that something bad was going to happen, for example, like when one felt that a part they didn¡¯t study for would be on the test often turned out to be true, or when someone¡¯s body felt heavy, they would end up tripping over something as if by fate.


    Today was exactly such a day for Kai.


    <i>I should be extra careful today.</i>


    At times like this, one had to be wary even of a falling leaf!


    As Kai walked through the Silent Forest, he immediately stepped aside when he saw other yers approaching from the opposite direction.


    <i>I shouldn¡¯t give anyone a reason to pick a fight.</i>


    However, to cut to the chase, that decision was naive.


    "Ow!"


    Kai¡¯s shoulders lightly bumped into someone else¡¯s.


    In real life, it would have been a minor incident where both would just apologize and move on. However, the other person screamed and copsed as if they had stubbed their toe on a door frame.


    Thepanions immediately scowled and started speaking.


    "What? What happened?"


    "Ahh, my shoulder... That jerk hit me!"


    "What? Who are you?"


    "How can you hit someone and not even apologize?"


    Thepanions quickly ganged up on Kai. Their behavior was absurd, but the fact was that their shoulders did bump.


    <i>It wouldn¡¯t have hurt that much though...</i>


    However, if the other person¡¯s Strength stat was low, it could not only hurt but also cause damage to their HP.


    Kai bowed his head. "My apologies. I wasn¡¯t looking ahead."


    "Do you think apologizing is enough?"


    "If a simple apology would solve everything, why would we need police andws?"


    "...Oh."


    Kai''s brows furrowed. This was clearly a deliberate provocation.


    Kai silently scanned them.


    <i>Who are these guys?</i>


    They pretended to be concerned about their friend, but none of them were actually helping them up. Instead, they spread out naturally, blocking Kai¡¯s escape routes!


    Although the reason was unknown, it was clear that the shoulder bump was no ident.


    As soon as Kai realized this, his words were no longer polite. "That¡¯s how you guys are gonna be even though I apologized? Okay, so, what, do you want marypensation or something?"


    "What? Do you think we¡¯re beggars?"


    "How dare you talk to us like that!"


    "Wait a minute, isn¡¯t this bastard Unknown?"


    "Oh, yeah, it is! Wow. So famous people can just go around hitting normal people like this, huh?¡±


    "What¡¯s going on here?"


    Another party approached them nonchntly.


    "Melt, you¡¯re just in time. This jerk hit me and then asked how much it would take to settle."


    "Does he think he¡¯s a billionaire or something?"


    "Should I ask him forpensation of about a billion won?"


    "<i>Ahaha</i>. If he pays that much, we might just let him off."


    In an instant, the number of Kai¡¯s opponents turned into eight people. Naturally, the encirclement around Kai was now twice as tight as before.


    <i>Which group are they from?</i>


    First, they weren¡¯t from ck Bee. The ck Bee were a bunch of crazies who only epted Wizards as guild members, so there was no way they would be going around threatening people with their fists, swords, or spears like these guys were.


    <i>If it¡¯s not them, then there shouldn¡¯t be anyone who would hate me this much... Oh.</i>


    Suddenly, one person came to mind.


    <i>Wait a minute. Could it be Goliath?</i>


    The first thought that came to mind was that it was absurd. The only thing he had done to Goliath was kick him out of the chat room.


    <i>Would he really be this petty over that?</i>


    Kai found himself chuckling even at the idea of it.


    <i>... No way.</i>


    However, it was always best to be sure!


    Kai, suppressing his nagging doubt, asked, ¡°What business does the Titan guild have with me?¡±


    As if they had all been electrocuted at once, the group flinched simultaneously! They looked at each other with bewildered expressions.


    <i>What? How does he know us?</i>


    <i>Did you guys b before we got here?</i>


    <i>Nonsense. Can¡¯t you see we even removed our guild emblems?</i>


    <i>Then how does that bastard know who we are?</i>


    <i>... Who knows?</i>


    Many questions were exchanged through their nces!


    One man, who quickly collected himself, stuttered out a reply. ¡°What are you talking about... You¡¯re greatly mistaken. We don¡¯t even know who they are.¡±


    Then Kai responded, ¡°Judging by your gear, you¡¯re at least level 120. Are you saying you don¡¯t know about the Titan guild, one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds?¡±


    ¡°Well, of course we know, but... they have nothing to do with us.¡±


    ¡°Hmm... No, I¡¯m pretty sure you were sent by Goliath.¡±


    ¡°No, we weren¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Then say ¡®Goliath is a bastard.¡¯¡±


    ¡°<i>Ha</i>! Goliath is a bas...¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡±


    Arade¡¯s elbow jabbed him roughly, making him mp his mouth shut as he came to his senses.


    Kai shrugged with a disappointed expression. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I thought I caught an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Seriously. We¡¯re not Titan guild members! Why don¡¯t you believe us?¡±


    ¡°No, seriously, you guys are Titan guild members. Why don¡¯t you believe me?¡±


    Despite having dealt with many cases, this was the first time the Titan guild members encountered someone so unreasonably stubborn!


    Their eyes turned cold as they judged Kai to be a lunatic. They exchanged nces and drew their weapons simultaneously.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone so unreasonable.¡±


    ¡°Wow, has there ever been a reasonable person when picking a fight? What, did you pick a fight with Buddha or something?¡± Kai retorted.


    ¡°... Anyway, you hurt myrade, so you must pay for your sins.¡±


    ¡°Hurt? Yourrade is standing there perfectly fine with a sword, ready to hit me.¡± Kai scoffed at the absurdity of the situation.


    ¡°You sure have a lot to say!¡±


    ¡°He could probably talk someone¡¯s ear off.¡±


    With insults, the Titan guild members charged at him! Annoying as they were, their attacks were fierce.


    <i>Titan guild. They¡¯re famous for their coordinated attacks,</i>


    Kai had heard rumors about the guild. The moment one joined the guild, they were ced in a team and received special training with their teammates, and that special training involved the coordinated attacks he was now facing.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sword deflected the two iing weapons as fast as lightning. Then, Holy Chains shot out from his left hand!


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The Titan guild members, startled by the unfamiliar skill, were taken aback and retreated backward.


    This created a slight gap and Holy Chain surged urately through that opening.


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    "Huh? What?"


    The chain wrapped around the neck of the guy at the back. The moment Melt, the leader of team twenty-four, couldn¡¯t contain his shock and his eyes widened, his body was yanked forward like a water skier tied to a motorboat.


    "<i>Kugh</i>!"


    "Melt!"


    Bouncing on the ground, Melt was instantly dragged toward Kai.


    Kai stomped on Melt''s chest as he squirmed at his feet.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    "Argh!"


    <i>When dealing with a group, take out the leader first.</i>


    Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy ensured victory even in a hundred battles.


    From the moment the fight began, Kai identified the positions of his enemies.


    <i>Two of them aren¡¯t immediately engaging and are observing from the rear.</i>


    One was a Spearman, and the other was a Wizard.


    They were likely the highest-ranked among the group.


    So, Kai decided to capture one of them. The one now pinned under his foot was the Wizard, Melt.


    <i>I need to make him lose his senses first.</i>


    Kai¡¯sbat experience since learning swordsmanship was now considerable. In fact, since he always solo-yed, he was well-versed in fighting against multiple opponents, and taking out the leader was a basic strategy, even against monsters.


    <i>Besides, these guys rely heavily on coordinated tactics.</i>


    Coordinated tactics involved each attack covering the others¡¯ gaps, giving the enemy no room to breathe, but of course, poorly executed coordination was worse than none at all.


    <i>However, their coordination isn¡¯t sloppy at all.</i>


    The Titan guild¡¯s raid videos always received consistent apuse when uploaded because their coordinated tactics always operated smoothly like well-oiled gears. Their movements in battle resembled a military dance, and the beauty of the entire guild moving as one living entity was visually stunning.


    <i>In that case, I need to jam the gears to the point where they screech to a halt.</i>


    What Kai was doing now was no different from inserting foreign material between the gears.


    Kai pulled the chain backward while slowly retreating. With each pull, Melt was dragged along, and Kai kept stabbing him in the heart while keeping the others at bay.


    "<i>Kugh</i>, let... let go...!"


    "Damn it! Melt, we¡¯ll avenge you!"


    "What are you doing, you idiots? Ignore him and attack!"


    At themand of Havir, the leader of team thirty-seven, the Titan guild members came to their senses. They quickly spread out and unleashed a barrage of skills.


    However, Kai¡¯s eyes, facing the danger in front of him, shined brighter than ever.


    <i>Their coordination has indeed loosened.</i>


    As mentioned earlier, the essence of coordinated tactics was timing and smooth execution. This required hundreds or even thousands of practice runs together.


    <i>Then, what if a situation unfolds that¡¯s entirely different from the hundreds or thousands of times they¡¯ve practiced?</i>


    Kai introduced just a slight sense of unfamiliarity and anxiousness¡ªjust enough they would feel that things were slightly different from usual¡ªand that was enough to slow their movements.


    <i>Especially those two, their movements have noticeably slowed.</i>


    In an instant, Kai categorized the enemies into two groups, the malfunctioning gears and the still-functional gears, andunched his attack.


    His targets were the still-functional gears. He needed topletely destroy them to cause the machine to malfunction.


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    ¡°Argh, what kind of skill is this?!¡±


    A Warrior swung his sword to deflect the iing Holy Chain.


    Of course, what Kai responded with wasn¡¯t a kind exnation but a brutal sword strike.


    Kai precisely thrust his sword into the small joint on the Warrior¡¯s sturdy armor shoulder. Then, he quickly wrapped Holy Chain around the Warrior''s neck and dashed through the dark forest.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Get him!¡±


    ¡°Chase him!¡±


    ¡°But how is he so fast...?¡±


    The Titan guild members hurriedly chased after Kai!


    Kai, running with the Warrior tucked under his left arm, summoned another Holy Chain and wrapped it around his right hand.


    ¡°Wh-what are you do¡ªAaaaah!¡±


    The Warrior¡¯s question turned into a scream as Kai¡¯s fist struck the sword handle!


    <i>Bam, bam, bam!</i>


    With Holy Chain wrapped around his fist like brass knuckles, Kai felt no pain. His punches drove the sword deeper into the warrior¡¯s shoulder like a hammer driving in a nail.


    ¡°Ku... kugh...!¡±


    The Warrior felt a chilling sensation of something burrowing deep into his body. Though it was just a game and he felt no pain, the disgusting feeling made the Warrior shiver.


    The Warrior was tough because he wore high-defense armor, but Kai¡¯s attacks ignored the armor and tore through his insides.


    <i>That should do it.</i>


    With the sword buried to the hilt, Kai gripped it and activated a skill.


    ¡°Flood of des!¡±


    <i>Whirrr!</i>


    The sword rapidly spun and the Warrior¡¯s screams burst out immediately!


    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±


    The Warrior violently twisted his body and screamed. His screams echoed through the forest, shaking the leaves, and only came to a stop when he became a heap of polygons.


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    The forest instantly fell into silence.


    The Titan guild members, who had been closely chasing Kai, held their breath before the overwhelming violence.


    ¡°Henson¡¯s down...¡±


    ¡°S-still, stick to the n. Go now!¡±


    Their voices betrayed their broken morale, but there was a reason why the old adage ¡®better the devil you know¡¯ held true.


    As Kai moved back to create some distance, his brows furrowed.


    <i>When did they set this up...?</i>


    The solid wall he felt behind him was unmistakably Earth Wall as it definitely wasn¡¯t there a moment ago.


    <i>Titan is indeed impressive.</i>


    There was no time to admire the Wizard''s skills as a barrage of attacks wasunched at him.


    For the first time since the battle began, Kai felt a sense of danger!


    ¡°<i>Tsk</i>...¡±


    Kai lightly clicked his tongue and used a skill in frustration.


    ¡°Ethereal Body.¡±

 Chapter 97: Hunter’s Night (3)

    <h4>Chapter 97: Hunter¡¯s Night (3)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    As soon as Kai activated Ethereal Body, his entire body transformed into blue particles. He appeared as if painted with a light wash of watercolors, looking hazy and translucent.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    The attacks from the Titan guild members passed through Kai¡¯s body and struck the Earth Wall behind him.


    All at once, their faces showed they were bewildered!


    ¡°Wh-what?!¡±


    ¡°Is he immune to physical attacks... or is he able to ignore them?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a trait of ghosts or banshees?!¡±


    ¡°I-is this the Ethereal Body skill?¡±


    <i>...Wait, did someone just recognize the skill?</i>


    Although Havir¡¯s muttering from afar was quiet, Kai heard it clearly.


    He was very curious about how they knew, but this wasn¡¯t the time to ask how they knew.


    In his ethereal state, Kai¡¯s sword plunged into the throat of one enemy, while his left hand roughly grabbed an Archer¡¯s lower face and unleashed Holy Explosion.


    ¡°Argh... Kugh!¡±


    In the game, it was rare for someone to be attacked inside their mouth.


    Facing this rare situation, the Archer panicked and struggled.


    <i>My attack power is definitely weaker in this ethereal state. But...</i>


    He still had plenty of time.


    Kai calmly whittled away at the health bars of the enemies in his grasp.


    Havir, unable to watch any longer, shouted, ¡°Pull back and cast spells! Ethereal Body takes double damage from magic skills!¡±


    <i>What? They even know the weaknesses of Ethereal Body?</i>


    Kai scowled, making no effort to hide his displeasure at being found out, and various magical spells flew at him!


    ¡°Ice Spear!¡±


    ¡°Earth Horn!¡±


    ¡°Fire Ball!¡±


    <i>My magic resistance is high, so it won¡¯t hurt much, but... there¡¯s no reason to let them hit me.</i>


    Kai quickly released his grip on his captives and dashed forward. His movements were as graceful and nimble as if he were dancing the tango, and he effortlessly dodged the iing spells.


    <i>Using magic was a good call, but that¡¯s about it.</i>


    No matter how skilled the Titan guild¡¯s Wizards were, they couldn¡¯t surpass the Wizards from the ck Bee guild.


    Kai had previously dodged an entire magical bombardment from the ck Bee guild members without taking a single hit, so from Kai¡¯s perspective, the magic from the ck Bee guys was far more intimidating.


    ¡°Damn, he¡¯s a monster! Retreat and regroup! Ethereal Body makes him immune to physical attacks!¡±


    At Havir¡¯smand, the remaining five enemies fled in different directions.


    Kai silently took note of the directions in which they were fleeing as his Holy Power gradually depleted.


    <i>Whooom.</i>


    At the same time, a pure white holy energy began to rise like smoke over his Armor of the Undead equipment.


    ***


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff</i>.¡±


    Havir panted heavily, white puffs of breath escaping from her mouth as she ran.


    <i>That monster-like guy is only around level 100? As expected... The intelligence team can¡¯t be trusted!</i>


    Kai had overwhelming strength to kill a level 120 yer with just a few strikes, which wasn¡¯t the kind of power a level 100 yer should possess.


    <i>Sure, most of the hits were critical because they targeted vital spots, but still...</i>


    Even so, his attack power was iprehensible by any standard.


    <i>And Ethereal Body... How did he get such an absurd skill?</i>


    She was even more shocked because it was a skill she had never expected, and as far as she knew, there was only one person who had acquired the Unique Ethereal Body skill.


    Havir quickly activated the voice chat program andmanded her party members, ¡°Regroup at the nearby Melbarun Graveyard immediately.¡±


    <strong>[No members...]</strong>


    ¡°Once we¡¯ve regrouped, we¡¯ll go all out...¡±


    <strong>[... voice chat.]</strong>


    As Havir continued speaking, she felt something was off and gradually slowed down.


    <i>I keep hearing some kind of message.</i>


    Finally, she stopped and checked the message log, her pupils dted in shock.


    <strong>[No members are in the voice chat.]</strong>


    ¡°Wh-what?¡±


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    Havir swallowed hard, a lump of saliva sliding ufortably down her throat. With trembling eyes, she opened the party window.


    The gray-colored IDs and skull icons next to them represented a simple meaning.


    <i>...Shit! They¡¯re all really dead?</i>


    Everyone except her was dead. After realizing this, she found herself unable to move, as if her feet were nailed to the ground.


    <i>Did we pick a wrong fight?</i>


    The guild¡¯s intelligence had reported that Unknown was around level 100. Confident in their victory, she and her seven teammates, who were level 120 to 130, had attacked him.


    <i>But how did we get so destroyed? This doesn¡¯t make sense.</i>


    In the Titan guild, hunting someone was a sort of game. They became the hunters, surrounding and chasing their prey.


    <i>But this bastard... He¡¯s hunting us instead.</i>


    Although she grinded her teeth in anger, she was able to keep her temper.


    <i>He¡¯s probablying for me now.</i>


    Knowing Unknown¡¯s straightforward and thorough nature, he would be chasing Havir to finish the job.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    The thought of XP and skill proficiency she would lose due to the death penalty made her feel faint. However, as a team leader of the Titan guild, she knew what she had to do.


    <i>Right. Even if I die, I need to extract as much information from him as possible...</i>


    Just as she was determined to face her fate, something wrapped around her leg.


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    ¡°This is...!¡±


    It was the strange skill Unknown had used!


    Realizing this, Havir quickly drew her spear and used the Dragon¡¯s Wrath skill to cut the chain.


    ¡°How dare you think you can pull this damn trick on me!¡±


    Her confident shout echoed through the forest, but the chain that flew at her wasn¡¯t the only one.


    <i>Shhh-clink! Sh-clink!</i>


    There were two, three, even four chains.


    ¡°Damn...!¡±


    As more than a dozen chains wrapped around her, she lost control of her body and was dragged into the dark forest.


    ¡°<i>Mmpph, mmpph</i>!¡±


    ¡°...Members of the top ten guilds sure have a knack for being annoying,¡± Kai said in a bored voice, sitting on top of the tightly pulled chains. ¡°I came for youst because I have something to ask.¡±


    ¡°<i>Mmpph</i>!¡±


    ¡°Oh, you can¡¯t answer with your mouth covered, can you?¡±


    As soon as Kai released the chains, Havir sprang to her feet and drew the spear from her back.


    Kai lightly sighed at the sight, and slightly twisted his wrist.


    <i>Swish!</i>


    ¡°Huh?!¡±


    Kai wrapped the chain around Havir''s neck and pulled it tight using the power of Holy Explosion. As he did so, the overwhelming force mmed Havir to the ground.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Kai''s sword pierced through Havir¡¯s hand, pinning it to the ground as she tried to get up.


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. You can¡¯t beat me.¡± Leaving a short warning, Kai asked, ¡°How do you know about the Ethereal Body skill?¡±


    ¡°<i>Heh</i>, you didn¡¯t kill me because you were curious about that?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m curious.¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten we¡¯re enemies?¡±


    ¡°Answer me, and I¡¯ll let you live. I promise.¡± Kai scanned Havir''s equipment. ¡°Rhinoceros Horn, a spear with a level 130 requirement, and a level 125 ck Warrior Armor set. Seems like you¡¯re at least over level 130, so it would be better to avoid the death penalty, right?¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, you idiot. You still don¡¯t understand the concept of being in a group. That¡¯s why you¡¯re making such a stupid offer.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°A loner like you would have a hard time recovering if you die. But do you think it¡¯s the same for us? How long do you think it will take for those who died today to recover their levels and skill proficiency? A month? Or twenty days? No, with guild support, a week is enough, you bastard!¡±


    Havir looked at Kai with the eyes of a victor. Kai stared at her, dumbfounded.


    ¡°In other words, it¡¯s better to die once than to answer questions from someone like you and get on the guild¡¯s bad side.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Kai slowly nodded.


    He hadn¡¯t expected such a fundamentally different mindset.


    However, Havir wasn¡¯t wrong.


    <i>This is why people want to be in a guild.</i>


    Though they could die following the guild¡¯s orders, they had faith that the guild would quickly help them recover, and that was the main reason why guild members could follow orders without worry.


    <i>Well, if that¡¯s the case, I have no other choice.</i>


    Convincing someone with such a firm mindset with words was no easy task.


    Moreover, a significant amount of time had passed since the battle began, meaning reinforcements could arrive at any moment.


    Kai decided to let go of any lingering attachments and finish Havir off.


    ¡°<i>Heh</i>... Remember this. An individual can never... defeat a group...¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    <i>sh!</i>


    The forest fell silent only after Kai severed Havir¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Well, this is a loss. A huge one.¡±


    When he had turned the ck Bee guild into his enemy, he gained so much that he didn¡¯t have anyints, but he gained nothing this time.


    <i>The Titan guild has turned against me... but I didn¡¯t get any marypensation, didn¡¯t capture any amazing footage, and these useless guys didn¡¯t even drop any items when they died.</i>


    The root cause of all this trouble was Goliath¡¯s petty grudge.


    ¡°You¡¯d think a guy could get kicked out of a chat room and be cool about it...¡±


    Who would have thought Goliath would send guild members to take revenge for that?


    <i>Now I¡¯ll have to revise my ns for the conquest event.</i>


    His original route had only considered interference from ck Bee, but now, he had to also worry about the Titan guild¡¯s movements!


    ¡°Ugh, this is so annoying...¡±


    Just as Kai was venting his frustration, a party passed by nearby.


    ¡°Wow, look at the number of followers!¡±


    ¡°The Unknown effect is really something.¡±


    ¡°We have to take more pictures next time we see him.¡±


    ¡°Are we bing Instagram stars or what?¡±


    The voices sounded familiar to Kai, and the name mentioned in their conversation was one he had heard a lot.


    ¡°...At least I won¡¯t end up in aplete loss now.¡±


    Kai got up as he sighed in relief.

 Chapter 98: Lynel’s Dungeon (1)

    <h4>Chapter 98: Lynel¡¯s Dungeon (1)</h4>


    ¡°<i>Hm, hmm</i>.¡±


    Having extracted satisfying mentalpensation from those who posted his photo without permission, Han Jung-Woo finished his shower and sat down at hisputer, drying his hair with a towel.


    Han Jung-Woo reached level 96 after defeating the eight Titan guild members.


    <i>But it¡¯s still not enough.</i>


    His goal was to reach level 100, so he was searching for a ce to level up four more times.


    <i>Going back to Melbarun Graveyard doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea.</i>


    He had caused quite amotion with the Titan guild in that area. While he wasn¡¯t afraid of fighting them, he preferred hunting quietly over getting entangled with them again.


    <i>Unless it¡¯s a situation with high stakes like that time with ck Bee... it¡¯s just a loss for me.</i>


    Killing a few Titan guild members wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference anyway. It wouldn¡¯t mean anything unless he took down a high-ranked yer or Goliath himself.


    <i>It would be great if someone would give me a boost right now.</i>


    He sighed but at that moment, as if by a miracle, his phone vibrated.


    <strong>[Caller: Min-Soo]</strong>


    <i>Min-Soo? Why is he calling out of the blue?</i>


    Min-Soo usually contacted Kai only twice a year, which was on his birthday and for the ss reunions, so ate-night call from him was unusual.


    Tilting his head in confusion, Han Jung-Woo answered the phone.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡ªHello? Hey, Jung-Woo, call me hyung.


    ¡°...This isn¡¯t a dream, it¡¯s reality. If you¡¯re going to talk nonsense, go to sleep.¡±


    ¡ª<i>Haha</i>, but you¡¯ll probably call me Hyung once you hear what I have to say. First, let me check something. You said you¡¯re a Clericst time, right?


    ¡°Yeah. A Sris Cleric.¡±


    ¡ªGood. And you said you¡¯re level 88?


    ¡°Huh...? Did I say that? I¡¯m pretty sure I said 96...¡±


    ¡ªWhat? 96? You said 88st time.


    ¡°Oh, maybe I was confused because I drank a lot that time. I¡¯m level 96.¡±


    ¡ªWe talked before we started drinking, didn¡¯t we...


    ¡°Well, maybe I got mixed up. Anyway, why are you asking?¡±


    ¡ªOh, I found a dungeon while giving some new guild members a boost and it¡¯s pretty big. It¡¯s floor-based.


    ¡°Floor-based?¡±


    That referred to dungeons divided into multiple floors. The difficulty varied depending on the number of floors, and floor-based dungeons were usually quiterge with a lot of monsters.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t call just to brag about it, did you?¡±


    ¡ªDo I seem like a guy to do that? The guild is nning to raid it, but since I¡¯m the one who found it, I asked the guild master if I could bring a friend, and he was totally cool with it.


    ¡°So you¡¯re offering to boost me?¡±


    ¡ªYep. Do you not want it?


    ¡°Of course I do.¡±


    It was a ce where he could level up away from prying eyes, and it was also a chance to get a boost thanks to an old friend!


    Solving his dilemma in just five minutes, he grinned happily as he responded mischievously.


    ¡°Thanks, hyung.¡±


    ¡ªGeez, don¡¯t call me that, it¡¯s creepy! Anyway, you¡¯re free tomorrow, right? Oh, of course, you¡¯re unemployed.


    He never thought being schedule-free could feel this pitiful!


    ¡°...Wait a minute. Aren''t you in the same boat? You said you¡¯re not attending school either.¡±


    ¡ªI¡¯m a member of the Rush Guild, aren¡¯t I? I get a fixed sry of 200 with additional bonuses based on performance. And since I discovered a dungeon this time, my paycheck will be pretty sweet this month. <i>Hehe.</i>


    ¡°...Do I need to prepare anything?¡±


    ¡ªJust bring yourself. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.


    ¡°Got it. See you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡ªAlright.


    ***


    The Arhan''s Ruins was where Min-Soo had discovered the new dungeon.


    ording to lore, it was once a site with ancient temples, but over time it had turned into ruins. Because of this, the Arhan''s Ruins was scattered with moss-covered stone walls, once-splendid temple pirs, and fragments of statues.


    ¡°They¡¯reing!¡±


    ¡°This time, there are four! Stay sharp!¡±


    ¡°Haste! Bless! Holy Enchantment!¡±


    Kai slightly turned his head to watch the busy yers hunting.


    <i>It was said this was a hunting ground for level 90 yers. Seems pretty popr.</i>


    Since there were enough monsters to facilitate group hunting, it was a popr spot.


    Even though the monsters were around level 95, yers had to be appropriately leveled to hunt effectively, so the minimum level required for group hunting at this ce was 105.


    While group hunting provided good XP for other yers, for a solo yer like Kai, it was just an average spot.


    <i>Where did he say we were meeting again?</i>


    Checking the mini-map and moving to the coordinates Min-Soo had given, Kai saw a man sitting on a stone wall waving at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. You came a bit early.¡±


    ¡°Min-Soo?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Call me Balter in game.¡± Balter scanned Kai and chuckled. ¡°Wow, the cleric robe suits you. What¡¯s your ID?¡±


    ¡°Kai.¡±


    Balter shook hands with Kai and added him to his friend list, then tilted his head.


    ¡°By the way, why do you have all your levels and ss info set to private?¡±


    ¡°Why? Will that be a problem for the boost?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not a problem... just curious. Anyway, let¡¯s get moving.¡±


    Following Balter, Kai nced at Balter¡¯s equipment and slightly nodded.


    <i>I wondered how impressive he was since he always talked about boosting people in the game...</i>


    Balter certainly looked capable enough to take pride.


    <i>His level seems to be around 135, and his ss is...</i>


    Balter¡¯s ss disyed in the friend list was Shield Warrior, which was a ss favored by yers who took on the tank role in parties.


    ¡°Alright, this way.¡±


    Reaching the outer area of the ruins, Balter quickly checked their surroundings for any witnesses, then started touching the ground.


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    With a dull sound, the stone floor shifted sideways, revealing a staircase leading downward.


    Kai was genuinely impressed.


    ¡°This floor looks just like the others. How did you find a dungeon here?¡±


    ¡°Just got lucky. I sat here to rest and found it. Let¡¯s go inside before anyone sees us.¡±


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    After they entered, Balter closed the entrance behind them. The walls were lined with torches, so it wasn¡¯t dark.


    As they went down the stairs, Kai asked, ¡°What kind of monsters appear here?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much the same as outside. Living armors roam around, and there are duhans on the stairs heading down.¡±


    Living armors were literally armor that were alive. The game''s lore stated that the souls of soldiers who died unjustly roamed eternally within the armor.


    Duhans were simr, but they were considered undead monsters.


    ¡°The dungeon seems decent. The levels must be on the higher side right?¡±


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re just a bit higher than the field. The living armors on the first floor are usually between 97 and 100, and the duhans are level 125. Oh, there they are.¡±


    With a bright smile, Balter walked forward and greeted a group waiting for them.


    ¡°We¡¯re a bitte, aren¡¯t we? Sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re actually early since we agreed to meet by ten minutes past. Is this the friend you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Hey, introduce yourself. This is ck Bear, our vice guildmaster.¡± Balter leaned in and whispered in Kai¡¯s ear, ¡°Believe it or not, he¡¯s a ranker. He¡¯s ranked 7,825th. Impressive, right?¡±


    Normally, being in the top ten thousand meant one was a ranker, so Balter¡¯s statement wasn¡¯t wrong. Although, it wasn¡¯t surprising to Kai, nor did it evoke any particr respect.


    <i>Still, I should consider Min-Soo¡¯s position.</i>


    Kai owed Min-Soo for today, and ck Bear was Balter¡¯s superior. That fact made Kai bow his head.


    ¡°Thank you for allowing me to hunt with you today. My ss is Cleric, and my name is Kai.¡±


    ¡°No need for thanks. We¡¯re all here to enjoy the game together. But I heard from Balter that you¡¯re not in a guild yet...¡±


    There was a hint of expectation in ck Bear¡¯s eyes. If things went well, he would get the chance to recruit a valuable Cleric into the guild.


    Of course, Kai quickly put up his social defenses.


    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t have any intention of joining a guild yet. I prefer to go around freely...¡±


    Balter patted Kai on the shoulder andughed loudly. ¡°<i>Haha</i>. That¡¯s how he is. He¡¯s been ying since open beta, and his level is still 96. It¡¯s too low, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯ve been ying since the open beta?¡± ck Bear asked, looking slightly surprised.


    People who had been ying since the open beta and had some talent were already over level 170.


    <i>It seems he unfortunately doesn¡¯t have much talent for the game.</i>


    With a slightly disappointed expression, ck Bear lightly patted Kai¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I see. But levels aren¡¯t everything in this game, so don¡¯t be too discouraged. Traveling freely is a game style I also want to try someday. Oh, and if you ever feel like joining a guild, let Balter know. We always wee Clerics.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your consideration. I¡¯ll let him know if I ever decide to join a guild.¡±


    Done with introductions, ck Bear went back to the others to prepare for hunting.


    Watching him leave, Kai scanned the Rush guild members present.


    <i>About thirty people, huh? That¡¯s not a lot for a guild raid. Actually, it¡¯s quite few.</i>


    Noticing the curiosity in Kai¡¯s eyes, Balter put an arm around his shoulder and exined, ¡°The high-level guild members are too busy with hunting and main quests to spare time for boosting neers. ck Bear even squeezed time out of his busy schedule to be here. Nice guy, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He seems very considerate.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s someone I personally respect. Oh, and when we start hunting, you should stay at the back.¡± Balter drew his thumb across his neck, mimicking a death gesture. ¡°You¡¯re a Cleric, so if you attract attention, you might die in a few hits. We also have other Clerics who can resurrect you, but you¡¯d lose a lot of XP, so stick with our neers in the back.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for looking out for me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We still have about seven days left on the dungeon discovery buff in game time. If we party up, you¡¯ll benefit from it too. Just don¡¯t die before you hit level 100.¡±


    Smiling brightly, Balter led Kai to the new guild members.


    ¡°This is my friend who¡¯ll be hunting with us today. He¡¯s a Cleric, so ask him for healing if you¡¯re hurt.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you!¡±


    ¡°Hello!¡±


    ¡°Looking forward to hunting with you!¡±


    The new recruits were as disciplined as soldiers!


    When Kai gave Balter a questioning look, Balter whispered softly, ¡°They''re younger than us, but they¡¯re super intense since they joined Rush. If you can, try to loosen them up a bit. You¡¯re good at that, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Is this a daycare center or something...?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, please take care of them. Also, there are a lot of monsters here. Once we start mob hunting, your XP will skyrocket, so hold tight.¡±


    ¡°This is my first time getting a boost, so I¡¯m not too sure about everything, but won¡¯t I get less XP if my contribution is low?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but if you party with high-level yers, there¡¯s an XP boost. And since you¡¯re a Cleric, just keep buffing and healing me. I¡¯ll draw the attention and boost your contribution rate.¡±


    With a reassuring smile, Balter gave a thumbs-up!


    <i>I can''t believe he¡¯s actually reliable for once.</i>


    Shaking his head, Kai watched as ck Bear pped his hands to get everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Please move carefully to avoid breaking formation. If you draw attention, raise your hand and shout immediately. If you find any secret passages, report them. Now, let¡¯s get going, shall we?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m off. I need to tank at the front.¡±


    As Balter hurried off, Kai looked at his XP bar.


    <i>Level 96 at 12%...</i>


    It was his first time getting a boost in <i>MID Online</i>!


    Even if leveling up would be slower than soloing, this ce was perfect for avoiding the Titan guild.


    <i>Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d be able to level upfortably for once? Let¡¯s just enjoy this easy leveling for once. Easily...</i>


    There were still seven days left of the dungeon discovery buff, so there was nothing someone getting a boost had to worry about.


    With a carefree heart, Kai followed the formation.

 Chapter 99: Lynel’s Dungeon (2)

    <h4>Chapter 99: Lynel¡¯s Dungeon (2)</h4>


    "Tanks, steal their attention!"


    "Attention secured!"


    "Attention secured!"


    "Dealers, prepare for focused fire!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The Rush guild¡¯s dungeon raid progressed smoothly.


    <i>Getting boosted is definitely nice, and the XP ising along nicely, too.</i>


    Kai could now understand why usual yers wanted guild support. Soloing produced more XP, but soloing wasn''t for everyone.


    Moreover, fastly hunting monsters higher level than himself was an abnormal ystyle that only someone like himself could manage!


    <i>I guess there''s not gonna be much for me to do while getting boosted.</i>


    asionally healing Balter and applying buffs was all Kai had done since entering the dungeon.


    <i>Well, Min-Soo did ask me to look after these guys...</i>


    The new recruits of the Rush guild were positioned next to him, but as someone who was also getting a boost, there wasn''t much he could do for them. He just made sure they didn¡¯t get lost every now and then.


    "It¡¯s a duhan!"


    "That''s the floor guardian!"


    "As reported, it¡¯s level 125. Just one should be easy."


    The living armors on the first floor were quickly dealt with, leaving only the duhan guarding the stairs.


    It was a powerful elite monster, even considered a named monster in the field. However, under the focused fire of the Rush guild members, it couldn''t put up much resistance and was quickly defeated.


    ¡°You... cowardly... humans... I will not... forgive... in the name of darkness...


    "It''s going to blow!"


    "Prepare yourselves!"


    "Brace for impact at the front!"


    <i>Looks like it''s going to blow up.</i>


    When a duhan died, it exploded, sending pieces of its armor and weapon flying in all directions.


    If one was unaware of this fact and rushed in for loot, they could get caught in the st and be killed due to its overwhelming power.


    Of course, the guild members were well aware of the duhan''s pattern and didn¡¯t let their guard down and prepared for the explosion.


    However, the direction of the flying armor and weapon pieces was always random! Even with preparation, it wasn¡¯t always possible to block all the fragmentspletely, and this was one of those situations.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "Missed it!"


    "Damn, two fragments are heading to the back!"


    "Dang it, the newbies are back there...!"


    The Rush guild members turned back in rm, and Kai looked ahead of him with an annoyed expression.


    <i>Why is iting at me?</i>


    Unlucky people would trip and break their noses or drop their wallets down the sewer while walking down the street, and that seemed to be Kai¡¯s case.


    Kai lightly clicked his tongue and moved quickly.


    At the same time, he let out a startled exmation, "Oh...! Oh no!"


    He currently looked like someone whose feet had gotten tangled while trying to dodge the weapon fragments in a hurry.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Kai tripped over his own tangled legs and fell to the ground. However, as a result, he was able to avoid the two fragments of the duhan''s weapon.


    The boosters who watched him sighed in relief.


    "Phew, that was lucky."


    "Wasn¡¯t he the friend Balter brought? His reflexes aren''t half bad."


    "Fortunately, his stumble saved him. That was blind luck."


    <i>At least they don''t suspect anything...</i>


    Kai looked at the message window in front of him, tilting his head in confusion.


    <strong>[The first knight has fallen. Lynel shows no reaction.]</strong>


    The raid members discussed various opinions about the strange message, but ultimately decided to go to the lower floor and continue hunting.


    Kai slightly shivered as an uneasy feeling crept up.


    <i>Why do I feel like this? I¡¯m starting to get nervous...</i>


    It was strange to encounter something unusual from the first floor. Moreover, Kai''s predictions had been eerily urate in foreseeing bad ouestely.


    <i>Eh, it''s probably just my imagination. What could possibly go wrong with simply getting a boost?</i>


    Kai tried his best to dismiss his concerns.


    ***


    "<i>Hmm</i>? Something feels off."


    After dealing with the duhan guarding the first floor¡¯s staircase and taking a brief rest, the Rush guild went down to the basement level.


    As they did so, the expression of their leader, ck Bear, turned grim.


    <i>Something really is strange.</i>


    They had only gone down one floor, but the dungeon''s atmosphere hadpletely changed.


    "It''s kind of eerie, isn¡¯t it?"


    "Wasn''t this dungeon supposed to just have a lot of living armors?"


    Everyone felt the oddness.


    The color of the walls and even the structure of the dungeon had changed. The first floor had typical brown earthen walls and solid dirt floors seen in many dungeons. However, the basement floor''s walls were made of blueish bricks with strange symbols carved into pirs at intervals.


    After a moment of contemtion, ck Bear made his decision.


    "...Let¡¯s stay sharp and do a sweep."


    Despite the changed atmosphere, this was just a dungeon found in a hunting ground for yers under level 100.


    Although the current group wasn¡¯t the elite members of the Rush guild, everyone was at least level 120, so clearing the dungeon wouldn¡¯t be a significant challenge.


    "<i>Hm</i>?"


    "Living armors!"


    "But their levels are...?"


    Encountering the first monsters on the basement floor, the party members noticed something peculiar as they checked the levels.


    <i>There''s quite a difference in levelpared to the upper floor.</i>


    <i>Even though dungeons with floor systems often have notable differences between levels, this is...</i>


    The living armors on this floor were a whole five levels higher! This naturally made the hunting process take longer.


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>. ck Bear, shouldn¡¯t we request support?"


    "Support, huh...?"


    Having defeated all the living armors and even the duhan on the second floor, ck Bear¡¯s face showed signs of deliberation.


    <i>It''s still manageable, so is it really necessary to request support?</i>


    The new guild members'' levels were rising steadily. He didn¡¯t want to disrupt this good momentum, and it was also an opportunity to demonstrate the guild''s reliability because that was why they gave new members a boost anyway.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go down a few more floors, and if it seems too much, we¡¯ll request support then.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s just that, it shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡±


    ¡°If ites to it, we can always run back upstairs too.¡±


    While they were deep in serious deliberation, the new guild members were filled with excitement.


    ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve heard guild boosts were great, but this is really raising my XP.¡±


    ¡°It feels like we¡¯ve been in the dungeon for only about four hours, and my XP has already increased by nearly 60%.¡±


    ¡°At this rate, I might level up today.¡±


    The new guild members, all with ted expressions, quickly bonded with each other as they looked forward to ying together.


    Despite being asked to look after them, Kai felt more like an outsider.


    As he stood apart from the group, he was lost in thought.


    <i>When we defeated the duhan this time, another message appeared.</i>


    <strong>[The second knight has fallen. Lynel¡¯s consciousness is slowly rising to the surface.]</strong>


    ¡°This kind of message wouldn¡¯t appear without a reason...¡±


    Though he wished he could thoroughly and carefully explore the dungeon¡¯s interior, circumstances didn¡¯t allow it.


    <i>As someone getting boosted, I can¡¯t act on my own.</i>


    Swallowing his disappointment, Kai quickly caught up with the departing group.


    ***


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    On the fourth basement floor of Lynel¡¯s Dungeon, the XP gained also increased significantly as the monsters became stronger.


    <i>But this floor seems to be the limit.</i>


    There was no longer any sense of ease among the Rush guild members giving the boost.


    It was no wonder, as the living armors¡¯ levels ranged randomly from 112 to 117, and the floor guardian, the duhan, was at level 140.


    ¡°ck Bear, I think we should...¡±


    ¡°...Yeah. Let¡¯s just take down that duhan and call it a day.¡±


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the clear retreat announcement.


    <i>The duhan may be level 140, but it¡¯s just one monster.</i>


    <i>We should be able to take it down quickly.</i>


    The Rush guild members swiftly engaged in battle and the duhan crumbled into gray polygons after a thirty-minute fight.


    Or course, a message appeared before them once again.


    <strong>[The fifth knight has fallen. Lynel now clearly senses the presence of intruders.]</strong>


    <strong>[Lynel¡¯s Test has begun. All challengers please proceed.]</strong>


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Lynel¡¯s Test?¡±


    ¡°Lynel must be the boss of this dungeon.¡±


    ¡°What does it mean to proceed?¡±


    After a brief discussion about the message, ck Bear firmly shook his head.


    ¡°No. The fifth basement floor is beyond our current party¡¯s capabilities. It¡¯s better to leave now before we suffer any casualties.¡±


    "Tsk, it''s a shame we can''t see what this Lynel looks like."


    "But isn''t this a pretty big deal? There aren''t many floor dungeons with more than five floors. We''ve definitely secured a ce to boost new guild members."


    "We couldn''t level up the newbies much, though. Each one only went up about two levels."


    "We can just go through it again once the monsters respawn."


    The raid party, havingpleted the raid from the first floor to the fourth basement floor, turned back with some regret.


    Until that moment, everyone was smiling, satisfied with the sessful dungeon raid. However, the problem arose when they tried to go back up to the upper floors.


    "Huh? What''s this?"


    A stone door firmly blocked the stairs, which hadn¡¯t been there on their way down. It was a tightly sealed door that wouldn''t budge, no matter how much they pushed or pulled.


    "This won''t open."


    "When we touch the door, it just shows a message saying ''Please proceed.''"


    "Maybe it has to be opened from the other side?"


    "I¡¯ll ask our nearby members if they cane and open it."


    They spent thirty minutes waiting to see if the Rush guild members outside could open the door for them, but the answer was a firm no.


    "Damn, they say they can''t even get down from the first floor. There''s a stone door blocking the stairs there, too."


    "Ugh..."


    In short, they were trapped in the dungeon with no way out!


    Faced with this unexpected situation, ck Bear bit his lower lip.


    <i>I didn''t anticipate something like this.</i>


    Judging by the situation, it seemed like the dungeon had to be fully cleared for the door to open. Otherwise, they would need to find some mechanism to open the stone doors along the way.


    <i>If the fifth basement floor is thest floor, that''s somewhat fortunate I guess, but...</i>


    The problem was the boss. Every dungeon had a boss monster and ck Bear wasn''t confident that their current party could defeat Lynel.


    Watching ck Bear, who couldn''t make a decision, Kai let out a deep sigh.


    "Ugh..."


    <i>Something really doesn¡¯t feel right.</i>


    It seemed that this Lynel creature had no intention of letting his visitors leave peacefully.

 Chapter 100: Lynel’s Dungeon (3)

    <h4>Chapter 100: Lynel¡¯s Dungeon (3)</h4>


    Kai waited patiently while the Rush guild¡¯s boosters were having a meeting.


    <i>It''s already been 30 minutes.</i>


    The gaze of the new guild members, who had already received the order to wait, flickered here and there like candles in the wind. It was evidence of their anxiety.


    <i>Well, it''s understandable. When a conclusion isn''t reached, there''s only one reason for it.</i>


    That reason was when the situation was absolutely unfeasible, in other words, when there was no solution.


    <i>Honestly, discussing it for thirty minutes is a bit much.</i>


    The only option they had was to fight the enemies since the treasure hunters and rangers who had scouted the floor already concluded there were no other paths.


    While Kai was thinking this, the new guild members were chatting among themselves.


    "What do you think will happen to us?"


    "Hmm... We''ll know after the meeting, but for now, we''ll probably stay on this floor."


    "If the ones who go down to the lower floor all die..."


    "Ugh, then we would be in real trouble."


    "So what should we do now?"


    "It looks like we''ll have to give back all the XP we gained from the boost."


    "It''s worse than that. If we die, our skill proficiency will drop too."


    The new guild members sighed deeply.


    Then, one of them approached Kai, who had been thinking deeply by himself.


    "Um... what do you think will happen, Cleric?"


    "Are you asking me?"


    "Yes, since you''re higher level than us, you must have more experience."


    "Hmm..."


    Kai felt burdened by the way they looked at him like baby birds looking at their mother. However, being who he was, he couldn''t just give a half-hearted answer.


    "My thoughts aren''t much different from yours. The higher-level members of Rush will probably go down to clear the way. They wouldn''t want to risk the neers."


    "Then what do you think are the chances of sess?"


    "Well, that depends on how many floors this dungeon has."


    Even if the next floor was thest one, the sess of the raid was uncertain.


    <i>Living armors and duhans are manageable, but...</i>


    There was no information about Lynel.


    Just then, their leader, ck Bear, approached them.


    "Alright, the meeting is over. The new members will stay here. The lower floors are an unknown territory too dangerous for you, and if we fail... <i>haha.</i>" Trailing off, ck Bear bowed his head and continued. "The guild will take full responsibility for any losses due to death. This was clearly ack of preparation on our part. We apologize."


    "Oh, no need to apologize."


    "Yeah, you were trying to help us level up... We should be the ones apologizing."


    "If anyone needs potions,e to me."


    As the guild members conversed, Kai quietly approached ck Bear.


    "Can I go down with you to the lower floor?"


    "<i>Hm</i>? You want toe?"


    As ck Bear tilted his head, a Wizard next to him snapped, "Excuse me, but a guy who hasn''t even reached level 100 shouldn¡¯t intervene. Just follow orders, okay?"


    ck Bear''s face immediately darkened, and a deep, stern voice burst out.


    "Comet! Kai is a guest of the guild. How do you think your words reflect on Balter and I?"


    "I-I¡¯m sorry, I acted without thinking."


    "You should apologize to Kai, not me."


    "...I apologize to you as well."


    Kai lightly nodded at Comet''s apology and continued the conversation.


    "If I were a dealer or a tank, I wouldn''t have said anything, but as a healer, I can be helpful even at a lower level."


    "Hmm, you have a point. Even at level 97, you can provide healing and buffs from the back."


    Kai had gained 90% XP from the Rush guild''s boost, and reached level 97.


    After a moment of contemtion, ck Bear nodded decisively.


    "Alright. Then, we formally request your help. Please join us in heading to the lower floor."


    "Oh, no need to formally make a request. I''m the one who asked."


    "If you happen to die, our guild will fullypensate for any loss you incur."


    "Thank you."


    As ck Bear moved on to prepare for the lower floor, Kai nced at Balter.


    As he did so, Balter quickly approached while scratching his head.


    "Sorry about that. Comet hyung is not usually like this, but the situation''s gotten to him. I''ll apologize on his behalf."


    "It''s fine. He apologized himself. But there is something I want to ask."


    "What is it? Ask away."


    "Why did you join this guild?"


    Balter blinked at Kai''s sudden question, looking slightly puzzled.


    "Uh... what do you mean?"


    "Oh, just to clear up any misunderstandings, I''m not criticizing the guild. I''m just genuinely curious. What made you decide to join a guild? You were always a solo yer back in the day."


    "Yeah, I was. Well... to be honest, I didn''t n on joining a guild in MID Online either, but..." Looking at ck Bear getting further away from them, he let out a smallugh. "I started wondering what it would feel like to y with people I want to game with."


    "People you want to game with, huh?..."


    Kai quietly mulled over Balter''s words and slowly nodded. As he suspected, Balter didn''t put much meaning in the title of the fourth-ranked yer in the country.


    <i>Did he join because of ck Bear?</i>


    That seemed fitting for Balter. He was the type to believe what he saw and experienced over rumors.


    "So, how is it? ying with people you want to game with."


    "It''s great. Really fun." Balter grinned foolishly. "MID Online was fun even before I joined the guild, partying with people I met in the game, doing dungeons together... but it felt like something was missing. Joining the guild filled that gap."


    "What kind of gap?"


    "Well... to put it simply, it feels like I have a home in the game."


    "A home?"


    "Yeah. A ce I can always return to. It sounds cheesy, but the guild base feels like that."


    Kai chuckled, watching Balter''s cheerful smile.


    "You''ve changed a lot."


    "Not as much as you have. This is the second time I''ve seen a change in you."


    "The second time?"


    At Kai''s question, Balter''s gaze deepened.


    "The first time was when you got backstabbed by Seok-Woo and his guys. Honestly, I thought it was a good thing. I hoped you''d learn to be a bit more cautious, to have a bit of suspicion. You were too nice for your own good."


    "Don''t remind me. These days, I''m practically paranoid."


    "But I bet you''re still a pushover with NPCs."


    "Well, if you saw me y these days, you wouldn''t say that."


    "<i>Hehe</i>. Anyway, I was really surprised when you showed up at the reunion this time. Last time I saw you, you looked like you couldn''t care less about people... but now, you''re different. It was a relief to see."


    "Was I really like that?"


    Kai shrugged as he recalled his past.


    <i>...I guess I never partied with anyone when I first started ying either.</i>


    Even if things took longer, solo y was possible for Kai until level 10, when he underwent a ss change. Of course, soloing became impossible after bing a Cleric.


    After days of agonizing over it, he reluctantly joined a party. Gradually, his distrust of people began to fade as he formed parties with others.


    <i>Thinking back, it was quite fun.</i>


    As a result, ying <i>MID Online</i> had significantly improved his mental health. Moreover, recently cutting ties with Seok-Woo''s gang was the perfect finishing touch. Since then, people no longer seemed so daunting to him.


    Realizing the conversation had drifted, Balter asked, "But why did you suddenly ask about that?"


    "Just cause," Kai responded with a slight smile.


    He wanted to know what the Rush guild meant to his friend.


    <i>If we all die here, he¡¯d be pretty sad too.</i>


    Kai shook his head. It seemed things would get busier once they went down to the lower floor.


    ***


    "What skills do you have?"


    Kai answered the questions from the three clerics who had called him over.


    "Oh, I have Heal, Bless, Spring of Restoration..."


    "<i>Hm</i>? You haven¡¯t learned Haste?"


    "What about Instant Heal?"


    "Haven¡¯t you learned Mana Release, Angel''s blessing, and Mass Heal?"


    The Clerics showed dismay at Kai''s sparse skill tree.


    Kai made an awkward smile and nodded.


    "I forgot to visit the church, so I''m missing a lot of skills."


    "Well... from your skills, it looks like you haven''t been to the church since level 60."


    "Things happened."


    "I see..."


    The Clerics showed their displeasure but quickly came up with a solution.


    "It can''t be helped. We''ll cover the main tanks and dealers. Kai, save your skills and use heal and buffs only when someone''s about to die. We might not have enough healing."


    "Got it."


    "And, uh... be careful not to grab attention when you use skills."


    "Always check your attention levels."


    Though the Clerics treated Kai like a novice, he was actually satisfied.


    <i>It¡¯s actually better if they don''t pay attention to me.</i>


    That meant he had more freedom to act.


    "Alright, let''s go."


    With a determined expression, ck Bear went down the stairs.


    <strong>[You have entered the 5th floor of Lynel¡¯s Dungeon.]</strong>


    ¡°Damn... the monsters¡¯ levels have increased again.¡±


    ¡°The living armors here are up to level 120.¡±


    ¡°Forget boosting, this ce is tough even for my own hunting.¡±


    ¡°Look at the monsters. They just changed the numbers and colors.¡±


    "Isn''t this dungeon justzily put together when you think about it?"


    Listening to the grumbles of the Rush guild members, ck Bearmanded, ¡°Tankers, pull a group of them first. Let¡¯s gauge the difficulty.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Quickly, the tankers brought over three living armors.


    ¡°Attention secured!¡±


    As soon as their attention was firmly held, the dealers began their attacks.


    ¡°Damn, it hurts!¡±


    ¡°Geez, my HP is dropping fast!¡±


    ¡°Clerics, stay sharp! If you miss a heal, the front line will copse in an instant!¡±


    Even without the warning, the three Clerics, excluding Kai, were already sweating bullets.


    <i>This is way tougher than the upper floors...!</i>


    <i>I¡¯m continuously healing the tankers, but...</i>


    <i>Why isn¡¯t it enough? Are my heals broken?</i>


    Of course, there was a reason for everything!


    The ranger, who identified the problem with the Weakness Detection skill, screamed out, ¡°Holy shit! These guys have Heal Reduction and Critical Hit Increase passives!¡±


    ¡°What?! H-heal Reduction?¡±


    ¡°And Critical Hit Increase?¡±


    ¡°Why are these monsters designed to be such a pain?!¡±


    Comints erupted from all sides.


    At that moment, a familiar voice¡¯s scream reached Kai¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Damn it, help! I need a heal!¡±


    It was Balter.


    <i>He got hit by two AOE attacks from the living armors at the same time. One evennded a critical hit.</i>


    Balter¡¯s health had instantly dropped to 30%!


    To make matters worse, the other Clerics were busy tending to other tankers at the front.


    Kai¡¯s hands moved as he cast different skills.


    <i>It¡¯s my turn.</i>

 Chapter 101: Lynel’s Dungeon (4)

    <h4>Chapter 101: Lynel¡¯s Dungeon (4)</h4>


    Heal Reduction was a debuff that significantly decreased the healing effects on the target. For tanks, who had to continuously endure enemy attacks at the front lines, it was nothing short of a nightmare!


    Of course, there were ways to counteract the Heal Reduction debuff.


    <i>Cure and Heal.</i>


    Cure purified debuffs on allies and Heal restored an ally''s health. Both skills were basic ones that a Cleric could use immediately upon their ss change.


    However, when these skills burst out simultaneously from Kai''s hands, the party members'' expressions changed drastically.


    Even Balter, who was receiving the healing, turned around and forgot his role as a tank for a moment.


    <i>W-what is this guy...?</i>


    <i>Was that... double casting?</i>


    <i>A Cleric using double casting? Not even a Wizard, but a Cleric?!</i>


    The party members were left speechless.


    Above them, Kai''s voice rang out, "What are you all doing? The line is breaking!"


    "Oh, right!"


    "Tanks, get the line back in order! Balter''s side is copsing!"


    "I''ll focus healing on that side!"


    The chaotic battlefield was quickly brought under control, but the Rush guild members were no longer concerned with the living armors.


    All their attention was focused on the Cleric at the back of the party.


    <i>A Cleric who uses double casting!</i>


    <i>That''s a waste of talent!</i>


    <i>Why did he train as a Cleric instead of a Wizard?</i>


    Drawing a star with one hand and an octagon with the other was something anyone could do. However, few could manage to do that simultaneously.


    Double casting was a skill of that nature. It relied more on the yer''s talent and brain function than on effort, making it an unfair skill.


    <i>Casting Cure with the left hand and Heal with the right hand at the same time.</i>


    The left and right hemispheres of the brain issuedmands, and the hands performed different tasks.


    This unfair skill had been used by a few Clerics before Kai. However, once they realized their talent, they often deleted their character to restart as a Wizard because the significance and recognition of double casting differed vastly between Clerics and Wizards.


    <i>If I had realized I could double cast earlier, I might have switched to a Wizard myself.</i>


    Unfortunately, Kai had only discovered his ability to double cast a few days prior.


    The primary reason was learning moving casting from the white-bearded master, which operated on the same principle as double casting.


    <i>Multitasking requires performing two tasks simultaneously. It¡¯s equally annoying for me.</i>


    The result of honing his skills while soloing in Melbarun''s Graveyard for two weeks was acquiring many skills, including double casting.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "Ugh!"


    "That hurts!"


    ¡°Kuoooh!¡±


    The living armor''s attacks were reminiscent of NPC knights. They were fast, powerful, and even had that annoying Heal Reduction effect attached!


    Naturally, the tanks'' gazes were practically glittering with rage.


    <i>Ugh! If it weren''t for this stupid Heal Reduction...</i>


    <i>Look at these guys charging in, relying on their Heal Reduction!</i>


    <i>I swear, I''d bash their heads in with my shield...</i>


    Of course, the tanks only had fierce looks in their eyes, but in reality, they could barely manage parrying the living armors¡¯ attacks with their shields. The Clerics were doing their best to heal, but the Heal Reduction made it seem like the healing wasn''t effective at all.


    However, Kai''s intervention turned the situation around.


    "I''ll focus Cure and Heal on those with the Heal Reduction debuff. Other Clerics, please support with additional healing!"


    "A-alright."


    "But can you manage it with twenty people affected?"


    "I can. I''m the sub-healer." Kai''s eyes gleamed as he spoke.


    As he said, his role in the party was that of a sub-healer. The main healing was handled by the three Rush Clerics, each over level 140.


    <i>And the sub-healer''s job is to set the stage so the main healers can heal freely!</i>


    Currently, the main healers were responsible for seven party members each. They knew that the Cure skill could remove the Heal Reduction debuff, but they couldn''t find the time to use it.


    <i>Because they can''t double cast.</i>


    Moreover, they had to keep their buffs up while managing their dwindling Holy Power. It was no wonder Clerics were called an extreme job!


    However, Kai was free from these headaches.


    <i>I''m just a sub-healer, after all.</i>


    In other words, he was in a position free from responsibility and pain!


    "Cure, Heal! Cure, Heal!"


    As Kai joined the battle and immediately removed the Heal Reduction effect, the tanks'' health quickly stabilized.


    <i>Screech, screeech!</i>


    <i>Craack!</i>


    Riding this momentum, the dealers poured on the attacks, and the living armors turned into polygons and scattered.


    Exhausted from the fierce battle, the party members slumped to the ground, letting their weapons drop.


    "<i>Hah</i>... the fifth floor is really tough."


    "Man, if I knew it would be this hard, I would have brought more of the guild''s elite."


    "Right now, we can only rely on ck Bear."


    "It''s a shame ck Bear is a tank. If he were a damage dealer, he would''ve wiped out all the dungeon monsters by himself."


    "But it was only tough at the beginning. It got easier toward the end."


    "That''s because of..."


    The people chatting turned their gazes in one direction.


    At the end of their line of sight was Kai, sitting and drinking a Holy Power potion.


    With his face flushed, Balter blinked his big eyes at Kai and asked, "Hey! What are you?"


    Kai immediately furrowed his brows as heined. "Ugh, it''s hot. Don''te so close. It feels like the temperature around me went up by two degrees."


    "Is that important right now? What was that earlier? Wasn''t that double casting?"


    "It was."


    "I-it was...?" Balter swallowed his questions that were about toe out of his mouth.


    <i>Why are you a Cleric with that talent!</i>


    "Why are you being a Cleric with that talent! Ah... I didn''t..." In the end, Balter couldn''t hold back and blurted out his question!


    To this, Kai let out a chuckle.


    "I didn''t even know I could do this until recently. I''ve only been able to use it for a few days."


    If he hadn''t learned about moving casting from the white-bearded master, he wouldn''t have been able to double cast either.


    Just like how even a top-tier sports car''s performance varied greatly depending on the driver''s skill, the brain''s capabilities also improved significantly when one learned how to manage them more efficiently.


    "That doesn''t make any sense..."


    "Balter, can I have a word with Kai for a moment?"


    "Oh, yes. Go ahead."


    With a serious expression, ck Bear sought Balter''s permission and then said to Kai, "If you don''t mind, I''d like to have a word with you."


    Kai, getting up, nodded. "Yes, please go ahead."


    "...Have you ever considered bing a Wizard?"


    Kai tilted his head at ck Bear''s question. Everyone here, including ck Bear, knew he was a Cleric, so asking such a question only indicated one thing.


    <i>He must be asking if I''d consider leveling up a new character, right?</i>


    Though he was beating around the bush, it was essentially a recruitment offer.


    As if to confirm this, ck Bear continued, "If you create a new character and join our guild, we will get you to level 130 within three... no, two months and a half in real-time. We''ll also equip you with top-tier gear from head to toe."


    It was an offer so enticing that it left Kai speechless!


    Even if the Rush guild struggled with this dungeon, it was just a small part of their entire force.


    This was a golden opportunity to join one of the country''s top four guilds!


    Comet also seemed amazed and shot him a look, urging him to sesize the opportunity.


    <i>If I were an ordinary Cleric, I might have spent about thirty minutes contemting this, but...</i>


    Kai didn''t even ponder for a moment and shook his head.


    "I''m sorry. I think I prefer being a Cleric over a Wizard."


    "<i>Hmm</i>... But double casting is much more powerful for a Wizard. It can nearly double your DPS."


    "I am aware. But still, I like this ss."


    "Well, if you''re that set on it, there''s nothing I can do."


    ck Bear genuinely looked regretful.


    <i>I thought he justcked talent for the game... but that wasn''t it.</i>


    He had plenty of talent but simplycked ambition. That was how ck Bear judged Kai, but of course, that judgment was slightly off the mark.


    <i>Wow, did he just ask a Mythic-rank yer to delete their character and be a regr Wizard?</i>


    Just imagining it made his heart sink!


    Kai, who had shown more ambition about his ss than ever, barely managed to calm his trembling body.


    "Then, please rest up. We n to set off again in ten minutes."


    When both ck Bear and Comet returned to their previous spot, ck Bear sighed regretfully.


    Comet also said in frustration, "<i>Haaa</i>. It''s really a shame. Why does God give such talent to people who waste it... If I had that talent, I would''ve used it so well."


    "Just as some people think of gaming as a profession like us, there are others like Kai who simply enjoy the game for what it is. It''s not about one side being right and the other being wrong. It''s just different values."


    "But still... with that talent..."


    "That''s enough of that."


    ck Bear slightly turned his head and looked at Kai, who was chatting with Balter.


    <i>Still, this is a bit exciting. As far as I know, Kai is the only Cleric who can use double casting.</i>


    All other Clerics who discovered they could double cast switched to being Wizards before reaching level 30.


    <i>A Wizard using double casting is naturally powerful. But what about a Cleric?</i>


    Whether it turned out good or bad, one thing was certain. Kai would be something unprecedented.


    <i>Interesting guy. I guess there would be no harm in getting to know him better.</i>


    Turning his head back, ck Bear focused on getting out of the dungeon.


    ***


    "Make sure to learn Haste. It unlocks at level 70 at the church, so you can get it now."


    "That earlier skill? It''s called Healing Wave. It''s a non-target skill, so it''s a bit tricky to use... but it gets better with practice."


    "Oh, and you haven''t upgraded Sacred Barrier yet, right? Complete the quest at Milta Mountain to upgrade it to Veil of Light. You definitely need to do this one."


    To Kai, the Lynel Dungeon was and flowing with milk, honey, and tips!


    The three main healers didn''t hesitate to share all the tips they knew with Kai.


    <i>I¡¯m picking up a lot of great tips.</i>


    Having absorbed their teachings like a sponge, Kai was now at level 98. This was possible thanks to thoroughly clearing the fifth basement level and its duhan in one day!


    At the same time, an inexplicable tension lingered on the faces of the Rush party members.


    <i>It seems like the next floor...</i>


    <i>...will be our grave.</i>


    <i>Whether it bes Lynel¡¯s grave or ours remains to be seen.</i>


    Kai recalled the message that appeared after defeating the duhan on the sixth basement level.


    <strong>[The sixth knight has fallen. Lynel, the seventh knight, now awaits the challengers.]</strong>


    The seventh knight was named Lynel. Unlike the previous floor guardians, this one had a name, and it was the boss monster of this dungeon.


    "Let''s go."


    Standing at the forefront of the twenty-four-member group, ck Bear confidently touched the stone door leading to the stairs.


    A window asking for the party members'' consent appeared, and everyone resolutely epted.


    <i>Rumble, rumble.</i>


    The stone door blocking the stairs to the lower floor opened, and the raid party headed down.


    "Huh?!"


    "This is...?"


    The moment they arrived on the lower floor, everyone became vignt for one reason.


    <i>The floor structure is different from the upper levels.</i>


    <i>No living armors or duhans in sight.</i>


    <i>The room is filled with pirs.</i>


    <i>And what''s with the floor?</i>


    The square tiles on the floor intermittently glowed blue. Standing on them made everyone feel like pieces on a chessboard or a go board.


    Surveying the surroundings, ck Bear asked, "Where''s Lynel?"


    "We haven''t pinpointed its location y¡ªOh! Spotted Lynel ahead!"


    At the ranger''s shout, everyone''s gaze turned forward.


    A tattered, yellow cleric''s robe dragged along on the floor. Underneath was rusted and battered armor, andstly, it stepped forward holding an empty helmet at its side.


    <strong>[Dungeon boss. You have encountered Lynel, the seventh knight.]</strong>


    Lynel didn¡¯t utter any warning like typical bosses did, and with that, the battle began.

 Chapter 102: Cal Rashya’s Paladin (1)

    <h4>Chapter 102: Cal Rashya¡¯s Pdin (1)</h4>


    Chapter 102: Cal Rashya¡¯s Pdin (1)


    Lynel took brought forward its helmet from where it had been tucked away by side. At the same time, a pair of mes rose from the helmet as if it were antern. The helmet turned from side to side, as if surveying the Rush raid party.


    Seemingly done with its assessment, the creature dashed forward.


    <i>It¡¯s fast!</i>


    <i>Judging by its attire, is it a pdin?</i>


    <i>For now, let''s get its attention.</i>


    ck Bear, the highest-ranking member of the party, took arge step forward. He then nted hisrge shield, which covered his upper body, into the ground.


    <i>Thud.</i>


    "Defender¡¯s Will! Intimidate!"


    The skills he had cast simultaneously raised the defense of the entire party and increased his own aggro value.


    Lynel drew a sword with its left hand and charged at ck Bear.


    "Come at me!" ck Bear shouted.


    Lynel closed in on ck Bear enough that if the two had been lovers, others would have thought that they would kiss.


    Everyone was expecting a collision. However, after locking eyes for a mere half a second, Lynel suddenly soared upward.


    "What?!"


    "The floor¡¯s moving? Damn it! Is this what the tiles are for?!"


    "It¡¯s moving to the back! I didn¡¯t pull its aggro! Rear line, scatter and spread out!"


    The blue shing square tiles on the floor sprang up to form pirs, which Lynel then used to leap toward the back of the raid party.


    Kai tilted his head as he watched the monster approach.


    <i>Why is iting this way? We haven¡¯t even used any skills yet.</i>


    In other words, he still hadn¡¯t pulled any aggro!


    "No way..."


    Predicting the monster¡¯s intent, Kai simultaneously shouted a brief warning and flung himself to the side.


    "Dodge!"


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The creature''s attack struck the ground!


    Through the shattered and flying floor fragments, the cold gleam of the monster¡¯s eyes could be seen in its helmet.


    <i>This thing only targets Clerics!</i>


    As chills ran down Kai¡¯s spine, Lynel''s left hand shot out to the side, leaving a huge hole in the chest of their party¡¯s highest-level Cleric.


    "<i>Kugh</i>!"


    The sword that had pierced through the Cleric''s flimsy defenses instantly took away 60% of his health.


    "Dardane hyung!"


    "Tanks! Pull the damn aggro!" ck Bear shouted from what had now be the rear of their formation. He was already closing in on Lynel.


    "Over here, bastard!"


    Lynel gave ck Bear a cold, uninterested nce as if looking at a persistent stalker. It then kicked him in the chest and charged at the Clerics again.


    "Why is it only targeting Clerics?! Use your bodies to protect them!"


    The tanks quickly gathered around the Clerics and formedyers uponyers of walls. However, their efforts proved futile.


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this vibration...?¡±


    ¡°The floor!¡±


    Lynel seemed capable of controlling the floor of this level at will.


    The highest-level Cleric, Dardane, was lifted into the air.


    ¡°N-no, stop!¡± Dardane shouted.


    Ignoring him, Lynelunched itself off the ground and drew a clean cross in mid-air.


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    Dardane died without even being able to scream!


    At that moment, the raid party stood on full alert.


    <i>This guy... intends to take out the Clerics first!</i>


    <i>Does it understand the danger Clerics bring because it''s a pdin?</i>


    <i>There¡¯s no reason for this monster to attack the Clerics and let the others hit it freely!</i>


    While Lynel had been ignoring everyone to chase after the Clerics, their damage dealers had steadily chipped away 4% of its health. Nevertheless, it still charged at another Cleric, unconcerned.


    ¡°H-help me!¡± their second highest-level Cleric screamed.


    Any Cleric would react the same way when a level 160 boss monster targeted them.


    ¡°Wizards! Bind it!¡±


    ¡°S-Slow Field!¡±


    ¡°Entangle!¡±


    ¡°Binding Chains!¡±


    Several movement restriction spells covered Lynel.


    However...


    ¡ªAn Daros!


    Lynel, despite having a duhan''s body, was also a pdin! It wasn¡¯t easy to slow down a monster that removed status effects as soon as they were applied.


    <i>There must be a way...</i>


    ck Bear''s mind raced. He tried to think of a way to stop a monster that ignored taunt skills from attacking the clerics!


    ¡°Shit! This is do or die!¡± Gritting his teeth, ck Bear unequipped his weapon and shield. ¡°Tanks, grab Lynel! Give the damage dealers space to hit it!¡±


    It was a decent on-the-fly decision.


    With the tanks clinging to its arms, legs, and neck, Lynel stopped for a moment. However, it suddenly sank.


    ¡ªLimb Gaurdo!


    The blue-glowing tiles on the floor twisted and swatted away the tanks clinging to him like flies. At the same time, Lynel raised its helmet high, and a summoning circle appeared around it.


    <strong>[Lynel has summoned Skeleton Knights.]</strong>


    ¡°Shit! It has a summoning pattern too!¡±


    Despair spread across ck Bear''s expression. Facing Lynel was already overwhelming in itself. Adding five Skeleton Knights to the fray made the situation significantly worse.


    <i>But Skeleton Knights are...</i>


    At least there was a silver lining!


    However, before they could sigh in relief, a ck light red up from the ring on Lynel''s left hand.


    <i>Vrrrrm!</i>


    Sticky darkness emerged from the floor and enveloped the Skeleton Knights.


    Then, a new message appeared.


    <strong>[Lynel has used the Knighted skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[By the power of Lynel, the Skeleton Knights are appointed Duhans.]</strong>


    "No way...!"


    Lynel¡¯s ambitious movepletely crushed the raid party''s morale.


    "ck Bear, this is just..."


    <i>We don''t think this is possible. </i>


    Although they didn''t say those words out loud, they filled everyone¡¯s minds.


    The situation was that dire.


    ¡ª... Ra Degare.


    Asmanded, the five duhans charged at the tanks.


    Finally freed, Lynel once again targeted the Clerics, scattering death with its sword.


    "<i>Argh</i>!"


    "I-I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll see y¡¯all back at base."


    The Clerics fell one after another. Unable to withstand Lynel¡¯s overwhelming attacks, even their main healers perished after a few strikes.


    Having defeated all the clerics, Lynel now only had one target left¡ªKai.


    Kai let out a sigh mixed with a bitterugh.


    "<i>Haha</i>. Right... when did I ever take the easy road..."


    Kai had hoped that he would have an easier time while getting boosted! Having no such luck, he quickly checked his skill window.


    <i>Undying Will is still on cooldown for a few days, so I only have one life.</i>


    Kai swiftly scanned the battlefield.


    <i>Six tanks are dealing with the duhans. ck Bear alone is handling three.</i>


    For now, ck Bear was holding his ground. Even without a healer, he likely wouldn''t copse easily. However, if they failed to kill Lynel, then it would only be a matter of time before even the tanks were eliminated!


    Kai put away the cleric''s mace, which he had equipped merely for appearances, into his inventory.


    "So I have to run around like a lunatic, huh?"


    Meanwhile, as Lynel chased him, the damage dealers would keep attacking it and hopefully kill it.


    This race against death couldst hours!


    Kai couldn''t stop himself from trembling.


    <i>Maybe I''m losing my mind too.</i>


    His amusement was drowning away his fear.


    Pulling his hood lower to hide his rising smile, Kai shouted, "I¡¯m gonna run now!"


    He let out a sudden deration of escape!


    With all eyes on him, Kai pointed at Lynel.


    "I''ve always been great at running. Even if it takes an hour or two, I''ll keep running¡ª"


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Instead of waiting for Kai to finish, Lynel lunged forward and thrust its sword at him, an act that perfectly grasped the poorestbat etiquettes!


    Nevertheless, Kai rolled away and dodged the attack. He then sprang up like a Weeble to finish his sentence.


    "So you can just focus on taking down that monster, dealers."


    ***


    <i>Crack, crack.</i>


    ck Bear''s shield repeatedly struck down on thest duhan''s chest. Only then did it transform into polygons.


    "<i>Phew</i>..."


    Even though they had defeated all the duhans, the tanks didn''t show any joy. Instead, they stared nkly into space, looking somewhat lost.


    <i>Rumble, rumble!</i>


    Anyone visiting Las Vegas was bound to pass by a famous hotel called Begio at least once. In front of that hotel was a huge artificialke that held a spectacr fountain show every fifteen minutes¡ªjust like now.


    <i>Ssh, ssh, ssh!</i>


    Seemingly putting on a fountain show, the blue tiles on the floor continuously rose in an attempt to restrict Kai''s movements and assist Lynel in killing him.


    However, they hadn''t managed to stop Kai even once in the past hour and twenty minutes.


    <i>Left, right, left, left.</i>


    Kai ducked to dodge the swording from behind as he quickly scanned the floor ahead.


    <i>sh, sh.</i>


    The floor tiles that would rise next quickly shed blue.


    With that in mind, Kai moved like a whirlwind, dodging all the rising tiles.


    <i>Right. Even though the Pegasus guys are a bit much, they won¡¯t create a dungeon that can¡¯t be beaten.</i>


    Even so, even if they were presented with the right strategy, only a few could actually execute it.


    "... I have no idea how a Cleric is moving like that," ck Bearmented. He had been watching Kai''s escape in a daze.


    He was by no means exaggerating. On the contrary, he was certain that not even Usain Bolt could avoid attacks as well as Kai.


    "W-well, he did participate in sprints during middle and high school sports events..."


    Balter scratched his head, just as surprised,.


    While ck Bear''s desire to recruit Kai grew, Lynel finally said, [Stop!]


    It was an actual dialogue, not an incantation! It must have felt extremely frustrated to say something like that.


    The tanks watching felt awkward.


    Kai, the target, also turned back in surprise.


    "... You can talk?"


    ¡ªYes. Now, stay still and ept your judgment.


    "Is that sword in your left hand the judgment you speak of by any chance?"


    ¡ªept it.


    "Kiss my ass."


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    With their unproductive conversation over, the fierce chase resumed.


    Although equally surprised, the damage dealers kept bombarding Lynel with attacks.


    "Piercing Arrow!"


    "Ice Spear!"


    "Electric Ball!"


    Just when everyone else had given up, the only Cleric under level 100 in their party held on to theirst thread of hope. Since then, he had been tirelessly running around for over an hour.


    Embarrassed, the other raid party members pushed their focus to its limits.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    <i>Crackle!</i>


    Every skill that the damage dealers fired hit its mark. With each sessful hit, they became even more excited!


    <i>... Lynel only has 3% HP remaining now!</i>


    Cornered, Kai finally stopped running.


    <i>sh, sh.</i>


    The blue tile under his feet shed.


    <i>I should have just enough health. Time to take a gamble.</i>


    Kai red at Lynel.

 Chapter 103: Cal Rashya’s Paladin (2)

    <h4>Chapter 103: Cal Rashya¡¯s Pdin (2)</h4>


    <i>This boss is a pdin.</i>


    Its actions were like a berserker who went wild at the sight of blood, but it was crucial not to forget its ss.


    <i>It¡¯s bound to activate some nasty pattern if it gets cornered.</i>


    Most pdin monsters were like that. They would use healing skills or invulnerability skills when their health dropped.


    <i>From what I''ve observed so far, this guy always does something before using a skill.</i>


    The moment that thought shed through his mind, a tile on the floor shot up and gravity pressed down on Kai''s shoulder.


    "<i>Argh</i>...!"


    It felt like riding a drop tower without a safety belt!


    While enduring this through sheer willpower, something shiny caught his eye.


    <i>A de! It''s a sword!</i>


    Kai reflexively pushed away the sword aimed for his heart with his hand. His palm was pierced and the sword shed his other arm, but he survived.


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    <i>Damn, the damage is insane.</i>


    He had taken near-fatal damage. The attack power of a level 160 boss monster was indeed overwhelming!


    Seeing his life hanging by a thread at around 7%, he thought it was a miracle that his heart wasn¡¯t pierced.


    <i>I''d be dead for sure if it had pierced my heart.</i>


    Kai then saw the sword rise again and lunged toward Lynel¡¯s chest.


    Lynel instinctively took a step back to take a defensive stance as if it hadn¡¯t expected the weak Cleric to charge at it, and that was its critical mistake.


    "I''ll take that!"


    Kai quickly snatched the helmet tucked under Lynel''s arm! Then, with a move reminiscent of his ser skills, he kicked it hard toward ck Bear.


    <strong>[You dealt 876 damage.]</strong>


    Kai cleared the message and shouted, "Finish it off! It can''t use its skills without that!"


    "Understood, that makes sense!"


    Before using a skill, Lynel always raised its helmet high.


    Kai had meticulously noted that fact even while running away!


    <i>I''ve turned it into a headless loser, just ording to n.</i>


    He had bet on the possibility that Lynel couldn''t use its skills without its helmet. It was a reckless gamble, but it paid off.


    The raid members swarmed around the helmet, pouring all their skills into it. Their attacks were fierce and ruthless, as if to vent all their pent-up frustrations!


    ¡ª<i>Graaaah</i>!


    Blue smoke spewed from Lynel''s headless neck like a fountain of blood. It clutched at the empty space above its shoulders, twisting and squirming in pain.


    "So you really can''t use any skills without your helmet, huh?" Kai taunted.


    Lynel reached out a trembling hand toward him.


    Kai nced at the top of Lynel''s head and didn''t bother to dodge.


    <strong>[The Seventh Knight, Lynel.]</strong>


    <strong>[Remaining HP: 0%]</strong>


    "Move your hand."


    As he flicked its arm, it crumbled like old dust. The destruction quickly spread throughout its body.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You defeated the Seventh Knight, Lynel.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 20 stat points.]</strong>


    "<i>Whew</i>... that was tough."


    It had been an exhausting battle even for Kai!


    He massaged his trembling legs as he sat down.


    Then Lynel, whom he thought was dead, suddenly got up.


    <i>...What? It¡¯s not dead?!</i>


    Kai was startled and quickly got up but soon realized something was off. Squinting, he quickly scanned Lynel''s body.


    <i>It¡¯s translucent?</i>


    It looked simr to when he used the Ethereal Body skill.


    Moreover, Lynel no longer exuded the intense killing intent or anger from before. Instead, a serene smile and warm emotions, like a monk, spread through the air.


    <i>At least it doesn''t seem hostile. The armor changed too.</i>


    The tattered cleric robe and dented armor that had covered Lynel were now transformed into a clean, dignified cleric robe and armor that seemed to have been forged by a master craftsman. Crucially, it now appeared as aplete person with its head attached.


    ¡ªIs it you? The one who broke the eternal curse ced upon us, the followers of Cal Rashya?


    "Well, we did kill you..."


    ¡ªI see. Thank you for stopping me and myrades, who were consumed by unstoppable rage.


    With a wistful look, Lynel nced around the floor.


    ¡ªThe Church of Cal Rashya is the order to which my brothers and I belonged. We were defeated by the Church of Muldine, and the price was irreparable destruction.


    A bitter smile spread across Lynel''s face as he looked at his translucent hands.


    ¡ªAfter losing to them, we became their test subjects and had to endure horrific fates.


    "Was one of those horrific fates bing undeads?"


    ¡ªThat¡¯s correct. We became undead knights, duhans, who were fueled by rage, blood and vengeance. The proud pdins and clerics of Cal Rashya became skeleton knights and duhans, and are still roaming around thisnd.


    Lynel slowly made the sign of the Church of Cal Rashya and then expressed his gratitude once more. ¡°Thank you very much. Because of you, my brothers and I are now freed from the eternal curse and can move on to our eternal resting ce.¡±


    "I just did what I had to do."


    That was the textbook answer listed in <i>Proper Etiquette for Dealing with NPCs, Volume 1</i>!


    Lynel, clearly pleased, smiled warmly.


    ¡ªBut do not worry. Cal Rashya governs change. We who serve the god also know the way of gratitude. I shall reward you fittingly for your help. Moreover, the holy power I sense from you belongs to another faith. If I am correct, it is the Church of Sris?


    "Yes, that''s correct."


    ¡ªI thought so... The onlymand imnted in my mind by the wicked remnants of the Church of Muldine was to exterminate the followers of the Church of Sris.


    "Oh..."


    Kai finally understood why Lynel had been targeting only the Clerics, despite the beating he was taking.


    ¡ªMy personal hope is that you will continue the will of Cal Rashya.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Hidden ss ¡°Cal Rashya¡¯s Grand Inquisitor (Heroic)¡± now avable.]</strong>


    <strong>[Cal Rashya is a god who governs change. Though an old god forgotten in thisnd, if you spread his teachings among people, the forgotten Cal Rashya''s order can be revived once more...]</strong>


    ¡°No, I¡¯m okay.¡±


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik nods in approval at your unwavering faith.]</strong>


    <strong>[Contribution increased by 5,000.]</strong>


    He refused without a second thought, but from Kai''s perspective, it was an obvious decision.


    <i>Even if they offered me a Mythic-ss job, I¡¯d think twice, but they¡¯re offering a Hero-ss?</i>


    Of course, Lynel hadn''t anticipated this situation and looked flustered.


    ¡ªOh... It seems you don''t understand...


    ¡°I said no, I won''t do it.¡±


    ¡ªBut the noble will of Cal Rashya must be continued on the continent...


    ¡°I already have a god I believe in.¡±


    Just like a woman with a boyfriend firmly rejecting advances, Kai put up a solid wall.


    Lynel, not knowing what to do, made the saddest face in the world and pleaded.


    ¡ªIs there really no way you¡¯ll do it? I could even kneel before you.¡±


    ¡°Should I kneel too? I¡¯m really not going to do it.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have declined the hidden ss, Cal Rashya¡¯s Grand Inquisitor (Heroic).]</strong>


    Kai watched Lynel, who was left speechless with his mouth agape, and let out a sigh. ¡°Well, I can''t be a cleric of Cal Rashya, but if I ever meet a worthy and talented cleric, I will strongly rmend them for Cal Rashya¡¯s Grand Inquisitor."


    ¡ªI-I would be very grateful if you did that! In that case, I must give you this in advance.


    Realizing that this was the most Kai could offer, Lynel finally gave up on persuading him and handed Kai two rings.


    ¡°What are these...?¡±


    ¡ªCheck them out.


    ¡°Item information.¡±


    <strong>[<u>Depraved Knight¡¯s Ring</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 15</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power: 15</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 150</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 147</strong>


    <strong>Lets you use the Appoint skill.</strong>


    <strong>(Appoint: Allows you to evolve Skeleton Knights under yourmand into Duhans. One-day cooldown.)</strong>


    <strong>The corrupted followers of the Church of Muldine have explored various ways to harness the powers of other gods. This ring contains a part of the power they gained by experimenting on the followers of Cal Rashya, who governs change.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+, Cleric ss.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 47/100</strong>


    ¡°Th-this is...!¡±


    Kai''s eyes widened in shock.


    <i>I can appoint my skeleton knights to duhans? This is the skill Lynel used, isn¡¯t it?</i>


    Memories of the frustrating moment when Skeleton Knights transformed into Duhans instantly resurfaced.


    <i>I can use that skill too... But wait, I don''t have any skeleton knights.</i>


    Kai¡¯s brows furrowed. He could summon low-level undead using the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain, but they weren¡¯t skeleton knights.


    <i>... I never thought there would be a skill with such an effect.</i>


    In other words, this implied that there could be a skill to promote lower-level undead to skeleton knights!


    <i>C-could it be?</i>


    Kai hurriedly looked at the other ring he received, hoping it would have such an effect.


    <strong>[<u>Cal Rashya¡¯s Guide</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 10</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: 10</strong>


    <strong>Allows wearer to teleport to any ce that has epted the will of the Church of Cal Rashya.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+, Cleric ss.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    "Well, that''s disappointing,¡± Kai expressed his disappointment as he looked at Lynel. "Do you know of any way to transform low-level undead, such as gnoll undead, into skeleton knights?"


    ¡ªHmm. That''s a difficult question. I''m sorry, but I was under the control of the Church of Muldine, so I have no understanding of the skills I used during that time. Your question might be better answered by the necromancers of the continent.


    "I see..."


    ¡ªOh my, look at the time.


    Lynel''s body began to fade further.


    ¡ªMake sure to pass the Cal Rashya¡¯s Guide ring to a worthy person who can help prosper the Church of Cal Rashya. You can keep the other ring for yourself. It seems it''s time for us to part.


    "May you watch over the prosperity of the Church of Cal Rashya from hell... no, a better ce."


    ¡ªThank you, once again.


    With a smilepletely free of any lingering regrets, Lynel vanished like a puff of smoke.


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik smiles approvingly for fulfilling the wish of Lynel, who was once a child of a friend.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Benevolence.]</strong>


    "Well, I''ll be..."


    Perhaps Cal Rashya was a friend of Helik.


    As Kai chuckled at Helik''s message, ck Bear came from behind.


    "Kai, so... about the reward..." His voice was full of respect.

 Chapter 104: Tyrant of the Sea

    <h4>Chapter 104: Tyrant of the Sea</h4>


    <i>Reward? Oh, right!</i>


    Kai realized his mistake and grimaced in embarrassment.


    <i>I''d been so used to soloing that I forgot!</i>


    He wasn''t the only one there. ck Bear and the Rush guild members were present too.


    He had just had a private conversation with Lynel, so naturally, they would have heard about the rings he obtained.


    "Oh, re-reward...


    As Kai turned around looking like a child who didn''t want to lose his toy, ck Bear said, "Yes, we''ve thought a lot about the reward issue..."


    ck Bear trailed off. As Kai swallowed nervously, fearing what decision would be made, ck Bear smiled gently.


    "Everyone agreed that we wouldn''t have been able to clear the dungeon without you, Kai. So, we''ve decided to give you 20% of the dungeon clear reward."


    ¡°Pardon...?"


    A single Cleric receiving 20% of the reward from a raid that involved over thirty people clearly indicated that the Rush guild wanted to maintain a good rtionship with Kai.


    However, Kai''s mind was upied by something else entirely.


    <i>Huh? Why aren''t they mentioning the rings Lynel gave me?</i>


    As Kai stared at ck Bear, puzzled, ck Bear tilted his head and asked, "Is there something wrong...? Are you unhappy with the distribution ratio by any chance?"


    "N-no! 20% is more than generous. It''s just that, earlier with Lynel and I..."


    "Oh, that? We all saw your escape. Honestly, I''d rmend you switch to a Wizard or Warrior right away... but I can''t force you to quit the job you love."


    From what ck Bear was saying, it seemed they hadn''t heard his conversation with Lynel.


    <i>How is this possible? Even if they didn''t hear the conversation because they were far away, they must have seen Lynel...</i>


    Kai''s eyes suddenly widened in realization.


    <i>Oh! It must have been a personal event.</i>


    Personal events were only visible to those who met certain requirements, even if they were a part of a party.


    <i>Now that I think about it, I¡¯m a Cleric and Lynel specifically thanked me, so it must have been a personal event.</i>


    That exined ck Bear''s reaction.


    "If you give us your mailbox address, we''ll send you the statement and payment as soon as we finish the calctions."


    "Great, thank you."


    Even after giving his mailbox address, ck Bear didn¡¯t leave.


    "Just to avoid any misunderstandings, I want to mention that our Rush guild''s full strength was definitely not represented here. Among those present today, I am the only elite member. Back at the guild headquarters and on the front lines, we have numerous top-ranking domestic yers as part of Rush guild''s..."


    ck Bear¡¯s sudden guild introduction showed obvious intentions, but Kai listened with a benevolent smile.


    <i>They''ve leveled me up, given me a unique ring, and even raised my Benevolence stat. Listening to a few minutes of talk is nothing.</i>


    After listening attentively, Kai gave a simple response. "After hunting with you all today, I can see that Rush is an excellent guild. If I ever consider joining a guild, I''ll be sure to contact you."


    Of course, that day would nevere.


    ***


    ¡°Good work.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do much. You were the one that did great."


    As the raid party disbanded after leaving the dungeon, Balter whistled and nudged Kai''s side.


    ¡°What are you really up to? You¡¯re not hiding something, are you?¡±


    ¡°Hiding something? Come on.¡±


    ¡°Well, you''re barely level 100, so I guess there¡¯s not much you could hide... Oh?¡± With his hands sped behind his head, Balter suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°Come to think of it, isn''t Unknown about the same level as you?¡±


    Kai spat out the water he had been drinking to quench his thirst. Unfortunately, Balter was caught in the crossfire.


    Balter wiped his face with a calm expression and said, ¡°I¡¯m only letting this go because it¡¯s a game. Why are you so over the top?¡±


    ¡°N-nothing. I know who Unknown is. He¡¯s really famous, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. He even has a fan club now.¡±


    ¡°...A fan club?¡±


    This was news even to Kai himself!


    ¡°You really don¡¯t pay much attention to Unknown, do you? Check it out when you have time.¡± Perhaps as it was a topic brought up without much thought, Balter quickly changed the subject again. ¡°Anyway, that Lynel guy didn¡¯t give much XP, huh? I thought I''d level up at least twice.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t he give quite a bit?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I barely leveled up once. Sure, my contribution was a bit low, but still.¡±


    <i>That¡¯s strange. Why did I level up four times then?</i>


    Even with a 60-level gap between him and Lynel, this was a raid with thirty people, not a solo y, so XP should have been distributed based on contribution.


    <i>Even though I attracted a lot of aggro, I didn¡¯tnd the final blow...</i>


    Kai, pursing his lips, tried to recall whonded the final blow.


    ¡°Move your hand.¡±


    <i>The health bar was marked 0%, but...</i>


    Focusing more, Kai recalled the health bar above Lynel¡¯s head in detail.


    <strong>[Remaining Health: 72 (0%)]</strong>


    Kai''s mouth dropped open. The simple flick with his finger to brush aside Lynel¡¯s arm had actually been the killing blow.


    ¡°Hey, why are you so quiet?¡± Balter asked.


    ¡°Oh, nothing... Maybe it¡¯s because I was running for so long. I¡¯m exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you did a lot of running today,¡± Balter nodded as they reached the end of Arhan¡¯s Ruins. ¡°I promised to give you a boost, but you ended up giving us one. Sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give anyone a boost. I had fun today, thanks for inviting me.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep in touch. And remember what I said. If anyone¡¯s giving you trouble...¡±


    ¡°But you said you can¡¯t take on the top 10 guilds, right?¡±


    ¡°Hey! Even Cheonhwa can¡¯t handle that!¡±


    ¡°<i>Hahaha</i>!¡± Kaiughed heartily, then turned around and waved. ¡°I¡¯m off. See you.¡±


    Balter stayed until Kai disappeared from sight. Then he turned around and opened the inte browser.


    ¡°Time to watch Unknown''s video again.¡±


    ***


    <i>ng, ng, ng! </i>


    Kai entered through the back door of the smithy as naturally as if it were his own home.


    Solid, who was hard at work, turned his head and said, "<i>Hmm</i>? Oh, it¡¯s Kai!"


    He put down his hammer and approached, wiping his sweat that was pouring down like a waterfall with a towel around his neck.


    "Why have youe sote? It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve finished it."


    "<i>Haha</i>... I thought I would just get anxious if I received it early and couldn¡¯t use it."


    "<i>Hmm</i>, let me take a look." Then, Solid scanned Kai and burst into heartyughter. "<i>Hahaha</i>! Your timing is impable as ever! You¡¯vee at the perfect moment."


    Solid went into his room and brought out arge box, cing it on the desk.


    <i>Thud! </i>


    The heavy sound of the box falling echoed, and Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled at that moment.


    <i>You can even tell if a watermelon is ripe by knocking on it!</i>


    Kai stared at the box that emitted a solid sound.


    Confidence radiated from Solid, marking him as a master craftsman.


    "Aren''t you dying of curiosity? If you do me one favor..."


    "I might actually die if you keep me waiting."


    "<i>Ahaha</i>! Just kidding. Go ahead and check it out."


    As soon as permission was granted, Kai immediately rushed to the box.


    "Item information!"


    <strong>[Tyrant of the Sea Set Box x1]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>A box containing the Tyrant of the Sea set.</strong>


    <i>A set item!</i>


    Joy overflowed in Kai¡¯s eyes.


    Solid nodded encouragingly. "Go ahead and check..."


    He was eager to hear what Kai thought about it. Without hesitation, Kai opened the box, regardless of it being ount-bound.


    Then, he let out a gasp of awe.


    "Wow..."


    There was a helmet, shoulder pads, chest armor, leg armor, belt, and boots! It was a set that matched the parts of the Armor of the Undead set perfectly.


    Kai quickly turned to look at Solid.


    Solid met his gaze and then shrugged as if to say that indeed he was the best.


    "<i>Ahem. </i>I took a look at the armor you were wearing. It was clear what parts made up the set as soon as I saw it, so I made it to match."


    "Solid!"


    They exchanged a thumbs-up, their warm friendship bubbling over.


    Kai carefully lifted the items. The equipment, meticulously crafted from jade-colored scales, looked more like a piece of art than scale armor. Moreover, whenever the furnace light reflected off the green armor, it transformed into a striking red.


    "...Item info."


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Helmet]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 507</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 884</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +20%</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence +3</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Pauldrons]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 475</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 841</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +30%</strong>


    <strong>Agility +3</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Breastte]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 642</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 1124</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +40%</strong>


    <strong>Strength +5</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Greaves]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 621</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 942</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +30%</strong>


    <strong>Strength +5</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Mina]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 357</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 570</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +20%</strong>


    <strong>Stamina +3</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Sabatons]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 529</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 822</strong>


    <strong>Underwater Movement Correction +30%</strong>


    <strong>Holiness +3</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 100+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    <i>As expected, the Magic Defense is insanely high.</i>


    After all, they were made of the scales of the naga n, who were renowned for their high magic defense! And that wasn¡¯t all. Unlike the Armor of the Undead set, which only had Defense and Magic defense, this set included additional stat increases and Underwater Movement Correction for each part.


    <i>This is amazing! They¡¯re truly worthy of being called Rare items!</i>


    Now it was time to check the set effects.


    Kai felt excitement but no worry or anxiety.


    <i>Solid is the best master craftsman I know. If he couldn¡¯t make the best product with these materials, then no one could.</i>


    Kai had firm belief in Solid, and once again, that belief did not betray him.


    <strong><u>[Tyrant of the Sea (Set)]</u></strong>


    <strong>+1% Attack for each piece of armor set equipped.</strong>


    <strong>+1% Speed for each piece of armor set equipped.</strong>


    <strong>+1% Magic Defense for each piece of armor set equipped.</strong>


    <strong>5% chance of activating skill ¡°Tyrant¡¯s Wrath¡± when attacked with full armor set equipped.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Tyrant¡¯s Wrath]</u></strong>


    <strong>Water trait added to weapon for 10 minutes, +100% fire resistance.</strong>


    ¡°Finally.¡±


    Finally, he could upgrade from the Armor of the Undead set that had a level 50 equipment requirement!


    Kai felt a mixture of joy, nostalgia, and otherplex emotions at the thought.


    <i>New equipment... huh?</i>


    Kai changed into the new gear right then and there.


    This time, it wasn''t Kai but Solid who eximed. ¡°Whoa!¡±


    Seeing the creation born from his hands protecting another always warmed the heart of the cksmith.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡±


    Kai summoned a full-length mirror and grinned as he looked at his reflection.


    <i>It¡¯s time to return the embarrassing title of ck Knight or whatever that¡¯s been floating around themunity.</i>


    The old Kai, the one who had been entirely covered in ck armor, was long gone and the figure in the mirror looked much more powerful than Unknown.


    The size of the armor itself wasrger than the Armor of the Undead set, and the finely carved scales of Hakhas made it look like an art piece rather than armor.


    <i>I especially like this helmet.</i>


    Made from the bones of the Undead Gnoll Chief, the Armor of the Undead helmet had a skull-like appearance. However, the Tyrant¡¯s Helmet resembled a sharp dragon¡¯s head, just like the faces of the naga n.


    <i>If I wear this in a video, it¡¯s going to cause another stir.</i>


    Expecting thousands of messages asking about the name of the equipment, where to get it, or if he would sell it, Kai chuckled.


    ¡°Stat window.¡±


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 102</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 29,500</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 35,900</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 415 Stamina: 295</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 236 Agility: 210</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 359 Dignity: 177</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 116</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense +70%</strong>


    <strong>All Attack Power +6%</strong>


    <strong>All Speed +6%</strong>


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    It was a stat window so dazzling it was blinding!


    <i>I can¡¯t believe these are my stats.</i>


    He wasn¡¯t overwhelmingly strong in one area, but was still bnced and capable of handling any situation with high-spec stats!


    <i>Magic Defense is now at 70%bined from the previous 40% and Tyrant¡¯s Wrath 30%. Adding the high Magic Defense from the individual pieces of the Tyrant set...</i>


    He would no longer be able toin about getting hit by a few spells.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    <i>Adding the 15% Underwater Movement Correction from The Three Treasures set pieces... now I can move underwater at twice the previous speed.</i>


    That meant he could easily hunt while swimming in the actual ocean, not just while floating on the surface!


    Kai approached Solid with confident steps, the rose-patterned cloak on his back fluttering.


    ¡°Thank you as always, Solid.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have children, but seeing you grow stirs something in my chest. When you first came here, you still had the air of a country bumpkin.¡± Wiping his nose while reminiscing, Solid patted Kai on the shoulder. ¡°Now go on! Adventurers hunt monsters and explore uncharted territories! Wearing the gear I made, sh all monsters that stand in your way!¡±


    ¡°I will! But before that...¡± Kai pulled out the Armor of the Undead set. ¡°Could you make a hole for a tail at the rear?¡±


    Solid''s expression turned into a grimace as if he had just eaten something unpleasant.

 Chapter 105: The Second Mission (1)

    <h4>Chapter 105: The Second Mission (1)</h4>


    Kai stopped by the church and learned all the skills that the Clerics of the Rush guild rmended.


    <i>Of course, they¡¯re nowhere near as good as the skills of a Sris Cleric...</i>


    The problem was that his skills as a Sris Cleric were currently locked. Until he could unlock that category, he had to practice the skills of a regr Cleric. Additionally, since he might need to party with others at any time just like he had done, it seemed better to have the skills that regr Clerics learned to avoid suspicion.


    <i>All preparations areplete.</i>


    Now, he just had to wait for the second mission from Tardal.


    But before that, he needed a shower so logged out. There was only one reason he was so busy even though it was early in the morning!


    <i>Finally, today is moving day.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo looked at his empty room with only the capsule left. He had lived in this room since moving in the second grade of elementary school, so seeing the room clean and empty made him feel strangely hollow.


    ¡°Wow, the room looks so spacious now that it¡¯s all cleaned out!¡±


    While the movers disassembled the capsule to take it to his studio apartment, his mo looked around Han Jung-Woo¡¯s room with a satisfied expression.


    <i>Come to think of it, was my room always this spacious?</i>


    With the desk,puter, wardrobe, and bed gone, the room was unbelievablyrge!


    Though he didn¡¯t want to admit it, even Han Jung-Woo felt a bit refreshed seeing the room in that state.


    ¡°You must be happy, mom, for kicking your son out and gaining a big room.¡±


    ¡°Jung-Woo, let¡¯s be clear. This house is under my name, so it was always my room.¡±


    Just as his shoulders slumped, someone patted him. Turning his head, he saw his father with a stern expression.


    ¡°We believe in you, Jung-Woo. We¡¯re pushing you out into the world because we trust you. Wherever you go, stand tall and live proudly. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Father...¡±


    Touched by his father¡¯s rare show of affection, Han Jung-Woo slightly nodded with a smile.


    After giving his son some encouraging words, Han Jung-Woo¡¯s father quickly moved to his wife and wrapped an arm around her waist.


    ¡°Honey, this room will be my study now, as we discussed.¡±


    ¡°Alright. But you haven¡¯t forgotten your promise to get me a new massage chair in Ji-Hye¡¯s room, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already been ordered. It should arrive next week.¡±


    ¡°Great. <i>Hehe</i>.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo rubbed the back of his neck and shuddered, realizing he was leaving home because of such a shady deal!


    Shivering with a sense of betrayal, he felt a small, gentle hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too disappointed. They may act like that, but they were up all night worrying about you.¡±


    ¡°They should show that in front of me.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re just embarrassed to do so. You know how they are.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo looked at the young woman who patted his back cheerfully with a face filled with concern.


    <i>In the end, my sister is the only one who takes care of me.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo gave a faint smile and tried to console her. ¡°Noona, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m twenty-two, not a kid. You don¡¯t think I can live alone?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m not worried about... but why do I have to leave too...¡±


    His family never let him feel touched for more than five seconds!


    ¡°And now, who am I supposed to send out to get beer?¡±


    <i>Do it yourself.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo looked at his sister with cold eyes and quickly put on his shoes.


    <i>Let¡¯s get out of this house!</i>


    Han Jung-Woo bowed his head with an expression full of dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go now.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t go out to send you off.¡±


    His father waved his hand as if to hurry him along.


    Seeing this, his mother, perhaps feeling slightly sorry for her son, approached and gave him a light hug. ¡°I stocked the fridge in your studio apartment with side dishes. There¡¯s also dried seaweed, canned food, and different kinds of ramen in the drawers.¡±


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not an elementary school kid... I can manage on my own.¡±


    ¡°If you were capable of handling things on your own, you wouldn¡¯t be getting kicked out.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called independence, a sophisticated term...¡±


    ¡°I know that term, too. But you¡¯re being kicked out, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Realizing that continuing the conversation would be fruitless, Han Jung-Woo bowed his head once more. ¡°Then I¡¯ll really go now.¡±


    ¡°Call if you run out of side dishes!¡±


    Even though they said they wouldn¡¯t go far to say goodbye, his family came all the way down to the first floor. Despite his assurance, they even came to the road to see him off getting into the truck!


    ¡°Is this an airport? I¡¯m not going abroad or anything.¡±


    ¡°To a parent, their child always looks like a kid.¡±


    Feeling embarrassed, Han Jung-Woo muttered as his father gave him wise words, ¡°...Go inside now. It¡¯s cold.¡±


    As he rolled up the window, the driver slowly started the truck, and his family stayed until it turned the corner.


    <i>Just wait and see.</i>


    The son, once regarded as a troublemaker and unemployed, would return as the family¡¯s pride.


    ***


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. Seems like everything is roughly organized.¡±


    The move itself wasn¡¯t very difficult. After all, the moving center staff handled everything from start to finish, so all Han Jung-Woo did was arrange his personal belongings.


    After finishing moving, he looked at the mid-afternoon sun and walked to the dining table.


    ¡°Come to think of it, I need to deliver some rice cakes.¡±


    He put on a hoodie, filled an eco-bag with rice cakes and started greeting his neighbors from the first floor of the officetel[1].Thest stop was the seventh floor.


    <i>...What¡¯s this?</i>


    As he climbed the stairs to the seventh floor, he scanned left to right.


    <i>Bodyguards?</i>


    Two bodyguards were blocking the door to the officetel.


    Only then did he recall the real estate agent¡¯s advice.


    <i>Oh, by the way, don¡¯t go up to the top floor carelessly. They¡¯vebined three houses into one up there. Just think of it as private property.</i>


    As he was about to turn around, a handnded on his shoulder.


    Then, a polite but firm voice pressured him. ¡°Excuse me, what¡¯s your business here?¡±


    Turning around with an awkward smile, he responded, ¡°<i>Haha</i>... I just moved to the fourth floor. I was delivering rice cakes, and the seventh floor was myst stop.¡±


    As he held out thest three rice cakes in the eco-bag, the bodyguard nodded and said, ¡°I see. We¡¯ll make sure the rice cakes and the message are delivered.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll be going then.¡±


    As he turned to go down the stairs, the door of the officetel that was firmly shut, opened. A woman dressed in a white skirt suit with a red mink shawl emerged, matching the chilly weather.


    <i>...I didn¡¯t hear anything about a celebrity living here.</i>


    Even though she was wearing sunsses, her perfect body proportion, her small face the size of a fist, her slender jawline, and her high-bridged nose were more than enough to reveal her beauty.


    She looked at her bodyguard and Han Jung-Woo standing on the stairs.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a new resident on the fourth floor. He came to deliver rice cakes.¡±


    ¡°...Put the rice cakes in the fridge. And you, the new resident on the fourth floor.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    <i>Click, ck, click, ck.</i>


    The womaning down a few steps, likely due to her high heels, seemed very tall. Being 181 centimeters tall, Han Jung-Woo was by no means short, but she came to his chin.


    The woman slightly lowered her sunsses and stared intently at Kai''s face.


    After a moment, she tilted her head and asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"


    "...I don''t think so."


    He had been a hikikomori for the past two years, rarely leaving his house, so he hadn¡¯t met anyone, let alone a woman as striking as her. Moreover, someone with such a strong impression would be impossible to forget.


    "...My eyes are never wrong," the woman muttered quietly to herself. Then, she adjusted her sunsses, and nodded. "Well, sorry for the confusion. Nice to meet you, and I''ll enjoy the rice cakes."


    "Yes, then I''ll be going now..."


    He bowed his head and went down the stairs.


    The woman watched him intently as one of her bodyguards approached her and asked, "Ma''am, should we look into him?"


    "No, we''re already busy as it is."


    "Understood. Then we should get going. We need to leave now to be on time for your appointment with the chairman..."


    The woman turned her head toward the bodyguard that was nagging her. Even with her sunsses on, her cold, chilling gaze was felt.


    "I-I apologize," the bodyguard quickly bowed his head and pressed the elevator button, sweating cold sweat.


    After all, if he got on the bad side of the beloved granddaughter of the chairman of Cheonhwa Group, he would be fired immediately.


    ***


    "So, what do you think?"


    "Kyurooo!"


    In a secluded area near the city, Kai summoned Blizzard and put the armor on him.


    Blizzard seemed to be very pleased, constantly looking at himself in the full-length mirror Kai had summoned. The armor was the modified Armor of the Undead set, now tailored with a hole for Blizzard''s tail.


    <i>Hehe. Solid did an even better job modifying it than I expected.</i>


    The tail part of the current Armor of the Undead set had a wide opening. However, when Blizzard''s tail was inserted, the opened part was covered with ck fabric.


    The meaning of that was simple.


    <i>If necessary, I could use him as my substitute by cutting off his tail.</i>


    Blizzard, shivering from an inexplicable chill, approached Kai.


    "You¡¯re cold, aren¡¯t you? Here, drink this."


    As Kai handed him some hot cocoa, a message window appeared.


    <strong>[The Darkness Hunters¡¯ Member Badge is glowing.]</strong>


    Kai''s eyes widened instantly.


    <i>The mission is here!</i>


    The long-awaited call from Tardal had finallye.


    Kai quickly transported himself to Tardal''s mansion and faced Tardal, who looked the same as before.


    "...You seem to have grown stronger again."


    "There is an old saying in my homnd that if you meet someone again after three days, you should look at them with new eyes because they must have grown in that time."


    "Are all people from your homnd as monstrous as you?"


    "<i>Haha</i>, there''s no way. I''m just a bit unique."


    When the light conversation ended, Tardal handed over some documents.


    "This is your second mission."


    "I''ve been waiting for this." Kai''s eyes shined as he took the documents and began reading them. However, as he read through the content, his expression gradually became ambiguous. "...What is this?"


    The content of the documents had nothing to do with tracking the Church of Muldine.


    <i>Didn''t he say the next mission would be suitable for me?</i>


    Tardal didn''t seem like someone who would say one thing and do another.


    <i>But judging by the content of this document, it looks like in volunteer work.</i>


    The main point was that a cleric was needed in a vige struck by an epidemic, and he was to go there as support.


    However, Kai''s dissatisfaction and doubts werepletely washed away by Tardal''s next words.


    "One of the most wicked chimeras of the Church of Muldine, the Blue gue Aosa, has appeared. You are to get rid of it."


    1. Officetel is a multipurpose building with residential andmercial spaces. Oftentimes, the units serve both residential andmercial purpose.?</a> </a>

 Chapter 106: The Second Mission (2)

    <h4>Chapter 106: The Second Mission (2)</h4>


    ¡°The Blue gue Aosa? What is that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one of the nightmares created by the Church of Muldine.¡±


    Tardal adjusted his reading sses and opened a book on his desk.


    ¡°History tells us that just passing by the Aosa can poison an ordinary person. The symptoms of poisoning are blue spots that appear all over the body. If the spots cover half of the body, the person will die within seven days...¡±


    ¡°...You can die just by getting close?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true for ordinary people. For adventurers, it might take longer, depending on their resilience. Moreover, you¡¯re a cleric, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tardal closed the book and looked directly at Kai. ¡°I should mention now that you¡¯re the first cleric to be a member of the Darkness Hunters.¡±


    Even though this was the first time Kai had heard this, he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    <i>Considering the difficulty of the test, it¡¯s understandable. Getting the scales through solo y is nearly impossible for a Cleric.</i>


    Even for a Battle Cleric, the entry exam was far from easy!


    Tardal observed Kai¡¯s calm expression and continued to say, ¡°Go to the clinic in Whitehall. If the residents are poisoned, the clinic will be the first to know.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure Aosa will appear there?¡±


    ¡°The Blue gue is known for its sudden appearance and disappearance. It moves by blending into the shadows at night, so you might not even realize it¡¯s passed by. However...¡±


    Tardal spread open arge map across the desk. It was a map of the continent that Kai had seen many times.


    <i>But what is that?</i>


    On Tardal¡¯s map, there were numerous red X marks in specific areas. Starting from the Kingdom of Havier, the marks extended like a train route all the way to the border of the Kingdom of Rashion.


    ¡°Are these red X marks...?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the path Aosa has taken. In just two months, it ravaged the southeastern part of the Kingdom of Havier and crossed into the Kingdom of Rashion.¡±


    It moved at an absurdly fast pace!


    However, as Kai studied the map, he quietly nodded. ¡°The path is quite straightforward.¡±


    The Blue gue, starting from Radan Vige in Havier, was moving straight down.


    ¡°As you can see from the path, it will definitely pass through Whitehall. So, go and wait there.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Is there any specific weakness of Aosa?¡±


    ¡°Weakness...¡± Tardal closed his eyes, pondering over the contents of the book he had read. ¡°It¡¯s vulnerable to Holy Power, and there¡¯s a core inside its body that contains Aosa¡¯s power. That¡¯s all I have.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough, thank you.¡±


    Satisfied with the information, Kai immediately left the mansion.


    ***


    <i>Blub, blub.</i>


    In a clinic located in Whitehall, a dark liquid in arge jar bubbled continuously.


    A girl, barely thirteen years old, stood on a stool that reached up to her calves and stirred the contents of the jar with a hugedle, nervously checking and rechecking the contents of a small notebook.


    ¡°Now, if I just add two big-eared bat wings and three leaves of mint asio...¡±


    <i>Plop, plop!</i>


    The girl added the ingredients as instructed in the notebook, then cautiously brought thedle to her lips after thirty minutes.


    <i>Please... please!</i>


    After carefully cooling the hot liquid, the girl closed her eyes tight and drank it all in one gulp!


    Then, her eyes shot open.


    ¡°<i>Bleeegh</i>!¡±


    The girl thoroughly emptied her stomach for quite a while and wore a hopeless expression.


    ¡°...This recipe is a failure too.¡±


    She marked an X in her notebook with her small hands, her body sagging. Her legs, which had lost their strength, seemed to mirror her feelings perfectly.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡±


    This experiment only left her with the knowledge of another failed recipe and a one gold deficit. Just two hours ago, she had been excited, but now only reality stared back at her.


    <i>Since this month¡¯s experiment was also a bust... I¡¯ll have to make porridge from the weeds on the back mountain for a while, and I can¡¯t use firewood recklessly.</i>


    Given her current financial situation, the next experiment would have to wait at least two months.


    With the worsening household finances, a shadow fell across her face.


    ¡°I have to seed in making a recipe and earn a lot of money. That way...¡±


    As she just became determined, someone knocked on the clinic door.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    ¡°Wh-who is that...?¡±


    Her eyes filled with fear as she stood up hesitantly.


    <i>Could it be those bad people again?</i>


    The girl covered her mouth tightly with both hands, trying to prevent even the sound of her breathing from escaping.


    The tense standoffsted for about twenty seconds before someone outside the door muttered in a troubled voice.


    ¡°It clearly says clinic on the sign...¡±


    The small voice was barely audible, but the girl heard it. She quickly pulled her hat down low and flung open the firmly closed door, shouting, ¡°Yes! This is the clinic! Come in!¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?¡±


    The adventurer, who had just started to turn away, stopped. He was a man in his twenties, wearing a clean white cleric robe.


    ¡°Thank goodness. Someone¡¯s here. But...¡±


    The man bent one knee to match the girl¡¯s eye level and nced behind the girl holding the door handle, asking, "Isn''t there anyone else? Like the head of the clinic...?"


    "N-no, it''s just me."


    After hearing the girl who answered timidly in a quiet voice, Kai looked around.


    <i>They said there were two clinics in Whitehall...</i>


    No matter how he looked, this clinic seemed poorly managed. Despite it being broad daylight, there were no residents seeking treatment. Moreover, the head of the clinic wasn¡¯t even there at that hour of day.


    Kai slightly furrowed his brows.


    <i>This won''t do.</i>


    The reason Tardal had instructed him to take care of the residents here was simple. It was to quickly identify anyone who could be infected by Aosa. Naturally, without residentsing for treatment, there was no way to identify any infections.


    Kai, having made up his mind, gave an apologetic look. "Sorry. It seems I might havee to the wrong ce..."


    Just as Kai was about to apologize, a shadow loomed over him from behind.


    "Excuse me, but are you a guest here?"


    Kai turned to see the people who had addressed him.


    <i>Three men. Are they NPCs?</i>


    The men, bearing the emblem of Whitehall on their chests, were likely NPCs. The one who had spoken to him stood in the center and had a goatee, and on either side of him stood two men with enormous muscles, positioned like folding room dividers.


    Kai nodded. "I am looking for a clinic."


    "<i>Haha</i>, then why note to our clinic? Our clinic boasts thergest size in Whitehall, with thetest medicines and highly qualified doctors from the capital. And most importantly..."


    The man with the goatee rubbed his hands together like a merchant, his eyes curving into crescent moons.


    "We are the only clinic officially recognized by Lord Whitehall."


    "Is that so? Then this ce is..."


    "An unlicensed clinic. In other words, illegal."


    At the words of the man with the goatee, Kai looked at the girl.


    She bit her small lips tightly and remained silent.


    <i>Could what he''s saying be true?</i>


    Kai didn''t really have a reason to ponder this. Whether this ce was an illegal clinic or not, as the man with the goatee imed, he could just follow them as no clinic would refuse a free offer of help from a cleric of the Church of Sris.


    <i>Of course, going to arger clinic would make it easier to detect Aosa''s presence.</i>


    However, he felt uneasy leaving the girl behind. It was a feeling simr to when he couldn''t leave Amy alone during the Trial of Helik.


    Realizing this, Kai scratched his head.


    "<i>Agh</i>."


    If only he were a more selfish person, his life would be so much easier!


    Aware of this, Kai sighed and said, "Sorry, but I''ll visit the clinicter. I have business with this girl."


    The man with the goatee nced at Kai''s attire. "If I¡¯m not wrong, you seem to be a cleric of the Church of Sris, no?."


    "That is correct."


    "Then may I ask what business you have at this illegal clinic?"


    "I don''t think I need to exin my personal business to you."


    "That is... true." The man with the goatee bowed his head, his smile never disappearing. "Well then, oh devout servant of the divine and merciful Srian God Helik, we look forward to seeing you at our clinic as soon as possible."


    "Thank you."


    "We¡¯ll be on our way now."


    Kai said to the back of the man with the goatee as he turned to leave, "By the way, what brought you here?"


    The man with the goatee stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, and gave a broad smile.


    "<i>Haha</i>, even if you are a cleric of the Church of Sris, I don''t see why I should disclose my personal business."


    After bowing his head and fully disappearing from sight, a thud was heard from behind.


    "<i>Hm</i>?" Kai turned to see the girl slump to the ground. "Are you okay? What happened..."


    A loud rumbling from the girl''s stomach filled the air!


    "N-nothing, that was..."


    The girl, her ears flushed red with embarrassment, pulled her wide-brimmed hat down further.


    Watching her quietly, Kai asked gently, "Well... if you haven''t had lunch yet, would you mind joining me for a meal? It''s a bit lonely eating by myself."


    "Pardon? R-really?" Her eyes sparkling, the girl sprang to her feet and eximed, "Thank you! Just a moment, please!"


    She hurried into the clinic.


    As she didn''te out after a while, Kai slowly made his way inside.


    "What''s that smell...?"


    As soon as he entered the clinic, he was hit by the pungent aroma of strong medicinal herbs!


    Trying to bear it, Kai shifted his attention to a framed picture on the counter.


    <i>Is it a family photo?</i>


    In the frame, there was a picture so finely detailed it looked like a photograph, likely painted by a skilled artist. It disyed a beautiful woman wearing the same wide-brimmed hat the girl now wore, holding a young, smiling girl in her arms. Behind them, embracing them both with a smile, stood arge man.


    The background suggested the picture was painted in front of a small but tidy clinic, likely the very one they were in now.


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>. I''m sorry. The smell must have given you a headache, right? I usually can¡¯t open the windows..."


    The girl suddenly appeared, covered in dust, as if she had hastily cleaned the inside of the clinic.


    Kai waved away the floating dust with his hand and asked, "You can''t open the windows? Why not?"


    "Well, that''s because..." The girl, looking puzzled at Kai, cautiously asked, "... Do you really not know anything?"


    "This is my first visit to this town.¡±


    At Kai''s words, the girl hesitated for a moment before closing her eyes tightly and apologizing, "Y-You really should leave. If you don''t know anything about this ce, it''s better you leave now."


    "Howe?"


    "Well... if you stay here too long, you won''t like what happens."


    "So tell me the reason. I''ll make the judgment.¡±


    After hesitating at Kai''s question, the girl slowly removed her hat. Her lush silver hair spilled out, revealing pointed ears hidden beneath.


    With a resigned expression far beyond her age, she exined, "Because... this ce is the clinic of a cursed witch."

 Chapter 107: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (1)

    <h4>Chapter 107: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (1)</h4>


    While staring at her long, pointed ears, which were more pronounced than those of an average person, Kai muttered to himself, "An elf...?"


    "No, no. I''m a half-elf. My mother is an elf, but my father is a human. They met in the forest and were both passionate about herbs, which quickly drew them to each other, and that''s how I was born.¡±


    Kai was at a loss for words. What an incredible level of freedom this game had. NPCs formed interracial rtionships and even had children!


    Still taken aback by this new disclosure, Kai asked again, "So, what about this ''cursed witch'' you mentioned?"


    "People call my mother a cursed witch."


    "...This sounds like a long story. How about we eat first?"


    As Kai brought out a variety of food from his inventory, the girl¡¯s mouth watered.


    "A-are you sure this is okay? I''m the child of a witch..."


    "Whether you''re the child of a witch or a demon king, people need to eat when it¡¯s mealtime," Kai said with a pleasant smile.


    ***


    The girl was so hungry that she ate enough for two grown men by herself. It was fortunate that Kai kept a generous supply of food in his inventory.


    "<i>Ahh</i>.¡±


    Kai watched the girl, who seemed to have truly enjoyed a proper meal for the first time in a while.


    <i>Is it because she¡¯s a half-blood? She¡¯s really cute. I''d love to have a daughter like her someday.</i>


    With her big, round eyes, a nose that was surprisingly high for a child, her plump lips, and the perfect body bnce typical of elves, she was so adorable that Kai felt an urge to buy her new clothes to rece her ragged ones.


    If she were to enroll in an elementary school on Earth, it would instantly change the school''s queen bee.


    Coming to his senses, Kai cleared his throat and said, "Alright, shall we start the story now?"


    "O-okay..." the girl responded softly, still seeming a bit intimidated by Kai.


    <i>Still finds me intimidating, huh? Well, then...</i>


    Having years of experience volunteering at an orphanage, Kai knew how to deal with children.


    He smiled warmly and said, "By the way, we don¡¯t know each other¡¯s names yet. My name is Kai. I¡¯m a cleric who believes in the Church of Sris."


    "My name is A-Ayana,¡± the girl replied.


    "A-Ayana?"


    "Oh, no, it¡¯s just Ayana."


    "So your name is Ayana, huh? Now that you mention it, my stomach feels a bit <i>aya</i>[1] too! <i>Hahaha</i>!"


    Ayana stayed silent. She looked overwhelmed upon hearing Kai¡¯s dad joke for the first time in her life. Goosebumps even appeared visibly on her delicate arms.


    Seeing her pale face, Kai tilted his head. "<i>Hm</i>... not funny?"


    "Of course not!" Ayana shouted without realizing.


    <i>At least she seems less intimidated by me now.</i>


    Though bearing the dishonor of making a dad joke was humiliating, it did help lighten the atmosphere significantly.


    Satisfied, Kai watched Ayana, who cautiously opened her mouth to speak.


    "<i>Um</i>... can I ask you something?"


    "Of course.¡±


    "M-my dad used to say that if you pray to the Srian God with your whole heart, He will grant your wishes... Is that true?"


    "Oh, if that were true, everyone in the world would be praying all the time.¡±


    "I-it was a lie?!" Ayana gasped, visibly shaken by the shocking fact that her father lied to her.


    Her long elf ears even drooped in disappointment!


    "Why? Is there a wish you want to make?"


    "Pardon? Oh, <i>um</i>... yes.¡±


    "Then do you want to tell me what that wish is? If it''s not a bad wish, I''ll ry it directly to Helik for you."


    "Are you close to the Srian God?"


    "Of course. He always chuckles and is pleased whenever I do something.¡±


    "I-I see! Then..." Ayana closed her eyes tightly and sped her hands together. "Helik, please help my mom and dad return safely.¡±


    Kai''s gaze changed at her wish; it was one not fitting for her age at all.


    <i>Something must have happened.</i>


    A half-elf girl guarding the clinic alone, her parents missing even though it was past lunchtime¡ªit all pointed to something unusual.


    Using his gentle voice to soothe her, Kai asked, "Can you tell me more about it?"


    "Well..."


    Ayana began to slowly speak. Her story was a bit jumbled and incoherent, as expected from a thirteen-year-old, but Kai listened patiently without interrupting.


    "<i>Hmm</i>," Kai rubbed his throat thoughtfully.


    As he did so, a conclusion came straight to him without even passing through his brain.


    <i>This story... It''s like trying to swallow a steamed sweet potato¡ªso frustrating slow!</i>


    He began to quickly piece together the details Ayana had provided.


    <i>First, Ayana''s mother used her elven knowledge to create panaceas.</i>


    Naturally, the effects of the panaceas were far superior to those made by humans. Thanks to her, Whitehall quickly became renowned for its top-grade panaceas, and the Smile Clinic''s reputation spread far and wide.


    <i>Her contributions alone boosted Whitehall''s herbal medicine industry several fold.</i>


    It was an impressive achievement that was hard to believe it was aplished by one person.


    However, as with all sessful ventures, it attracted unwanted attention.


    <i>But this particr attention was too significant.</i>


    The younger brother of Lord Whitehall had his eye on the medicine industry. Observing the massive profits generated by the Smile Clinic, he devised a business n of his own.


    <i>The terms he offered the Smile Clinic were impressive, even to me.</i>


    However, he insisted on strictly controlling the quantity of panaceas to drive up their prices.


    Unfortunately, this proposal was at odds with the couple¡¯s desire to treat even the poorest individuals.


    <i>After they refused, he started his dirty tricks.</i>


    Suddenly, many people who consumed her medicine were poisoned and died.


    The family requested a chance to exin that such a thing was impossible, but the noble¡¯s power was overwhelming. Soldiers quickly surrounded the clinic, arrested the couple, and imprisoned them with the usation of witchcraft.


    <i>And then, as if waiting for this moment, he set up his own clinic.</i>


    It was officially recognized by the lord as the only legitimate clinic in Whitehall, and it even boasted thetest facilities and renowned herbalists invited from the capital.


    They were praised for curing residents who had been poisoned and were awaiting death.


    <i>Everything followed his script perfectly until this point.</i>


    The problem was that his n started to take a turn afterward. He thought that once the Smile Clinic was shut down, he could monopolize its revenue, but without the panaceas made by the elf, there was no money to be made.


    <i>It¡¯s like he killed the goose thatid the golden eggs. He would feel frustrated by now.</i>


    With the elf¡¯s panaceas no longer being sold, the medicine industry in Whitehall shrank dramatically as merchants and nobles from other cities weren¡¯t foolish enough to pay extra for panaceas they could obtain from their own towns.


    <i>That man with the goatee from earlier was the lord¡¯s younger brother, right? He¡¯s probably after the Smile Clinic¡¯s recipes.</i>


    Of course, Ayana knew nothing about the panacea recipes. Though the man with the goatee seemed to think otherwise.


    <i>I¡¯ve got the gist of the story now...</i>


    Kai asked Ayana, who was wearing a sad expression, ¡°Ayana, can I ask what you were nning to do if Helik doesn¡¯t grant your wish?¡±


    ¡°Well... I-I would work hard to gather and sell herbs... and in the next experiment, I would surely recreate the medicine my mother made.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°A-and then... I would sell them, revive the clinic, and...¡±


    Her voice, which had been passionately proiming her n with clenched fists, gradually lost strength. The n was so poorly thought out it was full of holes like old cheese. It was clearly a long shot and seeing how her eyes reddened with tears, she knew it as well.


    Kai bit his lower lip.


    <i>Despite everything, that child only has...</i>


    That flimsy n to rely on.


    <i>She¡¯s on a terribly misguided voyage.</i>


    A voyage wasn¡¯t about knowing the destination. Without apass, a ship on the open sea was destined to sink.


    Kai gently stroked her bowed head.


    <i>Even if Ayana creates a panacea based on her own recipe, it won¡¯t solve everything.</i>


    The man with the goatee would be overjoyed. If he told Ayana that he would release her parents if she gave him the recipe, would a thirteen-year-old girl be able to resist such sweet words?


    <i>She wouldn¡¯t be able to. Especially a girl who cares so much about her parents.</i>


    What she needed for her voyage was apass, something to guide her straight to her destination without losing her way on the vast sea.


    <i>In that case... I¡¯ll have to be herpass here.</i>


    There was no room for hesitation in that decision.


    <i>Tap, tap.</i>


    A littleter, Kai was nting a sign in the ground at the entrance of the clinic.


    "Are you really going to do this?" Ayana, who was watching him, couldn''t hide her anxious expression and asked the same question repeatedly.


    "I am. We can''t just sit back and take it."


    Pushing the sign firmly into the ground, Kai lightly stretched.


    <i>Whew. It''s been a long time since I''ve done this.</i>


    What he was about to do was quick, urate, and free treatment!


    Just like he did in Frica Vige, he nned to treat the residents.


    <i>First, let''s gather some people.</i>


    If a cleric of the Church of Sris was offering treatment, people were sure to gather. It was a proven fact in Frica. However, even after an hour, then two, no one came.


    <i>Why...?</i>


    As Kai racked his brain in frustration, Ayana, seemingly looking guilty, apologized, "I-I''m sorry. You''re going through so much trouble because of me... but this ce isn''t on a busy path, so..."


    "Not on a busy path...?"


    A sudden realization struck Kai, and he understood his mistake.


    <i>I¡¯m so stupid! How could I miss such a simple fact?</i>


    The reason he had managed to draw so many residents in Frica Vige was not because of his level, fame, or high skill level.


    <i>It was because I set up right in front of their residential area.</i>


    Residents preferred visiting Kai, who was close by, rather than traveling to a far-off clinic or temple.


    <i>But the situation now is the exact opposite.</i>


    The goatee-bearded man''s clinic was centrally located in the city, making it much easier to visit. In contrast, the Smile Clinic was located on the outskirts of the city, so people had no reason to pass by unless they were specifically visiting the clinic.


    "This won''t do..."


    After pondering for a moment, Kai stood up and pulled the sign out of the ground.


    "Oh... I-it''s not going to work after all, is it...?"


    Ayana''s face clearly disyed all her thoughts¡ªshe really couldn''t conceal her feelings.


    Just as the small flicker of hope in her heart was about to be extinguished, Kai ced his hand on her head and gently stroked it.


    <i>Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.</i>


    The divine power that seeped through her crown calmed her heart.


    "Don''t worry. I''m a man who doesn''t know how to give up."


    "Th-then what are you going to do now?" Ayana''s eyes widened in curiosity.


    Kai, looking at her, grinned and put his two fists out in front of him. "Okay, think of my left fist as a tender, high-quality steak and my right fist as a in chicken soup."


    "I want to eat both!"


    "R-right, they both sound delicious, don''t they? But if you could only choose one, which would it be?"


    "Well..." Without hesitation, Ayana grabbed Kai''s left fist. "The high-quality steak!"


    "Exactly. But here''s the thing. This amazing high-quality steak offers home delivery, while the chicken soup can only be eaten at the restaurant. Which would you choose then?"


    "Well, then of course... it should really be the high-quality steak," Ayana looked puzzled, not understanding why he was asking such a question.


    Then, Kai beat his chest with his left fist and said, "I''m that high-quality steak."


    1. Korean term used toward children to indicate pain. ?

 Chapter 108: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (2)

    <h4>Chapter 108: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (2)</h4>


    Kai pped his hands, switching up the atmosphere, then packed up his stall and went into the clinic.


    ¡°Ayana, what I need right now is a list of customers who want to eat that high-ss steak. Do you have any helpful resources?¡±


    ¡°Umm... So you need a list of patients, right?¡±


    ¡°That''s right. Especially those living on the outskirts of the city... those who can¡¯t visit the clinic often.¡±


    ¡°Oh, if that''s the case, then my dad definitely kept those records here somewhere...¡±


    Ayana hurriedly ran into the study, and soon grunting sounds were heard.


    ¡°Do you need some help?¡±


    ¡°No! I¡¯ve got it!¡±


    Ayana wobbled out of the study with a mountain of thick books stacked high. The books were piled so high theypletely obstructed her view!


    Kai, surprised by the enormous amount, asked, ¡°Is all of this...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. These are the lists of patients who have visited our clinic even once. My mom and dad also used to visit patients to deliver medicine sometimes, and those addresses are listed here too.¡±


    ¡°...I see.¡±


    From the cold, dusty books, he felt the warm hearts of the couple who cared for their patients.


    <i>How dare they falsely use such people of being a witch?</i>


    With an amused expression, Kai smiled andplemented, ¡°Well done, Ayana. This list will surely help clear your parents¡¯ names.¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    ¡°Of course. But I¡¯ll need your help with this. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what to do! It¡¯s my job, after all!¡± Ayana¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination.


    ¡°First, there are many terms like the names of herbs and medicine that I don¡¯t know. And whenever I ask about a patient¡¯s disease or condition, you need to help me out.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    The two piled the thick books on the old desk in the clinic and began their research.


    <i>There are a lot of patients.</i>


    Kai stretched his neck, back, and shoulders to prepare for the hours of sitting ahead.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started then, shall we?¡±


    Kai¡¯s hands swiftly began flipping through the pages.


    <i>It¡¯s really well organized.</i>


    The couple had written down everything they knew about their patients. Where they were mainly hurting, what medications had been prescribed and how many times, their home addresses, habits, and even family rtionships!


    In terms of content, it was more like information one would find from an information guild rather than a clinic.


    ¡°Ayana. What are the effects of this mint asio and mile?¡±


    ¡°Mint asio has pain-relieving effects, and mile is...¡±


    They looked like students studying together in the library during exam season!


    Kai and Ayana maintained their focus for eight hours, reading every book.


    <i>Thud.</i>


    As they closed thest book, their eyes looked hollow with dark circles beneath them. Anyone could tell they were exhausted.


    However, there was an undeniable smile on their faces.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start the rounds for the mobile clinic tomorrow morning. Is there anything we need to prepare?¡±


    ¡°Well, that is...¡± Ayana parted her lips, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, just tell me. I¡¯ll get whatever you need if I can.¡±


    ¡°I-I want to make some medicine, but the clinic is out of medicinal ingredients...¡±


    ¡°Ingredients? Now that you mention it...¡±


    Kai nced around the clinic.


    <i>The smell was terrible when I first came in here.</i>


    Kai had visited clinics a few times when he was a beginner, but none had smelled this bad.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t have money... so I¡¯ve been buying monster by-products with simr effects to the ingredients at a low price and trying to make medicine from them.¡±


    Ayana confessed her actions as if she were in a confessional.


    Of course, she waved her hands frantically to defend herself, saying, ¡°But I¡¯ve never given them to patients or anyone else! I always tested them on myself and then discarded them...¡±


    Listening to her, Kai asked with a bewildered expression, ¡°...Wait a minute. You¡¯ve been trying to make medicine using monster by-products?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Monster by-products have various effects, so I thought it might work, but it kept failing...¡±


    Then, she shyly handed over a notebook covered in handprints.


    <i>How long did she hold on to this...</i>


    Impressed by her perseverance, Kai slowly turned the pages with his fingers.


    <strong><u>[Potion of big-eared bat swallowed by mint asio - LV.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>+15 to all stats for 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>-5% damage taken for 10 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Makes you blind for 30 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Ayana¡¯s Note: Failure! Big-eared bat wing was too strong.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Red egar horn potion - LV.1]</u></strong>


    <strong>Slight increase in attack power for 10 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Slight increase in attack speed for 10 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Taking two makes you faint.</strong>


    <strong>Ayana¡¯s Note: Another failure! However, could be useful for insomnia patients?</strong>


    <i>This is...?</i>


    The notebook was filled with recipes she seemed to havee up with.


    ¡°You came up with all these recipes yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but none of them have seeded.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not surprising...¡±


    Kai quickly scanned the failure causes.


    <i>None of these recipes use proper medicinal ingredients and yet, they still produced such effects? This isn¡¯t about skill level.</i>


    If she had ess to normal ingredients, she would undoubtedly create much more effective medicines.


    ¡°Did you help your parents make medicine before?¡±


    ¡°No. Mom and Dad didn¡¯t let me near the fire until I turned seventeen-years-old, saying it was too dangerous.¡±


    In other words, she was a natural-born genius!


    It wasn¡¯t entirely unbelievable.


    <i>Both of her parents are herbalists, so she must have inherited that talent.</i>


    Still, to have such remarkable abilities was astonishing.


    Kai immediately took a pile of gold out of his inventory and ced it on the table. ¡°Alright. Tell me the ingredients you need. I¡¯ll buy everything I can.¡±


    ¡°Y-you will?¡± Ayana¡¯s face visibly lit up.


    She looked at him as if he had just promised to take her to an amusement park over the weekend!


    She quickly began writing down the ingredients she needed on a clean sheet of paper.


    <i>If the effects of the potions she creates exceed expectations...</i>


    It would be able to turn the dire situation at Smile Clinic aroundpletely.


    <i>We¡¯ll see the results soon enough.</i>


    Time passed, filled with anticipation and anxiety, much like waiting for the results of a crucial exam.


    ***


    In the early morning, with sunlight streaming in, Ayana shouted, "I-it''s done!"


    Kai woke up at her shout, and asked in a slow, tired voice, "H-how is it? Did you seed?"


    "<i>Hehe</i>!"


    Without answering, she simply smiled brightly and handed him a small vial. The vial was filled with green liquid.


    "Check it out!"


    An interface window appeared before Kai as he took the vial.


    <strong>[<u>Life-bearing mint asio concentrate - Lv.7</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Max. Stamina for 120 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>+30% recovery speed for 120 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>15% instant health recovery.</strong>


    <strong>Removes all low-level debuffs.</strong>


    It indeed had astonishing potion effects!


    Kai''s mouth fell open.


    <i>This is really the first potion she''s ever made?</i>


    Kai took out potions crafted by the Wizard¡¯s Tower from his inventory.


    <strong><u>[Potion of Resistance - Lv.3]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases resistance to various status effects for 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Potion of Speed - Lv.3]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases all speeds for 5 minutes.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Potion of Power - Lv.3]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases attack and magic attack power for 5 minutes.</strong>


    "...This is unbelievable."


    Of course, potions made by professional alchemists or herbalists were superior to potions made by those at the Wizard¡¯s Tower. However, the difference between a beginner, or rather, someone making their first potion and this level of quality was abnormal!


    <i>I feel sorry for Ayana, but I met her at the perfect time.</i>


    She needed a hero to help her before any greater misfortune came upon her family. Helping her would not only earn him points but also significantly increase affinity!


    <i>yers who prefer solo y like me should at least have good doping potions.</i>


    And if Ayana''s skills improved even more from here...


    <i>I should just make her sign a lifetime contract right now... No, that''s too much.</i>


    Suppressing his greed, Kaiplimented her, "You''re amazing. Your parents would be proud."


    She bashfully twisted her fingers in her clothes, happy at hisplement. "<i>Hehehe</i>."


    Kai filled several vials with the potion.


    "Starting tomorrow, we''ll begin treating patients. You''ve worked hard making potions all night, so get some rest."


    "B-but, it''s my job too, and I''d feel bad if you did all the work alone..."


    "Stop right there. You can repay this kindness slowly, over a very long time."


    After putting her to sleep, Kai summoned Blizzard before leaving the clinic.


    "<i>Kraa</i>?"


    "Keep the clinic safe. Especially keep that little girl in there safe."


    "<i>Kroong,</i>" Blizzard firmly nodded.


    If not for the tail wagging behind him, he could have been mistaken for Unknown himself.


    <i>Now, it¡¯s time to start the counterattack.</i>


    It was time to show the lord and his brother that even a worm could turn.


    ***


    <strong>[Your reputation has risen.]</strong>


    <strong>[+1 Benevolence.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>, so the Benevolence stat does increase after all.¡±


    Kai had spent thest two days in the outskirts of the city, focusing on treating the residents of the slums, but his Benevolence stat only increased by two in those two days!


    However, he hadn¡¯t started this with the intention of increasing his Benevolence stat in the first ce.


    ¡°<i>Sniff</i>, my child¡¯s fever has gone down! Thank you so much!¡±


    ¡°If my leg had been crippled, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to feed my family... I will never forget your kindness!¡±


    ¡°You are the first person to do this much for us, even though we cannot give you any proper reward.¡±


    Kai, the Saint of the Slums, was the nickname he had earned during his two days of roaming the slums and providing treatment. Of course, it wasn¡¯t an official title but something the NPCs had started calling him.


    However, what was important was that even in the taverns of Whitehall, his name was being mentioned.


    ¡°Have you heard the rumor? A saint has appeared in town.¡±


    ¡°A saint? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°An adventuring cleric of the Church of Sris has been treating the townspeople. They say his holy power is so great that he cures people with the touch of his hand.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>, what does an adventurer get from doing such a thing?¡±


    ¡°You fool, he¡¯s a cleric, isn¡¯t he? Clerics don¡¯t act for personal gain. He¡¯s showing mercy ording to the teachings of the Srian God, of course.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t pretend to understand, but he sounds like an incredible person.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna go to hell when you die.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and give me a drink.¡±


    Rumors about Kai spread slowly but surely.


    <i>The bait isid out now, so I should get a bite soon...</i>


    After another three days, the visitor Kai had been waiting for finally came.


    ¡°Are you Kai the Cleric? His lordship has invited you to dinner. I insist youe and join him.¡±


    ¡°Insist? No need for that. It would be an honor.¡± Kai smiled broadly.

 Chapter 109: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (3)

    <h4>Chapter 109: Clinic of the Cursed Witch (3)</h4>


    Even though they were both barons, the Whitehall lord¡¯s mansion was far more luxurious than that of Baron Arsen. Moreover, it was hard to count the number of dishes filling the long dining table.


    ¡°Are you the one being called the Saint of the Slums recently?¡±


    If the younger brother looked like a goat, the older brother resembled a pig.


    Kai smiled as he realized that a person¡¯s neck could have fiveyers of folds. ¡°It''s an excessive title, but yes.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>. The reason I called you here today isn''t anything special...¡±


    That meant he had a purpose. After all, why else would a busy person be called for no reason?


    Kai leisurely waited for the conversation to continue.


    <i>He''ll probably ask about my rtionship with the Smile Clinic or something like that.</i>


    ¡°I was curious about your rtionship with the Smile Clinic. I heard you mention it during your treatment activities.¡±


    <i>Bingo.</i>


    The pig lord¡¯s words were exactly as Kai predicted.


    Of course, he had prepared a response beforehand. ¡°There isn''t much of a rtionship. I happened to visit and found a girl with a tragic fate, so I''m offering a bit of help.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>.¡± The lord squinted his already small eyes further. He studied Kai¡¯s expression before speaking again. ¡°If it''s fame you''re after, it would be better to go to a bigger ce than this rural city.¡±


    ¡°The Srian God advocates for mercy, charity, and kindness, but warns against seeking fame. Besides, how could I, a cleric, overlook the suffering of those people?¡±


    ¡°Suffering? Oh, you must mean that illness that has been spreadingtely,¡± the pig lord muttered while slicing his steak, seemingly indifferent to the suffering of his people.


    ¡°Aren''t you concerned, my lord? Your people are suffering.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re the residents of the slums who pay little taxes, aren¡¯t they? If they¡¯re filthy, it¡¯s only natural they get sick. They should just clean themselves. Wait, they¡¯ve been sick for quite a while. Could it be an infectious disease? If so, I¡¯ll need to drive them out of the city...¡±


    Kai was at a loss for words. He asked incredulously, ¡°...Winter is approaching. Where will they go if they¡¯re driven out now?¡±


    ¡°Why ask me? If they were born into this world, they should find a ce to stay themselves,¡± The pig lord, thinking his words were quite wise, grinned contentedly and stuffed arge piece of steak into his mouth.


    ¡°No wonder he¡¯s so fat...¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Kai shook his head innocently and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to the lord.


    At that, the pig lord frowned. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re ruining my meal... What''s this?¡±


    ¡°Please give it a read.¡±


    The lord suspiciously grabbed the paper and read it quickly. Then, his face twisted with displeasure as he shook the paper.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it says. It¡¯s my proposal to you, my lord.¡±


    ¡°A proposal? <i>Ha</i>! To me, it looks like a scheme to extort a thousand gold.¡±


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve misunderstood... Even if you follow the proposal, I won¡¯t receive a single coin.¡±


    "What nonsense! Are you saying it costs a thousand gold to treat the infected residents and prevent the disease from spreading?"


    Kai listened calmly to his outburst and then replied with an incredulous expression, "Isn''t it obvious? There are thirty thousand residents in Whitehall. Of them, eight thousand in the slums are infected. The surest way is to give them all holy water and purify thend, but... you know how much that would cost, right?"


    "Do I look like I can''t do math? Holy water costs one gold per bottle, so that''s thirty thousand gold, and purifying thend costs even more. But your calction misses the most important point."


    "And what is that?"


    "That I have no desire to spend that money!"


    Kai was genuinely stunned; his mouth dropped open at how the lord of Whitehall could say such trash with the most righteous expression.


    Seeing this, the pig lordughed, thinking he had scored a big win, "<i>Bahahaha</i>. Look at that foolish face of yours. This is why adventurers are useless. They''re only good at theoretical discussions."


    "...This money isn''t for me, but for you and your city''s residents."


    "Thanks for your concern, but I''ll handle it. You don''t need to worry." The pig lord waved his hand dismissively and resumed his meal.


    Kai suppressed the curses that threatened to burst out and tried to persuade him again, "Please reconsider. I will reduce the treatment cost to a thousand gold."


    "Even a simple calction shows it costs around fifty thousand gold to give residents holy water and purify thend, and you''re offering to do it for a thousand? You''re taking me for a fool," the pig lord remained consistently negative, having made up his mind.


    <i>This is troublesome...</i>


    Kai, wondering what to do, quickly scanned the dining room.


    <i>Luxurious swords, sculptures, and paintings on the walls... This guy loves luxury.</i>


    Kai briefly considered using the Friendly Brother skill, but shook his head.


    <i>No, I can''t use it now.</i>


    The Friendly Brother skill had an incredible effect of permanently raising an NPC''s affinity by 50 points but also had the disadvantage of being used only once per target.


    <i>I need to save it. Then what should I use instead...?</i>


    Kai''s brain started working at double, even triple speed. When it came to giving someone a hard time, his brain excelled.


    After a brief moment of thinking, Kai quietly put down his cutlery and said, "If you support the residents'' treatment with just a thousand gold, the people''s praises will echo day and night. That news might even reach His Majesty."


    "His Majesty? No, how could such a trivial matter reach him?"


    "Well... I shouldn''t say this, but... I guess I have no choice." Kai''s face suddenly turned pale as he revealed in a worried tone, "The truth is, the disease now spreading in Whitehall isn''t an ordinary illness."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Have you heard the recent news from the Kingdom of Havier?"


    The Lord nkly blinked and slightly nodded. "Well... yes, since mynd is near the border, I hear rumors from merchants. They say the area is in turmoil."


    "That''s right. It''s because of a terrible gue. Blue spots cover the body, and within a week, the infected die."


    "It can¡¯t be..." the pig lord''s eyes widened.


    "It is. You asked why I¡¯m treating people in this small city, didn¡¯t you? I''m a cleric on a special mission from the Church of Sris."


    "A special mission...?"


    "To confirm whether the gue that swept through Havier might spread to Whitehall."


    "Ridiculous!"


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The pig lord mmed the table, his plump legs shaking.


    "W-why would the gue from Haviere to Whitehall?"


    "I don''t know either. But the symptoms the patients here are showing are exactly the same."


    "<i>Ugh</i>..."


    At the fear that a gue might sweep through his territory, the pig lord started sweating profusely.


    "Why do you look so anxious all of a sudden?"


    "How could I not be? There''s a possibility that a gue could spread through mynd!"


    "That''s why I''m here, aren¡¯t I?" Kai smiled as if this were no big deal. "I''m offering to erase that worry for just a thousand gold. As you know, the reason it''s so cheap is because the Church of Sris is providing part of the cost."


    The pig lord hastily sped his hands together, calling upon the Srian God, "O... Helik God..."


    "This matter is also of great interest to His Majesty. Then, if you ept my proposal and eradicate the gue from this city?"


    "E-eradicate it?"


    Kai shed a bright smile. "He might even raise your peerage."


    "P-peerage...!"


    Excited by the word "peerage," the pig lord''s nostrils red.


    Kai barely resisted the urge to stuff a few banknotes into them[1] and nodded. "It¡¯s totally possible. If Whitehall sessfully handles a gue that even the Kingdom of Havier struggled to contain, what do you think His Majesty and other nations will think?"


    "...They''ll think highly of me, the lord of Whitehall, won''t they?"


    Kai pped his hands. "Exactly. They''ll believe it was your brilliant mind, sharp judgment, swift execution, and charisma that aplished this feat."


    "<i>Hmm</i>..." The pig lord''s gaze wandered as he mentally calcted.


    However, Kai didn''t give him time to think. "Imagine this: after everything is over, you are summoned to the capital by His Majesty. Citizens of the capital fill the streets, chanting your name, showering you with flowers, and bards singing songs of your achievements. Then, as you pass through this parade and finally meet the king, he pats your shoulder and whispers..."


    Kai tapped the pig lord''s shoulder and whispered in his ear, "From this day forth, I elevate you to the rank of count.¡±


    "C-count?!" the pig lord''s mouth stretched into a wide grin. "I-I wouldn''t dare hope for so much! I''d be satisfied with being promoted to viscount. Yes, even that would be satisfying!"


    As if the peerage were already a fact, the pig lord''srge face beamed with joy.


    At the same time, a message window popped up in front of Kai.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have skillfully manipted Phigynia Tiburn, Lord of Whitehall, with your eloquent words.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your speaking skills possess the ability to charm others.]</strong>


    <strong>[Saying only what the other person wants to hear is mere ttery. The true art of persuasion lies in making the other person feel good while achieving your own goals.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill reached Beginner Lv. 3.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can now roughly identify the other party¡¯s feelings during any discussion.]</strong>


    Kai quickly scanned the message window with a smile, thenplimented, "I''ve heard that the past deeds of Whitehall''s lord are nothing butmendable. Meeting you in person today, I see those rumors are true."


    "<i>Ha</i>, perhaps it''s because you¡¯re a cleric, but you''re quite the speaker! Doesn''t living like that tire you out? <i>Hahaha</i>!"


    Kai realized for the first time that day thatpliments not only made whales dance but also pigs.


    1. <u>Stuffing money into pig''s head</u> ?

 Chapter 110: Blue Plague, Aosa (1)

    <h4>Chapter 110: Blue gue, Aosa (1)</h4>


    <strong>[+1,000 gold.]</strong>


    <strong>[Bargain skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Bargain skill reached Beginner Lv. 4.]</strong>


    The gold deposited into his inventory brought a smile to Kai''s lips.


    Of course, the pig lord didn¡¯t forget to give a stern warning. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about running away. You know why I¡¯m giving you this advance payment without having to spell it out, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Everything that happened today will go with me to the grave, and every detail of this incident will be credited to you, my lord.¡±


    ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>. Excellent. Then, off you go.¡±


    Kai nced back after he left the mansion. If he had been an NPC, he would certainly be killed once the task wasplete.


    <i>Because the only way to keep a secret is to eliminate those who know it.</i>


    However, unfortunately for the lord, Kai was a yer who could revive continuously.


    <i>That¡¯s why he gave me an advance payment. To make sure I wouldn''t consider betrayal.</i>


    Of course, Kai hadn¡¯t expected the lord to hand over the entire one thousand gold upfront.


    <i>He must have pocketed quite a bit of money.</i>


    A thousand gold was equivalent to a hundred million won in real-world currency, a significant amount. However, it was just enough to purchase only one thousand bottles of holy water, but Kai had a good reason for epting this amount.


    <i>Holy water? There''s no need to buy that. I have Ayana¡¯s potions.</i>


    It wasn¡¯t baseless confidence.


    Over the past week, Kai had been treating residents in the slums using Ayana¡¯s potions.


    <i>Even though the potions were verified through item info, I needed certainty.</i>


    He needed to be sure that her potions could treat the gue caused by Aosa. And after treating patients for a week, Kai finally reached a conclusion.


    <i>Ayana¡¯s potions work. Over the past week, there¡¯s been a 0% recurrence rate.</i>


    It was the blessing brought by her innate talent!


    This was why Kai had no hesitation in pulling money from the pig lord.


    <i>What¡¯s a thousand gold? The cost of materials for Ayana¡¯s potions is only three silver per bottle.</i>


    Simple calctions showed they could make over thirty-three thousand bottles with that amount! However, Kai didn¡¯t feel the need to make that many potions.


    <i>As soon as I see the blue spots appearing, I can go after Aosa.</i>


    The gue it spread was a byproduct of itself. In other words, killing Aosa would eliminate the disease in the patients as well!


    <i>Getting a million won just by talking... It was a good deal.</i>


    The pig lord might have been satisfied with the transaction, but not as much as Kai.


    ¡°Now then, I wonder when Aosa will show up...¡±


    Kai''s steps back to the Smile Clinic were unprecedentedly light.


    ***


    <i>Click.</i>


    Kai filled small bottles with Ayana¡¯s special purification potion and lined them up on a disy.


    ¡°That should do it.¡±


    Then, he took out an ice cream he had bought that morning from his inventory and handed it to her.


    ¡°Good work. With this, you can treat the vigers even without me.¡±


    ¡°P-Please don¡¯t say that. You have to stay here...¡±


    Her feelings were a mix of embarrassment from hispliments, fear that Kai would leave, and the delight of the first bite of ice cream.


    Watching her enjoy the snack, Kai slightly turned his head.


    <i>We¡¯ve treated about half of the slum residents now, haven¡¯t we?</i>


    Three days had passed since the deal with the lord. In total, ten days had passed since they began treating patients. During that time, Kai and Ayana had treated over four thousand residents! On average, they treated at least four hundred people a day.


    <i>It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt this nostalgic.</i>


    Kai reminisced about his younger days when he often volunteered to help in incidents like oil spills in the sea or assisting those who lost their homes to floods. During that time, even though he felt exhausted and time seemed to stretch on endlessly, he never regretted going there.


    <i>It''s the same now.</i>


    Though it was tough at the moment, this too would be a cherished memory when he looked back someday in the future. It was a voluntary act of kindness, not something done under force.


    Stretching to relieve his stiff body, Kai noticed Ayana dozing off after eating her snack. He threw the ice cream wrapper into the trash and gently carried her to bed.


    "Get some sleep."


    "Don''t... go anywhere..."


    "I''m not going anywhere, don''t worry."


    "O-okay then... just for thirty minutes..."


    After a short while, the room was filled with her soft, regted breathing. Kai put a nket over her and gently patted her head.


    <i>I''ll make sure you reunite with your parents soon.</i>


    In Korea, being thirteen years old meant she was in the fifth grade. Though kids these days knew a lot and matured quickly, it was still a time when they needed a guardian''s care.


    Kai, wanting to speed up the reunion of Ayana and her parents, quietly left her room.


    "<i>Krrr</i>."


    Blizzard, who had been standing guard in the hallway, suddenly growled, disying signs of vignce.


    "...What''s the matter?" Kai asked seriously, startled by Blizzard''s uncharacteristic behavior.


    However, Blizzard didn''t even nce at Kai and continued to stare northward, slightly trembling.


    <i>Blizzard is... scared?</i>


    Kai blinked, unable toprehend the situation. Although Blizzard had be his pet after being defeated, the warrior spirit of being the best fighter of his n hadn''t diminished. Blizzard always sought out prey, enjoyed battles, and looked for strong opponents.


    <i>If there''s something that can intimidate Blizzard... could it be?</i>


    His mind racing, Kai quickly dashed out of the clinic.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud.</i>


    Reaching the town at a speed unimaginable for a cleric, his expression twisted in dismay.


    "Oh no! He''s poisoned! Is there a cleric anywhere?!"


    "The Blue gue? What kind of crazy damage-over-time effect is this..."


    "I need holy water! Quick!"


    "<i>Ugh</i>..."


    "<i>Cough, cough</i>..."


    The streets, covered in a blue mist, were already filled with the aura of death.


    <i>First, I need to confirm.</i>


    Scanning his surroundings, Kai quickly rolled up the sleeve of an unconscious man. His eyes widened in shock.


    "...Blue spots."


    It was undeniable evidence of the Blue gue''s presence, signaling Aosa''s arrival!


    <i>But from where? How?</i>


    Kai''s mind started to whirl with confusion, tangled like a ball of yarn.


    Tardal had exined that by leisurely treating people here, he would eventually notice Aosa''s approach. However, reality was far too different.


    <i>Damn it... was I toocent?</i>


    Kai bit his lower lip hard. His first mistake had been taking Tardal''s word as absolute truth. Tardal had never actually seen Aosa. Everything he knew came from historical records and traces found in Havier.


    <i>In other words, this situation was something even Tardal hadn''t anticipated.</i>


    The spread of the gue was far quicker than Tardal had thought.


    <i>One week from the appearance of the blue spots until death? No way.</i>


    While the historical records could have stated that, it was no longer true. Aosa had returned far stronger and more vicious than before. The Church of Muldine had evidently honed their weapon well.


    The blue mist enveloping the city didn''t discriminate between NPCs and adventurers. And Kai was no exception.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve caught the Blue gue.]</strong>


    <strong>[You will lose 1,000 HP per second.]</strong>


    <strong>[All skills are 20% less effective.]</strong>


    <strong>[-15% movement speed.]</strong>


    <i>What kind of ridiculous skill is this!</i>


    The effects of the Blue gue were truly deadly!


    However, Kai had Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, which allowed him to detoxify immediately upon infection. Though, that didn¡¯t provide much constion.


    <i>To end this mess, I have to deal with Aosa.</i>


    Kai''s head snapped to the side, to the ce where the blue mist was thickest, the darkest part of the city where even the full moon¡¯s light couldn¡¯t pass through.


    <i>The za.</i>


    That¡¯s where it was!


    Kai quickly darted into a nearby alley.


    ***


    <i>Crash!</i>


    The sound of something copsing filled the street. It wasn¡¯t the light sound of bones or armor breaking. It was something much heavier, like a building copsing.


    ¡°It¡¯s falling!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way!¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The yers scrambled to avoid the debris when a three-story house copses. As they fanned away the rising dust with their hands, despair and anger flickered in their eyes.


    ¡°Shit! Those fucking Pegasus bastards!¡±


    ¡°What the hell is that? Was there some event announcement today?¡±


    ¡°Event announcement my ass!¡±


    ¡°Then what is that thing? Why is it attacking the city, a safe zone?¡±


    ¡°I almost went to the afterlife instead of dreand while sleeping at the inn.¡±


    Like a local broadcast turning on,ints and curses erupted chaotically from all directions.


    The fact that they were still breathing and alive in this ce indicated something significant. They had high magic resistance and levels, but even they couldn¡¯t figure out how to deal with the target in front of them.


    <i>How are we supposed to take this thing down?</i>


    <i>My sword doesn¡¯t work. No, it deals damage, but it seems to be reduced by at least 60%.</i>


    <i>It reduces physical damage and has magic damage reduction too? How are we supposed to beat this thing?</i>


    <i>Should we all hold hands and pray? Maybe the universe will help us then?</i>


    It was impregnable. The adventurers, always in the position of conquerors, now faced an enemy they couldn¡¯t easily conquer and started ncing at each other.


    ¡°This is...¡±


    ¡°Impossible, right?¡±


    ¡°Better to retreat.¡±


    ¡°Level down, skill level down, item drop. If you don¡¯t want to experience the shitty trinity, we better run.¡±


    The yers, about forty in total, standing there all came to the same conclusion. However, their opinions didn¡¯t matter.


    <i>Whirr!</i>


    ¡°It¡¯sing again!¡±


    ¡°Duck! No, dodge!¡±


    ¡°Those damn sticky things!¡±


    Dozens of dark blue tentacles whipped at them likeshes. The yers each moved in their own style, either blocking the attack or dodging it entirely.


    The being thatunched the attack quietly looked down at those who were staring at it with fearful eyes. With a single attack, it made these inferior beings scatter like ants.


    ¡ªMuldine''s... words...


    It slowly moved its two legs forward. With each step, something fell from its body. It looked like a slime taking on a human form, but it was more liquid than slime, like muddy ground after rain. Its body dripped messily.


    <strong>[Blue gue Aosa. LV. 175]</strong>


    It slowly raised its right hand. At the same time, the dozens of tentacles lying on the ground began to sway like seaweed underwater.


    ¡ªPrepare for... the holy war.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    As Aosa pointed its right hand forward, the tentacles spun and took the form of sharp spears.


    "<i>Huh</i>?"


    "What?"


    "<i>Hm</i>?"


    The yers watching it didn¡¯t think of dodging, and instead, they looked surprised. They weren''t looking at the tentacle spears, but at something far above them¡ªa ck figure.


    "What is that?"


    "It looks like a meteorite... but it''s too ck."


    "Wait, isn¡¯t that a person?"


    "<i>Huh</i>? That armor looks really familiar andforting, like visiting my grandparents'' house during the holidays."


    "Cut the nonsense. Isn''t that Unknown?"


    "Wait! Yeah, I think so."


    Aosa slowly raised its head at the adventurers''motion. It flinched when its eyes met with someone¡¯s, but it was toote. Like a diver springing off a board, bing a sharp needle falling downward, two des plunged into Aosa''s neck like lightning from the sky.


    Sliding across the ground, the figure created distance from Aosa and slowly got up.


    "Krrr," the so-called Unknown growled.

 Chapter 111: Blue Plague, Aosa (2)

    <h4>Chapter 111: Blue gue, Aosa (2)</h4>


    The adventurers had questions: Why was Unknown, who was estimated to be around level 100, here at this moment? Why was Unknown, who usually preferred using a longsword, wielding two scimitars instead?


    But those questions dissipated like the wind in the face of one clear fact. Unknown and Aosa were inbat!


    The adventurers who had been about to run away instantly became spectators, their faces filled with anticipation.


    In the next moment, Aosa slowly raised its hand. As it touched the wounds inflicted by the two scimitars, blue liquid dripped from its neck. It was enraged.


    ¡ªHow dare you...


    To dare wound the sacred body bestowed by Muldine!


    Furious, Aosa swung its right hand. In an instant, the tentacles that had sprung up like a storm shot toward Unknown. The tentacles that were originally sticky became sharp spears.


    There seemed to be no room to dodge, but Unknown cleverly stepped on the iing spears in order to escape them.


    ¡°<i>Krrr</i>...¡±


    Having escaped the attacks that were like a downpour of rain, Unknown nced at his left leg.


    The adventurers watching him cheered and apuded.


    ¡°That movement is insane! Unknown is surely incredible!¡±


    ¡°It looks like his moves have gotten even better sincest time.¡±


    ¡°But... why do his attacks seem to do damage? Mine didn''t.¡±


    ¡°You probably didn''t hit the weak point, or your attack power is lower than Unknown''s.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. My level is 162, so how could I be weaker than Unknown?¡±


    ¡°But he did take a hit. He got hit directly on his left leg.¡±


    ¡°He must have a movement speed reduction debuff now.¡±


    The adventurers, who had been chattering away, suddenly fell silent.


    <i>Smash!</i>


    Their conversation had disturbed Aosa. Instead of a fly swatter, it was like Aosa picked up a tennis racket to swat the flies.


    <i>Smash, smash, smaash! </i>


    The tentacles demolished nearby buildings like a wrecking ball. It then grabbed the falling walls and ceilings mid-air and hurled them at the adventurers.


    ¡°Damn it, this savage!¡±


    ¡°Attack us normally for once, will you?!¡±


    ¡°Shut up and just dodge!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, gather here! We''re going to use Magic Shield!¡±


    Five Wizards formed a group to cast a fiveyered Magic Shield.


    The falling debris and tentacles pounded on the barrier.


    <i>Bang, bang!</i>


    <i>Smash!</i>


    Not able to withstand the attacks, the Magic Shield shattered one by one. With each shattering barrier, a Wizard also copsed, clutching their head. It felt like the pain of a brain freeze from eating ice cream or Bingsoo too quickly!


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>, what''s Unknown doing?!¡±


    ¡°He''s obviously...¡±


    ¡°Fighting Aosa...¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?¡±


    The adventurers who frantically looked around suddenly screamed.


    ¡°Where the hell did that bastard go?!¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, Unknown was hiding in an alley, avoiding Aosa''s sight.


    "Good work."


    Unknown, or rather Blizzard, growled in response to thepliment.


    "You''re hurt. Hold still."


    Kai quickly healed Blizzard''s leg.


    He was fully equipped with the Tyrant of the Sea set, but the reason he sent Blizzard first was simple.


    <i>Identifying weaknesses and patterns. That''s what''s important.</i>


    Although they had only exchanged a single round of attacks, Kai had earned considerable information.


    <i>First, the attack patterns involve those tentacles.</i>


    Aosa''s surroundings were constantly enveloped in a blue mist, reminiscent of slime.


    <i>Approaching it deals poison damage. Staying far away brings tentacle attacks. And judging by the way it''s fighting the adventurers now, it seems to have both physical and magical damage reduction. What a nasty creature.</i>


    However, there was good news for Kai.


    "You''ve be incredibly strong."


    Since bing Kai''s pet, Blizzard''s skills and levels had been nerfed. Even so, the agility and strength he just disyed were remarkable, and the reason behind that was simple.


    <i>Buffs and doping are essential preparations for any fighter.</i>


    Just as soldiers need bullets for battle, and students need textbooks for school, adventurers needed buffs and doping before starting a hunt.


    "Let''s see... How many buffs are there in total? Haste, Bless, Sris Blessing, Sris Armor..." Kai listed out the buffs on Blizzard''s status screen, murmuring in admiration, "There¡¯s fourteen. No wonder you''re like a monster now."


    With the new skills learned from clearing Lynel¡¯s Dungeon, buffs from being a Sric Cleric, and Ayana''s special potions¡ªBlizzard was the result of all thesebined. He was a monstrous summon capable of dodging even the attacks of Aosa, a level 175 raid boss!


    <i>He¡¯s not perfect, though. He did get hit on the left leg once.</i>


    However, Kai wasn''t too worried about that part.


    "You can avoid it next time, right?"


    Blizzard nodded firmly.


    Thanks to his passive skill, Acumen, he grew even duringbat. In other words, he was a living AlphaGo!


    Kai gripped his shoulder tightly and locked eyes with him.


    "Buy me some time. You must not lose or fall."


    Considering the extreme level difference, it was quite a demanding request to ask for from Blizzard. Yet, Blizzard sprang up and charged at Aosa without any hesitation.


    "Now, time for me to prepare." Kai drank holy water, and his hands began to cast different skills one by one. "Sris Armor, Sris Blessing, Bless, Haste, Holy Enchantment..."


    In the dark alley, bursts of light from his divine power lit up like a shbulb. When all the preparations were finished, he slowly stood up. However, his steps didn¡¯t lead to where Aosa was.


    ***


    "U-Unknown is back but..."


    "Isn''t he kind of in danger?"


    The adventurers who barely held off the attacks nced at Unknown, or rather Blizzard, who was fiercely battling Aosa.


    <i>Swoosh! sh!</i>


    <i>Whoosh! Smash!</i>


    They exchanged attacks, dodged, and counterattacks. In the relentlessbat, Blizzard began to slightly be pushed back.


    ¡ªYou insignificant creature


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    While Aosa could control dozens of tentacles with a single gesture, Blizzard''s only means of attack were his two scimitars. Even if he dodged a hundred attacks, failing to dodge once would result in Blizzard''s defeat.


    In the obviously unfavorable situation, one of the tentacles struck Blizzard in the chest as he stubbornly continued his attack.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    "<i>Kraaagh</i>!"


    The moment Blizzard allowed that single attack, the battle was already over. With his flow broken and his movements slowed, it was difficult for him to dodge the next wave of attacks.


    <i>Smash, smash, smash!</i>


    As the dozens of tentacles pounded Blizzard''s body, he quickly turned into a rough state. His matte ck armor was torn in various ces, and blood dripped from his fingers, still gripping the scimitars.


    Despite the overwhelming pain, Blizzard neither retreated nor fled. Trembling with pain, he tightened his grip on his scimitars and got into the unique stance of a Lizardman warrior.


    Seeing Blizzard¡¯s persistence, Aosa shook its head.


    ¡ªYour pride ismendable. But... your skills don''t match your pride.


    With those words, Aosa flicked its index and middle fingers through the air as if unlocking a smartphone. The tentacles thenbined into one and struck Blizzard like a dump truck.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    With all his bones shattered, Blizzard flew through the air like a broken kite. The ground where he was about tond was lined with sharp tentacles.


    <i>It¡¯s over.</i>


    <i>Unknown is finished!</i>


    As everyone watching the battle firmly believed this, a chain of divine light suddenly shot out from a nearby building, wrapping around Blizzard¡¯s waist and pulling him to safety.


    ¡°Holy Chains.¡±


    The tentacles snapped at the empty air, missing their target, and Aosa turned its head.


    ¡°He really turned you into a rag.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrr</i>...¡±


    Blizzard held onto Kai¡¯s wrist, who was healing him. His eyes were filled not with resentment or me but with anger at his own powerlessness and guilt for failing his mission.


    <i>This game... really knows how to mess with your feelings.</i>


    Feeling mixed emotions, he squeezed Blizzard''s shoulder tightly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to look at me like that. You followed my orders faithfully, and I¡¯m very satisfied.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrrgh</i>?¡±


    Blizzard¡¯s eyes seemed to ask if he meant it.


    Kai nodded, his smile gone. ¡°Sorry for beingte. There were more than I expected.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrr.¡±</i> Blizzard shook his head as if to say there was no need to apologize, then fainted.


    <i>I spent too much time saving the NPCs nearby.</i>


    Kai knew that any battle with Aosa would inevitably destroy the surrounding facilities, so he had rescued NPCs before the full-scale battle began.


    <i>Now, there aren¡¯t any NPCs left around here.</i>


    Kai had rescued 132 of them and moved them out of thebat zone in that short time.


    ¡ªYou have... an unbearably foul stench.


    Aosa muttered as it looked up at Kai and flicked its finger.


    Tentacles shot up from the ground, aiming at Kai and Blizzard.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    As before, the tentacles turned into sharp spears.


    Kai, watching them closely, lightly swung his sword.


    <i>sh!</i>


    With that single light sh, dozens of tentacles were cut in two, falling to the ground.


    At the same time, the Tyrant of the Sea set that Kai wore began to glow blue, reflecting the pale moonlight.


    <strong>[Courageous Knight effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats temporarily increased by 10.]</strong>


    <strong>[Tyrant''s Wrath effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Water trait added to weapon for 10 minutes. +100% fire resistance.]</strong>

 Chapter 112: Blue Plague, Aosa (3)

    <h4>Chapter 112: Blue gue, Aosa (3)</h4>


    Kai stood confidently on the roof, looking down at Aosa. His armor that glowed blue due to the effect of the Tyrant of the Sea set,bined with the pale moonlight, gave him an otherworldly appearance.


    <i>Two people would usually be dancing under such bright moonlight, but...</i>


    However, Aosa and Kai were not on such terms.


    In fact, Aosa was displeased with the failure of its attack and lightly stomped the ground. In one leap, Aosa soared over Kai andnded on the roof of the building opposite, staring intently at him.


    Aosa''s body resembled that of a human, but it had no eyes, nose, or mouth on its face. Yet, Kai instinctively felt that Aosa was staring at him.


    After a moment, Aosa muttered.


    ¡ªInteresting. I see I¡¯ve met another puppet of the cursed tribe again...


    As Aosa''s words reverberated through Kai¡¯s mind, a long tentacle shot out from under its feet. It casually grabbed the tentacle, which was dripping blue liquid. The tentacle took the shape of a longsword, much like the one Kai held. Though it was a sword made of liquid, it reflected the moonlight and appeared incredibly sharp.


    <i>Does that mean its pride was hurt or something?</i>


    Forfeiting the advantage of attacking from a distance, Aosa chose to wield a sword. That was thebat method selected by the monster whose pride had been wounded.


    <i>It¡¯s better for me, but...</i>


    Kai''s eyes sparked with annoyance as he gripped his sword tighter.


    <i>But being tantly disrespected doesn''t feel so great.</i>


    As enemies, it was natural for them to have no good feelings for each other. Moreover, their pride had been mutually scratched, so that was why their first sh had to be fierce.


    In an instant, Aosa propelled itself off the roof and swung its sword.


    Kai didn''t dodge and instead thrust his own sword directly into Aosa''s de.


    <i>ng!</i>


    "<i>Argh</i>!" Kai let out a rough breath.


    The attack power of a 175-level field boss raid monster was indeed strong. However, Kai wasn''t pushed back by Aosa, and the reason for that was simple.


    <i>ording to Tardal, Aosa has two weaknesses.</i>


    One was the core hidden somewhere in its body, and the other was...


    <i>It''s weak to holy power!</i>


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Kai''s sword was imbued with Sris Blessing and Holy Enchantment, and perhaps because of that, Aosa''s HP began to decrease with every second their swords shed.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Eventually realizing that it was only receiving damages, Aosa forcefully withdrew its sword and stepped back


    <i>This is manageable. It''s different from the time with the Orc Lord.</i>


    The situation was entirely different from back then. Urghan''s attacks, even when not hitting directly, would chip away at Kai''s HP just from the shockwaves when their swords shed.


    <i>But now, I''m the one with the upper hand. Just shing swords gives me the advantage.</i>


    Aosa couldn''t help but take continuous damage from Kai''s holy power.


    Aosa had initially charged confidently, but he retreated after seeing its HP drop. As if this further wounded its pride, its atmosphere became even more menacing.


    <i>Judging by its mood... it seems it''s giving up on closebat and nning to attack from a distance again.</i>


    Kai, who had read its thoughts exactly, immediately began to provoke, "Why do something you''re not used to? You won''t win in closebat anyway, so fight like you usually do."


    ¡ªHow dare you!


    People often hesitate to do something they initially wanted when someone else urges them to do it. Aosa found itself in just such a situation. It wanted to go back to long-range attacks, but with a lowly humanying the groundwork like that, it felt like admitting defeat by avoiding closebat.


    As a creation of the Church of Muldine, Aosa had a strong sense of pride, so it couldn''t ept retreating from a fight with an inferior human.


    ¡ªWhat nonsense. Closebat is more than possible against someone like you!


    Aosa shouted boldly, and charged at Kai once more.


    No matter how strong the attack, seeing it multiple times made it familiar. Even a fast, precise, and shy swordy couldn¡¯t avoid this process.


    In fact, master swordsmen and knight NPCs never repeated a single technique. They mixed various techniques and skills, making their next attack unpredictable.


    <i>But Aosa is still inexperienced.</i>


    It was likely Aosa didn''t enjoy closebat usually and was only fighting in closebat because of Kai''s taunt, as its main strength was still its tentacles. So naturally, its swordsmanship wasn''t that great.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    Thanks to this, Kai began to press Aosa more and more with his swordsmanship as time went on. At first, he merely blocked its attacks, but soon he started counterattacking, and the situationpletely changed from the beginning.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    Kai attacked, and Aosa struggled to block.


    In this absurd situation, Kai brought out another weapon.


    <i>Until now, I''ve been hiding the fact that I can use holy power.</i>


    It was to ensure no one suspected that Unknown was a Cleric. However, the goddess of fate smiled upon Kai, granting him a skill.


    <i>Holy Chains. I have that now.</i>


    Holy Chains was a skill favored by NPC pdins and inquisitors, and while Clerics could also learn this skill, none had done so until now.


    <i>Because it¡¯s inefficient.</i>


    A Pdin, being a frontlinebat ss, found Holy Chains useful in many situations.


    However, for a Cleric who had to care for allies from the back throughout the battle, there was no need to spend the high cost to learn Holy Chains. Instead, it was far more beneficial to use that money to purchase other buff skills.


    In short, there currently was a deeply fixed idea that only Pdins used Holy Chains in <i>MID Online</i>!


    <i>Then I should exploit that fixed notion.</i>


    A pure white light emanated from Kai''s fingertips. Allies would cheer with their hands raised, but Aosa before him certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to stand this energy¡ªthe holy power of the Church of Sris.


    A blinding, intense holy power was summoned into the air.


    Confronted with its fatal weakness of holy power, Aosa instinctively retreated.


    Kai didn''t miss the opportunity.


    ¡°Holy Chains!¡±


    In an instant, he bound one of Aosa''s arms with the chain and yanked. As Aosa''s body was pulled forward, Kai mmed it down.


    <i>Smash!</i>


    Aosa''s body was thrown to the ground. However, Kai didn''t stop his attack there.


    <i>I need to keep attacking until its HP is depleted.</i>


    Despite gaining the upper hand, Kai didn''t let his guard down. With all his strength, he pressed his leg down on Aosa''s chest.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    A deafening sound, like a giant tree falling, erupted. It was the scream of the roof copsing under the umted damage. The entire two-story building began to copse slowly.


    <i>Crack, crack, crash!</i>


    [<i>Argh</i>!]


    Naturally, neither Aosa or Kai could avoid falling. However, even while falling, Kai didn''t stop his attack.


    Holding onto the chain tightly with both hands, he spun his body. With enough centrifugal force built up, Kai released the chain. Naturally, Aosa, bound by the chain, was flung to the ground.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    It was a Newtonian-style throw!


    [<i>Aaargh</i>!] Aosa let out a pain-filled groan as its body felt like it was being shattered into pieces.


    It was the first scream of pain it let out since the battle started!


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff</i>.¡±


    Kai was also exhausted. His health had dropped significantly from the fall damage and the debris of the building.


    With a tired expression, Kai pulled on the Holy Chain.


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?¡±


    Kai furrowed his brows.


    <i>Why is the chain... light?</i>


    It didn''t feel like Aosa was still bound. In fact, the chain that came to his hand had no Aosa attached.


    At the same time, rm bells started ringing in his mind.


    <i>The Blue gue is known for its sudden appearance and disappearance. It moves by blending into the shadows at night, so you might not even realize it¡¯s passed by.</i>


    Tardal''s advice shed through his mind. Remembering it, Kai instinctively cast Sacred Barrier and crouched.


    The next moment, something massive shattered the shield and struck Kai''s side.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>!¡±


    It was the tentacles that had hit Blizzard like a dump truck! Kai''s body was thrown through the rubble of the copsed building and onto the street.


    <i>Cough... Aosa, so you''re finally getting serious, huh? Well, it¡¯s about time for phase two.</i>


    As a result of Kai¡¯s relentless swordy, Aosa''s HP had already dropped below 20%.


    Kai, wobbling on unsteady legs, looked at the copsed building. He heard the sound of the tentacles moving, and the debris of the copsed buildings scattered into the sky like eruptingva.


    [How dare... a lowly human... a minion of the cursed sun...!]


    Roaring in fury, Aosa began to swell as if about to explode. Countless tentacles erupted from the ground like a zing fire and wrapped themselves around Aosa.


    <i>I can''t just sit back and watch!</i>


    Anyone could see it was in the process of a transformation.


    Feeling uneasy, Kai immediately shot Holy Explosion at Aosa.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The target is in an immune state.]</strong>


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    The immune state meant that Aosa''s transformation couldn¡¯t be stopped. In other words, everything was going ording to Pegasus'' script.


    <i>And I¡¯m supposed to handle this alone?</i>


    Kai gulped as he looked up at the massive entity that could no longer be called a human.


    <strong>[The Unleashed Beast of the Blue gue, Aosa. LV. 200.]</strong>


    ¡°...This is a joke, right? Is this a hidden camera prank or something?¡± Kai asked with an awkward smile, but no one answered.

 Chapter 113: Blue Plague, Aosa (4)

    <h4>Chapter 113: Blue gue, Aosa (4)</h4>


    Every gamer out there could rte to the dread of pouring everything they had to beat a boss only to watch the boss enter a new phase and be even stronger. During moments like that, a sense of defeat would wash over their entire being, making them want to sit the developer down to ask why they would do something so sadistic.


    <i>The Pegasus developers... Can I meet them if I go to the US?</i>


    Looking up at the giant monster before him, Kai felt a strong urge to visit their headquarters.


    However, he understood why this situation had urred.


    <i>...Sure, even if it fell for my taunt, Aosa in human form was too weak.</i>


    In terms of rank, Aosa was on the same level as Veghas, the king of looters who had brought every guild to their knees for months. Of course, even within the same rank, the difference in strength was entirely up to the developers.


    <i>Ha. So I¡¯m supposed to handle this alone now?</i>


    The creature was so enormous that it was as if several buildings had beenbined together! Moreover, its HP had already regenerated to 30%.


    <i>If more time passes, raid parties and rankers from other guilds will hear about this ande.</i>


    Currently, the teleport gate was destroyed due to Aosa causing a disturbance, but they could still travel to a nearby city''s teleport gate and rush over here.


    <i>If I can''tnd the finishing blow on this thing within thirty minutes, I''ll have to share the rewards.</i>


    Even though the best rewards would go to him based on contribution, he still wouldn¡¯t feel the best.


    <i>After doing all the hard work, I have to watch otherse and take the glory? I can¡¯t let that happen.</i>


    As a gamer, this was a situation more unbearable than death!


    Kai quickly analyzed Aosa''s weaknesses.


    <i>It¡¯s huge. Overall appearance-wise... it looks like a slime.</i>


    Slimes were low-tier monsters in <i>MID Online</i>. They typically inhabited damp forests or the sewers beneath cities and were characterized by their acidic nature. They looked squishy and harmless like jelly, but they were dreaded by warriors because attacking them damaged equipment durability!


    <i>Aosa probably won¡¯t be much different.</i>


    In fact, this one was even worse than a regr slime. Instead of acid, it emitted a terrifying poisonous mist that could instantly poison those with low magic resistance.


    <i>And no matter how much it transforms, the core weakness should remain the same.</i>


    Kai sheathed his sword and firmly gripped the chain.


    ¡ª<i>Kroooaaaar</i>!


    Aosa¡¯s roar echoed through the city still asleep at dawn and the yers watching the scene covered their ears.


    ¡°<i>Aaahhh</i>!¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°Is this 7.1 surround sound or what? My eardrums are going to burst!¡±


    ¡°On top of that, it''s got the Intimidation skill in effect...¡±


    Aosa''s roar wasn¡¯t just to show its rage. It was also a skill!


    Fortunately for Kai, it had little effect on him.


    <strong>[Due to your high Dignity stat, you partially resist the Intimidation effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[Due to your Courageous buff, you significantly resist the Intimidation effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You havepletely resisted Aosa''s Intimidation skill.]</strong>


    The Courageous buff was a buff Kai hadn''t learned yet, but fortunately, it was currently active on him.


    <i>I¡¯m lucky. I can¡¯t believe Enhanced Summoninges in handy at times like this.</i>


    Enhanced Summoning was a skill necessary when summoning Blizzard. Every time it was used, it granted a random buff to both the caster and the summon! This time, it granted the Courageous buff when Blizzard was summoned.


    <strong>[Courageous]</strong>


    <strong>Gives resistance to status effects such as intimidation, fear, confusion, provocation, and dispiritedness.</strong>


    <i>Thanks to this, Blizzard was able to face Aosa.</i>


    It was the reason why Blizzard, who was initially terrified at Aosa¡¯s presence, could put up an even fight.


    And now, it was useful to Kai as well!


    Aosa swiftly slid through the city''s streets, dashing toward Kai.


    <i>Damn, at least in human form it had some sense of reason...</i>


    Now, it seemed to ignore such notions, bulldozing through every building in its path!


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to get crushed by it though.¡±


    Kai quickly turned and began to run.


    However, Aosa¡¯s body was muchrger than Kai''s. Naturally, the distance between them closed rapidly.


    <i>Well, this is bad. In that case...</i>


    Kai¡¯s holy power quickly dropped. At the same time, Holy Chains extended out dozens of meters and wrapped around the clock tower in the square.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>!¡±


    Kai yanked the chain and kicked off the ground.


    Simultaneously, Aosa¡¯s massive bodynded where Kai had just been.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Even ncing back at the sight sent chills down his spine!


    <i>Even if I have Undying Will, it wouldn''t be useful if I got crushed by that.</i>


    Even with five seconds of invulnerability after resurrection, he would surely die again soon. Realizing this, Kai understood how he needed to fight.


    <i>I have to get to higher ground. Fighting from below would make fighting impossible.</i>


    Perching on the clock hand of the clock tower, Kai looked down at the city and Aosa.


    <i>I think I understand how Pegasus intended for this monster to be defeated now.</i>


    This was the middle of the city. Though Aosa was huge, being atop the buildings would bring him to eye level with it.


    In other words, the ideal way to tackle this beast would be...


    <i>A group of yers should position themselves on the buildings and take turns drawing its aggro while attacking.</i>


    That was the way to minimize damage and take it down.


    <i>Being somewhere lower than it means the fight isn¡¯t even possible.</i>


    However, the problem was that Kai was alone. He could see other yers watching the fight, but he had no intention of asking for their help.


    <i>I can do this alone.</i>


    While Aosa had be a formidable beast in its second phase, it had sacrificed much for its massive size.


    <i>First, it lost its hands and feet.</i>


    This meant that if Kai positioned himself higher, Aosa could only attack him with its tentacles. Luckily, Kai had also be quite ustomed to those tentacle attacks through their fight!


    Kai took note of the positions of several clock towers and tall buildings within the city.


    <i>There¡¯s another clock tower over there, and that library and church are pretty tall. And...</i>


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>, Ayana did say I¡¯d regret drinking this...¡±


    He reluctantly opened a bottle of purple potion from his inventory.


    <strong>[<u>High Concentration Potion, Higher Way LV.8</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Greatly enhances concentration upon consumption.</strong>


    <strong>Side effects include fatigue and exhaustion for several days, with possible headaches and various other symptoms.</strong>


    <i>Phew, I really don''t want to drink this because of the side effects... but without it, this will be impossible.</i>


    He realized that the best way topensate for hiscking physical abilities and stat differences was through increased concentration. Once he realized this was his best option, he drank the potion in one gulp without hesitation.


    Ayana''s brilliant potion-making skills and his high-quality ingredients made for a perfect coboration, but his expression still twisted in difort as soon as he drank the potion.


    ¡°<i>Blegh</i>...¡±


    He felt as if every cell in his body was awakening, pounding throughout his entire body.


    Even though he was equipped in the thick and sturdy Tyrant of the Sea set, it felt like he was wearing nothing; all his senses and nerves became sharp and heightened as if there was nothing between him and the air.


    <i>I feel like I can even sense the flow of passing air.</i>


    And that wasn¡¯t just an illusion. As soon as his entire body perceived the shift in the air flow,


    his gaze was already fixed on Aosa.


    <i>It¡¯s moving.</i>


    <i>¡ªKroooaaar</i>!


    Aosa fiercely charged toward the clock tower where Kai was positioned. In just a few seconds, the clock tower Kai stood on began to tilt.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    With a single body m from Aosa, the clock tower began to copse. Then, dozens of tentacles whipped toward Kai, who was now hanging from the tower.


    <i>... I can dodge them.</i>


    Dozens of tentacles flew toward him, and being in mid-air, there was no room to avoid it.


    This was the most dangerous moment since the battle began!


    Kai¡¯s pupils constricted to better discern the objects in front of him.


    <i>Focus, focus. Concentrate.</i>


    Even in a game, falling felt terrifying. In such a situation, most people would shut their eyes tightly until they hit the ground.


    However, even amidst this, Kai¡¯s awareness became even sharper. It was as if he was willing to use all his lifelong concentration for this single moment, this battle.


    In his vision, there were only the tentacles flying toward him and the debris from the broken clock tower.


    <i>That way.</i>


    He swung the Holy Chain to wrap around a particrly heavy piece of debris and yanked it hard. Using the momentum, Kai propelled himself forward,nding on the shattered piece of the clock tower.


    <i>Vwooom!</i>


    Aosa''s tentacle narrowly missed him by coincidence as he moved forward.


    <i>Wriggle.</i>


    The now fully monstrous Aosa showed signs of displeasure. Yet, the tentacle attacks continued relentlessly.


    <i>Vwoom, vwoom, vwoom!</i>


    Calcting the trajectories of the iing tentacles and the locations where the clock tower debris wouldnd in a few seconds, Kai''s brain felt like it was burning up from the intense mental effort.


    Step by step, he moved from one piece of debris to another.


    It was a simple, repetitive action, but the yers watching in real-time were too stunned to even let out words of shock, admiration, or rm.


    They remained silent, as if a fuse in their brains had blown.


    After a long pause, one yer finally managed to mutter, "... This is more shocking than the first time I saw E.T."


    "Oh, that was a great movie."


    The movie <i>E.T</i>., directed by Steven Spielberg, had made him a legendary director in Hollywood. The scene where E.T. flew toward the full moon on a bicycle was still considered an iconic moment.


    However, the yers watching Unknown were now certain.


    <i>Now, if you search for the best full moon scene on Google Images, this moment will show up.</i>


    Even witnessing it in real-time was that thrilling, and they could only imagine how spectacr the video would be with added effects and sound.


    Before those exhrating thoughts could fully even y out, Unknown, who had evaded all the tentacles, began to descend.


    "This feels amazing."


    Expressing his genuine feelings, Kainded on Aosa''s massive body. A ripple spread across Aosa''s back, sounding like somethingnding on a rubber tube.


    At the same time, Kai activated the skill at once.


    "Spring of Restoration."

 Chapter 114: Blue Plague, Aosa (5)

    <h4>Chapter 114: Blue gue, Aosa (5)</h4>


    <strong>[<u>Spring of Restoration</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Installs a holy well that heals an ally''s health and stamina.</strong>


    <strong>Can deal damage to nearby undead or demon-type monsters.</strong>


    As the skill description suggested, the Spring of Restoration was primarily a support skill. However, it was often neglected by many Clerics and Pdins.


    Naturally, the reason for this skill''s neglect was simple.


    <i>Spring of Restoration? Yeah, I learned it when I was a clueless newbie. It''s a ceable skill, so once you set it up, it steadily restores HP and Stamina, which is nice... but it''s kinda awkward.</i>


    <i>Why? Listen. Do you expect the notoriously cowardly MID Online monsters to just crawl into a spring that deals damage to them and take a swim? The moment you ce it, they wise up and avoid it. And if you''re cing it to heal allies, if the enemy moves, your allies will need to keep changing positions too, meaning it won''t heal if they''re too far away.</i>


    <i>In short, it''s a shitty skill. Don''t learn it! It''s a waste of money.</i>


    It was a skill that was too difficult and awkward to use inbat, and its performance was never outstanding! That was why this skill was neglected by those in the Holy ss.


    Of course, it was quite useful during rest periods, but in such situations, there were plenty of other ways to restore HP and stamina, like potions, food, or campfires.


    <i>But all skills are as good as the yer makes them.</i>


    Kai believed that this skill was the best way to torment Aosa. Of course, he did have other holy skills like Holy Explosion, Holy Chains, and Sacred re. Nevertheless, he chose to use Spring of Restoration for a simple reason.


    <i>The Spring of Restoration has an indestructible option and no limit on the number of summons.</i>


    Despite its ability to deal damage per second, being a ceable skill meant that the enemy could simply avoid it.


    However, if Kai decorated the back of this massive beast with multiple Spring of Restorations wells...


    <i>Unless Aosa tears off its own back, there''s no way to avoid the springs¡¯ attacks.</i>


    It was a strategy that came to mind the moment Aosa transformed into a colossal beast in its second phase.


    Kai''s hands began to glow with holy power as he cast Spring of Restoration, adjusting the cement in his mind. Once the process wasplete, a peaceful spring was installed, along with a burst of white light.


    ¡ª<i>Kraaaah</i>!


    Of course, Aosa wasn¡¯t the type to sit back and allow Kai to use its back as a yground.


    <i>Vwooom!</i>


    It tried to swat Kai away with tentacles pulled from its side and street.


    <i>Whip, whip!</i>


    It was like dozens of giant jump ropes pped the ground simultaneously!


    However, Kai remained calmer than ever even as he faced this overwhelming attack.


    <i>It would probably hurt if I get hit, right?</i>


    He knew from experience. Even though it was a game, the sensation of gravity twisting and the apanying pain was far from pleasant.


    <i>I have to avoid getting hit.</i>


    It would be a different story if he couldn''t dodge, but Kai had the ability to dodge those tentacles now. He quickly scanned the numerous tentacles surrounding him.


    <i>There¡¯s a total of fifty-four tentacles.</i>


    Having taken Higher Way¡ªthe advanced concentration potion¡ªKai could see the trajectories of all the tentacles. No, saying he could see them was a bit misleading.


    As soon as the roots and main bodies of the tentacles slightly shifted, Kai''s body began to move.


    <i>That one''sing this way.</i>


    A certainty filled his mind without a shadow of doubt.


    Observing how the tentacles twisted, he could predict exactly when and where they would strike, a remarkable foresight that could almost be called precognition.


    In fact, the tentacles struck not Kai but the unfortunate Aosa''s back. Of course, that damage also chipped away at Aosa''s HP.


    <i>Well, that¡¯s a shame, but it seems like this is the limit for now.</i>


    Kai had set up six of the Spring of Restorations on Aosa''s back and looked around with some regret. The tentacles aiming at him kept multiplying endlessly, and if he stayed any longer, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.


    <i>Time to pull back for now.</i>


    Kai swung the Holy Chain and this time retreated to the high roof of a church. Therge, sacred church was embedded with the emblem of the Church of Sris!


    From there, Kai nced at Aosa¡¯s HP bar.


    <i>Six springs aren¡¯t enough for effective damage.</i>


    That was because the skill wasn¡¯t originally designed for offensive purposes.


    After about a minute, Aosa''s HP had only decreased by a mere 0.3%.


    <i>I¡¯ll need to set up more springs to deal significant damage.</i>


    However, to install more springs, he first had to deal with the tentacles that now numbered over a hundred.


    ¡°There¡¯s a simple way to do that.¡±


    Kai''s battle brain kicked into overdrive as soon as he enteredbat.


    He easily dodged the tentacles targeting him and calmly dropped down into the back alley behind the buildings.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    The hundred or so tentacles chased after him, piercing through the buildings.


    Even a single hit could bring him to a critical state, but Kai remained calm as he summoned the Holy Chain.


    <i>No problem. I¡¯ve tied plenty of shoces before.</i>


    Kai treated Aosa''s tentacles like shoces! He dodged the tentacles'' attacks while starting to tie them together little by little. Of course, he couldn¡¯t just tie them any old way.


    <i>I can¡¯t tie them orderly. Doing that would just make them into a thicker tentacle.</i>


    They needed to be tied in a very disorderly fashion. Chaotically enough to drive anyone mad, like tangled earphonesing out of a pocket!


    Kai sprinted across the rooftops, dodging the tentacles while diligently tying them together.


    He endured the attacks this way for a full ten minutes!


    Equipped with the Tyrant¡¯s Wrath, sweat poured down Kai''s body like a waterfall. It wasn''t just the game character, but Han Jung-Woo, lying in his capsule, felt the same way.


    <i>Huff, huff. This is killing me.</i>


    For the average person, running at full speed for ten minutes was tough. Moreover, Han Jung-Woo had run for ten minutes while dodging obstacles and ying cat''s cradle!


    Naturally, the physical and mental fatigue and stress he experienced were on another level.


    <i>But... thanks to that, I see a way.</i>


    Kai''s eyes gleamed. What came into his sight was the still imposing figure of Aosa!


    However, the countless tentacles it boasted were no longer a threat. The tentacles, entangled like a tangled yarn,y pinned under the clock tower or the debris of copsed buildings!


    <i>Phew, now there''s really not much time left.</i>


    He had estimated that the rankers would arrive in thirty minutes. With more than fifteen minutes having already passed since then, it was time for the final preparations.


    "Here we go."


    Lightly leaping off the ground, Kai climbed onto Aosa''s back. He now evaded the tentacles as naturally as breathing, leaning, and ducking with ease.


    ¡°Spring of Restoration, Spring of Restoration, Spring of Restoration....¡±


    He endlessly cast the skills! It didn¡¯t take long for forty-two springs to be installed on Aosa''s back.


    Simultaneously, Aosa¡¯s slowly diminishing HP started to drop noticeably.


    ¡ª<i>Krooooar</i>!


    Aosa''s agonized wail echoed throughout the city.


    Drawing his cherished sword, the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, Kai grinned and said, ¡°It¡¯s been fun, but let¡¯s not meet ever again.¡±


    His sword, imbued with lots of holy power, plunged into Aosa''s back.


    ***


    ¡°Whitehall Fortress ahead!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll arrive soon!¡±


    ¡°Estimated time of arrival is two minutes!¡±


    The first assault team of the Cheonhwa guild sprinted across the in. They were members of the elite unit from the country''srgest guild.


    Boosted by Haste, Seol Eun-Yeong¡ªthe woman leading them¡ªmoved easily as she gazed at the fortress ahead. She usually maintained a poker face, but she couldn¡¯t hide her excited expression.


    Turning her head, she asked Boyd, who was beside her, ¡°What¡¯s the status of the top ten global guilds?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve pinpointed the locations of their elite assault teams. ording to our intelligence, they¡¯re all still preupied with tracking down the Church of Muldine¡¯s Inquisitor Kazier.¡±


    ¡°So we can assume they¡¯re giving up on Aosa, right?¡±


    ¡°I can''t say for sure, but it does seem that way. Only four of the top ten guilds are based in the Kingdom of Rashion, and they¡¯re all currently very sensitive about controlling hunting grounds and Kazier.¡±


    In other words, they wouldn¡¯t be heading to Whitehall.


    Of course, a top ten global guild would have the resources to send their second or third assault teams.


    However, Seol Eun-Yeong felt reassured.


    <i>Even if they are one of the top ten global guilds, there¡¯s no reason for Cheonhwa¡¯s first assault team to be outdone by a bunch of benchwarmers.</i>


    The guild was built by providing the best treatment to the best talents for this very reason.


    Her group quickly passed through Whitehall''s fortress.


    ¡°Where is Aosa?¡±


    ¡°Using tracking skills, we estimate it to be beyond that blue smoke ahead!¡±


    ¡°Break through.¡±


    If they were of a level to be included in Cheonhwa guild¡¯s first assault team, they wouldn¡¯t be rookies with low magic resistance who couldn¡¯t pass through the poisonous smoke.


    <i>We¡¯re almost there.</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s cheeks flushed even more. Her heart pounded like it was about to burst, just as it did when she saw the first snowfall she had longed for in her childhood.


    The Cheonhwa guild had spectacrly defeated the King of Looters, Veghas, and challenged the stronghold of the world¡¯s top ten guilds. If they managed to take down Aosa as well, the guild¡¯s reputation would skyrocket.


    <i>If we reach that point, there would just be one conclusion.</i>


    They would either bring down one of the top ten guilds or be the eleventh. Either way, they would have the summit within their grasp.


    At the same time, Seol Eun-Yeong bit her lower lip hard.


    <i>Don¡¯t let your guard down, Seol Eun-Yeong. Unless you prove yourself as the best, there¡¯s no reason for you to y this game...</i>


    Her thoughts were interrupted when the blue smoke surrounding them suddenly disappeared as if it had never been there.


    ¡°...What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Th-that is...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either...¡±


    The next moment, identical messages shed before the eyes of the startled assault team members.


    <strong>[Aosa, the unleashed Blue gue beast, was defeated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Blue mist shrouding the city is now dissipating.]</strong>


    <strong>[All vigers infected by the Blue gue are now cured.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Church of Sris¡¯ influence has grown stronger throughout thend.]</strong>


    ¡°...What?¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s eyes, which seemed unshakable, wavered like a candle in the wind.

 Chapter 115: Poetic Justice (1)

    <h4>Chapter 115: Poetic Justice (1)</h4>


    <i>Which guild did it? Or was it even a yer who defeated it in the first ce?</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s mind raced with questions.


    <i>The Church of Sris¡¯ influence has grown stronger? Why?</i>


    There were only two possible scenarios for such a message to appear. Either an NPC who could use holy power defeated Aosa, or a yer who could use holy power defeated Aosa.


    Realizing this, Seol Eun-Yeong hurriedly gave orders. ¡°Find Aosa''s corpse. Someone must be looting it. Find out who.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±


    The elite members of the Cheonhwa guild scattered in all directions.


    Soon, the information they gathered started to flood the guild chat.


    [Not sure who is doing it is, but the city ispletely destroyed.]


    [It really is. There''s hardly a building left intact near the square.]


    [It looks like a very brutal and intense battle took ce.]


    [Oh! We¡¯ve found what seems to be Aosa¡¯s massive remains!]


    Upon hearing the report she had waited for, Seol Eun-Yeong quickly opened the guild chat window.


    [Whose work is it? How many people?]


    [Uh... well...]


    There were two things Seol Eun-Yeong particrly disliked. One was dealing with slow-witted people, and the other was talking to those slow-witted people.


    As her gaze turned fierce, Boyd quickly typed into the chat from beside her.


    [Forget it, just give us the coordinates. Where exactly is it?]


    [The coordinates are...]


    The moment the coordinates appeared in the guild chat window, Boyd gently touched Seol Eun-Yeong''s shoulder.


    ¡°Well then, miss, excuse me for a moment.¡±


    ¡°I said call me Master...¡±


    ¡°Teleport.¡±


    <i>Shwooom.</i>


    Being over level 200 and granted the title of Archmage, Boyd''s skill casting was quick and clean.


    In an instant, they teleported to the destroyed za, and Boyd whistled. ¡°The kids were right. Whoever did this shot a full-blown Hollywood disaster movie.¡± Boyd tapped the debris with a curious expression and turned his head. ¡°And... that must be Aosa. It looks a bit different from the description given by our intelligence.¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong didn''t bother to respond and approached where Aosay.


    <i>Gurgle, gurgle.</i>


    The creature, leaking blue liquid, was gradually disintegrating into polygons.


    <i>It¡¯s certainly different from our intel''s expectations.</i>


    The intel department had spected that Aosa was a small monster taking a human form. Because of this, the Cheonhwa guild had been on high alert for the Aosa raid.


    <i>We were confident since it was another human-form raid boss monster.</i>


    They thought the experience gained from tackling Veghas would be very helpful.


    They believed they had arrived faster than anyone else, but someone had already beaten them to it.


    <i>And judging by the corpse...</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s sharp eyes scanned Aosa''s corpse. Although half of it had already vanished, the overwhelming presence from its massive size was still intimidating.


    <i>Who could the one who defeated this monster be?</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong slowly raised her head. As she did so, a man looking down at her came into view. He was illuminated by the bright moonlight behind him.


    <i>Just one person?</i>


    It couldn''t be. How could a boss monster be taken down solo?


    She shook her head and quickly looked around at her guild members.


    However, they all shook their heads in unison; it was as if they had coordinated it beforehand.


    [We¡¯ve searched the entire city.]


    [We deployed all the rangers, checked the footprints, and used search and tracking skills.]


    [There were a few other users around, but they were just spectators.]


    <i>I can''t believe it.</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong shook her head in denial. If what they said was true, the man before her wasparable to Yoo Ha-Rin.


    <i>Someone else like her has appeared?</i>


    The continent of <i>MID Online</i> was vast. It was an enormous world. But even so, <i>MID Online</i> had already surpassed seven hundred million registered users!


    It didn''t make sense that such a skilled yer could remain hidden for months and then suddenly appear out of nowhere.


    <i>In that case...</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong examined the man''s attire once again.


    His armor looked sophisticated and high-quality at a nce, and his solid body radiated an indescribable aura of intimidation and confidence.


    <i>An NPC?</i>


    That was the only conclusion she could reasonably ept.


    <i>But his appearance...</i>


    No matter how she looked, he didn''t seem like a Cleric or Pdin of the Church of Sris.


    Without hesitation, she asked, ¡°Are you a yer?¡±


    The man nodded.


    ¡°Then are you the one who defeated Aosa?¡±


    Kai nced at Seol Eun-Yeong, then turned his gaze to the message window and gave a nod.


    It was an attitude that clearly disregarded her. This instantly provoked the anger of the Cheonhwa guild members.


    ¡°What an arrogant...¡±


    ¡°Does he even know who he''s talking to...¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Her voice wasn''t loud, but it was cold and firm, striking everyone''s ears.


    The guild members, who had been heated, immediately fell silent at her words.


    ¡°<i>Tsk</i>.¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong silenced themotion with a single word and stared intently at Kai.


    <i>He¡¯s really rude.</i>


    However, she didn''t me him for that. After all, the best worker was the best in the workce, and the best yer was the best in games.


    Instead, she no longer bothered with formalities either.


    ¡°Are you a solo yer?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Which guild are you affiliated with?¡±


    Kai shook his head while lightly tapping his clean chest.


    Normally, Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s gaze would have turned cold at his attitude, but she admired talent.


    <i>With skills like his, a certain level of pride is understandable.</i>


    Instead, she showed an understanding expression and a bright smile. ¡°Come to Cheonhwa. We¡¯ll offer the best treatment in the world.¡±


    Taken aback, Kai stopped looking at his inventory to turn to her.


    <i>Why is she inviting people to join a guild as casually as handing out restaurant flyers on the street?</i>


    Moreover, the person making the offer was no ordinary individual.


    <i>If I¡¯m not wrong... that armor set is the ck Tiroman set. Its current owner should be Seol Eun-Yeong.</i>


    And she did look like Seol Eun-Yeong. Rumored to be the granddaughter of the chairman of Cheonhwa Group and the master of Cheonhwa guild. She was also one of the top-ranking Knight ss yers, famous for her excellent leadership, and one of Korea''s three gaming goddesses.


    <i>But why does she look familiar... Oh, of course.</i>


    He remembered seeing her in the raid video of the King of Looters, Veghas. She was also more famous than most celebrities that there wasn''t anyone living in Korea who did not know about her!


    Kai decided that nodding or shaking his head wouldn¡¯t suffice for the conversation anymore.


    He slowly said, ¡°... You don''t know anything about me, yet how can you make such a blind recruitment offer?¡±


    ¡°Is that necessary?¡± Seol Eun-Yeong revealed her confident attitude. ¡°In <i>Mid Online</i>, the only thing that represents a yer is their skill. Personality, age, appearance? I don¡¯t care about those things. The fact that you soloed Aosa is enough for me.¡±


    As expected of someone nicknamed the Queen, she was grand and bold.


    Feeling slightly dumbstruck, Kai shook his head politely. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I have no desire to join any guild.¡±


    ¡°... Yoo Ha-Rin said the same, and now you...¡± Muttering to herself, Seol Eun-Yeong raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What exactly is your reason? Cheonhwa is as good as any of the world¡¯s top ten guilds.¡±


    Though mountains were high, they were still below the sky, an unchangeablew of nature. But her pride was higher than the sky itself¡ªher pride was immeasurable. She had universal-level pride!


    <i>This is the second time</i>


    Yoo Ha-Rin and now this man. They were the only ones to reject her offer of the best treatment.


    <i>Why?</i>


    It wasn''t just an empty promise; she truly could offer the best treatment in the world. She could provide a sry, treatment, and fame beyond imagination, even offering her private jet if necessary.


    While Seol Eun-Yeong pondered seriously, Kai gave a concise answer.


    ¡°Joining Cheonhwa or one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds... it wouldn¡¯t feel like ying a game anymore.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s lips moved, but no further words came out.


    <i>...If they want wealth, I can give them wealth, if they want honor, I can give them honor.</i>


    However, she couldn¡¯t offer freedom to someone who wanted it.


    Cheonhwa guild was a cage she had a firm grip on, and joining the guild meant bing a bird in her cage.


    In reality, being part of arge guild meant prioritizing the guild¡¯s interests over personal enjoyment.


    <i>Then did Yoo Ha-Rin reject my offer for the same reason?</i>


    Of course, it was something Seol Eun-Yeong could never understand. However, she didn¡¯t feel the need to impose her thoughts on others, as her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to cling so desperately.


    ¡°...Well,e find me if you change your mind.¡±


    Kai didn¡¯t bother to answer that he would. After all, it was never going to happen.


    ***


    <i>Phew. Suddenly meeting Cheonhwa guild, that was a surprise.</i>


    At the same time, Kai let out a sigh of relief.


    <i>If I had been just five minuteste in defeating Aosa...</i>


    He would have had to share some of the rewards and XP points with them. He shook his head at the thought which made him shudder.


    <i>Anyway, now that the troublemakers are gone...</i>


    He couldn¡¯t hide his smile as he scrolled up through the endless message log.


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    At level 102, Kai had defeated both the 170-level human form Aosa and the 200-level unleashed Aosa. As a result, his level had increased by a whopping twenty-one levels!


    ¡°Now this is what I¡¯m talking about!¡±


    This was why once someone got a taste of solo y, they could never give it up!


    <i>I gained 105 stat points from killing one monster!</i>


    Of course, only Kai in the entire world would consider Aosa just as a monster.


    <i>I¡¯ll save the stat distribution forter enjoyment.</i>


    Just imagining where to distribute the points filled him with joy.


    <i>But first, I need to check the boss rewards.</i>


    Due to Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s sudden appearance, he hadn¡¯t been able to properly check Aosa¡¯s rewards!


    <i>It was a final 200-level boss monster, so it shouldn¡¯t have dropped trash items.</i>


    Full of anticipation, Kai carefully touched Aosa¡¯s corpse.

 Chapter 116: Poetic Justice (2)

    <h4>Chapter 116: Poetic Justice (2)</h4>


    As Kai touched Aosa''s corpse, a luxurious tinum chest appeared before his eyes.


    ¡°Hmm... something feels missing...¡±


    Feeling a bit uneasy, Kai tilted his head and decided to open the chest right away.


    Inside the chest were two books and some unidentified materials.


    <i>The books are likely skill books.</i>


    While others would cheer at finding a skill book after defeating a boss, the now professional looter Kai casually picked up the books as if he were a jobless man visiting a localic book store.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Poison Master</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Gain extensive knowledge about poison.</strong>


    <strong>Immunity to poison significantly increases.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: None.</strong>


    ¡°Oh, poison resistance? That''s nice.¡±


    Generally, stats or skills that provided resistance to status effects were traded at high prices.


    In Kai''s case, he had previously acquired the special title Queen yer after defeating Fermi.


    <i>The Queen yer title gives a poison resistance of 30.</i>


    If he learned the Poison Master skill on top of that, he wouldn''t have to worry about getting poisoned anymore. Knowing the dangers of poison better than anyone, this was especially pleasing for him.


    <i>Thanks to Fermi''s poison, I was able to easily take down the Orc Lord. Continuous damage over time is terrifying.</i>


    Most battles in <i>MID Online</i> were a straightforward choice between kill or be killed. However, inflicting the annoying status effect of poisoning introduced a dilemma where the opponent had to either kill or be killed <i>within</i> a time limit. A time limit induced anxiety, and anxiety led to mistakes.


    <i>That''s the scary part of poison.</i>


    Even if the poison damage wasn¡¯t severe, the constant tick of poison damage itself was stressful.


    <i>But from today on, I cany my worries about poison to rest.</i>


    Kai made a reverent prayer and immediately used the skill book.


    <strong>[You have learned the Poison Master skill.]</strong>


    Feeling like he wanted to grab a passing treasure hunter or assassin and ask to be poisoned just to test it out, Kai turned his attention to the other book.


    <i>The next skill book is... Could it be rted to Aosa''s abilities?</i>


    When he had defeated Fermi, who dealt poison, he received the skill book ck Widow''s Venom, and after taking down the magic-resistant Orc Sorcerer, he received the skill book Skin of Magical Resistance.


    <i>Judging by this, there''s a high chance that boss monsters drop skill books containing their unique traits.</i>


    Of course, Poison Master was also rted to Aosa, who dealt with poison.


    <i>But Aosa''s most notable feature wasn''t just any poison; it was the Blue gue. I don¡¯t think Poison Master fully contains Aosa''s unique abilities.</i>


    Havinge to this conclusion, Kai checked the book with a nervous expression.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book - Blue gue</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>You gain the ability to control the power of the Blue gue.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: None.</strong>


    ¡°Just as I thought! My prediction was right.¡±


    Kai clenched his fists tightly, a broad smile spreading across his face.


    This was what made <i>MID</i> <i>Online</i> so captivating. yers could have a wide range of experiences, allowing them to make educated guesses.


    <i>This time it was a skill book, but next time it could be a dungeon or a hidden quest.</i>


    It was a game that truly made yers feel like they were on an adventure!


    Kai stared at the book''s cover for a moment, contemting.


    <i>It would be better to learn this right away, right?</i>


    Judging by the title, it seemed more like an area-of-effect skill than a single-target one. In that case, given his currentck of AoE skills, it could be a lifesaver.


    He didn''t ponder for long.


    <strong>[You have learned the Blue gue skill.]</strong>


    ¡°Check skill info, Blue gue.¡±


    <strong>[<u>Blue gue</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>You gain the essence of the Blue gue for each enemy you kill.</strong>


    <strong>You can collect up to 100 essences of the Blue gue, which can be used at any time.</strong>


    <strong>The range, power, and duration of the skill increase based on the number of essences consumed.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 10 seconds.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency: 0/100</strong>


    ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s hard to evaluate without actually using it.¡±


    The skill seemedplicated for something that was of Unique-grade.


    <i>A skill that can only be used by gathering essences from killed enemies?</i>


    In other words, it was a fussy skill that had activation conditions. Seeing the grade, it didn''t seem like a dud, but it was also cautious to dere it a jackpot.


    <i>I¡¯ll test it outter.</i>


    What remained were the unidentified materials left by Aosa.


    Kai poked at therge blue jelly.


    <strong>[<u>Fragment of Aosa¡¯s Skin x200</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>A piece of Aosa¡¯s skin.</strong>


    <i>A material item... I just changed my gear recently, so I don¡¯t need this right away. Should I store it?</i>


    Since the material was Unique-grade, whatever he crafted with it would likely be exceptional. Debating whether to sell or store it, he decided to put it in his inventory for now.


    <i>I can decide thatter. Anyway...</i>


    The uneasy feeling he had felt even before checking the box still lingered. Then, Kai finally realized what was causing this difort.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t check the title.¡±


    Scrolling through the message log hurriedly, Kai found the text he was looking for.


    <strong>...</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 105 stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: yer of Aosa.]</strong>


    ¡°That¡¯s a straightforward title.¡±


    Pages of the thick title book fluttered over Kai''s hand. Naturally opening to the glowing page, the awaited content filled his vision.


    <strong>[<u>yer of Aosa</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: Title bestowed upon the yer who defeated the Blue gue Aosa on their own.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: </strong>


    <strong>+15 All stats</strong>


    <strong>10% additional damage against all enemies affiliated with the Church of Muldine.</strong>


    <strong>Increased the Blue gue skill effect by 10%.</strong>


    ¡°Oh?¡± Kai let out a puzzled exmation.


    He liked the part where it increased all stats by 15 and dealt additional damage to the Church of Muldine, but what he liked the most was the part where it increased the Blue gue skill effect.


    <i>So, the Blue gue skill and this special title are essentially a set.</i>


    If he hadn¡¯t soloed Aosa, he wouldn¡¯t have obtained this effect because the yer of Aosa title was given only to those who soloed the monster.


    <i>That means there could be more hidden set effects like this...</i>


    In other words, the more difficult tasks a yer cleared, the better the rewards the game provided.


    Realizing this new fact, Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled as he lifted thest reward.


    <strong>[<u>Iplete Core</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>A core that once served as the essence of Aosa.</strong>


    <strong>It will awaken if infused with holy power.</strong>


    ¡°Core, huh...¡±


    Thinking back, Tardal had mentioned that one of Aosa''s weaknesses was its core.


    <i>I couldn¡¯t find and destroy it during the battle... Maybe that was a good thing.</i>


    Perhaps because he didn¡¯t destroy it, he was able to obtain the core as a reward. Of course, he still didn¡¯t know what it was used for.


    <i>It says it will awaken if infused with holy power...</i>


    Without hesitation, Kai gathered holy power to his right hand.


    ¡°Do I just touch the core like this... <i>Huh</i>?¡±


    Suddenly feeling a wave of weakness, Kai let out a frustrated sigh.


    <i>Wait, is the uneasy feeling I had earlier because of this...?</i>


    It wasn¡¯t just because he hadn¡¯t checked the title. Kai¡¯s hunch was correct.


    <strong>[The duration of the Higher Way potion for enhanced concentration has ended.]</strong>


    <strong>[You will suffer from severe fatigue for 10 days. All stats will be reduced by 70% during this period.]</strong>


    <strong>[You will be in a state of exhaustion for 10 days. All speeds will be reduced by 30% during this period.]</strong>


    <i>What, that¡¯s insane...</i>


    While he had expected some side effects, he hadn¡¯t anticipated they would be this severe.


    Feeling extreme fatigue, he barely managed to move his lips.


    ¡°Enhanced Summoning...¡±


    <strong>[You have received a movement speed buff from Enhanced Summoning.]</strong>


    Blizzard tilted his head when he was summoned onto the magic circle that appeared on the ground.


    Kai weakly waved his hand, ordering, ¡°Blizzard, you know where the clinic is, right?¡±


    Blizzard nodded.


    ¡°Take me there. I can¡¯t move a muscle.¡±


    Looking around, Blizzard seemed to be searching for something.


    Kai showed a faint smile. ¡°I avenged you.¡±


    Blizzard, with a look of admiration, gently lifted Kai like a princess.


    ¡°<i>Uh</i>, this is a bit embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrrrk</i>.¡±


    Whether Blizzard was happy that his master avenged him or amused by his master¡¯s rare vulnerable state, he let out a pleased growl and carried Kai to the clinic.


    ***


    "Sorry! I''m so sorry! I¡¯m a heavy sleeper!"


    "No need to apologize. It would be strange if you weren''t tired with such a schedule," Kai nodded as he recalled Ayana''s schedule.


    During the day, she followed him around treating patients, and at night, she made potions with hardly any sleep. It was a murderous schedule that even an adult would struggle with!


    "S-still... I should have at least been praying... I wasn¡¯t any help..."


    "Oh, didn''t I tell you? You were plenty of help," Kai patted her head while shaking the now-empty Higher Way bottle. "This stuff works great. Though the aftereffects are pretty scary."


    "I-I have some painkillers made up, I¡¯ll go get them! They should help suppress the aftereffects a bit!"


    "That would be great."


    As he proudly watched Ayana dash out of the room, he let out a sigh.


    <i>Now that Aosa is dealt with, the big hurdle is over. But...</i>


    He began to worry about how to rescue Ayana''s parents.


    <i>Of course, it¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t prepared for it.</i>


    Kai nced at the magic crystal ball in his inventory. Inside it, the entire conversation he had with the lord of Whitehall over dinner was recorded.


    <i>If I show this to Tardal, maybe something can be done.</i>


    However, Tardal had already retired from politics, so Kai couldn¡¯t be sure how far his influence would reach.


    "<i>Sigh</i>, what a headache..."


    When one had wealth and power, it was difficult to punish them even for their wrongdoings.


    A bitter smile crept onto Kai''s lips as he considered the situation that was simr to reality.


    ¡°Should I say they''ve done a good job reflecting reality... or that they''ve created a world without dreams or hope.¡±


    As Kai grumbled, there was a polite knock on the clinic door.


    <i>Knock, knock, knock.</i>


    Ayana had been rushing back with the painkillers but began trembling with a frightened look on her face when she heard the sound.


    "W-what should we do? Someone¡¯s here!"


    "Open the door. It might be a patient."


    "W-why would a patiente here?!"


    "...Because this is a clinic?"


    "Oh, right."


    Leaving Ayana, who had a look of realization, Kai walked toward the door.


    <i>I''m curious too. Who could it be at this hour?</i>


    As he opened the door, the fresh, cool morning air rushed in through his nose and into his lungs. However, instead of enjoying the fresh air, Kai focused on the person in front of him.


    <i>...A man?</i>


    It was a handsome young man with blond hair, dressed in an elegant uniform made from luxurious fabric.


    <i>Is he someone sent by the lord?</i>


    As Kai hesitated, unable to grasp the young man¡¯s intention, the young man asked in a businesslike manner, "Are you the adventurer Kai who defeated Aosast night?"


    "Yes, but how did you know...?"


    "Then I¡¯vee to the right ce." The young man nodded in satisfaction and casually delivered a statement that was like a bolt out of the blue. "His Majesty the King wishes to see you. Please prepare to visit the royal pce immediately."

 Chapter 117: Poetic Justice (3)

    <h4>Chapter 117: Poetic Justice (3)</h4>


    Kai blinked with a dazed expression. His mind couldn''tprehend the current situation.


    <i>What did that man just say?</i>


    The king wanted to see him, so he should prepare to visit the royal pce. That was certainly what the man had said.


    <i>The king... The king... The king of Rashion?</i>


    Only after saying the word king several times did reality slowly begin to sink in. At the same time, he began to look unwell.


    <i>He''s telling me to go meet the king?</i>


    It was an utterly jaw-dropping situation!


    There were three kingdoms and two empires on the continent of <i>MID Online</i>, but up until now, no yer had ever met the rulers of these forces.


    In other words, if Kai were to meet the king of Rashion, he would be the first among seven-hundred million yers!


    <i>Of course, I''m happy. But...</i>


    It was inevitable to feel curious.


    <i>Why me?</i>


    Defeating the greatest nightmare created by the Church of Muldine, the Blue gue Aosa, was undoubtedly an achievement worthy of praise. However, whether it was significant enough to earn direct praise from the king was questionable.


    <i>Even the Cheonhwa guild, who defeated Veghas, never got summoned by the king.</i>


    So why him?


    While Kai was lost in deep thought, the blond young man urged him, "I would appreciate it if you could hurry. His Majesty is not one to enjoy waiting."


    "<i>Ah</i>, sorry. Just a moment, please..."


    Kai quickly went inside the clinic and summoned Blizzard. "Blizzard, watch over Ayana. Ayana, I need to go somewhere for a bit..."


    "Don''t worry about me. I''ll be ying with Bliz."


    "Alright, I''m counting on you."


    After ncing at them both, Kai followed the blond young man out of the clinic.


    "But how do you n to get to the pce? As you can see..."


    Kai turned to look at a part of the city that was destroyed, feeling a bit embarrassed. He couldn''t help but feel embarrassed, having caused the destruction himself.


    However, the man calmly took out a magic scroll from his pocket. "I''m aware that the teleport gate is destroyed. I used a scroll to get here, so don''t worry."


    "A teleport scroll, I see."


    "Then you know what to do next."


    "Yes, pardon me," Kai slightly bowed his head and ced his hand on the man''s shoulder.


    A ripping sound pierced his eardrums as the scroll was torn, and the scene in front of him changed. Despite changing locations in an instant, there was no loading screen in <i>MID Online</i>!


    Kai slowly took in the new surroundings.


    <i>This is the capital of Rashion, Rayark.</i>


    It was his first visit, but he had seen it several times in videos. There were well-paved roads, clean and orderly buildings packed tightly on either side. NPCs, both young and old, roamed the streets with worry-free expressions.


    Watching them for a moment, Kai pulled the hood of his cleric robe down low.


    <i>It would be troublesome if other yers saw me visiting the pce.</i>


    If hepletely covered himself with his robe, others would think he was an NPC of the Church of Sris.


    "We will bete. Please hurry along."


    The blond young man headed toward the royal pce with quick steps. Because of this, Kai had to follow him inside without getting a close look at the pce.


    <i>Why is my heart racing so fast?</i>


    Kai struggled to calm his wildly beating heart. He hadn''t been nervous even when facing Aosa, but here he was, nervous about meeting an NPC, and a man at that!


    ¡°We¡¯re going in. Please take off your hood now.¡±


    With those brief words, the young man stood in front of a golden door engraved with a magnificent dragon.


    In the pce, there was no frivolous knocking. Even without knocking, the doors opened automatically, as if their arrival had been reported in advance.


    <i>It¡¯s huge.</i>


    The audience chamber was an enormous space, far more than just a room. The distance from the door to the far wall was about thirty meters.


    At the end, there were a few steps leading up to avish throne.


    ¡°You havee,¡± the owner of the throne said.


    Drawn by that voice, Kai¡¯s head lifted.


    <i>He is the king of the Kingdom of Rashion...</i>


    He had thick eyebrows, a strong-looking jaw, and firmly closed lips, fitting the image of a king. Moreover, his hawk-like eyes were so sharp that they seemed ready to tear apart his opponent the moment they let down their guard.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Unique achievement! You are the first yer to meet the ruler of a nation.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Visitor of the King.]</strong>


    It was a result he had already anticipated since realizing he was the first.


    Kai immediately knelt on one knee and respectfully greeted the king, ¡°I, Kai the adventurer, stand before the Sun of Rashion, His Majesty, King Beoruk Von Rashion.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s skip all the formalities. Do you know why I have called you?¡±


    Beoruk had a direct personality that matched his appearance.


    ¡°I assume it is because I defeated the Blue guest night, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°That is right. I heard you defeated Aosa on your own. Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. I managed to do it alone with help from above.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>...¡± Beoruk nodded, seemingly impressed, and praised Kai, ¡°Well done. The gue spread by the Blue gue has tormented my people.¡±


    ¡°As a cleric of the Church of Sris, I could not ignore the suffering of the people.¡±


    Dealing with NPCs in <i>MID Online </i>wasn¡¯t particrly difficult. One simply had to emphasize that they were acting for the NPCs¡¯ benefit.


    However, Beoruk was not a simple man. ¡°You are quite good with your words, but I know adventurers do not act solely for honor or faith.¡±


    Simultaneously, a message window appeared.


    <strong>[Beoruk¡¯s favor has decreased.]</strong>


    Kai showed a startled expression. Until now, no NPC had ever responded so cynically when he said he had worked hard for their sake.


    <i>No, Tardal had a somewhat simr attitude... but it was never to this extent.</i>


    Now that he thought about it, he had heard that Tardal was the mentor of the King of Rashion. This was truly a case of the student surpassing the master!


    <i>I never thought someone could be stricter than Tardal!</i>


    As Kai struggled to hide his bewildered expression, Beoruk''s brusque voice drove the point home.


    "I greatly dislike adventurers who change their attitudes as easily as flipping a hand based on their benefits. However, public and private matters must be thoroughly distinguished. Since you saved my people, I shall reward you ordingly. So, if there is something you desire, speak it. I will grant your wish in consideration of your deeds."


    He wasn''t merely asked to state his wish but was told it would be granted. Such grand words could only be spoken by the ruler of a nation!


    "I will give you five minutes to think about it. That should be enough time, so take it easy."


    "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. However, may I use those five minutes for a different purpose?"


    At Kai''s unexpected statement, Beoruk furrowed his brow.


    He openly expressed his displeasure in his voice. "What do you mean?"


    "I already know what I want. But if I state it right away, you might doubt my intentions. So I intend to use the five minutes you have given me to convince you, Your Majesty."


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>, convince me?¡±


    Beoruk raised the corners of his mouth in a smile. In reality, it was more of a snort of disbelief, but Kai was satisfied even with that.


    <i>Way better than a heavy atmosphere.</i>


    In a heavy and rigid atmosphere, things that should go well often didn''t. So, Kai felt the need to stir Beoruk''s heart first.


    ¡°Alright. It''s the five minutes I already granted you. Use that time to persuade me or contemte your reward as you wish.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Then... allow me to borrow Your Majesty''s time for a moment.¡±


    Kai took out the magic crystal from his inventory and yed it without dy.


    At first, Beoruk had an indifferent expression, as if he had no interest. However, as the recorded voice from the magic crystal began to y, his expression gradually hardened, and he straightened his posture.


    ¡ªThey¡¯re the residents of the slums who pay little taxes, aren¡¯t they? If they¡¯re filthy, it¡¯s only natural they get sick. They should just clean themselves. Wait, they¡¯ve been sick for quite a while. Could it be an infectious disease? If so, I¡¯ll need to drive them out of the city...


    ¡ª... Winter is approaching. Where will they go if they¡¯re driven out now?


    ¡ªWhy ask me? If they were born into this world, they should find a ce to stay themselves


    ¡ªBut your calction misses the most important point. I have no desire to spend that money!


    The recording from the magic crystal ball was the conversation Kai had with the pig lord over dinner.


    The recorded conversation went well over five minutes, but Beoruk listened intently with his eyes closed until it finished.


    <i>Click.</i>


    As the recording finished, Kai gulped and looked up at Beoruk.


    ¡°That is the end, Your Majesty.¡±


    <i>If my guess is correct, Beoruk is a person who cherishes his people deeply.</i>


    When Veghas, who had ughtered countless adventurers, was caught, he hadn¡¯t called for the Cheonhwa guild.


    Yet, he had called for Kai solely because he had saved the citizens poisoned by the Blue gue, offering him a reward.


    This fact alone was enough to show Beoruk¡¯s upright character.


    <i>Well, given that strict and principled Tardal was his mentor, he can''t be a bad person.</i>


    If such a person were to hear the recording of a lord treating his people worse than stray dogs and pigs...


    <i>If my guess is correct...</i>


    He would support punishing the pig lord.


    Kai held back his burning anticipation like a student waiting for their college eptance results.


    A momentter, Beoruk slowly opened his eyes.


    And when Kai saw those eyes, he was certain.


    <i>It worked!</i>


    Beoruk¡¯s eyes were filled with intense anger and displeasure.


    He looked down at Kai with a terrifying gaze and asked, "I ask you now, in the name of Beoruk Von Rashion, King of Rashion. Is the content in that magic crystal ball absolutely true?"


    "I swear on the name of the Srian God, every word is true. Please, Your Majesty, verify it if you so wish.¡±


    Beoruk stared directly at Kai.


    Receiving that gaze, Kai couldn''t help but flinch.


    <i>This feeling... I''ve felt this before!</i>


    It was the same feeling as when he had changed to a Sris Cleric; it was the feeling of something unknown prating his body.


    <strong>[Beoruk used Supreme Sight.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk is verifying your im.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk has realized you are telling the truth.]</strong>


    ¡°... I see. So, it is all true."


    Beoruk''s voice did not tremble with rage or excitement. Instead, it was calm and serene, as if stating a simple fact. He showed silent rage.


    Beoruk looked at Kai and asked, "So, what is your wish?"


    "The corruption of the Lord of Whitehall and his brother is destroying the city. Please deliver justice upon them and save the suffering people."


    Beoruk stared at Kai in silence for a moment before slowly raising his hand.


    As he did so, the blond young man waiting at the entrance swiftly approached and bowed before him.


    "Go prepare."


    "As youmand, sire."


    The blond young man bowed his head deeply, then stood up and exited the audience chamber.


    <i>... What was that conversation just now?</i>


    Kai, unable to understand what had just happened, blinked in confusion.


    Beoruk, silently observing Kai, slowly asked, "Howe?"


    "...Your Majesty?"


    "I clearly asked you to state your wish, so why did you choose this?"


    "This may take some time to exin."


    "That''s fine."


    With Beoruk''s permission granted, Kai began his story from the moment he first visited Whitehall. He spoke of the suffering residents and the young girl who cried herself to sleep, longing to see her parents.


    ¡°... There is no particr reason, but if I had to name one, it''s because I promised Ayana that I would reunite her with her parents."


    After hearing the entire story, Beoruk stayed silent and once again looked directly at Kai.


    <strong>[Beoruk used Supreme Sight.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk is verifying your im.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk has realized you are telling the truth.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk doubts again. Supreme Sight was reused.]</strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk has realized again that you are telling the truth.]</strong>


    Beoruk was confused. As far as he knew, adventurers were always looking out for their own interests. They would betray their ownrades and harm NPCs for their own gain, being people who did more harm than good.


    <i>But... is this adventurer different?</i>


    He had the courage to sacrifice his opportunity for others. That was the fundamental difference between other adventurers and Kai.


    After contemting for a while, Beoruk slowly said, "... Interesting."


    Then, he smiled. It wasn''t a mocking smile like before but a genuine smile of amusement.


    <i>An adventurer like this exists?</i>


    He felt like he discovered a pearl buried in the mud. Moreover, this person was the very adventurer his mentor had recently taken an interest in.


    <i>Very interesting.</i>


    Without realizing it, this was the moment Kai had gained a formidable ally.

 Chapter 118: Poetic Justice (4)

    <h4>Chapter 118: Poetic Justice (4)</h4>


    As Kai exited the audience chamber, someone was waiting for him. It was none other than the blond young man who had brought him there, except this time, he was wearing his armor instead of his uniform and carrying his helmet under his arm.


    "Come to think of it, I don''t even know your name yet," Kai said.


    "Bach. Bach Den ck.¡±


    "Thank you, Bach. But what''s with that outfit?"


    "Did His Majesty not inform you?"


    Kai tilted his head in confusion. "Inform me of what...?"


    "That you''d be provided with a knight to personally pass judgment on the lord of Whitehall."


    "Well, yes, but..." Kai trailed off, scanning the surroundings with a bewildered expression.


    <i>Is he seriously only providing one knight for support? The number of knights and soldiers in Whitehall isn''t exactly small... </i>


    The king seemed to be underestimating Whitehall just because it was a rural area.


    Worry appeared on Kai''s face, but Bach ignored it and said, "Let''s get going."


    "<i>Uh,</i> okay...


    Just as the way they had arrived here, a tear of a teleportation scroll transported them straight to the streets of Whitehall.


    "Bach, what do you intend to do now?"


    "What a foolish thing to ask. We go to the lord''s mansion and hold him ountable."


    Kai was left speechless at his answer. He seemedpletely unaware of the importance of nning!


    Kai, breaking into a cold sweat, tried to persuade him. ¡°But Bach, there are only two of us, and they probably have dozens of knights. No matter how just our cause is, we¡¯re at a significant disadvantage in numbers...¡±


    "Interesting." Bach stared intently at Kai and continued to say, "The one who took down Aosa alone is now lecturing on the importance of numbers?"


    "But Aosa and knights are different."


    "How so?"


    "Well, their levels, for one... I believe the knights here are at least level 100.¡±


    That was for the new recruits who just came out of the academy. Naturally, the longer a knight served, the higher their level would be.


    <i>Whitehall is close to the border and surrounded by mountains, so monster invasions must be frequent.</i>


    This meant they had hunting conditions avable year-round! Therefore, the levels of the knights would have increased significantly.


    "So you''re saying... you doubt my abilities?"


    Kai shivered at Bach''s cold re. "N-no, that''s not it..."


    "If that''s not the case, then follow me without objection."


    With a cold tone that indicated he wouldn¡¯t ept any objections, Bach headed toward the lord''s mansion.


    <i>Is he that confident in his skills?</i>


    When Kai, unable to hide his anxiety, arrived in front of the lord''s mansion, two soldiers blocked their way.


    "I recognize the healer fromst time, but... who are you?"


    "Judging by his gear, he looks like he''s heading to a battlefield."


    The soldiers immediately raised their guard.


    Bach replied in his characteristically dry tone. "Move aside, or you''ll get hurt."


    Before the soldiers could understand what he meant by that, his sword sheath scattered lightning.


    "<i>Huh</i>?!"


    "He drew his sword!"


    The soldiers didn''t even see Bach''s lightning-quick sh. They only saw him sheathing his sword and inferred that he had drawn it.


    "B-Bach, you can''t just attack like that!" Kai eximed.


    "His Majesty didn''t send me to talk. He sent me to demonstrate my force," Bach replied briefly and walked forward.


    The soldiers wanted to stop him with their spears, but they didn¡¯t have the courage to do so after seeing his cold gaze.


    <i>He''s not someone we can handle.</i>


    <i>If we fight, we''ll die.</i>


    Passing the frozen soldiers, Bach pressed against a two-meter-high wall. With a push, the wall toppled backward.


    Watching this, Kai¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock.


    <i>Was that why he drew his sword earlier?</i>


    He couldn''t believe how cleanly the wall was cut, as if it were tofu.


    "What''s going on?!"


    "A loud noise came from the front gate!"


    "Assemble!"


    The crash of the copsing wall brought the knights rushing into the courtyard.


    After a quick count, Bach muttered, "Thirty-two."


    "That''s a lot," Kai sighed, noticing the pig lord approaching angrily from a distance.


    "What in the world are you...!"


    "Criminal, Phigynia Tiburn, hear this," Bach''s solemn voice cut off the lord''s words and echoed through the courtyard.


    Everyone''s attention turned to Bach, drawn by his captivating voice that seemed impossible to ignore.


    "By the order of His Majesty, Beoruk Von Rashion, I hereby strip Phigynia Tiburn of his barony. The criminal and his family will be imprisoned, and all their ill-gotten wealth will be confiscated into the royal treasury."


    "W-what nonsense is this!" the pig lord shouted, his face pale. "Who are you to say such things!"


    Phigynia quickly looked at Bach''s chest and then pointed at him as he spoke to his knights.


    "This man ims to have orders from His Majesty, yet he wears no Rashion insignia on his chest. Seize this impostor and make him kneel before me!"


    The knights had initially been stunned by Bach''s deration, but they quickly came to their senses. Bach really had no insignia on his chest.


    "Wait, so then the supposed royal order is...¡±


    "All a lie."


    "He must be delusional."


    "He should pay for his reckless words."


    Angry, the knights drew their swords and activated their skills.


    Even as he looked at the des aimed at him, Bach calmly said to Kai, "You doubted my level earlier, didn''t you?"


    "D-did I? But shouldn''t you be more worried about those iing swords...?" Kai pointed ahead with an awkward smile.


    Turning his head to face the knights, Bach continued, "By His Majesty''smand, watch my sword closely, for I will not swing it more than once."


    Bach''s hand moved slowly to the hilt. As his hand grasped it, the lightning sealed within the sheath tore through the air.


    "<i>Huh</i>...?"


    The trajectory of his sword was so smooth that it was almost beautiful.


    At the same time, a message appeared.


    <strong>[You have witnessed a master swordsman exhibit skills far superior to your own.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your swordsmanship is low. You failed to ascertain the meaning and principle of what you have seen.]</strong>


    <strong>[Nevertheless, your swordsmanship understanding has reached a new level.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your Swordsmanship of the Dawn proficiency has increased greatly.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn has reached Intermediate Level 5.]</strong>


    "<i>Uh</i>..."


    A dumbfounded sound escaped from Kai''s mouth, but there was no one to scold him for it.


    Only the pig lord, Phigynia, echoed Kai''s dumbfounded sounds while trembling.


    "<i>Uh, uh</i>..."


    He looked at Bach, who knocked down all his knights with a single strike, as if he were a monster.


    "W-who the hell are you?"


    Bach sheathed his sword and walked slowly toward the pig lord, saying, "Bach Dan ck. Captain of the Ironblood Knights."


    "Captain... of the Ironblood Knights?!"


    The Ironblood and Guardians were the only two knighthoods that existed in the royal pce of Rashion, and Bach was the master of swordsmanship leading one of them.


    ***


    Kai watched with his mouth agape as the lord of Whitehall and his household were taken away in chains.


    <i>The pig lord who wielded such great power... is being dragged away like an actual pig.</i>


    Slumping his shoulders, he waddled away with the appearance of a defeated man.


    Watching this, Kai reaffirmed his belief.


    <i>Power is indeed necessary.</i>


    The strength he currently possessed was already considerable. Although his level was low, the overwhelming stats umted through his benevolence deeds, various special titles, and his Mythic-rank profession made him capable ofpeting with level 200 yers.


    <i>But it''s not enough.</i>


    Kai nced over at Bach, who was giving orders to his subordinates from a distance. If he had the immense power to make everyone kneel like Bach...


    <i>...I could correct more wrongs, fix greater injustices.</i>


    From that moment on, his goal to obtain an unrivaled strength that no one could challenge was set.


    <i>With that power, I will help more people.</i>


    This was something impossible in reality. No matter how great an individual was, they couldn¡¯t stand against corporations and nations.


    <i>But this is a game.</i>


    yers had the freedom to pursue what they wanted.


    <i>My aspirations aren''t grand.</i>


    He had no delusions of creating some utopian paradise. All he had was the modest dream of gradually fixing the wrongs he encountered.


    Then, Kai turned his head to see a family reunited.


    "Mom, Dad!"


    Ayana, who hadn¡¯t seen her parents for almost two months, was crying in their embrace. Her parents, too, were shedding tears as they held their daughter tightly.


    "Our baby, have you been alright?"


    "You¡¯ve been eating while we were gone, right?"


    "Yes! I''ve been eating well... studying... and locking the doors properly!"


    "That¡¯s our girl. Mommy is so proud of you."


    "Thank you. Thank you so much for staying safe on your own."


    Kai wondered how the parents must have felt, being imprisoned and leaving their thirteen-year-old daughter alone.


    <i>They must have been heartbroken. They would have thought about her dozens of times a day.</i>


    Kai''s eyes welled up as he sniffled.


    At that moment, the pig lord, who was being taken away in handcuffs, passed by Kai and gritted his teeth.


    "Y-You! I should have known when you were saying all that nonsense about promotion!"


    "...Hey, piggy. Haven''t youe to your senses yet?" Kai red at the pig lord, who quickly interrupted his emotional mood. "If you have any sense, look around you."


    "What do you...?"


    The pig lord looked around. As he and his family were being taken away, the vigers poured into the streets,ughing and hugging each other.


    The residents, who had suffered from the heavy taxes imposed by the wicked lord and the neglect of security, rejoiced at the situation, chanting the king¡¯s name.


    "There¡¯s a saying: You reap what you sow. If you had shown even a bit of consideration and care for these people, maybe at least one person would have mourned for you."


    "<i>Argh</i>...!"


    Unable to find a retort, the pig lord''s face turned red as Kai approached and whispered in his ear.


    "And I''ll make good use of the 1,000 gold you gave me."


    "W-what? That would have been spent on treatment... The residents'' illnesses have all been cured..."


    "23 gold."


    The pig lord was confused.


    "About 23 gold. That¡¯s what I spent on treating the residents."


    Kai shrugged, causing the pig lord to almost have a heart attack from shock.


    "Y-You thief...!"


    "Oh, I hear a pig squealing somewhere. Knights, please continue taking him away."


    "Let go, let go! You scoundrels! Let go of me!"


    Kai waved goodbye to the pig lord being dragged away by the knights.


    As the vigers watched, they started to approach Kai one by one, bowing their heads.


    "Healer, thank you."


    "If it weren¡¯t for you, Cleric Kai... I would have died from the gue long ago."


    ¡°Thank you so much for saving me from being trapped under the building the day Aosa attacked the city. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn''t be standing here right now.¡±


    "Oh, there''s no need for all these thanks..."


    Kai was overwhelmed by the crowd of vigers swarming around him.


    <i>Did I treat this many people?</i>


    He had treated the sick for over two weeks and saved one hundred thirty-two NPCs on the day Aosa attacked!


    Suddenly, someone ran into Kai''s arms amidst the crowd.


    "Cleric Kai... Thank you so much for keeping your promise!"


    "A-Ayana!"


    Kai looked surprised for a moment but then smiled softly at her puffy-eyed, beaming face and patted her back.


    The vigers'' apuse followed. It was a tribute to the hero who saved them and their way of celebrating the departure of their corrupt lord.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Eliminating the cause of suffering itself is the ultimate goal a benefactor should strive for. You removed an immoral lord whose abuse of power led to the suffering of his people from his position. Despite the overwhelming power your opponent held, you upheld your own justice and thus deserve to be called a saint.]</strong>


    <strong>[7,472 NPCs are sincerely grateful to you.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Saint of Whitehall.]</strong>


    <strong>[The story of a great benefactor driving out a corrupt lord will be widely spread across the continent through storytellers.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5,000 Contribution to the Srian Church.]</strong>


    <strong>[Spread of the word of the Church of Sris increased by 25%. Residents oppressed by the corrupt lord will fervently pray for the mercy of the Srian Church.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <i>Ah, truly, doing good deeds is the best...</i>


    It felt simr to when he saved the residents of Glendale. However, this time, the scale seemed a bitrger.


    As Kai felt a sense of relief that everything was over now, an unexpected message appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Poetic Justice effect has been activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have stripped a corrupt lord of his title.]</strong>


    <strong>[The title you stripped is Baron.]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 Benevolence.]</strong>


    "...<i>Huh</i>?"

 Chapter 119: Dance with the Moonlight (1)

    <h4>Chapter 119: Dance with the Moonlight (1)</h4>


    ¡°...What is this?¡± Kai mumbled, rubbing his eyes.


    From his arms, Ayana quickly answered, ¡°It''s Ayana.¡±


    ¡°No, I know that, but...¡±


    Kai gave an awkward smile and then looked at the system log once more.


    <i>I understand getting the Saint of Whitehall title and the increase in Benevolence stats.</i>


    He had experienced a simr situation when he defeated Fermi and saved the residents of Glendale. But what surprised Kai was the next message that popped up.


    <i>Poetic Justice? What is this...</i>


    His Benevolence stats had increased by a whopping 25 due to the Poetic Justice effect!


    After a moment of calction, Kai''s mouth dropped open.


    <i>So, then, I got a total of 40 Benevolence stats this time?</i>


    He hurriedly opened his stats window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 123</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 33,700</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 40,100</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 457 Stamina: 337</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 278 Agility: 252</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 401 Dignity: 249</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 158</strong>


    <strong>Remaining Stats: 105</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense +70%</strong>


    <strong>All Attack Power +6%</strong>


    <strong>All Speed +6%</strong>


    ¡°<i>Whoa</i>...¡±


    It was true. He really saw the increase of 40 Benevolence stats with his own eyes.


    <i>But why is Dignity at 249?</i>


    As far as he remembered, before defeating Aosa, it was 179.


    <i>The yer of Aosa title raised all stats by 15, and the Benevolence stats increased by 40...</i>


    So it should be 219, but why was it up by an additional 30 points?


    Pondering over this, Kai let out a short exmation and opened the title book.


    <strong>[<u>Saint of Whitehall</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to those who saved the city''s residents with unwavering justice.</strong>


    <strong>Dignity +30</strong>


    <strong>+15% effectiveness of all skills consuming Holy Power (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    ¡°Of course. This was it.¡±


    The effects of this Saint title were very simr to those of the Saint of Glendale title.


    <i>Having one Saint title is something, but having two is something that can''t be ignored.</i>


    The difference between a 10% and a 25% increase in the efficiency of main skills was like night and day.


    <i>The stat increase of Supernova alone is iparable to before.</i>


    The skill alone increased from 30 to 38.


    <i>And considering buffs, heals, and skills like Holy Chains...</i>


    It truly had a tremendous effect!


    Bach approached him as Kai was looking at his stat window, surrounded by the crowd.


    ¡°Then I''ll be on my way now.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>? You¡¯re leaving already?¡±


    ¡°My assigned task isplete,¡± Bach said calmly with an expressionless face.


    Kai nced around the ruined streets and asked, ¡°Then what will happen to this city now?¡±


    ¡°A new lord will be appointed. Soon, reconstruction of the city will begin.¡±


    ¡°I hope a good lordes this time.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty is a prudent man, so there is no need to worry.¡±


    His loyalty was truly remarkable.


    Kai looked at Bach for a moment and then bowed his head. ¡°Thank you for your help today. I probably couldn''t have driven out the lord so easily on my own.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t humility but a clear fact. At Kai''s current level, it would be tough to handle over thirty knights. Especially now, with his abilities crippled by exhaustion and debuffs.


    ¡°I was merely following His Majesty¡¯s orders, so give your thanks to him.¡±


    ¡°Of course, but I''m grateful to you too. Oh! And about the sword technique you showed earlier. My level is too low to fully understand it, but it was a great learning experience. Thank you for that as well.¡±


    ¡°...That too was His Majesty¡¯s order.¡±


    Loyal to the core, Bach repeated the same phrase like a parrot. Even so, the residents expressed their gratitude to him.


    ¡°Thank you, handsome knight!¡±


    ¡°I heard you took down all of Whitehall¡¯s knights by yourself! Thank you so much!¡±


    ¡°Those guys always took bread from our shop without paying!¡±


    ¡°Marry me!¡±


    ¡°Oppa!¡±


    ¡°W-what... I-I...¡±


    Bach was more flustered than when facing the thirty knights. His ears were red.


    Seeing him so embarrassed, Kai stepped beside him and shouted, ¡°Sorry, but could you please clear the way? This man here is quite busy and needs to return!¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>? I guess that would be true...¡±


    ¡°With such outstanding abilities, he would make a living anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Plus, he''s a knight, right? He must be busy.¡±


    ¡°And since the cleric is asking so nicely...¡±


    Murmurs filled the crowd. Then, the seemingly imprable crowd parted as if by miracle at Kai¡¯s smiling request. It was like witnessing Moses parting the Red Sea!


    As they passed through the crowd and entered the alley, Bach said with genuine gratitude, ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡±


    ¡°...<i>Huh</i>, saving you? They were all just grateful to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not really used to such things...¡±


    Kai chuckled at seeing Bach''s endearing side. ¡°That¡¯s a bit surprising. I thought someone as strong as you wouldn''t have any weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s a piece of advice. There¡¯s no one in this world without weaknesses. Keep that in mind always.¡±


    ¡°Yes... I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever forget now,¡± Kai shrugged andughed.


    Then, Bach awkwardly pulled out a teleport scroll.


    Before tearing it, he nced at Kai.


    ¡°...Once you¡¯re confident in your skills,e find me. I¡¯ll spar with you at least once.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>? Really? That would be an honor!¡±


    ¡°Until we meet again,¡± Bach said, and tore the teleport scroll as if fleeing.


    ¡°...Someone¡¯s embarrassed.¡±


    Bach had seemed imprable but he was evidently weak to praise and gratitude!


    Kai clenched his fists tightly as he watched Bach''s departure.


    <i>Anyway, getting a one-on-one sparring session with a sword master is awesome.</i>


    It was an opportunity that other sword-wielding yers would pay a fortune for.


    <i>But it would be best to raise my swordsmanship to at least an advanced level before going.</i>


    As the saying went, one saw as much as they knew. The rewards one could obtain from the same situation varied greatly depending on the yer''s level and abilities.


    After pondering for a moment, Kai smiled.


    <i>Then, the first thing to do is...</i>


    ***


    Michael Reynold, one of the top video editors, mmed his third can of Red Bull of the day onto his desk.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>... Finished another one... but it never ends... The workload just doesn¡¯t decrease at all...¡±


    He had just finished a project and had deep dark circles under his eyes; he felt like he was going insane.


    <i>All the same concepts, same videos, same angles, same BGM... Should I start being more selective with clients?</i>


    It was a thought that had been bothering himtely. Of course, having an abundance of work as a frencer was a good thing. However, Michael, who considered himself an artist, was mentally and physically exhausted from the repetitive work.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>... I just want to spend the money I¡¯ve saved... but if I bail on the schedule, I¡¯ll have to pay a penalty fee, so I can¡¯t...¡±


    He sighed deeply and logged into the <i>MID Online</i>munity to browse the video category.


    <i>Phew, at least I¡¯m still good at what I do.</i>


    Among the top ten popr videos, five had been edited by him!


    As he smiled contentedly, he heard a familiar notification sound.


    <i>Ping!</i>


    <strong>[You have new mail.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>... More work?¡±


    Furrowing his brows, he clicked on the email inbox while praying.


    <i>Please be spam, please be spam, please be spam...</i>


    Unfortunately, it was a very legitimate job request email. However, his face lit up with excitement as he read the email.


    ¡°Yes, finally!¡±


    Michael shot up from his seat, clenching his fist in celebration.


    <i>I was worried he might have gone to someone else since he hadn''t sent anything for a while... But that wasn¡¯t the case.</i>


    Michael joyfully downloaded Unknown''s video.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see, the request is... <i>Hahaha</i>!¡±


    He burst intoughter as he read the email''s request: ¡°As fast as you can. Awesome Please.¡±


    ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>, I¡¯m certain Unknown is terrible at English.¡±


    Wiping the tears from his eyes, Michael focused on his monitor.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s put my imagination to work once more.¡±


    Excitement that he hadn¡¯t felt while editing other videos recently made his heart race.


    Then, like a top chef pondering what dish to create today, he began to carefully review the fresh material Unknown had sent.


    ***


    Strike while the iron is hot, and strike it twice.


    That was a saying that had stuck with Han Jung-Woo since his parents had drilled it into his ears.


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent the video request...¡±


    He had showered and eaten, so with all his tasks done, he logged onto the <i>MID Online</i> strategy site.


    Naturally, themunity was hot with talk about Aosa.


    <i>Oh, my name is mentioned too. Well, that¡¯s not surprising.</i>


    By the time of the battle, Blizzard had already been equipped with the Armor of the Undead set, but screenshots of Blizzard fighting Aosa had been posted on themunity.


    Of course, this led to another argument within it.


    <i>Do these guys have nothing better to do than argue here all the time?</i>


    Han Jung-Woo smirked as he began to leisurely read through thements.


    -Unknown defeated Aosa? That''s something even a passing dog wouldn''t believe.


    ©¸ I''m a passing dog, and I believe it. Woof woof!


    -Does that even make sense? What do you think Unknown''s level is right now? At best, probably around 105.


    -No, guys. There''s already proof screenshots, so why are you saying nonsense?


    ©¸ Where''s the proof? Did Unknown take a selfie on top of Aosa''s corpse?


    ©¸ There''s a screenshot of Unknown fighting Aosa.


    ©¸ Yeah, next photoshopped photo please~


    ©¸ But why are you speaking so rudely? What''s your level?


    -But ording to people at the scene, Unknown got beaten up and quickly dropped out of the fight.


    ©¸ I heard that rumor too. Apparently some yer in dragon armor defeated Aosa.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. The rumors are quite specific,¡± Han Jung-Woo unconsciously nodded.


    After all, Whitehall wasn''t a small vige like Frica but arge city with 30,000 NPCs. That meant there were plenty of quests and many yers using it as a base.


    <i>And there were quite a few yers watching when I defeated Aosa.</i>


    Such rumors spreading wasn''t bad for him. It was a form of noise marketing.


    <i>This turned out to be interesting, even if it wasn¡¯t intentional.</i>


    Watching yers argue whileparing him to Blizzard was so absurd it left him speechless!


    Han Jung-Woo nced at the clock.


    ¡°Now that it''s morning in the game... yers who logged out at the inn should be waking up.¡±


    And they would witness the devastated cityscape, including the square, reduced to rubble overnight. He didn''t need to see their reactions to know what they would think.


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>. They must be dying of curiosity.¡±


    They would wonder how an individual could raid a boss monster alone, and how someone could fight so fiercely to turn the city into such a battlefield.


    Many of Unknown''s fans were already waiting for him to release a video to prove he did it.


    <i>Noise marketing really does make money.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo smirked as he looked at the list of donations on themunity. Donations were pouring in, asking him to upload the video as soon as possible.


    <i>I didn¡¯t expect so many people to throw money at this even before it''s confirmed that Unknown did it.</i>


    And it wasn¡¯t just a few people. The world was vast, there were many people, and plenty of them had money!


    <i>The longer thissts, the better for me.</i>


    Of course, dragging it out too long could backfire. In other words, he needed to bnce the push and pull very well.


    ¡°Hope you finish it soon. Hang in there, Michael.¡±


    Stretching and making a carefreement, Han Jung-Woo headed straight to bed. Without a break after the battle with Aosa, meeting King Beoruk, and ousting the pig lord, it had been a continuous march.


    <i>I deserve to rest. Ahh...</i>


    In an officetel in Cheongdam-dong, the yer the world was starting to notice slept soundly.


    Seven hourster, the video editor on the other side of the globepleted his life''s masterpiece.

 Chapter 120: Dance with the Moonlight (2)

    <h4>Chapter 120: Dance with the Moonlight (2)</h4>


    The once pristine desk now had seven crushed Red Bull cans scattered across it.


    If a normal person saw the scene, they might wonder if he didn''t have blood, but caffeine flowing through his veins.


    However, Michael had gained superpowers from the Red Bulls. He licked his dry lips.


    "Finally, it''s done."


    It had taken him nine hours.


    From the moment he received the email from Unknown, he had pushed aside all other work to focus on editing, and the reason was simple.


    <i>The only canvas where I can draw whatever picture I want is Unknown''s video.</i>


    As an artist at heart, Michael couldn''t resist the opportunity.


    <i>I poured all the skills I have into this video.</i>


    The knowledge he had learned through self-study since middle school, the wisdom he had absorbed from his university professors, and the know-how he had acquired from editing clients'' videos¡ªall of it had flowed into this single video.


    Michael Reynold''s essence of video editing was fully captured in this work. Thus, he was confident.


    <i>My reputation will rise once again.</i>


    The gap he had created between himself and others would widen further with this video as the standard.


    However, Michael wasn''t happy about that at all.


    "...And it seems this will be thest coboration with Unknown."


    As a professional in this field, Michael had edited numerous videos. Of course, among them were those he had helped from their early days until they became rankers.


    <i>He¡¯ll either join a guild and work with their video editor, or he¡¯ll produce and broadcast videos at the level of a television station. It¡¯ll be one of the two.</i>


    Unless he had a significant reason, there was no reason for such a skilled yer to stick to solo y.


    It was only two video edits, but Michael had found tremendous joy in working with Unknown.


    "Now it¡¯ll be boring again."


    With a bitter smile, he wanted to rush to bed immediately but opened his email for hisst task.


    ***


    <i>Ping!</i>


    "<i>Hmm</i>...?"


    Awakened by the sound in his ears, Han Jung-Woo wiped the drool from his mouth and lifted his head. Forcing his still-tired head up, he checked the clock and frowned.


    <i>I only slept for seven hours.</i>


    Due to his recent umted fatigue, he had set his rm to sleep at least ten hours.


    "Then that sound just now was..."


    Muttering in a hoarse voice, Han Jung-Woozily checked his smartphone.


    "Oh, it''s just an email."


    He threw the phone beside his pillow with squinted eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but soon opened his eyes again.


    "... An email?"


    There weren''t many people who would send him an email, and most spam messages were already blocked, so he didn¡¯t receive notifications from them.


    "Could it be..."


    Though his tone was doubtful as he muttered those words, his body quickly snatched his phone again.


    Unlocking the password and checking the email, he felt as if cold water had been poured over his head, waking him uppletely.


    "Michael? Already?!"


    In an instant, he threw off his nket and sat at hisputer to check the email.


    <i>As expected, an ess code is included too.</i>


    Most videos from <i>MID Online</i> wererger than typical movies in terms of file size.


    Therefore, attaching them to a single email was impossible, so Michael always included an ess code in the email. By entering this code on Michael¡¯s personal website, the video could be downloaded from there.


    <strong>[Downloadplete.]</strong>


    After seeing the system message, Kai immediately yed the video.


    The intro began with a gentle piano piece and showed Blizzard appearing on the scene. He was portrayed like a hero guarding the city at night, calmly observing the cornered yers before jumping from the rooftop. Then, he struck Aosa¡¯s neck with his scimitars, and the battle began!


    <i>Watching it as a video is entirely different from experiencing it in the game.</i>


    Although the live-action couldck in some aspects, the speed and cinematic quality were outstanding.


    Blizzard dodged Aosa¡¯s tentacle attacks with agile movements. Meanwhile, his scimitars seemed sharp and dangerous.


    However, a single mistake allowed Aosa¡¯s attack to hit, quickly putting Blizzard on the defensive.


    <i>The music changed. The video slowed down a bit, and the screen is turning ck and white.</i>


    It was as if predicting Blizzard¡¯s death.


    Then, Aosa¡¯s final strike flew toward Blizzard.


    Blizzard tried to dodge but ultimately failed.


    However, at that moment, a single chain flew in.


    Simultaneously, the music shifted. The gloomy atmosphere suddenly shifted with a grand song backed by drums. It was a beat that filled the viewer with anticipation, making their heart race.


    <i>Here¡¯s my entrance.</i>


    His appearance was anything but in. The different parts of his armor were revealed in sequence from bottom-up, and then his full body came into view. It showed his striking appearance covered in jade-colored dragon armor.


    ¡ªYou reek... of an unbearable stench.


    Infuriated, Aosa swung its bundle of tentacles.


    However, the yer in dragon armor cut through them with a single strike. Simultaneously, his armor turned blue, and a new battlemenced.


    <i>The tempo of the video picked up.</i>


    Thanks to this, the fight was depicted with incredible intensity.


    Jumping between rooftops under the moonlight, the two exchanged blows, and the victor was undoubtedly Unknown.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Unknown brought down an entire building, delivering a critical blow to Aosa mid-fall.


    <i>Next, Aosa transforms.</i>


    That was when the second phase started.


    Along with this, the background music was well-known not only to Han Jung-Woo but also to the general public. It was the kind of song that would make listeners exim, "Oh! This piece!"


    The music ying was none other than Beethoven''s "Moonlight Sonata."


    <i>Boom, boom!</i>


    Due to its massive size, Aosa bulldozed through buildings as it chased after Unknown.


    And Unknown narrowly dodged by swinging between buildings using Holy Chains.


    <i>The part where I take the Higher Way potion was edited out.</i>


    The editing was clearly designed to portray Unknown as a hero! The effect was so overwhelming that even the person who knew about the doping was in awe watching the video.


    ¡°... That¡¯s me? I did that?¡±


    Debris from the falling building scattered through the air. He performed impossible feats¡ªfinding a path among the rubble or using chains to pull stones and creating one if necessary¡ªrepeatedly and naturally that he had to rewind the video multiple times.


    Engrossed in the video, the ending credits with a surprising message rolled by quicker than he thought.


    After watching the entire video, he rubbed his chin in contemtion.


    <i>No matter how I look at it, this quality isn¡¯t something to release for free...</i>


    It could easily rival the raid videos of most guilds. And even if it were sold for money, it would undoubtedly sell like crazy.


    <i>But thinking it over...</i>


    Han Jung-Woo''s mind raced. The massive benefits of releasing the video for free started to be clear.


    <i>This is a weapon that could make even the top-ranking yers nervous.</i>


    No ranker could confidently im they could defeat Aosa alone, nor could they replicate the extraordinary movements shown by Unknown.


    In such a situation, if he released this video for free?


    <i>If I charge for it, fewer people will watch.</i>


    But if he released it for free, things would be different.


    <i>Maybe it could even hit one hundred million views.</i>


    The <i>MID Online</i>munity prevented duplicate views from the same IP address to avoid maniption. Because of this, no video had reached one hundred million views in the seven months since the gameunched.


    <i>Any video capable of hitting one hundred million views has been charged for profit.</i>


    However, Han Jung-Woo wasn¡¯t desperate for money yet as several million won stilly untouched in his bank ount.


    <i>So, what I should aim for now is fame.</i>


    Fame wasn¡¯t immediately profitable, but it increased one¡¯s influence.


    <i>There¡¯s a saying that if you be famous, even your mistakes are praised.</i>


    Simrly, if Unknown¡¯s name became famous, his every word would carry weight.


    <i>If I get into a dispute with ck Bee or Titan now, I¡¯d be overwhelmingly disadvantaged.</i>


    Sure, there were issues of level, equipment, and numbers, but the most crucial factor was influence.


    Everyone knew those famous guilds, and people believed whatever they said without question.


    On the other hand, an unknown person''s words were often disregarded.


    <i>But if my name bes more valuable... the situation changes.</i>


    Realizing this, Han Jung-Woo nodded.


    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s release it for free.¡±


    Even releasing it for free wouldn¡¯t mean no ie.


    <i>Judging by the previous two videos, the donations will pour in like crazy.</i>


    His contemtion was brief, and his actions were swift.


    Then, Han Jung-Woo¡¯s mouse began to move busily.


    ***


    Some called the <i>MID Online</i>munity and of opportunity where all game information was exchanged, while others simply called it a ce where idiots engaged in pointless keyboard battles.


    If anyone had browsed themunity boards in recent days, their opinion would lean towards thetter because people were truly fighting like crazy.


    -You Unknown fanboys and fangirls. I¡¯m telling you, Aosa was taken down by a dragon-armored yer. My brother saw it himself.


    ©¸ You just want to believe that.


    ©¸ And you just want to believe Unknown did it.


    ©¸ Ugh, hopeless.


    ©¸ Ugh, utterly hopeless.


    It was a ¡°harmonious¡± ce where they exchanged keyboard blows, tearing each other down, then mutually exchanged phone numbers to continue their conversation.


    Then, one yer, watching the pathetic act, spoke up.


    -Ugh, you pathetic idiots. I¡¯m here to end this war.


    ©¸ What¡¯s this moron on about?


    ©¸ What¡¯s this fool saying now?


    ©¸ Why don¡¯t you guys shut up and go to the video section instead of fighting here


    ©¸ Why?


    ©¸ Unknown just posted a new video.


    After that, no more replies followed.


    Moreover, everyone who had been fervently arguing on the board vanished without a trace. Of course, it was obvious where they had gone, as the views on the newly uploaded Unknown video started skyrocketing.

 Chapter 121: Dance with the Moonlight (3)

    <h4>Chapter 121: Dance with the Moonlight (3)</h4>


    In the video section of the <i>MID Online</i>munity, there was a very useful system.


    -Has Unknown finally made a statement about the Aosa incident?


    ©¸ Well, judging by the title, it looks like it''s just a new release


    ©¸ A new release at this point... Is he generous or just foolish...


    ©¸ We''ll know once we watch it. Let''s focus, everyone.


    It was the chat system. It allowed users to share their opinions in real-time while watching videos.


    Unfortunately, the negative side of this good system was highlighted today.


    -Ahahahaha All those who talked about the dragon armor are now silent!


    -It''s Unknown!


    -It''s really Unknown!


    -This can''t be! I clearly heard from my brother! He said the dragon armor guy defeated Aosa!


    ©¸ Hey, didn''t anyone teach you not to type recklessly if you''re not sure? Bring a hammer!


    A keyboard battle had resumed right in the chat window of the video.


    Of course, it was understandable, as those who imed Unknown had defeated Aosa had been openly ignored.


    -Wow. Unknown looks so cool making his entrance!


    -This is another Michael Reynold production? This guy is truly amazing.


    -Last time, Michael handled all the editing and production, so it¡¯s probably the same this time.


    The video started with a gentle piano melody, and Unknown, wearing the Armor of the Undead, appeared in the dark city.


    Then, a powerful font filled the center of the screen with the title.


    -Dance with the Moonlight. It fits the video.


    -The vibes of the intro are insane.


    -I¡¯m convinced. The future of the film industry is dark.


    The video had such an overwhelming atmosphere that it made people worry about the future of the film industry!


    Fans of Unknown eagerly anticipated what amazing performance he would show this time.


    However, five minutester, the mood in the chat shifted.


    -LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL


    -Hello? Is this 911? There''s a yer here knocked out by a boss monster. Please send an ambnce.


    -As expected. It never made sense for a rookie like Unknown to defeat Aosa.


    -Unknown¡¯s dark past is now recorded.


    -Socrates watched this video and said, "Know thyself."


    -Where did all the fans praising Unknown go?


    Criticism and mockery poured onto Unknown!


    His fans were furious, but they had no rebuttal. Their hero had already been defeated by Aosa, so what more could they say?


    Of course, there were some who raised appropriate questions.


    -But something¡¯s off. Why would Unknown upload a video of himself getting beaten? Could it be...


    ©¸ Here we go again with the scenarios. He probably uploaded it because he appeared briefly at the start.


    ©¸ No, I''m telling you. The sword that the dragon armor yer is using... it''s the same one Unknown used when he defeated the Orc Lord.


    ©¸ Buddy, don¡¯t you smell something burning? It¡¯s your wishful thinking circuits overheating.


    However, such shes of opinion were short-lived.


    As time passed, the viewers who had been biting at each other, gradually forgot everything and became more engrossed in the video. This was because the battle of the yer in dragon armor was exhrating.


    Even the scenes that seemed rough at first nce were skillfully brought to life thanks to Michael¡¯s expert touch.


    -He really does fight well...


    -Hmph. Not as good as Unknown, but he''s pretty good.


    ©¸ Are your eyes okay? Anyone can see he''s fighting much better than Unknown.


    -Even his sword swings are sexy. My dear heart, please calm down.


    Even the fans who imed to be devoted to Unknown felt their loyalty waver a bit! The sword fight between the two figures under the moonlight was that beautiful.


    -The first movement of Beethoven''s Moonlight Sonata is always the best.


    ©¸ It''s a piece that stirs the soul.


    ©¸ It perfectly matches the atmosphere of the video. It seems to reflect the lonely heart of a man protecting the city.


    It was a legendary piece of musicbined with a splendid battle!


    Moreover, Unknown¡¯s new video was novel. That was the key point that instantly captivated the viewers.


    -Never thought I¡¯d see a raid in the middle of a city.


    ©¸ This kind of event doesn''t happen often.


    ©¸ If anyone tries to imitate this and fight in a city, they¡¯d probably get arrested right away.


    It was a novelty never seen before! This was the hallmark of Unknown, a tradition carried on from his very first video.


    However, as Aosa¡¯s HP dropped below 20%, people began to feel a bit bored.


    -Hmm. It''s certainly interesting and new, but...


    -It''s getting a bit tedious after all this sword fighting.


    -Do you think the remaining fifteen minutes will just be more sword fighting?


    ©¸ If that¡¯s the case, it''d be really disappointing.


    However, Michael was a professional in video editing. And among professionals, he was known as a genius.


    Of course, he knew exactly where viewers would start to feel bored.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    The building where the two figures were standing suddenly copsed. Even amidst the copse, the yer in the dragon armornded critical hits!


    -He''s attacking even in that situation?


    -It looks easy, but that''s really hard. I once slipped off a cliff in the Hilltan Mountains, and it was so terrifying I could only close my eyes.


    -There''s a limit to how much courage or nerve you can developter. That has to be innate.


    The next moment, Aosa''s size grew enormous, and the second phase began.


    At the same time, the serene first movement of Moonlight Sonata ended, skipping the second movement and moving straight to the third.


    <i>Boom, boom, crash!</i>


    The majesty of the yer in the dragon armor narrowly avoiding Aosa''s fierce pursuit was astounding!


    Finally, when he stepped on the debris of the clock tower and walked through the air to dodge attacks, the chat window became flooded, making it impossible to read any messages.


    -Jesus! This is insane! How is that a real yer?


    ©¸ Seriously, it doesn¡¯t seem human. Maybe a super A.I. like... what was it, AlphaGo from back in the day


    -I need to change my underwear first.


    ©¸ When watching videos uploaded by Unknown, it¡¯s customary to prepare five pairs of underwear in advance.


    The effect of the chat window was evident as hundreds of lines of messages poured in with every blink. While the general viewers flooded the chat with praise, the more experienced yers started a discussion.


    -Holy Chains? That''s a Rare skill.


    ©¸ Rare-grade, but it''s so scarce that its price outdoes most Unique skill books.


    ©¸ Using that means he¡¯s definitely a Pdin. No way he¡¯s a Cleric.


    Some viewers maintained theirposure and thoroughly analyzed the yer in dragon armor. However, their calmness didn¡¯tst long.


    -He¡¯s using Spring of Restoration like that?!


    -How could hee up with such a method in that situation...? What kind of crisis management skill is that?


    -He¡¯s using the enemy¡¯s overwhelming size against it. Genius.


    It was a cleverbat method that even amazed the experts!


    But that wasn¡¯t all.


    The next moment, a technique that took their breath away was revealed through the video.


    -If my eyes aren¡¯t deceiving me, that¡¯s definitely double casting, right?


    ©¸ Huh? It really is. He used it so naturally that I didn¡¯t even notice.


    -A Pdin, not a Wizard, using double casting? What a waste of talent;;


    -I¡¯m a Warrior, so I don¡¯t really know, but can you normally use double casting while moving like that? If it¡¯s true, shouldn¡¯t the developers nerf it?


    ©¸ Nerf it? Less than one hundred people in the entire world can probably do both.


    ©¸ One hundred? Even that¡¯s generous. I¡¯d say more like thirty.


    A Pdin using double casting was shocking enough, but he went further, showing moving casting, a technique reserved for top-ss Wizards!


    As Aosa fell, the chat window was flooded with apuse emoticons.


    -It¡¯s less than a forty-minute video, but I feel exhausted. How focused was I?


    ©¸ It¡¯s not enough for me. I¡¯m going for a second round.


    -I¡¯m gonna donate with the secret funds I¡¯ve hidden from my wife.


    -Jesus, take my money! Thanks for making such an amazing video.


    ©¸ Though Unknown only appeared for five minutes (lol)


    Unknown continued to be mocked until the end!


    However, just as many viewers were about to hit the ESC button at the end of the video, a surprise message from Michael Reynold appeared.


    [Unknown''s gear changed as he leveled up. Thanks for always providing great videos.]


    It went without saying that the impact of his message was enormous. It was like the shock of discovering that Santa us was actually your dad!


    The frozen chat window slowly started to regain its function.


    -Um... so that dragon armor was actually Unknown? Not the punching bag from the beginning?


    -I don''t get it... So, does that mean that the dragon armor guy, no, Unknown, really did take down Aosa?


    ©¸ Yeah. So what happens to the people who made bets?


    ©¸ I guess both sides won, right? Unknown took down Aosa, and the dragon armor guy took down Aosa, too.


    ©¸ If the two were the same person from the start, then there was no reason to fight.


    ©¸ Then why did they even fight in the first ce?


    When countless yers who had lost their reason for fighting fell into a collective panic, one person who had maintained a neutral stance spoke up.


    -Do idiots need a reason to argue?


    That was a real fact.


    ***


    Seol Eun-Yeong''s pretty face had been frowning a lottely, and today, a deep sigh even escaped her cherry-like lips.


    "<i>Sigh</i>, I can¡¯t believe that guy back then was Unknown."


    Sitting in the chair of the guild''s office, she stared nkly at the ceiling.


    <i>I never imagined he would grow this fast. How is that even possible?</i>


    The first time she saw his video was the Orc Lord raid video. Boyd had shown it to her, suggesting they recruit him, and she had strictly refused.


    <i>I thought he had his limits, that he was just a sh in the pan. But...</i>


    He had turned her expectations upside down as if mocking her. Having raided Aosa alone, his worth was now beyond measure.


    <i>He literally became someone whose worth isparable to that of top sports stars.</i>


    As she struggled to hide her conflicted feelings about missing her chance, her office door swung open. It was none other than Boyd who entered.


    "<i>Hehehe</i>."


    "Annoying jerk. Get lost."


    Despite Seol Eun-Yeong''s bitter remark, Boyd approached her with a foolish grin.


    "Judging by that expression, you¡¯ve watched the video, haven¡¯t you?"


    Seol Eun-Yeong stayed silent.


    "Don¡¯t you get wrinkles in real life too after always frowning like that? It''s a waste considering all the expensive treatments you get."


    "Are you looking for a fight?"


    "No way. You''re regretting not listening to me, and you''re acting like you¡¯re not again." With the broad smile of a winner, Boyd satfortably on the office sofa and asked, "So, what are you going to do now?"


    It was obvious what he was asking about. He was inquiring about what to do with Unknown.


    Suppressing her boiling emotions, Seol Eun-Yeong slowly said, "...Recruit him."


    <i>p!</i>


    Boyd pped his hands as if he had been waiting for this moment and said, "As you know, it won''t be easy."


    "We''ll offer him the best treatment in the industry..."


    Her confident tone faded as she recalled that she had made an offer to recruit him just a few hours ago, and the result had been aplete rejection.


    "You can tell just by looking, right? Money alone won''t bring him over."


    "Then what? How do we get him?"


    "First, you have to get close to him. Men, you know? They''re all about loyalty! Live and die by it. If the heart follows, the body will too." Boyd put on a confident expression, patting his chest, "As you know, my social skills are top-notch."


    "Oh, you mean that annoying level of sociability that sometimes makes me want to kill you?"


    "<i>Hahaha</i>, what a joke."


    "I''m not joking."


    Reading the sincerity in her cold expression, Boyd awkwardly cleared his throat and slowly stood up from the sofa.


    "A-anyway, I''ll think of a way to bring Unknown over."


    "...I¡¯m counting on you."


    "As you wish."


    As Boyd left the office, Seol Eun-Yeong pondered his words.


    <i>First, get close to him?</i>


    She thought about the method for a moment, then immediately sent thirty million won to Unknown''s donation ount.


    "This should make us a little closer."


    With that, she felt slightly more at ease.


    Although she was skilled at managing people, she wasn¡¯t very skilled at making friends.

 Chapter 122: What Aosa Left Behind (1)

    <h4>Chapter 122: What Aosa Left Behind (1)</h4>


    The shortest time to rank number one in the video section.


    The shortest time to reach ten million views in the video section.


    The shortest time to reach one million rmendations in the video section.


    The shortest time to umte one hundred million won in donations in themunity''s history!


    However, the person responsible for these incredible achievements was scratching his belly while watching the scene of amazing harmony.


    "Four titles... I''m pretty amazing."


    For reference, the ''scene of amazing harmony'' was talking about the current state of themunity board.


    <i>Are these the same people who were fighting like crazy just a few hours ago?</i>


    Once they realized there was no reason to fight, the disputes disappeared as if they had never existed, and what filled the space was praise and admiration for him!


    Of course, the embarrassment from this was entirely his own to bear.


    <i>Well, it''s good that there''s no fighting on the board. And the donations areing in well...</i>


    What truly surprised Han Jung-Woo was that someone had donated a whopping thirty million won at once.


    "Must be a die-hard fan who sincerely supports me."


    He felt a warm feeling in his heart, thinking about the kind supporter who expected nothing in return.


    With that thought, Han Jung-Woo turned off hisputer.


    <i>Uploading three videos and surpassing one hundred million won in donations. Not bad.</i>


    Far from being just <i>not bad</i>, it was an exceptional sess. Most people found it hard to earn even a million won after uploading thirty, even three hundred videos.


    Moreover, his third video hadn¡¯t even been up for a full day yet. As time went on, the views would increase, naturally bringing in more money.


    <i>I won¡¯t have to worry about money for the next few years.</i>


    The money in his bank and savings ounts was diligently preparing for his future.


    Feeling reassured by this, Han Jung-Woo slid into the capsule.


    ¡°This is where I feel most at ease.¡±


    Taking in a deep breath of the fresh air that couldn''t be found in modern society, Kai looked around. Small-scale construction was underway here and there on the streets.


    <i>It seems the city reconstruction event Bach mentioned has started.</i>


    As Kai was observing his surroundings, a few NPCs approached him.


    ¡°Saint, what are you doing here? You must be tired.¡±


    ¡°Did youe because you heard about the city reconstruction?¡±


    ¡°No, not exactly... Have many adventurers gathered?¡± Kai asked.


    ¡°More or less. The teleport gate needs to be fixed first, though. Adventurers are arriving too slowly.¡±


    ¡°Still, I don''t know where they areing from, but they''re steadilying."


    ¡°Teleport gate, <i>huh</i>.¡± Nodding at their words, Kai looked around.


    <i>There are definitely more yers than usual.</i>


    The streets were much livelier than when he had logged out.


    Adventurers were gathering in small groups, constantly sharing opinions and information.


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t understand that part, but now I get it.¡±


    ¡°There was a request to set up a clock tower there, so we need to secure that site.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no use for us adventurers to make ns. We need approval before construction starts. When is the new lord arriving?¡±


    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s not enough space for arge stone building there. Have you considered the surrounding buildings?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if we¡¯re going to do it, we should rebuild all the surrounding buildings too.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you, be honest. You invested in real estate around there, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    In addition to artisans, adventurers from various professions could be seen. Most had heard about the city reconstruction event and hade expecting there to be a crowd. For example, there were chefs preparing food and cksmiths repairing worn-out equipment.


    ¡°Sellingmb skewers that boost energy instantly! Mild, spicy, and extremely spicy vors avable!¡±


    ¡°Stay up all night working with our handcrafted Red Bull drink!¡±


    ¡°Repairing equipment durability. 1 silver per 10 durability!¡±


    Adventurers from all over the nation gathered to revive the ruined city and the event hadn''t even officially started yet.


    <i>If the teleport gate is restored before the event, Whitehall will quickly flourish. I should mention this while giving the quest report to Tardal.</i>


    Liking the atmosphere of the city, Kai smiled and headed toward the Smile Clinic.


    ¡°Wee... Kai!¡± Ayana greeted Kai with a bright expression.


    Hearing themotion at the entrance, her parents soon appeared.


    They weed Kai with genuine expressions of gratitude.


    ¡°So you are the saint our daughter admires so much. Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for thete greeting. We were a bit overwhelmed earlier...¡±


    ¡°No problem. I''m not so inconsiderate as to interrupt a family reunion. <i>Haha</i>,¡± Kai replied.


    ¡°Just as we heard, you are a kind and considerate person.¡±


    ¡°Please,e inside.¡±


    As Kai entered the clinic, he looked around with a new perspective.


    <i>... So this is why they say there¡¯s a difference between having parents at home and not having them.</i>


    The pungent smell of herbs that used to strike the nose upon entering the clinic was no longer noticeable. Moreover, the clinic, with its wide-open windows, looked very bright with the sunlight streaming in.


    <i>Just having the right people in the right ce can change the atmosphere of a ce this much.</i>


    Children indeed needed their parents'' love and touch.


    Kai unconsciously stroked Ayana''s head.


    With Ayana tilting her head and looking at him with questioning eyes, Kai took a seat.


    Then, her mother soon brought out a fragrant tea. ¡°I heard Ayana told you everything about our family.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry if it made you ufortable. I just thought I needed to know in order to help.¡±


    ¡°Oh, not at all! How could we feel ufortable with our savior?¡± she smiled beautifully, reminding him of an elf.


    She then handed over a small leather pouch the size of a fist, saying, ¡°Our gratitude overflows, but the only thing I can give you right now is these tea leaves.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry if there¡¯s a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯te here expecting a reward.¡±


    When Kai hurriedly waved his hands in refusal, Ayana''s father said with a kind smile, ¡°Please ept it. And these are medicines I made. They are among the top three I have ever made, so I hope you will find them useful.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you shouldn¡¯t have...¡±


    As Kai looked troubled, Ayana tugged on his sleeve.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, just take it. And this tea is really delicious. It''s a precious trade item even in the Elven Forest.¡±


    ¡°Can I really ept something so valuable?¡±


    ¡°No matter how precious it is, it¡¯s not more important than family.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You have given me the most precious gift in my life.¡± Holding his wife and daughter''s hands, Ayana¡¯s father closed his eyes. ¡°When I was in prison, I had many thoughts. Most of them were doubts about whether I made the right choice. Did I really do the right thing?


    If I had known it woulde to this, should I have put my pride as an herbalist aside and epted the lord''s business proposal? Then... our family would still be together, eating, andughing... Those kinds of regrets.¡±


    His wife and daughterforted him as he smiled bitterly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who thought that. I also regretted many times that if I had handed over the Elven potion recipe, this wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Ayana¡¯s mother said.


    ¡°I-I also thought every night before bed, if I had studied harder, I might have been able to save Mom and Dad.¡±


    The three of them looked at each other with loving eyes.


    Kai felt a deep bond between them that others could not easily intrude upon.


    <i>They are family.</i>


    No amount of wealth or heavenly treasure could be more precious than family. However, Ayana¡¯s parents were herbalists responsible for their patients'' lives. They had to endure the painful choice between family and professional ethics.


    <i>The situation itself was wrong from the start,</i>


    Kai spoke as he looked at Ayana''s parents who were smiling bitterly. ¡°Both of your decisions were the right one, and as herbalists, you made an honorable choice without shame. The unfortunate situation was entirely the fault of the selfish, greedy lord. Please continue to live proudly, without regretting your decisions.¡±


    Kai stroked Ayana¡¯s head as he continued to say, ¡°This is the first time we''re meeting, but I want to say that I''ve always wanted to meet you both. Whenever I looked at Ayana, I wondered what kind of people her parents were, how upright and honorable they must be for their child to grow up so pure and honest."


    ¡°Oh my.¡±


    The best way to touch parents was topliment their children!


    When Kai linked Ayana to their past choices, their expressions visibly rxed.


    ¡°I see... Children do learn by watching their parents.¡±


    ¡°Even if we had epted the lord¡¯s proposal, I doubt we could haveughed as cheerfully as before. Even the thought of not being an honorable father to my daughter is terrifying.¡±


    Relieved of their burden, they gratefully bowed their heads to Kai.


    ¡°Thank you again for your invaluable teaching.¡±


    ¡°Truly, thank you. Elves do not easily make friends, but we would be honored to be your friends.¡±


    ¡°Please, you¡¯re embarrassing me,¡± Kai, feeling a bit shy, sipped his tea.


    <strong>[You drank Elven Herb Tea.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your mind feels clear.]</strong>


    <strong>[Amity with the elves increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Amity with the spirits increased.]</strong>


    <i>Wow.</i>


    It was indeed an excellent tea.


    Kai, feeling pleased with the refreshing sensation enveloping his mouth, said, ¡°<i>Um</i>... did you say these tea leavese from the Elven Forest?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is where I¡¯m from,¡± Ayana¡¯s mother replied.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising that an elf woulde from the Elven Forest.


    After pondering for a moment, Kai exined his situation to her.


    ¡°A Sris Cleric and Apostle? I¡¯ve certainly heard of it. Before that... may I please take a look into your eyes for a moment?¡±


    ¡°My eyes?¡±


    Though puzzled, Kai met her gaze directly.


    After a brief moment, she eximed in slight surprise, ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s true. You really are the heir of the Srian God Helik.¡±


    ¡°...You can tell just by looking into my eyes?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? Elves can discern lies by looking into someone¡¯s eyes. We call it the Eyes of Truth. By the way, your truth level is quite high right now.¡±


    ¡°T-truth level...?¡±


    It was a term that sounded like it belonged among high schoolers!


    Despite the minor misunderstanding, Kai gathered himself and got to the point. ¡°Then I trust you understand what I wish to ask.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± She smiled and, without hesitation, said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the way to the Elven Forest.¡±

 Chapter 123: What Aosa Left Behind (2)

    <h4>Chapter 123: What Aosa Left Behind (2)</h4>


    <strong>[Map updated.]</strong>


    <i>Nice!</i>


    Kai activated the map and confirmed that the path to the Elven Vige was now marked.


    <i>With this, I¡¯ve got the mermaids and the elves... Now, all that''s left is the City of Dwarves, is it?</i>


    However, Kai''s rxed expression seemed to concern Ayana''s mother, prompting her to say, "Kai, if I may offer some advice... be careful of the forest guards."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "Under normal circumstances, they never reveal the vige to outsiders, especially humans. Even knowing the path, finding it is not easy."


    It was still difficult to reach even if one knew the path? Kai tilted his head, trying to understand her implication.


    <i>What does that mean? Of course, the Elven Forest is known to be vast, but...</i>


    The Elven forest was indeed vast. Very vast. Furthermore, it was home to monsters over level 200, making it a ce even top-ranked yers hesitated to hunt in.


    <i>But that''s only for </i>most<i> rankers.</i>


    Globally, yers ranked up to 10,000 were considered rankers, but not all rankers were the same. It¡¯smon sense that the skill levels of those ranked 9,000 or 5,000 wouldn''t be the same as those ranked 500 or 100.


    <i>Those referred to as the ¡°heavenly ranks¡± have been operating in the Elven Forest recently.</i>


    This was something only someone who constantly checked the rankers'' news and the video section daily could find out.


    <i>But no one has reported seeing an elf yet.</i>


    That was why Kai needed a map leading to the Elven Forest, specifically, the Elven Vige.


    "Knowing the path but unable to reach it, what does that mean?"


    "The elves are called the watchers or guardians of the forest. Do you know why?"


    "I don''t."


    "It''s because they monitor all entities approaching the vige."


    "Do they only monitor?"


    "They usually just monitor. But if you approach the vige, they kill you."


    Kai, still not understanding, asked, "Don¡¯t elves... usually have a peaceful image?"


    "Yes. However, people overlook that their peace is for elves alone."


    At this moment, Kai genuinely wanted to argue that this was exclusionism disguised as peace.


    "...So, in other words, the map is useless. Because approaching the vige means death."


    "Oh, of course, if you approach rashly, they''ll attack. But you don¡¯t necessarily have to approach rashly, do you?"


    "What does that mean... Ah!" looking at her smiling face, Kai eximed. "I have to make them see me as a guest, not an intruder, right?"


    "Exactly. Clearly state your purpose for visiting the forest to the guards. If your sincerity is conveyed, they will willingly reveal the vige."


    "Thank you."


    Kai''s expression was brighter than ever as he thanked her.


    Without her advice, he would have headed to the Elven Vige and been killed without understanding why.


    "Of course. It''s nothingpared to what you¡¯ve done for my family."


    "No, it¡¯s a huge help to me."


    After a few more hours of conversation, they naturally moved to the front door.


    "Kai... C-can''t you stay a bit longer?" Ayana, who hade out to see him off, looked up at him with a sad expression.


    Her tear-filled eyes made Kai''s heart soften.


    <i>N-no, I mustn''t.</i>


    Forcing himself to hold on to his weakening heart, he patted Ayana¡¯s head and said, ¡°I¡¯lle visit often, so study hard.¡±


    Of course, he would visit often. There were few ces as good at making potions as the Smile Clinic.


    Eventually, Ayana burst into tears.


    ¡°<i>Waaaah.</i>¡±


    Kaiforted her for a long time before he could finally bid farewell to her family.


    ¡°Another taskpleted.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t entirely unaffected by the farewell to Ayana, but he couldn¡¯t just settle down there.


    Strengthening his determination, he opened the map to n his next steps.


    <i>First, I need to report the mission¡¯spletion to Tardal in Aquaria, but...</i>


    The problem was that Whitehall¡¯s teleport gate was broken. This meant he would have to travel to a nearby territory and use their gate instead.


    <i>I need to find a carriage.</i>


    In the past, Kai would have walked the distance, but he saw no need for that since he a fat wallet now.


    <i>Moreover, time is more precious to me right now than money.</i>


    He headed straight to the city gate and found the taxis, no, carriages waiting for customers. Of course, there was no need to hesitate about which one to choose.


    <i>Activate Friendly Brother.</i>


    Using the skill, Kai immediately noticed the coachmen who showed interest in him, indicating they were followers of the Church of Sris.


    Among them, Kai approached a carriage pulled by the most agile-looking horse.


    ¡°How much is it to the nearest town?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s 1 gold and 5 silver, but since you seem like a good man, let¡¯s make it 1 gold.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Here you go.¡±


    After paying the coachman and boarding the carriage, Kai deactivated the skill.


    The interior was morefortable than expected.


    As the carriage departed, Kai leisurely checked his status.


    <i>Let¡¯s see, I still have nine days left of the exhaustion and fatigue debuffs. I guess hunting is out of the question for now.</i>


    In fact, he needed rest. In his current state, even fighting level 100 monsters would be challenging.


    <i>I guess I should think of this as a short vacation.</i>


    After the short break awaited an endless race through hell.


    Kai made up his mind, and as a thought suddenly crossed his mind he said, ¡°Oh, right...¡±


    Recalling what he had been doing before he fell into a state of exhaustion, Kai opened his inventory.


    <strong><u>[Iplete Core]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>A core that once served as the essence of Aosa. It will awaken if infused with holy power.</strong>


    <i>I still don¡¯t know what this is, but it¡¯s Unique-grade...</i>


    All the items and materials dropped by Aosa were of Unique-grade.


    <i>And not a single one was trash.</i>


    This fact made Kai¡¯s heart race. Filled with anticipation, Kai ced the core on hisp and drew holy power from his hand.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what this is for.¡±


    As soon as Kai¡¯s fingertips touched the core, a message window appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Iplete Core responds to holy power.]</strong>


    With the message, the core began to ooze a liquid simr to mercury. The liquid quickly enveloped the core.


    <i>No, it¡¯s more solid than mercury... or rather, this looks exactly like Aosa.</i>


    Kai stared in disbelief at the object on hisp. The only difference from Aosa was that the blue color had turned silver, and it was now several dozen times smaller.


    As he watched it, he suddenly jumped.


    ¡°Oh, that scared me!¡±


    It had moved. Like a newborn chick looking around the world with sleepy eyes, the indescribable thing slowly wiggled and moved its body.


    Kai cautiously poked it with his index finger.


    It was squishy! A pleasant sensation spread from his fingertip to his body.


    ¡°What on earth are you...?¡±


    At his question, the system message answered his question.


    <strong>[The Iplete Core has epted the holy power of the Srian Church and is now operational.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have tamed the Iplete Core.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can equip tamed monsters with gear, andter use skill books for summoning and unsummoning.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>...?¡± Kai blinked. ¡°Th-this is a pet?¡±


    It didn¡¯t look like a living creature at all. After all, it had no eyes, ears, or even a nose to breathe with.


    Kai sighed as he watched the creature wriggle away from hisp and up the wall of the carriage.


    ¡°It seems like this is the only dud among the items Aosa left behind.¡±


    An event-themed pet item. That was Kai¡¯s conclusion upon seeing the creature.


    <i>Well, if the game kept handing out big wins all the time, where would the fun be?</i>


    ying with cheat codes got boring quickly!


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>?¡±


    At that moment, the Iplete Core, which had been sticking to the window, wiggled a few times and then took the shape of a rabbit.


    Kai stared nkly at the rabbit, unable to process the situation. It had no eyes, ears, nose, or mouth, but its long ears clearly resembled a rabbit.


    <strong>[Iplete Core used Mimic.]</strong>


    ¡°It used... Mimic?¡±


    The rabbit leaped onto hisp,y down, and fell asleep with a purr.


    Shaking off his dazed expression, Kai quickly opened the pet status window.


    <strong>[<u>Iplete Core</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Raid Boss</strong>


    <strong>The Iplete Core is an artificial lifeform created by the Church of Muldine, but it is nowpletely purified by the holy power of the Srian Church.</strong>


    <strong>The core considers the being who infused it with holy power as its parent. It will follow you blindly and trust you above all others.</strong>


    <strong>Satisfaction: ¡Þ</strong>


    <strong>Loyalty: 100/100</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Beginner Mimic Lv.1</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Crisis Detection (Passive)</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    It had a pathetic skill window with only two skills.


    <i>But one Unique-grade skill is better than dozens of misceneous ones.</i>


    Kai immediately checked the information about the Mimic skill.


    <strong>[<u>Beginner Mimic Lv.1</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Copies the form of other monsters.</strong>


    <strong>The higher the skill level, the more of the stats and skills can be copied from the target.</strong>


    <strong>The skill can fail if the level is insufficient.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 12 hours.</strong>


    <strong>(Not usable against neutral NPCs.)</strong>


    "N-no way..."


    Kai''s pupils began to shake as if an earthquake had struck them. The tremor started mildly, but escted from a minor tremor to a moderate, and then a major one. His eyelids trembled as if they had motors attached to them!


    That was the magnitude of how shocked he was.


    <i>Depending on how I use this...</i>


    Its potential was limitless.


    Realizing this, Kai''s mind started racing.


    <i>Mimic has a 12-hour cooldown, but there''s no limit on the duration.</i>


    In other words, once it started mimicking someone, it maintained that form until it mimicked another or the skill was canceled!


    <i>Of course, the skill level could be an issue.</i>


    The description mentioned it could fail depending on the skill level. In other words, with a low skill level, it couldn¡¯t mimic high-level monsters.


    <i>But I can solve that problem.</i>


    In online games, power-leveling referred to a high-level yer leveling up a low-level yer. Of course, in <i>MID Online</i>, power-leveling other yers was highly inefficient.


    <i>Because without contribution, the gained XP is negligible.</i>


    But that was different with pets, as pets shared XP with their owners!


    <i>That''s the case with Blizzard, too.</i>


    If he summoned Blizzard and hunted monsters, Blizzard would take 10% of the gained XP.


    Using that system, he could quickly level up the Iplete Core.


    <i>And since it''s level 1 right now...</i>


    If he decided to hunt seriously, its level would exponentially increase!


    "<i>Hehehe</i>."


    Kai looked at the core with loving eyes.


    <i>Thought it was a dud, but it''s a massive jackpot!</i>


    The fact that only he could obtain it in <i>MID Online</i> was also appealing.


    ¡°After all, the real fun in gameses from hitting the jackpot. What''s the point if you only get duds?¡±


    His attitude flipped as easily as turning his hand!


    "From now on, your name is Molkang[1]."


    Kai wore a greatly satisfied expression, clearly pleased with his incredible naming sense.


    1. Molkang ?? or ???? is an onomatopoeia for something soft, squishy, jelly-like ?

 Chapter 124: Poison Master (1)

    <h4>Chapter 124: Poison Master (1)</h4>


    Sometimes, sincerity wasn¡¯t conveyed, and the other person may not appreciate it. That''s how things went at times.


    And Kai suddenly realized this truth again.


    <strong>[Iplete Core is not happy with its new name, Molkang.]</strong>


    <strong>[Iplete Core¡¯s loyalty has dropped.]</strong>


    <strong>[Failed to name Iplete Core as Molkang.]</strong>


    "... <i>Ugh</i>."


    That was truly unfortunate.


    The Iplete Core, which had been sleeping on hisp, slightly lifted its head.<i> </i>Then, it jumped to the opposite seat and tried to sleep there again!


    At that point, Kai got the hint.


    <i>Seems like it doesn''t like the name.</i>


    He never imagined he, who was known to have excellent naming skills, would be rejected!


    Stayingpletely silent, Kai began seriously considering a name for it.


    <i>It certainly looks like a slime, and its most notable skill is mimicry.</i>


    After opening an inte window and searching for various names, Kai pped his hands.


    "Mimic? This sounds good."


    Mimic was a creature that became famous in a certain game by mimicking treasure chests and tricking adventurers, and originally, the word mimic referred to an imitator!


    Kai cautiously extended his hand to the Iplete Core.


    "Mimic. How about this name?"


    The creature silently lifted its head slightly to look at Kai''s face and then lowered its body.


    <i>Dang it, seems like this one is no good either.</i>


    Just as Kai made a disappointed face, it lowered its body as if to gain momentum and then jumped back onto Kai''sp. Settling there, it began to sleep again.


    <strong>[Iplete Core''s name has been changed to Mimic.]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic''s loyalty has increased.]</strong>


    Following Blizzard, Mimic became Kai''s second pet.


    ***


    Stretching like an old man at a mineral spring, Kai let out a groan.


    After sitting in the carriage for a long time, all the bones and muscles in his body had stiffened but they seemed to rejoice now as he stretched.


    ¡°Oh, that feels good.¡±


    With a refreshed expression, Kai inhaled the salty sea breeze and walked forward.


    Reporting thepletion of his mission to Tardal was his top priority now, so after traveling to the vige by carriage, he used the teleport gate to return to Aquaria.


    With a faint smile, Tardal rose from his seat and greeted Kai warmly, ¡°You''ve returned.¡±


    Kai, slightly surprised by his unfamiliar behavior, nodded and replied, ¡°...Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Come sit. There are many things I need to discuss with you.¡±


    Kai rxed his expression as he sat down as instructed.


    <i>This is a first.</i>


    It was the first time Tardal had stood up to greet him when he visited. This meant that defeating Aosa had significantly raised his value!


    He reported confidently, ¡°I have defeated the Blue gue, Aosa, as you requested.¡±


    ¡°Word travels fast. I¡¯ve been hearing about it from various ces. You¡¯ve be quite famous.¡± Tardal, who scanned Kai with a new gaze, continued, ¡°Did you really defeat Aosa alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I guess that would certainly attract his attention,¡± Tardal muttered to himself and nodded. ¡°I acknowledge thepletion of your mission.¡±


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    Kai checked the slight increase in his level and then turned his attention back to Tardal. ¡°But you mentioned earlier that you had many things to discuss?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you may not know, but your name has been mentioned frequentlytely.¡±


    ¡°My name?¡± Kai asked with a puzzled expression.


    <i>Where would he hear my name from? It¡¯s not the yers, for sure.</i>


    Currently, the yers only knew about Unknown, not Kai. In short, if his name was being mentioned, it had to be by NPCs.


    Kai¡¯s assumption was correct.


    ¡°You¡¯re being appointed.¡±


    ¡°...Appointed?¡±


    ¡°Darkness Hunters have the authority to request assistance from those who can help with their missions.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you mean, other Darkness Hunters are requesting me.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. The Darkness Hunters who worked with you during the ck Lizardman mission seemed to have spread quite a good word about you. Since then, requests for you have beening in steadily, but after the news of you defeating Aosa spread, the number of requests has exploded.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± With a faint smile, Tardal handed him a thick stack of documents. ¡°Read through these and choose the mission you want to undertake.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying I have the authority to choose my mission?¡±


    ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time being specifically requested for a mission, I¡¯m giving you the choice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After thanking Tardal for his considerate gesture, he quickly began to review the documents. However, it didn¡¯t take long for his expression to darken.


    <i>Damn, most of these missions involve hunting named monsters corrupted by the Essence of Darkness or tracking the remnants of the Church of Muldine.</i>


    Unfortunately, Kai was currently in no condition to undertake any of these missions.


    <i>I still have eight and a half days left with the debuffs.</i>


    As Kai flipped through the documents with a grim expression, Tardal noticed and tilted his head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look pleased. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°<i>Um</i>... Actually, I¡¯m not in the best condition right now. I sustained some injuries during the battle with Aosa. I¡¯ll need about nine days to recover before I can engage inbat.¡±


    ¡°I see. Then we¡¯ll have to disregard most of these requests.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes.¡±


    ¡°In that case...¡± Tardal, who pondered for a moment, gestured, ¡°Ignore the contents of those documents. They¡¯re all aboutbat anyway.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    As Kai pushed the documents aside with a regretful expression, Tardal tapped on the desk and asked, ¡°I heard that you treated many patients with early signs of poisoning in Whitehall.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I treated them until Aosa appeared.¡±


    ¡°Then, do you have some knowledge about poisons?¡±


    ¡°Poisons? Quite a bit, yes.¡±


    Recently, at the clinic, he went through all the books Ayana''s parents had written. Thanks to that, his knowledge about poisons and herbs had greatly increased!


    <i>I caught Aosa and even learned the Poison Master skill.</i>


    Tardal¡¯s face brightened at Kai¡¯s confident attitude.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s fortunate.¡± Tardal pulled out a document, wrote something on it, and handed it to Kai. ¡°Actually, an old friend of mine has been asking for help for weeks, but everyone seems too busy to ept. It¡¯s not abat mission, and the reward is quite generous, so it should be perfect for you right now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. Oh, the destination is the Crimson Tower? Is that where your friend is?¡± Kai asked while checking the document.


    He became curious about this Wizard friend who was the friend of the Sage of Water and former chancellor, but Tardal never gave easy answers.


    He just raised one corner of his mouth with an amused expression, saying, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you get there.¡±


    ***


    There were a few types of magic towers in <i>MID Online</i>. The Crimson Tower specialized in offensive magic that swept away enemies. The Azure Tower researched defensive magic that protected allies and oneself. The Ivory Tower studied support magic beneficial to everyone. Lastly, the Ebony Tower was called the sanctuary of Necromancers and Dark Wizards.


    These four magic towers were the ones that represented MID Online. Of course, this was the only knowledge the non-Wizard yers had.


    <i>Only Wizard-ss yers know the names of the tower lords by heart.</i>


    Nevertheless, there was one tower lord whose name most yers remembered.


    <i>The Crimson Tower Lord, Parsanax.</i>


    yers referred to him as a walking natural disaster! The reason for his nickname was easily found on the inte.


    ¡°Because he felt hot, he cast a blizzard, causing nearby adventurers to get frostbite... When the kingdom issued an order to exterminate bandits, he found it bothersome and just erased the mountain?¡±


    He was a named oddball among oddballs in <i>MID Online</i>, iprehensible bymon sense!


    Kai deeply ingrained the advice he found on the inte.


    <i>Hmm. If Parsanax is nearby, the best course is to run away without looking back.</i>


    Kai treasured his life above anything else, but sadly, he was currently near Parsanax and couldn¡¯t run away.


    ¡°You look so weak... Did Tardal really rmend you?¡±


    Because Tardal¡¯s old friend was Parsanax!


    Swallowing hard, Kai tried to think positively.


    <i>R-right. I visited the Crimson Tower as a member of the Darkness Hunters, and I have Tardal¡¯s rmendation letter.</i>


    No matter how much of a walking natural disaster he was, he wouldn¡¯t treat him recklessly.


    Kai firmly believed in themon sense that existed between people.


    ¡°So... what should I do?¡±


    ¡°The rmendation letter says you have deep knowledge of poisons, to the point of being proud.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking it over on my way here, and I believe that was my arrogance.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Parsanax red fiercely; his angr jaw clenched tight.


    He had a solid physique that felt more like a mercenary who had spent a lifetime on the battlefield rather than a schr Wizard!


    ¡°Always remember. Words once spoken cannot be taken back.¡±


    ¡°Uh... like spilled water, right?¡±


    ¡°What an amusing thing to say. Spilled water can be collected anytime.¡±


    At this moment, Kai¡¯s belief slightly wavered. He felt thatmon sense wouldn¡¯t work with Parsanax!


    ¡°Anyway, remember this, there¡¯s nothing I hate more in this world than liars.¡± With a stern warning, Parsanax¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned back to the rmendation letter. ¡°<i>Hmm</i>? The document says you were the one who dealt with Aosa. Is this true?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, it is...¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>. Interesting.¡± Parsanax asked with a very intrigued expression, ¡°Did I mention, the reason I¡¯m starting to research poisons is also because of Aosa.¡±


    ¡°Because of Aosa?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The Church of Muldine has a past of creating Aosa, and there¡¯s no reason they can¡¯t do it again. They might even create a more advanced being next time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly true. So, starting research on poisons is all for future preparation...?¡±


    ¡°Correct. Because a Wizard is someone who prepares.¡±


    Parsanax wore a very proud expression, and Kai genuinely admired him at that moment.


    <i>He might have a strange personality, but his preparation for the future is top-notch. Something to learn from.</i>


    If there was something to learn, he learned it. That was one of the aspects Kai was most confident in, having learned everything through effort so far.


    ¡°Feeling threatened by the Church of Muldine¡¯s poison, I collected rare poisons from all over the continent. That part went smoothly. However...¡±


    Parsanax¡¯s expression became fierce.


    ¡°When the collection wasplete, there were over hundreds of types of poisons. By then, it was impossible to distinguish them. I summoned local herbalists to identify them, but they couldn¡¯t distinguish all the types.¡±


    Groaning, Parsanax grumbled, ¡°I¡¯d like to experiment directly on bandits to learn about the effects of the poisons, but... His Majesty absolutely refuses to allow it.¡±


    Of course, the king wouldn¡¯t allow it. What kind of monarch would permit a magic tower lord to conduct human experiments? Especially a king with a strict personality like King Beoruk; he would never allow something like that.


    ¡°I see. So, what exactly is my task...?¡±


    ¡°No need for long exnations. Just categorize all these poisons. I¡¯d like you to organize them by their effects.¡±


    ¡°Th-that¡¯s nonsense...¡±


    Even at a nce, there were hundreds of types of poisons. How could he possibly distinguish all of them?


    As Kai broke into a cold sweat, Parsanax¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Are you saying it¡¯s impossible? Then, all that talk about your deep knowledge of poisons must be lies as well.¡±


    Electric currents crackled around Parsanax, and fireballs floated around him.


    Despite Kai¡¯s high magic resistance, levels were most important in the game!


    <i>If it¡¯s an attack from an NPC as strong as a tower lord... it would be pretty bad. I could even die.</i>


    Ultimately yielding to his threat, Kai forced a smile and tried to calm him. ¡°O-of course, it¡¯s possible. I can do it. Trust me...¡±


    ¡°Then start categorizing. Right in front of my eyes, now.¡±


    Parsanax stared at Kai with his eyes wide open as if to monitor him.


    Swallowing hard, Kai bit his lower lip and picked up a vial.


    ¡°So, <i>um</i>... This poison here...¡±


    His voicecked even the slightest bit of confidence!


    However, as Kai stared intently at the vial, an unexpected message appeared before his eyes.


    <strong>[Poison Master skill activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Analyzing...]</strong>


    <strong>[Poison analysisplete.]</strong>


    ¡°... <i>Huh</i>?¡± Kai blinked with a dumbfounded expression.

 Chapter 125: Poison Master (2)

    <h4>Chapter 125: Poison Master (2)</h4>


    <strong>[<u>Poison of a Red Acatus Root</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>A strong poison found on the banks of the Romba River.</strong>


    <strong>Even a single drop causes all mana in the body to reflux, leading to vomiting and dizziness.</strong>


    <i>... What is this?</i>


    Kai was surprised at the sudden activation of the Poison Master skill.


    Poison Master was one of the Unique-grade skills he acquired as a reward for defeating Aosa.


    <strong>[<u>Poison Master</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Gain extensive knowledge about poison.</strong>


    <strong>Immunity to poison significantly increases.</strong>


    When Kai first read the description of Poison Master, he focused on the part about increasing immunity. He thought the main ability of the skill was the increase in poison resistance.


    <i>But that wasn¡¯t it.</i>


    Gaining extensive knowledge about poisons was the true ability of the Poison Master skill.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it allowed him to instantly identify even unknown types of poisons like this!


    ¡°What are you doing? Do you actually not know much about poisons?¡± Parsanax¡¯s voice and eyes grew sharper.


    Deadly spells gradually approached Kai.


    However, with the effect of Poison Master, Kai said in a rxed voice, ¡°It¡¯s from the Romba River.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°This poison was collected there. Poison of a Red Acatus Root is the name of the poison in this vial.¡±


    Parsanax, doubtful at Kai¡¯s confident tone, rummaged through the pile of documents on the desk. After a moment, he gave a small nod.


    ¡°... Poison of a Red Acatus Root. It is indeed on the purchase list.¡±


    ¡°Normally, you shouldn¡¯t manage it so carelessly. It¡¯s an extremely lethal poison where even a single drop ingested causes all the mana in the body to reflux.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>, all the mana in the body?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The most ideal storage method is...¡±


    Knowledge about poisons, known only to someone who had studied them lifelong, flowed from Kai¡¯s mouth.


    With that, Parsanax dropped his doubts in pure amazement.


    ¡°Impressive. You truly have extensive knowledge about poisons. Even better than most herbalists.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hehe</i>, I¡¯ve known everything about poisons since I was young.¡±


    Kai¡¯s chest puffed out with pride!


    Parsanax furrowed his eyebrows at the sight, but couldn¡¯t criticize Kai, who had proven his ability.


    Eventually, Parsanax shook his head as he handed over a new vial to continue with the analysis.


    ¡°... Then analyze this poison next.¡±


    Each poison Kai picked up was immediately analyzed, and information appeared.


    <i>Hehe. I see it!</i>


    All Kai had to do was pretend to struggle and furrow his brows a few times!


    Then, as Kai was analyzing the fifth vial of poison, a message appeared.


    <strong>[You have sessfully appraised a rare item.]</strong>


    <strong>[You feel your discernment slightly improving.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your Appraisal skill has increased to Intermediate Lv. 1.]</strong>


    There was a sudden level increase in the appraisal skill!


    When Kai suddenly showed a dazed expression, Parsanax tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°N-nothing...¡±


    Kai, who barely managed to stammer a reply, began to think quickly.


    <i>Analyzing poisons increases the Appraisal skill level?</i>


    Kai looked down at the poison vial in his hand.


    Well, it wasn¡¯t strange. Even if he was borrowing the effect of the Poison Master skill, he was still identifying unknown poisons. In other words, it was an item appraisal.


    <i>And the Appraisal skill level increases better with Magic items than with Normal ones, and with Rare items than with Magic ones.</i>


    In that case, if these hundreds of poisons Parsanax had diligently collected from across the continent were to be appraised?


    Kai¡¯s eyes began to fill with anticipation.


    <i>The ones I¡¯ve appraised so far were at least of Magic-grade.</i>


    There were still hundreds of such poisons left.


    If he had tried to appraise such items outside, he would have had to hunt for at least one to two years or spend a fortune to sweep the auction house!


    <i>But I can appraise them for free, no, even get rewarded for it?</i>


    It was truly a win-win situation!


    <i>If I¡¯m lucky, I might even level up my Appraisal skill to the advanced level.</i>


    Thinking this far, Kai couldn¡¯t help but think of an item in his inventory.


    <i>Holy Ring, Petra.</i>


    It was a sacred item used by the previous Sric Cleric that had been kept in the merfolk vige! It required an advanced Appraisal skill, so he hadn¡¯t been able to check its information until now.


    <i>If I¡¯m lucky, with this opportunity...</i>


    People always worked more efficiently when they had a clear goal!


    Parsanax, seeing Kai suddenly engrossed in his work, tilted his head. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today.¡±


    ¡°Alright...¡±


    ¡°You can go now. You remember the location of the room given to you, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll see you again tomorrow morning.¡±


    After leaving the room, Kai tightly closed his tired eyes and massaged around his eyelids with his hands. It was inevitable since he sat in one ce for twelve hours, sorting small poison vials.


    However, despite his tired-looking face, his eyes were shining brighter than ever.


    <i>I appraised two hundred poisons in just one day.</i>


    Thanks to this, Kai¡¯s Appraisal skill was now at Intermediate Lv. 3! His skill had leveled up as rapidly as bean sprouts grew!


    This remarkable achievement was possible because there were several Unique-grade poison vials among them.


    <i>And with the Appraisal skill level up, more detailed observations are possible now too.</i>


    For example:


    <strong>[<u>Shriveled Arectu Root</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Induces a very strong sleep state when ingested.</strong>


    <strong>*If the root is finely ground and mixed with holy water in a 9:1 ratio, it can be used as a hypnotic.</strong>


    <strong>Rarity: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï</strong>


    <strong>Toxicity: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î</strong>


    It now disyed the rarity and toxicity levels of the poison.


    <i>I tried appraising other items just in case, but this only appears when observing poisons.</i>


    In other words, this detailed observation was also a part of the Poison Master skill¡¯s ability. As the Appraisal skill level increased, it further drew out the main abilities of the skill.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>.¡±


    Entering the small room Parsanax had given him, Kaiy down on the bed and closed his eyes.


    <i>There are still hundreds of poisons left to appraise. At this pace...</i>


    Reaching the advanced level of the Appraisal skill was not a dream, and his expectations weren¡¯t entirely wrong.


    ***


    The next few days passed in a sh. During that time, Kai analyzed exactly eight-hundred seventy-four poisons, and that was also the total number of poisons Parsanax possessed.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    In other words, Parsanax¡¯s request waspletely finished.


    Parsanax seemed pleased that the categorization of the poisons was neatlypleted.


    <i>Hmm.</i>


    On the other hand, Kai¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t as bright as expected.


    Over the past few days, his Appraisal skill level had steadily increased. However, after reaching the threshold of Intermediate Lv. 9, the skill¡¯s progression had slowed significantly. And now, with the appraisals now finished, how could he not feel disappointed?


    <i>Just a bit more, and I could have appraised the Holy Ring...</i>


    Parsanax, seeing Kai feeling disheartened, said, ¡°Thank you for sessfully categorizing the poisons. Now, it¡¯s time to discuss your reward.¡±


    ¡°... Oh, reward?¡±


    Kai, who had been worrying about how to raise his Appraisal skill to the advanced level, reacted instantly at the mention of a reward.


    <i>Come to think of it, Tardal said the reward for this task was generous.</i>


    Now that everything was over, he could understand why. Firstly, the amount of work was draining. Analyzing eight-hundred seventy-four poisons one by one required not only persistence but also specialized knowledge.


    <i>In short, it wasn¡¯t a task just anyone could do. And above all, it was a personal request from the Crimson Tower Lord Parsanax.</i>


    The reward for the request was directly tied to his honor, so he wouldn¡¯t offer a low-value reward.


    In fact, Parsanax¡¯s words made Kai doubt his own ears.


    ¡°Is there anything in particr you want? Money or a Magic item. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±


    ¡°... Can I really ask for anything I want?¡±


    Kai¡¯s eyes began to shine brightly like someone at a high-end buffet, unsure of where to start!


    <i>I need to choose a Magic item no matter what.</i>


    Even if he had money, Magic items crafted by the magic tower were so rare that they couldn¡¯t be bought.


    As Kai pondered what to ask for, he noticed the ring on his finger.


    <i>Oh, right.</i>


    The Depraved Knight¡¯s Ring was obtained after defeating Lynel. It was a Unique-grade ring imbued with a knighthood skill that evolved all his Skeleton Knights to Duhans.


    <i>But I¡¯ve never been able to use it because I couldn¡¯t find a way to gather skeleton knights.</i>


    If Parsanax could solve this issue for him it would dramatically increase hisbat power.


    Kai, with a face full of expectation, asked, ¡°Do you have an item that can summon skeleton knights by any chance?¡±


    ¡°... Summon skeleton knights? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>, it¡¯ll be faster if I show you.¡± Kai took out the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain from his inventory and showed it to him. ¡°This staff has the ability to summon gnoll skeletons.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. Judging by the engraved sigils on the staff, it seems so. So, you want equipment simr to this?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I assumed it would be possible if it were you.¡±


    Kai''s subtle remark made Parsanax furrowed his brows.


    ¡°Arrogant little... Nothing is impossible for me.¡±


    At any time, asking if something was possible scratched a person''s pride! As Parsanax was the lord of the magic tower, his pride was even higher than others.


    <i>This guypleted the analysis of the poisons I requested, yet I can¡¯t provide the reward he wants?</i>


    He could be aughingstock in the world.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>.¡± Parsanax, who had closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, stood up. ¡°Get up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    As Kai stood up with a bright expression, Parsanax unexpectedly grabbed his shoulder.


    ¡°Teleport.¡±


    Their view changed simultaneously, but the ce they arrived at was far from what Kai had expected.


    <i>This isn¡¯t the treasure vault of the magic tower.</i>


    It was an ordinary office, much like Parsanax''s room. The only difference was a woman sitting in a chair with a bewildered expression.


    <i>A woman?</i>


    She had long, wavy ck hair that reached almost to her hips. But in contrast to her dark hair, her pale skin made her look frail.


    The woman asked, ¡°Why have youe?¡±


    She spoke to the Parsanax, the Lord of the Crimson Tower, without hesitation!


    Kai was shocked, but Parsanax replied with an indifferent expression, ¡°Do you remember the favor you owe me?¡±


    ¡°...Are you talking about seven years ago on the Dead ins?¡±


    ¡°So you do remember. That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°I thought you might''ve forgotten about it.¡±


    ¡°I might forget what I owe, but I never forget what I¡¯m owed.¡±


    ¡°Wicked old man.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Parsanax lightly dismissed her gloomy voice and extended his thick hand to pull Kai forward. ¡°This kid wants equipment to summon skeleton knights. Do you have anything?¡±


    ¡°... Who?¡±


    ¡°Tardal¡¯s subordinate. A poison expert.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± The woman, who had briefly expressed her impression of Kai, furrowed her brows. ¡°An item to summon skeleton knights... I don¡¯t have anything like that.¡±


    ¡°<i>Tsk</i>.¡±


    When Parsanax clicked his tongue and red at her, she defended herself with an aggrieved expression.


    ¡°I-I have a skill book though!¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t that only usable by Dark Wizards or Necromancers?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you tell by his attire? He needs skeleton knights that a Cleric canmand.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm.</i>¡± Her already pale face turned even whiter.


    As Parsanax watched her suffer for a moment, Kai cautiously asked, ¡°<i>Um</i>... Lord Parsanax. Sorry, but who is she?¡±


    What he really wanted to ask was, ''Who is this woman that she can speak so informally to you and get away with it?'' but he didn''t dare to do so.


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>? You don¡¯t know? You recognized me instantly the first time you saw me.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because...¡±


    Knowing the face of a walking natural disaster beforehand was essential for escaping when one encountered them. That was why most adventurers knew Parsanax¡¯s face.


    Of course, Kai wasn¡¯t foolish enough to say that out loud. ¡°You are quite famous, after all.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>, I am quite famous, unlike this snotty brat of the Ebony Tower.¡±


    <i>Snotty brat of the Ebony Tower?</i>


    Kai repeated the words a few times for a moment before asking with a hesitant heart, ¡°Is she...?¡±


    ¡°You probably guessed right.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Korona, master of the Ebony Tower?¡±


    ¡°Yeup.¡± Parsanax, nodding briefly, added, ¡°You wanted skeleton knights, right? Then it¡¯s best to leave it to an expert.¡±


    ¡°But it seems even Master Korona doesn¡¯t have a solution...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Wizards, when pressed, alwayse up with results.¡±


    It was a painfully unfortunate reality, but ultimately, his words were true.

 Chapter 126: Collision (1)

    <h4>Chapter 126: Collision (1)</h4>


    ¡°There are three methods,¡± Korona said as she held up three delicate fingers. ¡°The most rmended is engraving a Dark tattoo.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>.¡±


    That was one of the unique techniques the Ebony Tower boasted. It was a technique where a magical ritual was engraved on the body, activated at will. Aside from the high cost due to needing a Wizard to perform it, there were no drawbacks.


    <i>But on themunity... it says that Clerics who get tattoos lose Fame and Holy Power.</i>


    As expected, the response came immediately.


    <strong>[Helik frowns upon apostles drawing on their flesh.]</strong>


    <strong>[It is Sris doctrine that one¡¯s body and mind must be kept pure.]</strong>


    <strong>[Engraving a ck tattoo will cause your Game and Holy Power to drop tremendously.]</strong>


    <i>Oh, I see.</i>


    Like an obedientmb, Kai shook his head. ¡°Getting a Dark tattoo would be troublesome. It goes against my doctrine.¡±


    ¡°Then go with the second option. Change your ss to a Necromancer or Dark Wizard.¡±


    This time, the message window was unexpectedly quiet. However, it wasn¡¯t because Helik allowed him to change his ss.


    <i>He¡¯s quick-witted in his own way.</i>


    Helik didn¡¯t give a warning because he was sure Kai wouldn¡¯t change his ss! In fact, Kai had no intention of changing his ss, even if offered a hidden one.


    ¡°That¡¯s also a bit...¡±


    As Kai expressed his refusal again, Korona murmured with a sad expression, ¡°Thest method is something I really don¡¯t rmend... Do you still want to hear it?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°... Third, I make you a custom Magic item.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with the third option!¡± Kai shouted without a moment¡¯s hesitation!


    Korona looked at him with a preposterous expression.


    <i>Why did she only mention the best optionst... Oh, could it be?</i>


    Kai stared intently at Korona and then shook his head.


    <i>No way.</i>


    It couldn¡¯t be that someone of her stature was reluctant to make a Magic item because she found it bothersome.


    However, Korona, who was overtly disying signs of annoyance and fatigue, said, ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s so bothersome...¡±


    What a terrible person! Kai had now met only two tower lords, and neither of them seemed normal.


    <i>Seriously, the future of the magic world is...</i>


    As Kai earnestly worried about the future of Wizard yers, Korona asked, ¡°Is summoning skeleton knights your only requirement?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that alone would be...¡±


    Before Kai could finish his sentence, Parsanax, who had been quietly listening, clicked his tongue and interrupted.


    ¡°<i>Tsk, tsk</i>.¡±<strong> </strong>He immediately furrowed his brows and red at Kai. ¡°You, it seems you don¡¯t understand the situation, so I¡¯ll kindly exin.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why that brat of the Ebony Tower is so intimidated by me right now?¡±


    ¡°Well... you are the lord of the Crimson Tower and quite older, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>, do you think thatzy brat looks like someone who respects elders?¡± Parsanax continued with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Seven years ago, that brat nearly died. At that time, she barely survived thanks to my help.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what you were talking about when you mentioned the Death ins earlier?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I saved that brat and received a mana oath in return.¡±


    Kai''s eyes widened. ¡°A mana oath?!¡±


    A mana oath was a contract method used by NPC Wizards to establish an absolute trust rtionship.


    <i>A terrifying contract where if you break the promise, the mana in your body evaporates!</i>


    It was far more frightening than any real-world guarantee or private loan.


    ¡°The terms of the contract are simple. Fulfill my favor once.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, you really are a slow one. You only understand now?¡±


    ¡°You mean the reward you¡¯re giving me is that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Honestly, it''s a waste... but without that brat¡¯s cooperation, I can¡¯t give you what you want.¡±


    ¡°Lord Parsanax...¡±


    Kai looked slightly surprised.


    <i>I thought he was just a hot-tempered old man... but this is a new side!</i>


    Some would call him an entric who lived and died by his pride, but his determination to keep his word was definitely worthy of respect.


    <i>I never would have thought he would offer this incredible opportunity just to keep a promise with me.</i>


    Parsanax, perhaps annoyed by Kai¡¯s admiring gaze, said, ¡°Your gaze is creeping me out. If you understand the situation now, renegotiate with the brat again from the beginning.¡±


    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±


    Kai disyed a determined expression, as if going to battle.


    Korona looked at Kai with eyes full of sorrow. ¡°... I¡¯m done for now.¡±


    ***


    ¡°What? It takes two months toplete the item?¡±


    ¡°... Why don¡¯t you think about how unreasonable your request is before you speak?¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>,¡± Kai scratched his head with an embarrassed expression. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t know much about magic... Don¡¯t you just need to put a magic sigil on when making the item or something?¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh, uggghhh</i>...¡±


    The moment Korona grabbed the back of her neck and fainted on the spot, Parsanax smirked and said, ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything, do you. It¡¯ll take only two months because she¡¯s that good.¡±


    ¡°Making Magic items is that difficult?¡±


    ¡°Of course. If the sigils of the skills you¡¯re imbuing in the item sh, you have to repeat the same process hundreds of times to find a solution.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah</i>, I think I get it now.¡±


    Thinking of a programmer fixing bugs made it easier to understand.


    <i>So, that means the timeframe can¡¯t be shortened... but two months might be cutting it close.</i>


    The invasion event that Kang Min-Gu, the branch manager, had hinted about was right around the corner now. With the event starting in about twenty days in reality, the two months in the game would roughly line up.


    <i>Well, it¡¯s good if it works out, and if not, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.</i>


    He did what he could. All that remained was to offer a prayer and hope that Korona would diligently create a great item!


    ¡°You did well. I have a lecture, so I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    Leaving Korona, who was still fainted, behind, Parsanax immediately teleported away. His departure was as abrupt as his personality!


    <i>Then I should get going too.</i>


    Also looking at the unconscious Korona, Kai left the Ebony Tower. Naturally, he headed to Tardal¡¯s mansion.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>?¡± When Kai returned earlier than expected, Tardal looked surprised. ¡°You didn¡¯t get kicked out by Parsanax, did you?¡±


    ¡°No. I sessfullypleted the task you entrusted to me.¡±


    When Kai exined in detail what had happened with Parsanax, Tardal burst intoughter.


    ¡°<i>Hahaha</i>. That fellow, he thought he could squeeze something out of Korona, but it looks like he failed.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I was surprised. I didn¡¯t expect him to offer such a tremendous opportunity as a reward.¡±


    ¡°Wizards generally have high pride, and Parsanax has always had an especially high pride. His fiery temper is a drawback, but he takes great care of his people and has never broken a promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve surelye to respect him for that.¡±


    Tardal smiled warmly. ¡°There''s a reason why so many follow someone with such a difficult personality. He may not be the best when dealing with people, but he¡¯s not a bad friend, so don¡¯t hold too much against him.¡±


    After their brief conversation, Tardal, as usual, grabbed his stack of documents.


    ¡°Seeing that you¡¯vee back promptly, are you eager to take on a new task?¡±


    ¡°Oh, about that. Actually, I have something urgent I need to tell you.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>?¡± Reading the serious expression on Kai¡¯s face, Tardal set down his documents and nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to take on any missions for the Darkness Hunters for a while.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Is something wrong? Is it that the injuries from your battle with Aosa are more severe than expected, or...¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. The aftereffects will heal soon. But... I n to visit the Elven Forest afterward.¡±


    The Elven Forest was the name that came from Kai¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°The Elven Forest?¡± Tardal smiled. ¡°So you are like other adventurers. Did you want to find the Elven Vige?¡±


    Naturally, such a reaction was expected, as a typical adventurer wouldn¡¯t know the location of the Elven vige.


    ¡°No. I know the location of the Elven vige.¡±


    Tardal¡¯s smile slowly faded. ¡°... An adventurer knows the location of an Elven vige? That¡¯s hard to believe.¡±


    ¡°The owner of the clinic I stayed at in Whitehall was an elf.¡±


    ¡°Elves generally dislike humans who destroy nature. They especially wouldn¡¯t have revealed the vige¡¯s location to an adventurer... What¡¯s the story?¡±


    <i>As expected of Tardal, he hits the nail on the head.</i>


    However, there was one thing he overlooked, and that was that Kai was not a typical adventurer.


    ¡°As you said, if I were an ordinary adventurer, they wouldn¡¯t have told me. But to the elves, I am someone they can trust more than anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°If you, known as the Sage of Water, haven¡¯t already noticed, it should be clear soon.¡±


    As Kai smiled, Tardal lightly tapped his desk.


    ¡°... I did think it was strange. Ever since you brought the scale of Hakhas.¡±


    Hakhas was a prince of the Naga n, residing in the deep sea where even most adventurers and NPCs couldn¡¯t venture, so when Kai brought back his scales, Tardal had been truly astonished.


    ¡°A Cleric who hunted the enemy of the merfolk, a prince of the Naga n, defeated Aosa alone, and was recognized as a friend by an elf, even told their vige¡¯s location.¡± Tardal scanned Kai with sharp eyes. ¡°With my limited knowledge, there¡¯s only one exnation thates to mind.¡±


    ¡°May I ask what that is?¡±


    ¡°When you joined the Darkness Hunters, do you remember the detailed exnation I gave you about the Church of Muldine?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    At that time, he had heard about the Church of Muldine for the first time and realized that they were the main focus of the main quest.


    ¡°This time, I need to give you a brief exnation about the Church of Sris. The history of the Srian Church can be divided into three eras.¡± Tardal raised three fingers and slowly folded them down one by one as he said, ¡°Guardianship, Rest, and Radiance.¡±


    Kai had heard about Radiance before.


    <i>It must be referring to Patrick.</i>


    Patrick, the third apostle, was known as the greatest and most powerful Pdin in the history of the Srian Church.


    And now, from Tardal''s mouth, came information about the first and second apostles.


    ¡°Shimizu of Guardianship, Cherantia of Rest, and Patrick of Radiance.¡±


    <i>As expected.</i>


    Kai nodded with a calm expression.


    Tardal, who had been watching him closely, lowered his hand and asked, ¡°And now, it seems an adventurer iming to be the fourth apostle is sitting in front of me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a im.¡±


    ¡°Can you prove it?¡±


    Without a word, Kai opened his inventory. Soon, a brilliant ring with a detailed sun engraving appeared in his hand.


    Tardal was momentarily speechless at the divine aura emanating from the Holy Ring Petra.


    After a moment, he regained hisposure, and spoke with a determined expression.

 Chapter 127: Collision (2)

    <h4>Chapter 127: Collision (2)</h4>


    "Did you know that the elves, merfolk, and dwarves were once part of the World Alliance?" Tardal asked.


    "Yes. By chance, I conversed with a fragment of Patrick''s lingering thoughts, so I know about it."


    "<i>Huh</i>, to speak directly with the legendary Radiance... I must admit, I''m envious." Tardal showed a genuinely envious expression and shook his head. "But now isn¡¯t the time for such talk. If you really are a Sris Cleric, I have a favor to ask of you."


    "A favor?" Kai asked for rification.


    He needed to know if it was a mission or request, something that was essentially amand or if it was something he could refuse based on his judgment.


    Tardal nodded and slowly began to say, "This is a heartfelt request, so hear me out before you respond. The Church of Muldine was driven into history by the World Alliance, and afterward, the World Alliance naturally split. The human army, which was briefly united, divided into three kingdoms and two empires. The elves retreated to the forests, the merfolk to the deep sea, and the dwarves to the underground. Hundreds of years have passed since then."


    Tardal suddenly continued with a sad expression, "Humans are greedy creatures. Moreover, hundreds of years is an incredibly long time for humans."


    He talked about the fear of humans forgetting the past.


    "There were humans who tried to enve the beautiful elves and merfolk, and those who wanted to steal the dwarves'' knowledge and craftsmanship."


    And about how humans themselves ended their interactions with other races.


    "Now, the other races do not trust us humans. In fact, they may not have trusted us even a thousand years ago when the World Alliance was formed. The only one they believed in was the Apostle of the Srian God, Helik. Their bond with the Apostle was that strong."


    "I see... That might be the case."


    It made sense, considering they entrusted the sacred relics to them rather than to humans.


    Then, Kai realized what Tardal wanted from him and why he wasn¡¯t directly stating his request.


    "Are you asking me to inform them of the return of the Church of Muldine and to have them join the Darkness Hunters?"


    "I won''t deny it. The current war clouds looming over the continent are enough to engulf not only humans but also them. By the time we are attacked, it will be toote. Now is the time to unite our forces."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[<u>Restore the World Alliance</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: A</strong>


    <strong>Humans, elves, dwarves, and merfolk were once allies fighting under the same banner.</strong>


    <strong>However, as time passed and generations changed, the forgetful humans have forgotten the past recorded and yearned to use the others for their own ends.</strong>


    <strong>The bad blood between the races deepened for hundreds of years, and now none of them harbor any amity for the humans. You, on the other hand, are the Sric Cleric. You can make whole again what was their united vision. Bring the humans, elves, dwarves, and merfolk back into the World Alliance and fight the darknessing.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Special Title, Shepherd.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalty: Lose favor with Tardal. Lose favor with the elves, dwarves, and mermaids.</strong>


    <i>An A-difficulty quest...!</i>


    Other than the quest he received from the Dark Wizard Zirukan before he changed to a Sris Cleric, this was the highest-difficulty quest Kai had encountered.


    <i>Restore the World Alliance...</i>


    It didn¡¯t seem like a quest that could bepleted in a day or two.


    <i>But it¡¯s not a quest that needs to be rushed.</i>


    Moreover, it was a request from Tardal, but he had control over the situation.


    "... I am considering your request quite positively."


    Kai then tapped his temple, taking his time to think.


    One minute, two minutes passed unrelentingly, and eventually, Tardal said first, "If you can bring them into the World Alliance, I won''t spare any support."


    "Really?" Kai asked with bright eyes. It was as if he had been waiting for this.


    "Of course. At least, we, the Kingdom of Rashion will spare no support..."


    "That''s more than enough. Alright, I ept your request." Kai smiled and epted the quest without hesitation. "But I will hold you to that promise of sparing no support.¡±


    "As long as I¡¯m not buried in the ground and I cross the River of Oblivion, I will never go back on my word."


    Kai firmly grasped Tardal''s outstretched hand. With a handshake, a satisfactory deal was made.


    ***


    A base camp in the forest with lush green leaves was normally afortable ce where yers rested before entering the Elven Forest.


    However, today, the atmosphere at the entrance was as heavy as if lead had been poured over it. Two groups were creating this heavy atmosphere.


    "Apologize."


    "Apologize? What exactly did we do wrong?"


    "The western region of the Elven Forest is controlled by the ck Bee guild. Since you hunted there without permission, it''s only right that you pay and apologize."


    "<i>Ha</i>, stop talking nonsense. How do you expect to control a forest as big as this?"


    One group was a bunch of Wizards wearing ck robes, and the other group, who wasn''t intimidated by them, stood their ground.


    <i>These damn ck Bee guys are always the ones causing trouble.</i>


    <i>Do they think they¡¯re the only Wizards in MID Online?</i>


    <i>Poor Furima party.</i>


    <i>Those ck Bee bastards always target parties, never guilds.</i>


    The yers looked at the Furima party, who were being unterally harassed by the ck Bee Guild, with sympathy, while they sent openly displeased nces toward the ck Bee guild.


    Of course, the ck Bee guild wasn''t fazed by such silent pressure.


    Vulture, the leader of the ck Bee party, slowly looked around and then suddenly turned his body.


    <i>Crackle!</i>


    A spear of lightning instantly formed in his grasp! Without hesitation, he threw it like a javelin, piercing Furima''s chest.


    "<i>Gah!</i>"


    "<i>Ahh</i>! Oppa!"


    "What the hell are you doing...?!"


    The Furima party members tried to draw their weapons and protest.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    Wind Cutters from Vulture''s hands stopped them, not allowing any of their movements.


    Even if hecked manners, his skills were top-notch.


    "... <i>Kugh.</i>"


    In an instant, the Furima party fell into a critical state, and their voices rapidly diminished.


    "<i>Hmph</i>," Vulture, showing a bored expression, looked around and snorted.


    <i>These insect bastards only understand after getting beaten.</i>


    The Elven Forest was a ce where massive tree monsters, called treevago, mostly appeared. Given their size, their HP was high, and thus, the XP per kill was also good. Because of this, Vulture had received an order from the guild''s higher-ups.


    ¡ªUse force if necessary to im the western region of the Elven Forest as ck Bee territory.


    In simple terms, it was to control the hunting grounds.


    After working on it for a few weeks, yers had mostly stopped approaching the western part of the Elven Forest.


    <i>Of course, there are still those clueless enough toe, like today.</i>


    However, by showing such overwhelming force each time, they would eventuallyply. The ck Bee guild had expanded the number of controlled hunting grounds in this way and would continue to do so.


    "Let''s go."


    Vultureughed at the ordinary yers who couldn''t even protest as he left the camp.


    Only after he was gone did the yers start voicing theirints.


    ¡°Damn it! Those rude bastards, why doesn¡¯t anyone take care of them?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, Titan and ck Bee, those two guilds are way over the line.¡±


    ¡°Hey, is there any Cleric here? Someone needs to heal the Furima members.¡±


    ¡°Try using this potion for now.¡±


    yers quickly gathered around the Furima Party, offering their help. They didn¡¯t have the courage to confront ck Bee directly but felt the injustice deeply.


    A Cleric emerged from the crowd.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look at them.¡±


    Wearing a white Cleric robe with the hood pulled down low, the yer quickly healed the Furima party with just a few uses of Heal.


    The eyes of the other yers watching widened.


    <i>Wait, did he just fully heal them with a few Heals?</i>


    <i>How high is his Holy Power?</i>


    <i>I¡¯ve never seen this yer around here before, which party is he from?</i>


    Before they could satisfy their curiosity, the Cleric, seeming to be in a hurry, quickly left the area.


    ***


    Reaching a secluded spot in the Elven Forest, the Cleric pulled back his hood. The face revealed was Kai¡¯s.


    ¡°Those ck Bee bastards are truly insolent, and it¡¯s not just me who thinks so.¡±


    Kai¡¯s fist trembled with anger at the one-sided violence he had witnessed at the base camp. He felt an overwhelming urge to rush out and cut down those thugs.


    <i>But I can¡¯t yet.</i>


    He had finished gathering information on the Elven Forest. He prepared all the necessary items, and listening to ASMR before bed had put him in top condition.


    <i>So, let¡¯s tweak the n a bit.</i>


    His original n had been to ignore other yers and head straight to the Elven Vige using the map Ayana¡¯s mother had given him, but after witnessing the base camp''s horror, it was hard to just pass by.


    <i>I can''t ignore injustice! No wonder why I always end up at a loss.</i>


    Of course, his sense of justice wasn¡¯t the only reason.


    <i>I¡¯ve wanted to take down those ck Bee bastards for a while...</i>


    They were one of the top ten guilds in the world, and having thugs like them in that position was irritating in itself.


    <i>I originally nned to mess with them during the invasion event in two months, but...</i>


    The thuggish behavior of the ck Bee elerated his ns.


    Kai ced his hand on his sword hilt and muttered, ¡°They said it¡¯s the western region of the Elven Forest?¡±


    Kai turned his body toward the west.


    ***


    "That was really impressive earlier. Your Wind Cutter casting speed and uracy are getting better by the day."


    "Did you see their faces? They were so angry, but they couldn''t say a word! <i>Bwahaha</i>."


    "Well, someday you guys will be able to do it too. Just keep watching and learning."


    In the party Vulture led, he was the king and god. He was treated like an emperor, and he loved this game for that reason.


    <i>You get what you deserve based on your skill. What a great world.</i>


    Just by being good at the game, he could earn more money than most office workers. Vulture pitied the geniuses born in the past and blessed himself for being born in this era.


    "<i>Um</i>... But the mood among the yers these days isn¡¯t good."


    "Mood?"


    "Yes. If you look at the regional chat, there¡¯s quite a bit of people who have been talking badly about our guild, and themunity¡¯s opinion isn¡¯t favorable either."


    "<i>Tsk, tsk, tsk</i>," Vulture clicked his tongue and looked at his subordinate with a pathetic expression. "Do you know the one unchanging truth throughout history?"


    "What is it?"


    "Weaklings, no matter how many gather, are still weaklings. They can never beat the strong."


    "<i>Uh</i>... But historically, haven¡¯t there been cases where the weak seeded in revolting? Like Pugachev''s Rebellion or the Sepoy Mutiny?"


    "Yes, there have been instances where the weak banded together and defeated the strong. But remember, this is a game."


    Once again, a spear of lightning formed in Vulture''s hand.


    <i>Crackle! Boom!</i>


    The scattered lightning brought down a giant tree, and Vulture pointed to it, saying, "In reality, no matter how good a fighter you are, can one person beat a hundred barehanded? No. But in a game, if there¡¯s an overwhelming difference in level and item grade, and if you have talent, a hundred or two hundred newbies are nothing. Even you, do you think you¡¯d lose against a hundred level 30 Wizards?"


    "Well... of course I''d win."


    "<i>Ha</i>, that¡¯s exactly why I love this game. It''s all about meritocracy." Vulture chuckled and jerked his chin. "If you get it now, focus on leveling up and getting better items. Now, let¡¯s go take down that treevago over there."


    The ck Bee guild members started casting fire magic, which always dealt critical hits to treevagos.


    "Alright, let¡¯s go for a clean focus fire."


    Then, just as they were about tounch their attack at the standing treevago, someone slowly walked out from behind a concealed tree and stood in front of them.

 Chapter 128: Collision (3)

    <h4>Chapter 128: Collision (3)</h4>


    ¡°What the hell?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡±


    Vulture and the ck Bee party members tilted their heads in confusion as a person they never expected to meet here had emerged from behind the trees.


    ¡°... I thought I taught you a good lesson, but it seems the problem lies with the student¡¯s head,¡± Vulture let out a dryugh, tapping his temple as he stared at the yer before him, Furima.


    It was the same person he had attacked just thirty minutes earlier at the Elven Forest base camp. Of course, there was no personal grudge against him.


    <i>It was just to set an example. After all, everyone there had trespassed into the western region.</i>


    Vulture had destroyed the Furima party to warn other yers to stay out of the western region, which he imed as ck Bee territory.


    <i>Master is always right. His teachings say that humans are ruled by fear.</i>


    Of course, the yers wouldn¡¯t genuinely be terrified of the ck Bee guild. This was just a game, after all.


    <i>But specifically because it¡¯s a game, there are things that can be even more frightening.</i>


    Once yers became attached to things like equipment bought with hard-earned money, or characters meticulously leveled up with their precious time, they wouldn¡¯t dare challenge one of the top ten guilds in the world because they had the power to take all of these away from them.


    ¡°Well, I have to give you credit for having the courage toe back... <i>Huh</i>?¡±


    Vulture slightly furrowed his brows and began to look around slowly.


    <i>One, two, three, four...</i>


    People who had been hiding behind the trees started toe out one by one.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s not just the Furima party?¡±


    ¡°... Thirty-one, thirty-two.¡±


    ¡°With that many, it¡¯s almost everyone who was at the base camp earlier.¡±


    ¡°Have they all gone mad?¡±


    ¡°We told you this is ck Bee Guild territory!¡±


    The ck Bee party members shouted to intimidate them, but the yers didn¡¯t back down. Instead, they prepared for the uing battle to take ce with determined expressions.


    ¡°...This is troublesome.¡±


    Unlike those who hadn¡¯t grasped the situation yet, Vulture¡¯s expression hardened.


    ***


    Thirty minutes earlier, Kai, who was heading west in the Elven Forest, suddenly stopped.


    <i>... Is it really right for me to deal with everything myself?</i>


    The reason for this sudden thought was an experience he had gone through before.


    <i>Was it back in third year of middle school?</i>


    Back then, one of his ssmates started being bullied, and naturally, Kai didn¡¯t just stand by and watch.


    <i>I reported it to the teacher and warned the bullies myself.</i>


    He had told them to stop. He already reported it to the teacher, and if the bullying continued, he would report it to the police. Young as he was, he thought that would solve everything. However, that was a mistake.


    The bullying only became more frequent, severe, and cunning. Within a few weeks, the bullied friend had transferred to another school.


    When Kai, bewildered, asked why, he was told everything.


    <i>Since I reported it, he got bullied even after school.</i>


    Kai''s assistance hade from goodwill, but the result wasn¡¯t as favorable.


    That was why Kai hesitated to act now.


    Eventually, Kai''s grip on his sword hilt rxed.


    ¡°Even if I take down those ck Bee guys now, nothing will change.¡±


    A sh between Unknown and ck Bee was an intriguing topic. They had fought during the Orc Lord expedition, so there was bound to be intense interest in this conflict.


    yers who loved gossip would also undoubtedly watch it closely.


    <i>But I want to change something more fundamental.</i>


    Fighting ck Bee under the guise of Unknown wouldn¡¯t change the core issue. To the public, it would just appear as another round in the ongoing rivalry between ck Bee and Unknown.


    <i>So, what¡¯s the solution?</i>


    Kai¡¯s mind began to race.


    <i>If I handle this poorly, this incident will just get swept under the rug.</i>


    The top ten guilds in the world constantly fought each other, considering themselves rivals. However, there was one moment when they united.


    <i>When their interests align, or when their share of the pie seems to be shrinking.</i>


    Controlling hunting grounds and exerting dominance wasn¡¯t unique to ck Bee. Anyrge, powerful guild did the same.


    In other words, if he attacked ck Bee¡¯s bullying clumsily, he¡¯d have to deal with all top ten guilds. And that fight would be quite challenging.


    <i>Let''s use the media.</i>


    They would fight in the way they were best at and enjoyed the most.


    <i>Let¡¯s think long-term.</i>


    Kai closed his eyes and stroked his chin.


    Punishing Vulture¡¯s party right now wasn¡¯t the solution. He had to consider the subsequent actions of ck Bee and the other top ten guilds. And only after calcting everything should he act.


    Thinking that far, Kai smirked.


    <i>I¡¯ve matured a lot.</i>


    In high school, he would have rushed in, punishing them without thinking of the consequences. Then, he would have tasted the bitterness of the world and nursed his anger alone.


    <i>But now, things are different.</i>


    Good judgment came from experience, and experience often came from mistakes. He had already had a simr experience in middle school.


    <i>So now, it¡¯s time to show good judgment.</i>


    With his eyes shining, Kai moved forward.


    ***


    Kai returned to the Elven Forest base camp. He kept the hood of his Cleric robe pulled down, just as when he left.


    ¡°Hey, Furima. It seems you guys won¡¯t be able to hunt anymore today. How about taking a break? If you need any quest items, just let us know. Our party can spare some.¡±


    ¡°Can you really think about hunting after what happened? We¡¯ll help out, so just rest today.¡±


    <i>They¡¯re all so kind.</i>


    yers surrounding the Furima party were offering words offort.


    In the midst of this, a yer spotted Kai.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the Cleric who healed your party earlier.¡±


    Hearing this, Furima immediately led his party over to Kai. ¡°Thank you for healing us. We should have thanked you sooner...¡±


    ¡°We were so angry earlier... we weren¡¯t in the right headspace. Sorry for thete thanks.¡±


    ¡°Although it¡¯s not much, as a token of our gratitude, we can offer some treevago materials...¡±


    ¡°No need for thanks. Can I ask you something instead?¡±


    ¡°... Sure, if it¡¯s something we can answer, we¡¯ll do our best.¡±


    As Furima blinked and responded, Kai asked directly, ¡°If the same thing happens again, what will you do then?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Furima couldn¡¯t bring himself to answer. He knew that if the same situation repeated, they would likely do nothing just like today.


    "You don¡¯t need to answer that." Kai turned away from Furima, who was biting his lower lip, and looked around at the other yers.


    <i>These are good people.</i>


    That¡¯s why they took time out of their schedules to help and console the Furima party.


    <i>They probably don¡¯t want to see the Furima party get hurt.</i>


    They likely wished for them to continue loving the game and enjoy the campfire chats together.


    <i>Sure, they¡¯re kind, but...</i>


    Kind words and advice alone couldn¡¯t solve anything.


    <i>It¡¯s like giving unsolicited advice.</i>


    Taking a step back to offer advice and hand out a handkerchief was all they could do, butfort and advice alone couldn¡¯t solve the problem.


    <i>But acting recklessly alone won¡¯t solve it either.</i>


    Drawing from his experiences and those of others, he needed toe up with the closest thing to a correct action.


    Kai looked around and asked, ¡°Are you all afraid of the ck Bee guild?¡±


    ¡°Well... yeah.¡±


    ¡°If they wanted to, they could torment small parties like ours until we go mad.¡±


    ¡°They have skill, funds, manpower, and influence. It¡¯s impossible not to be afraid.¡±


    Realizing the power of ck Bee guild once more, the yers¡¯ faces darkened.


    ¡°So, are you saying you¡¯ll keep living in fear?¡±


    Kai¡¯s voice was firm. Perhaps due to his high Dignity stat, his voice was full of persuasion and charisma.


    ¡°The first time doing anything is always hard. Think about it. It¡¯s always like that. But from the second time, it bes easier, and by the third time, you can do it as naturally as breathing. Is it any different with ck Bee?¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?¡±


    At first, the yers didn¡¯t understand what Kai was saying, but soon their eyes began to sparkle. They had bowed their heads to the ck Bee guild, but every yer present was over level 200.


    <i>Basically, you can¡¯t reach level 200 without a brain at this stage.</i>


    They needed the ability to figure out efficient hunting routes, the best skills and equipment sets, and analyze monster weaknesses and patterns on their own. Therefore, there was no way they couldn''t understand such pointed words.


    ¡°All it takes is one act of courage. If enough people take that courage, we can stop ck Bee¡¯s tyranny.¡±


    ¡°But weck the power and levelspared to ck Bee.¡±


    ¡°ck Bee recruits only the most skilled Wizards. The gap in skill and talent is huge.¡±


    ¡°In the end, our resistance would be meaningless.¡±


    ¡°Meaningless? Who says that?¡± Kai asked back.


    Kai had once thought simrly after his middle school friend transferred due to bullying.


    <i>Was it right for me to help him? If I had just stayed quiet, the bullying might not have escted, and he wouldn¡¯t have transferred.</i>


    However, those regrets vanished after he read the letter his friend sent a few dayster.


    Recalling that time, Kai said with certainty, ¡°It¡¯s okay if we don¡¯t have the power to change everything. Our feelings will still be conveyed.¡±


    Knowing someone cared and supported one was a great pir for those facing injustice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    ¡°I-I...¡± Furima, taken aback by Kai¡¯s question, quietly lowered his head.


    The other yers, seeing this, remained silent, each lost in their thoughts.


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not all. It will also be a stern warning to ck Bee.¡±


    The saying that even a worm will turn[1] would definitely hit home.


    Kai looked around the now solemn crowd and shouted, "Let me be clear, do not be relieved just because you weren''t the victim this time. If we don''t stop ck Bee now, they will continue to repeat the same actions until this game ends. If we don''t act now, who will stand against an even stronger ck Bee? By then..."


    There would be no one left to stand up for them.


    Kai swallowed thest words, but the yers understood the meaning without them being said.


    ¡°So, what will you do now?¡± Kai asked the question with an answer predetermined from the start.


    ***


    Normally, one couldn¡¯t block ten others with one hand. Of course, in <i>MID Online</i>, there were monsters whopletely defied this saying with their overwhelming skills. However, Vulture was not yet one of those monsters.


    <i>There¡¯s too many of them...!</i>


    There were thirty-two enemies. He was confident he could fight off two, or maybe even three alone. However, eight opponents clinging to him was an impossible challenge.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°<i>Argh!</i>¡±


    As Aero Boom exploded in front of him, Vulture¡¯s body was thrown backward.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡±


    Vulture, scratching the leaves and dirt with his fingernails, staggered to his feet. His bloodshot eyes quickly scanned the battlefield as if searching for someone. In his mind, the yers couldn''t have organized this on their own.


    <i>There¡¯s a leader behind this damn mess. It must be one of two possibilities.</i>


    One was a ranker from another top ten guild, but this possibility was very unlikely.


    <i>No sane person would do something that cuts into their own flesh like this.</i>


    So that left only one option.


    ¡°...Under.¡±


    The so-called celestial guilds, the Overs,[2] naturally consisted of the top ten guilds.


    If so, what about the guilds below them?


    <i>Are those who were lying low starting to rise now?!</i>


    While the world''s attention was on the top ten guilds, Under had been quietly waiting beneath the calm surface. And they waited for one of the top ten guilds to self-destruct or show a weakness.


    And at this moment...


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>!¡±


    ¡°You ck Bee bastards. Among the top ten guilds, you¡¯ve been the worst.¡±


    "Who put us up to this? No one. We made our own decisions and acted on our own."


    "But from this moment on, let it be clearly dered that the Elven Forest hunting ground is not controlled by anyone!"


    A small crack had formed in the seemingly unbreakable fortress of ck Bee.


    1. Even a worm will turn: even a meek person will retaliate if pushed too far ?


    2. Over and Under were written in English in the Korean raws, so we have kept it as so ?

 Chapter 129: Collision (4)

    <h4>Chapter 129: Collision (4)</h4>


    <strong>[Breaking News! War Dered on the ck Bees?]</strong>


    <strong>[Regr yers Deliver Justice to Vulture Party!]</strong>


    <strong>[yers Are Furious at the ck Bee Power Trip!]</strong>


    <strong>[¡°The Elven Forest Will Be Free for All,¡± Firmly Deres a High-Level yer.]</strong>


    <strong>[Will the Tyranny of the Top 10 Guilds Survive?]</strong>


    Countless articles filled with provocative words were scattered across the sea of information, and all these articles had onemon term: ck Bee.


    As if a dam had burst, or a river had overflowed, the pent-up anger of normal yers toward ck Bee erupted like a volcano fueled by this incident.


    ¡°They don¡¯t know their ces...¡± Sting, the master of the ck Bee guild, muttered with a cold gaze.


    Messages were pouring into his chat window, updating him on the stances of rankers and various guilds. Even at a nce, the volume of messages was substantial. It was proof that many had never looked kindly upon ck Bee.


    <i>They''re all swarming in like hyenas, seeing this as their chance.</i>


    However, Sting didn¡¯t lose his temper. He was irritated but he maintained a calm expression as he sank deeply into his chair.


    <i>This might actually be good. We can use this opportunity to eliminate all those with hostile stances.</i>


    He considered them no more than moths drawn to a me and his message window was steadily filling with a real-time list of individuals to deal with.


    <i>But first, there''s something I need to take care of.</i>


    Sting opened a chat room he had joined long ago but hadn¡¯t used in months.


    [Sting: I have something to say about this situation.]


    It was the chat room for the masters of the top ten guilds, a very secret space, unknown to the public.


    Even though they werepetitors, there were times when they needed to join forces or negotiate, and this chat room was created for those asions. Therefore, copying or screenshotting the messages from this chat was impossible.


    This was why Sting posted his message in such a ce, and the responses were immediate.


    [Vulcan: I saw the articles. You had iting.]


    [Katherine: I knew this would happen someday. The signs were there from the beginning, idiot.]


    [Sandro: Saw your big face on themunity main page. Photoshop hase a long way.]


    ¡°These bastards, who do they think they¡¯re making fun of...?¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Sting red at those fanning the mes, but that was only for a moment.


    He quickly massaged his furrowed brow as someone asked,


    [Xao Lin: So what did you want to say?]


    [Yoshiatsu: Get to the point. I¡¯m busy.]


    The individuals in this chat room were the busiest people around.


    Knowing this well, Sting kept his message short.


    [Sting: No one needs to get involved. We¡¯ll handle it ourselves.]


    [Vulcan: Good. Then we¡¯ll stay back and watch. But the moment we get dragged into the mess...]


    [Goliath: We''ll have no choice but to act. We¡¯re not going down with you.]


    [Minerva: ...Same goes for us.]


    <i>Fine.</i>


    Sting didn¡¯t want to request help from the other top ten guilds anyway.


    <i>They wouldn¡¯t help me even if I asked.</i>


    That much was easy to infer because if one of the top ten guilds found themselves in his current situation, he wouldn¡¯t help them either.


    <i>So it¡¯s better this way.</i>


    Sting was confident.


    <i>As long as none of the other top ten guilds get involved...</i>


    No matter which ranker or guild from Under challenged him, he believed that ck Bee¡¯s power alone was enough to crush them.


    ***


    "Pour it and drink up!"


    "<i>Hahahaha!</i> It feels like a weight that''s been on my chest for ten years has finally lifted!"


    "Did you see Vulture¡¯s face earlier? Looked like he was chewing on dung! We should have taken a screenshot of that!"


    "Now we can hunt in the western region that¡¯s closest to the base camp and full of monsters."


    The yers at the base camp were celebrating with toasts and cheers. Today, every one of them was a hero. Of course, they were all aware that ck Bee would likely retaliate, but there was no sign of regret on their faces.


    <i>Exactly, this is right.</i>


    An eye for an eye. Whether or not one could stand up for oneself determined whether they were respected or ignored.


    Kai slightly nodded as he leaned against a tree stump and watched the yer.


    <i>The start is satisfactory. Eight out of ten.</i>


    It would have been perfect if there had been more yers on their side and if they could have taken down one of ck Bee¡¯s core members. However, given that not many yers visited the Elven Forest, this was impossible.


    <i>The main prey here, treevagos, are quite difficult to handle unless you¡¯re a Wizard.</i>


    It had high immunity to physical attacks and excellent health regeneration. So, unless one had fire-based attacks, hunting there was inefficient.


    <i>yers over level 200 naturally seek efficiency first.</i>


    Despite this, yers continued to visit, form parties, and explore this area for a simple reason.


    <i>It¡¯s the forest of elves.</i>


    Elves were a mysterious race often featured in fantasy novels and movies. The pure desire to find their vige and be the first to set foot there drove many high-level yers to this location.


    <i>Though it doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯ve had much sess.</i>


    Unlike Kai, who had a map to the vige, they had to navigate blindly. That too, while dealing with tough monsters like treevagos.


    <i>Perhaps that''s why they followed my lead better than I expected.</i>


    The yers here weren¡¯t solely focused on leveling up. They were gamers who wanted to realize their fantasy dreams. That¡¯s why, when Kai touched on the dissatisfaction they harbored, it exploded.


    Kai viewed this situation positively.


    <i>ck Bee¡¯s image was already at the bottom among the top ten guilds.</i>


    Then this incident urred, and ck Bee¡¯s image plummeted within hours.


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s worse than rock bottom.¡±


    People often thought rock bottom was the end until they saw the depths beneath it.


    <i>ck Bee is finished. They¡¯ll never recover from this viin, trash image, not in a million years.</i>


    Kai was certain as he browsed themunity. Dozens of Under guilds and hundreds of rankers were leading the charge in condemning ck Bee¡¯s tyranny. Naturally, the response from regr yers, who had no connection to the rankings, was even more intense.


    <i>If they manage to recover from this, I¡¯ll bow down to them.</i>


    As Kai chuckled to himself, the other yers approached and offered him food.


    "Hey, what are you mumbling to yourself on such a great day?"


    "You''re a Cleric. You''re not like the Necromancer over here."


    "Are you dissing Necromancer yers now?"


    "No, I was dissing you."


    Eventually, Kai was dragged along by them, drinking and enjoying the festive atmosphere. No matter how much they drank, they never got drunk on <i>MID Online</i>¡¯s beverages!


    <i>This exins why people have work parties in MID Online nowadays.</i>


    It was cheaper, and they could eat and drink three times longer than in reality. Plus, there was no hangover the next day, which was one of the reasons why so many managers were drawn to <i>MID Online</i>.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>, but I¡¯m a bit worried. What will ck Bee do next?¡±


    ¡°What can they do? They were in the wrong. They would probably apologize, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Apologize? Them? One of the top ten guilds? No way...¡±


    ¡°Look at reality. The Under guilds and rankers are beating them up right now. No matter how strong ck Bee is, can they really ignore everyone and keep ying? They can¡¯t.¡±


    Overhearing the yers'' conversation, Kai turned his head.


    <i>...Could ck Bee really keep ying while ignoring them all?</i>


    Of course not. No matter how strong ck Bee was and how skilled their members were, this incident proved that one hand couldn¡¯t block ten.


    <i>In other words, this is a pretty serious situation for ck Bee.</i>


    For them, this incident wasn¡¯t just a passing storm. It was a severe typhoon that could shake their position and standing as one of the top ten guilds, since many yers and guilds had shown that they no longer recognized ck Bee as one of the top ten guilds.


    <i>Can ck Bee reallye out from this storm?</i>


    Kai¡¯s quick-thinking mind immediately came up with an answer.


    <i>There is one way.</i>


    They had to be true viins.


    <i>After all, ck Bee has nothing left to lose.</i>


    Their image was already in the dumpster, loaded onto a garbage truck, and buried in andfill.


    <i>They would need to crush all those opposing them and rule through fear.</i>


    If they could do this, ck Bee could maintain their current position as one of the top ten guilds, as opposing them would mean certain death.


    ¡°But still, no way...¡±


    As Kai was trying to deny that scenario, someone shouted, ¡°This is insane! ck Bee has lost it!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re challenging everyone they see in the field to duels, rankers and guilds alike!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not PK, but...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what makes it scarier! They follow you around, spamming duel requests and stealing monsters until you ept.¡±


    ¡°Are they like spoon killers or something? That¡¯s chilling.¡±


    ¡°Because of this, people are frantically deleting their posts andments criticizing ck Bee.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>, then regr yers and solo rankers will all shut up.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, those persistent bastards! I can¡¯t believe they pulled a move like this when it all seemed over...¡±


    The yers'' faces showed frustration, grumbling, and anxiety.


    Watching them quietly, Kai left the ce.


    ¡°I started this, so I¡¯ll have to finish it.¡±


    Then, he began searching through his contacts.


    ***


    Boyd, sitting on the sofa in the office, looked at Seol Eun-Yeong, who was pacing around, and asked, ¡°How are you going to handle this? Mdy, please answer!¡±


    This was already the tenth time he had asked the question. Nevertheless, she continued to cross her arms and rest her chin on one hand, lost in thought.


    <i>What should I do?</i>


    It was indeed a difficult decision. Subtly, the Cheonhwa guild was regarded as the strongest andrgest in Korea, as they had recently solidified their name on the world stage by sessfullypleting the Veghas raid.


    <i>But we still don¡¯t have...</i>


    They didn''t have anyone with overwhelming skill. This was the reason Seol Eun-Yeong was always on the lookout for talent.


    <i>If we had attempted the Veghas raid alone, we would have likely failed.</i>


    At that time, they had received help from Yoo Ha-Rin. Some even joked that it wasn¡¯t Cheonhwa that seeded in the raid, but Yoo Ha-Rin.


    <i>We don¡¯t have a reliable ace.</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong intensely felt the absence of an ace who could represent the guild. Usually, the aces of the top ten guilds were their masters. However, Seol Eun-Yeong, the master of Cheonhwa, was a thoroughmander type.


    <i>I can¡¯t be the ace.</i>


    Her gaze slightly shifted toward Boyd, and then came out a sigh.


    ¡°W-what? Are you having some very rude thoughts about me right now?¡±


    ¡°Quiet. <i>Tsk. </i>Useless,¡± she lightly silenced Boyd¡¯sint and helplessly sat down in a chair.


    <i>If we could just dere war on ck Bee and defeat them with strength...</i>


    It wouldn¡¯t be impossible to secure a spot among the top ten guilds. In fact, it was almost guaranteed, since Cheonhwa guild was already ranked at the top among the Under guilds.


    ¡°We have no choice. We¡¯re still too unprepared. This time, we should also...¡±


    Just as Seol Eun-Yeong sighed and continued speaking, her message window chimed.


    <strong>[I¡¯m contacting you after seeing yourmunity post.]</strong>


    It was a message from Unknown.

 Chapter 130: Collision (5)

    <h4>Chapter 130: Collision (5)</h4>


    Kai found it rtively easy to obtain Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s message address, as several scouting messages from the Cheonhwa guild had already arrived in hismunity ount.


    <i>I never would have thought the person who donated thirty million won was Seol Eun-Yeong.</i>


    It was quite a shock. He had assumed it was a retired elderly man in his sixties quietly cheering him on from the sidelines!


    <i>Well, this might be for the better.</i>


    The conversation they needed to have wouldn¡¯t be possible unless Cheonhwa had an interest in him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    A few minutes after Kai sent the message, someone entered the chat room.


    [Seol Eun-Yeong entered the chat.]


    It was Seol Eun-Yeong.


    [Unknown: Hey.]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: Hello.]


    Kai didn¡¯t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.


    [Unknown: I reached out to you because I have a proposal regarding the recent incident.]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: Recent incident? Are you talking about ck Bee?]


    [Unknown: Yes. A guild like Cheonhwa would surely be interested in this incident, no?]


    She seemed to be thinking for a moment, as it took about ten seconds for her reply toe through.


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: We are keeping watch, yes, but that¡¯s all we n to do.]


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>?¡± Kai blinked in surprise as he read the message.


    <i>But why...? A guild like Cheonhwa could definitely challenge ck Bee...</i>


    Instead of silently wondering, Kai directly asked in the chatroom.


    [Unknown: That¡¯s unexpected. I thought Cheonhwa would be more than capable ofpeting with ck Bee.]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: Cheonhwa is strong. But... ck Bee is also strong.]


    That was true. Regardless of their reputation or image, ck Bee was a guild filled with Wizard rankers, including Sting.


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: Now is the perfect time to set ck Bee straight. That is, if we had someone who could decisively crush them on behalf of the guild.]


    ¡°So it¡¯s ack of talent, <i>huh</i>,¡± Kai nodded unconsciously.


    The Cheonhwa guild had always insisted on having the best. Naturally, most of the guild members had high levels and considerable skills.


    <i>But considerable can be ambiguous depending on the situation.</i>


    In the end, skill in the game was rtive. Although the level of Cheonhwa¡¯s guild members was not low, they were slightlyckingpared to the Wizards of ck Bee, one of the top ten guilds.


    <i>Alright, it¡¯s time to ce my bet.</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes shined as he quickly typed on the virtual keyboard.


    [Unknown: I see. Well, my proposal is actually rted to that.]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: Mercenary work?]


    Quick-witted as always, she immediately understood Kai¡¯s purpose.


    <i>Of course, Seol Eun-Yeong... or maybe it¡¯s because of Yoo Ha-Rin¡¯s precedent.</i>


    The idea of bing Cheonhwa¡¯s mercenary to crush ck Bee came to mind thanks to Yoo Ha-Rin.


    <i>She became a mercenary for Cheonhwa and defeated Veghas.</i>


    After the raid, Yoo Ha-Rin and Cheonhwa cleanly parted ways. And that was the aspect that appealed to him since he wasn¡¯t interested in anything annoying or persistent.


    [Unknown: Yes, it¡¯s a mercenary proposal.]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: For how long?]


    [Unknown: Until ck Bee is no longer one of the top ten guilds.]


    She was silent for a moment before cautiously asking.


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: I would wee such a proposal anytime, but... I¡¯m curious about your reasons. Why go this far?]


    [Unknown: Isn¡¯t it well-known that ck Bee and I don¡¯t get along?]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: If you¡¯re talking about the Orc Lord incident, to be honest, ck Bee wouldn¡¯t care much about it.]


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. In fact, from ck Bee''s perspective, no matter how much they invested in rookies, the annihtion of a level 80 party was just a minor incident.


    <i>That¡¯s probably why they haven¡¯t issued a full-fledged kill order on me.</i>


    To ck Bee, he was just someone to be killed if encountered in a hunting ground. That was likely how they saw him.


    Ultimately, he was an individual, and they were a collective, which meant a significant gap existed.


    <i>But why is she telling me this?</i>


    Kai suddenly looked at the chat log with a puzzled expression.


    From Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s perspective, she could have just epted his proposal without saying anything. That would have been an easier way to handle the situation.


    Kai¡¯s fingers quickly moved over the virtual keyboard.


    [Unknown: Personal reasons. I don¡¯t like the crap the ck Bee¡¯s are pulling. But isn¡¯t it a loss for you to tell me this?]


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: If I make a mercenary contract and you back outter, I would be in trouble. I only work with people who aremitted from start to finish.]


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Kai showed a slight look of admiration for her decisive attitude.


    <i>She¡¯s impressive. There¡¯s a reason she¡¯s called a queen.</i>


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Kai nodded.


    [Unknown: Let¡¯s make a deal.]


    ***


    The deal Kai made with the Cheonhwa guild was quite simple.


    1. The contract terminates when ck Bee is no longer one of the top ten guilds.


    2. Unknown will fight against ck Bee under Cheonhwa¡¯s name until ck Bee is no longer one of the top ten guilds.


    3. Cheonhwa will pay Unknown 5 gold per ck Bee guild member he defeats.


    4. Unknown will retain full ownership of any equipment dropped by the ck Bee guild members he defeats.


    5. Unknown will receive an advance payment of 1,500 gold, and if Cheonhwa bes one of the top ten guilds, he will receive an additional 1,000 gold bonus.


    The contract terms were highly motivating for Kai.


    <i>Personal revenge and a potential 2,500 gold if everything goes well!</i>


    Excluding the reward for each defeated enemy, that was 2,500 gold. At current rates, this contract was worth at least two-hundred fifty million won!


    <i>This makes me realize just how much my value has increased.</i>


    Kai was absolutely confident that if he had made the contract before the battle with Aosa, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to secure even a fraction of these terms.


    <i>Seol Eun-Yeong went to Whitehall that day and came up empty-handed.</i>


    Moreover, they confirmed the imposing figure of Aosa, which had exuded dignity even in death. So naturally, their interest in the one who had defeated it solo had to increase.


    <i>Alright, my life is on track.</i>


    As soon as the verbal agreement with Seol Eun-Yeong was finished, Cheonhwa swiftly bribed famous game journalists, and they started to publish headlines about Unknown joining Cheonhwa as if they had discovered an exclusive scoop.


    <strong>[Exclusive! Unknown Joins Cheonhwa as a Mercenary.]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Bee, Watch Out! Cheonhwa''s Flower Chases ck Bee to the Brink.]</strong>


    <strong>[After Yoo Harin, Now Unknown. How Far Will Cheonhwa¡¯s Recruitment Go?]</strong>


    <strong>[ck Bee in Panic Over Unknown¡¯s Mercenary Contract. How Will They Respond?]</strong>


    <strong>[Cheonhwa Seriously Challenges the Top Ten Guilds. What Is Their True Strength?]</strong>


    Themunity went into an uproar once again, but Kai closed the inte browser without checking the reactions, as a guest had arrived at the meeting ce.


    ¡°Are wete?¡±


    ¡°No. There are still five minutes left until the meeting time.¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong approached with long strides as if she were walking a runway. Although her expression was as aloof as usual, anyone close to her could easily tell how excited she was.


    There was one person present who could easily see through her current state.


    ¡°You seem to be in a good mood today, Mdy.¡±


    He looked at Kai and beamed, as if he had met a celebrity on the street.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really Unknown! Can I get an autographter?¡±


    Kai quietly observed the owner of the voice.


    <i>Boyd.</i>


    Boyd was ranked fourteenth among Wizards and a representative figure of Cheonhwa. While not quite an ace, Cheonhwa wouldn¡¯t be where it was today without him.


    Kai slowly nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t actually have an autograph, but if you want, sure.¡±


    ¡°Yes, awesome!¡±


    ¡°Be quiet,¡± Seol Eun-Yeong shot a nce at Boyd before turning to look at Unknown and pulling something out of her inventory. ¡°Give it a check.¡±


    ¡°Then, one moment please.¡±


    She handed Kai two items. One was a pouch containing the advance payment of 1,500 gold, and the other was an emblem of the Cheonhwa guild, meant to be attached to his armor.


    ¡°Just to confirm, if I attach this once...¡±


    ¡°You can easily remove it at any cksmith in any city or vige, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡±


    As Kai reaffirmed that this was just for the duration of the contract, Seol Eun-Yeong looked sulky, but that was only for a moment.


    When Kai attached the emblem to his left chest, her lips curled into a smile, looking almost touched.


    Then, she raised her hand to stop Kai for a moment. ¡°Hold on. Let me take a screenshot...¡±


    After happily taking the photos, Seol Eun-Yeong still wore a smile as she said, ¡°It looks good.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°It suits you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sure...¡± Kai nodded, unable to easily respond to herpliment.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn! Please sign here!¡±


    Harassed by the pair who were driving him crazy, Kai hastily prepared to leave after giving Boyd an autograph.


    ¡°So when should I start?¡±


    ¡°The contract takes effect as soon as the advance payment is made. So, you¡¯re good to go whenever you wish.¡±


    ¡°Nice.¡±


    There was nothing morefortable than being able to work whenever he wanted.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll get going.¡±


    As Kai turned to leave, Boyd called out to him, ¡°Wait. I have something to say.¡±


    When Kai turned around to look at him, Boyd smiled brightly and began to say, ¡°Have you ever faced an Archmage from ck Bee?¡±


    ¡°... Once, yes.¡±


    In fact, it was twice. Once during the Orc Lord raid, and the second time just a few hours ago, as Cleric Kai.


    ¡°Oh, it was with ude, right? He definitely had potential. That¡¯s why ck Bee decided to back him up as a rookie. But... I was asking if you¡¯ve faced an Archmage, not just a Wizard.¡±


    An Archmage was a title that any Wizard over level 200 universally attained.


    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    ¡°It seems you dislike dragging conversations, so I¡¯ll be direct. I¡¯m interested in you.¡±


    Kai felt goosebumps all over his body and quickly took a few steps back.


    Even Seol Eun-Yeong, standing beside Boyd, looked at him with a contemptuous expression.


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>? What¡¯s with the mood?¡± Boyd, taken aback by the suddenly awkward atmosphere, waved his hands in denial and said, ¡°No, what are you guys thinking?! I mean I¡¯m interested in you as a fellow Wizard!¡±


    ¡°...I don¡¯t follow.¡±


    ¡°It means, as a Wizard and the head of Cheonhwa¡¯s Wizard unit, I¡¯d like to spar with you.¡±


    Suddenly, Boyd¡¯s eyes turned serious. In short, he wanted to test his own skills against Kai¡¯s.


    <i>... Well, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t understand.</i>


    Anyone who got a new sword would want to swing it.


    It seemed Seol Eun-Yeong felt the same, as she didn¡¯t stop Boyd¡¯s impolite request.


    ¡°Well, this wasn¡¯t part of the contract, but...¡± Kai arrogantly nodded. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± Boyd¡¯s eyes shone as he casually began casting different spells with both hands. ¡°Then, here Ie.¡±


    ***


    The duel between Boyd and Kai took ce without any prior notice.


    Of course, that was from Kai¡¯s perspective.


    Boyd had intended to request a duel from the moment he arrived, so he couldn¡¯t understand the current situation.


    ¡°... <i>Ugh</i>.¡±


    <i>How can this be the result when he faced me, the fourteenth-ranked Archmage, without any preparation...?</i>


    The result was an overwhelming victory for Unknown. From the beginning to the end of the duel, Boyd didn¡¯tnd a single critical hit. He was even shocked that his spells, when they luckily hit, didn¡¯t deal significant damage.


    <i>He has an extreme advantage against Wizards. Just how high is his magic resistance?</i>


    Getting up and dusting off the dirt, Boyd looked at Unknown, who was leaving.


    Then, he turned to Seol Eun-Yeong and asked, ¡°Mdy, how long did it take?¡±


    ¡°Four minutes.¡±


    ¡°...Fourteen minutes?¡±


    ¡°Four minutes.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Are you saying the duel was so intense that it felt shorter, like just four minutes?¡±


    ¡°No, it was just four minutes.¡±


    It took only four minutes for the fourteenth-ranked Archmage to suffer a one-sided defeat!


    Boyd felt a sense of despair but soon began to chuckle.


    At the sight, Seol Eun-Yeong asked, ¡°Have you gone mad?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then why are youughing? You lost. What¡¯s there to be happy about?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Boyd ran his hand through his hair and grinned. ¡°Those ck Bee guys. I can¡¯t wait to see the look on their faces.¡±

 Chapter 131: Natural Enemy (1)

    <h4>Chapter 131: Natural Enemy (1)</h4>


    After the sparring with Boyd, Kai nced back as he walked down the path. Only then did he let out the breath he had been holding when he confirmed Seol Eun-Yeong and Boyd were out of sight.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>, that was close.¡±


    He rubbed his side, recalling the duel.


    <i>It¡¯s true that you can¡¯t ignore levels in this game. He¡¯s aplete beast.</i>


    Kai¡¯s magic resistance was currently very high. Not just saying, he was confident it was in the top hundred of<i> MID Online</i>.


    However, even that insane magic resistance couldn¡¯tpletely block the spells of Boyd, the fourteenth-ranked Wizard.


    <i>I wanted to spar longer since such opportunities are rare, but...</i>


    He felt he couldn¡¯t hold out much longer, so he used Supernova to catch Boyd off guard and ended the duel quickly.


    <i>If I had given Boyd a bit more time, he would¡¯ve adapted to the speed of Supernova.</i>


    In that case, Kai would have been the one to lose. In fact, that was obvious, considering the level gap between him and Boyd was over a hundred.


    <i>If I had lost, it would¡¯ve been a disaster.</i>


    As a Mercenary contracted by Cheonhwa, losing would¡¯ve been very bad. No employer would be happy to see their highly paid Mercenary be ipetent.


    Kai scratched the back of his head in frustration.


    ¡°Damn. Struggling against Boyd means...¡±


    It meant the same for the Wizards rankers of ck Bee.


    <i>Especially Sting.</i>


    Sting, the master of ck Bee, was known for his skill despite his infamous personality.


    <i>No one can reach the third rank among Wizards through luck alone.</i>


    Kai stopped and contemted.


    <i>If I fought Sting now, I¡¯d likely lose.</i>


    He acknowledged this fact calmly and felt grateful to Boyd.


    <i>Boyd was right. Ick experience against Archmages.</i>


    Boyd knew this and had requested the duel to warn him not to underestimate Archmages, and that they weren¡¯t easy opponents.


    <i>With my magic resistance, I have a significant advantage against Wizards.</i>


    However, it wasn¡¯t enough when he was against Archmages over level 200, especially the top rankers.


    As he had always done, he decided he needed to prepare. Thoroughly.


    Instead of confronting ck Bees inside the Elven Forest, he turned around and swiftly left the forest.


    ***


    After the Elven Forest incident, ck Bee temporarily suspended all external activities. This alone was a significant decision and a loss because while other top ten guilds advanced, they had to stand still.


    This pulled Sting¡¯s mood down to the bottom and was the reason why his face looked like the most displeased person in the world.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make them pay for this. Every one of them involved will be destroyed.¡±


    However, that wasn¡¯t the only thing bothering him.


    <i>And what? Cheonhwa? A nobody guild from Under I never even cared about... dares to challenge me?</i>


    While he didn¡¯t care, themunity was busyparing their strengths, and this infuriated him even more because theirparison charts were nonsensical!


    ¡°These idiots! What do they think ck Bee is! If our elite fighters step in, we could wipe out Cheonhwa in a day!¡±


    Then, he angrily closed the inte browser and gave an order through the guild chat.


    [Crush all guilds, yers, and rankers that oppose ck Bee. No exceptions!]


    It was a very simplemand, but the weight of those words was anything but light.


    ¡°The basic rule is to challenge them to a duel, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for the sake of our image. But if anyone resists until the end...¡±


    ¡°Just PK them, right? Got it.¡±


    ¡°And annihte all parties associated with Cheonhwa and those who were in the Elven Forest.¡±


    ¡°Easy.¡±


    With that simplemand, five hundred ck Bee members were unleashed into the world.


    ***


    A week passed from then, and themunity, which had been buzzing with issues about ck Bee, was quieter than expected.


    However it wasn¡¯t voluntary, it was the result of coercion.


    <i>... Those crazy bastards. They even PK anyone who doesn¡¯t listen to them.</i>


    <i>The best thing to do in cases like now is toy low.</i>


    <i>Are any of the other top ten guilds not intervening?</i>


    <i>Those bastards must have received something. It¡¯s certain.</i>


    <i>The Elven Forest Liberation Army guys just ended up being the unlucky ones.</i>


    Everyone kept their heads down and stayed quiet in the face of the overwhelming power of ck Bee and the violence wielded by that power!


    The actions taken by ck Bee were that drastic and shocking. Thirty general guilds were disbanded, and two Under guilds knelt to them. The number of rankers and yers killed in the process was also beyond counting.


    As the situation reached this point, people thought:


    <i>Damn. In the end, ck Bee will keep their top ten spot.</i>


    <i>Cheonhwa seemed to be fighting well at first, but they¡¯ve been losing recently.</i>


    <i>I heard they¡¯repletely surrounded in the Elven Forest...</i>


    <i>They said they recruited Unknown, but why hasn¡¯t he shown up yet?</i>


    The Cheonhwa guild had joined forces with the Elven Forest Liberation Army to oppose ck Bee.


    However, it was clear that ck Bee''s power was stronger than Cheonhwa¡¯s.


    So far, Seol Eun-Yeong''smand and tactics had prevented major damage, but even that had its limits.


    ¡°Akashia Group 2 has encountered a ck Bee party!¡±


    ¡°Shit! I¡¯ve spotted Kirael, the eleventh-ranked Wizard!¡±


    ¡°Those ck Bee bastards are forming aplete encirclement.¡±


    ¡°There are ck Bee members everywhere!¡±


    Sting demonstrated the principle of turning a crisis into an opportunity through his action by revealing his outstandingmand skills that were hidden beneath his hot temper.


    [Wow, did Sting really do that?]


    [I thought he was just a bad-tempered bastard, but he¡¯s actually a goodmander too.]


    [Hismand style is quite different from Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s, but it¡¯s not bad.]


    Sting¡¯s reputation was once again on the rise, as he showedmand skills that even those who usually looked down on him couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge.


    ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>. Idiots. Did they really think a guy with no brains could be the third-ranked Wizard?¡±


    ¡°As expected of our Master.¡±


    ¡°It was annoying to see Seol Eun-Yeong be called the bestmander, but now I¡¯m d your skills are being recognized.¡±


    The leadership of ck Bee was confident of their victory, and anyone who could read the current situation thought the same.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look...¡±


    At the ck Bee''s operationsmand headquarters in the western area of the Elven Forest, Sting, who was sitting on a luxurious sofa that didn¡¯t fit the forest, hummed a tune as he scanned the map.


    "Herding them to the center of the forest, sess. The encirclement must have been formed tightly as ordered, correct?"


    "Yes. Unless Cheonhwa and the Liberation Army log out or use a town return scroll as a group, they absolutely cannot escape."


    "<i>Hehe</i>. It would be better if they tried to run away."


    "I agree. It would solidify our victory along with their title of coward."


    "<i>Hehe</i>." Only then did Sting nod with a satisfied expression. "The prestige of the ck Bees should of course be at this level."


    His map showed him the two hundred bees that had survived the fierce battle.


    <i>It was said that Cheonhwa was somewhat useful among the Under guilds, and they lived up to their title I guess.</i>


    Who would have thought they would log out three hundred of their guild members? Although they were enemies, he had to acknowledge Seol Eun-Yeong''smand and tactics.


    "But that reputation ends today."


    Sting activated the guild chat and gave orders in a rxed tone.


    [Close the encirclement. Eliminate all enemies you find, and bring Seol Eun-Yeong alive.]


    He nned to personally deliver a death befitting a defeated leader.


    At the moment the order was given, all guild members on the map began to move simultaneously. Watching that scene, Sting felt a thrilling pleasure.


    <i>To achieve such things with just a gesture. My guild truly is the best.</i>


    The ck Bees, which he had painstakingly built, had be one of the top ten forces in the world. Thanks to that, now he could only confirm on the map that his guild members were eliminating the enemy, and he liked that fact the most.


    He had always thought that such leisure was what a ruler should possess.


    <i>Someone of my stature doesn''t need to dirty his hands dealing with small fry.</i>


    The guild members on the map were gradually closing the distance between each other. That was evidence that the encirclement was tightening!


    <i>The moment the gap between them disappears, this incident wille to an end as well.</i>


    What was reflected on Sting''s face was not the joy or exhration of a victoriousmander but leisure. His face was covered with a leisurely and rxed expression as if it was only natural.


    Then, a very small imbnce appeared on his face.


    "<i>Hmm</i>?"


    Slightly squinting his eyes, Sting stared at a part of the map and gestured to the sub-master.


    "Master, did you call for me?"


    It was the sixth-ranked Wizard, Ice Emperor Raos.


    Sting immediately asked him, "Raos. The signals from Melton and Shumeran in Group 26 have been cut off. What happened?"


    "Pardon? That can''t be right... Let me check." Raising his eyebrows, Raos, who brought up the guild window, slowly began to say, "Oh! So it is. Could it be an ambush, do you think? Otherwise, their signals wouldn''t be cut off from the outer part of the encirclement..."


    At that moment, guild members from themand and information departments, not the ck Bees''bat team, began to report one by one.


    "This is Shururu. I¡¯ve been logged out! I¡¯m dead!"


    "Kimikimi from Group 24. Communication has been cut off!"


    "Gardron of Group 27. My status has changed tobat status! Oh, I¡¯ve just been logged out!"


    Hearing the continuous bad news, the expressions of Raos and Sting hardened.


    "...What is going on?"


    ¡°It seems to be an ambush...¡±


    ¡°An ambush? Now? Does that make any sense? We¡¯ve been driving them toward the center from the outskirts of the Elven Forest to form the encirclement! And now you¡¯re saying it¡¯s a feint attack?¡±


    Sting wondered if Seol Eun-Yeong had seen through his tactics.


    He dug his fingernails into the armrest of the luxurious sofa for a moment, and thenposed himself and quietly asked, ¡°How many ambushers are there?¡±


    If they had cleared the outer region this quickly, it had to be at least two parties.


    <i>At least eight. Maybe even up to twenty people.</i>


    He had been momentarily raged by the thought that his tactics had been read, but calming down, he saw reality.


    <i>Right. Even if there are ambushers, they can¡¯t overturn this situation.</i>


    No matter how much a tactic could change the tide of war, it couldn¡¯t ovee an overwhelmingly strong opponent and superior numbers.


    After checking something, Raos turned pale. ¡°Th-that is...¡±


    Sensing something wrong, Sting scowled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s with that reaction? How many are there?¡±


    At his urging, Raos slowly lifted his head, a bead of sweat rolling down his tall nose. ¡°I-I got messages from the members who died...¡±


    ¡°Stop stalling and get to the point!¡±


    ¡°One! The enemy is just one person!¡±


    ¡°What? That¡¯s ridiculous...!¡± Sting shouted, jumping up from his seat.


    But undeterred, Raos finished his statement with a distressed expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s him, Unknown. The one hunting our guild members from the edges is Unknown!¡±


    That was the moment when Unknown, who had joined the Cheonhwa guild as a mercenary, first revealed himself on the battlefield.

 Chapter 132: Natural Enemy (2)

    <h4>Chapter 132: Natural Enemy (2)</h4>


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Seol Eun-Yeong asked with a tired expression.


    ¡°Uh... a white lie or the heavy truth. Which would you prefer?¡±


    When Boyd asked with a troubled look, she sharply replied, ¡°The heavy one.¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>... this battle looks really tough.¡±


    Boyd didn¡¯t look very pleased either. Seeing his robe scorched in ces and covered in dust, he had struggled a lot.


    Quietly staring at his appearance, Seol Eun-Yeong cautiously asked, ¡°...What about Unknown?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t even answer your calls, so do you think he¡¯ll answer mine? I really didn¡¯t see him like that...¡±


    As Boyd swallowed his words while watching Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s reaction, her delicate brow furrowed.


    <i>Did I misjudge him?</i>


    Unknown suddenly going no contact significantly shocked both her and Cheonhwa.


    In fact, the ck Bee guild started targeting Cheonhwa the moment they recruited Unknown.


    <i>Of course, the contract did state he could hunt whenever he wanted...</i>


    Who would have thought he wouldn¡¯t step in until the main base waspletely wiped out!


    While Seol Eun-Yeong held her throbbing head, yers from the Liberation Army approached and shouted, ¡°The ck Bee bastards are rapidly tightening their encirclement!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to go! The estimated time untilplete encirclement is about fifteen minutes!¡±


    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll all die here!¡±


    ¡°Give us orders quickly!¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong bit her lower lip as she felt the gazes of those looking at her like baby birds looking at their mother.


    <i>I did everything I could.</i>


    Shemanded brilliantly and struck the ck Bees in the back of the head several times with tactics, but unfortunately, there was a fundamental difference in specs.


    <i>The power of one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds is indeed impressive.</i>


    Even the elite attack team of Cheonhwa, supposedly the best talent, had to acknowledge the ck Bees'' elite.


    However, she couldn¡¯t die here.


    With a sharp gaze, she shouted, ¡°We¡¯re breaking through to the left! We¡¯ll use the waterfall terrain in the forest there for our final defense...¡±


    [Go to the right.]


    ¡°What?¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong quickly checked the voice talk program at the sudden voice ringing in her ear.


    <i>Unknown?!</i>


    She had sent her voice talk address through messaging, but he hadn¡¯t shown up for a week and now suddenly called.


    [What are you doing? You appear after a week and suddenly...]


    [There¡¯s no time. Take everyone and run east on the map immediately. Check the coordinates in the message.]


    [Why?]


    [I¡¯ll break the encirclement there.]


    [...See you in the east then.]


    The call ended, and the situation remained hopeless. However, a faint glimmer of hope began to rise in Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯re breaking through to the east! Follow me!¡±


    ¡°What? To the east? But there...¡±


    ¡°If we break through there, we can advance to the central area of the forest, so the encirclement would be the strongest there. The ck Bees will never allow us to break through. We should reconsider...¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re going east,¡± Seol Eun-Yeong finished her words in a voice filled with certainty.


    <i>If my judgment is wrong, then this is the end for me.</i>


    She always liked making bold decisions and once she set her mind, she never backed down and pushed through to the end, and this time was no different.


    <i>If Unknown had intended to deceive me or backstab me from the beginning... then my judgment of trusting him was wrong.</i>


    She didn''t particrly trust Unknown himself. Instead, she firmly believed in her own judgment, having observed and chosen him. That was the kind of person she was.


    ***


    Trees and vines quickly faded into the background as Ka sprinted through the forest. He spotted a new target.


    <i>Two.</i>


    The moment he identified the enemies ahead, he began to evaluate them.


    <i>A long staff with Blue Marine, a Schr''s Breedman Robe, and a purple-tingedurel wreath...</i>


    Kai didn¡¯t know every item that existed in <i>MID Online</i>. However, his eye for gear, honed to Intermediate Lv. 9 by repeatedly grinding in the Crimson Tower with his Poison Master skill, allowed him to instantly assess the equipment requirements of most items.


    <i>Around level 215 and 220, respectively.</i>


    The moment he assessed them, Kai darted across the ground like a sliding shadow.


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?<i> </i>What¡¯s that sound...?¡±


    As one Wizard turned his head, a sharp sword pierced his neck. ¡°<i>Grrk</i>...!¡±


    ¡°Damon?!¡±


    The other Wizard, though bewildered, was also highly skilled! He immediately jumped back and began casting a spell.


    ¡°Unknown! I¡¯ve been waiting for you! Ice Field!¡±


    White frost shot from the Wizard¡¯s fingertips, freezing the ground as it surged toward Kai. It was a binding skill designed to freeze the target¡¯s feet and immobilize them!


    <i>The nextbo will likely be those.</i>


    <i>Crackle, fwoosh!</i>


    The Wizard simultaneously cast his most powerful fire and lightning skills! That was the blessing known as double casting, granted to only a few Wizards.


    <i>I¡¯ll crush him.</i>


    However, his resolve was brief as he couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    ¡°<i>Whoop</i>.¡±


    Unknown walked toward him, ignoring the Ice Field!


    ¡°W-what? How?!¡±


    ¡°If youck camaraderie, this is what happens.¡±


    Kai pointed behind him with his thumb. There, the Wizard pierced by Kai¡¯s sword was frozen in ce instead of Kai.


    <i>Did he just use Damon as a shield in that brief moment the ice spread...?</i>


    That was surely an astonishing reflex! However, there was no time to be impressed.


    Kai charged at the Wizard.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>! Even if Ice Field missed...¡±


    At this close range, the next two attack skills wouldn¡¯t miss! Confident, the Wizard quickly fired Fireball and Lightning Spear.


    And the moment Kai saw the two skills flying toward him, his mind began to race.


    <i>Lightning Spear is faster than Fireball. In that case...</i>


    Kai instantly twisted his body to alter his trajectory.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Thanks to that, the Lightning Spear barely missed his body!


    However, he couldn¡¯t perform such a miraculous move twice in a row.


    <i>There¡¯s no need to dodge all skills!</i>


    At the same time, he cast Flood of des!


    The Fireball cast by the Wizard was shredded by his rotating de.


    ¡°Th-that¡¯s impossible...!¡± the Wizard stepped back, dumbfounded.


    Lightning Spear was made of literal lightning. Of course, being man-made, it wasn¡¯t as fast as real light, but it also wasn¡¯t a speed that could be dodged so naturally.


    <i>One might consider it luck once, but...</i>


    How could one exin what happened to the Fireball?


    <i>Of course, the speed and uracy of a spell depends on the caster¡¯s level, but...</i>


    His Fireball was as fast as a major league pitcher¡¯s fastball. That meant it was a powerful spell exceeding 120 kilometers per hour!


    <i>How could he just slice through that with a sword?</i>


    Unknown was much more of a monster than the rumors said! The moment the Wizard realized that, he desperately fought to survive.


    <i>Damn it, if I die here, my level and items will all be at risk...</i>


    Struggling to survive the oing death was nothing less than the instinct of a high-level yer.


    And Kai understood that instinct better than anyone and knew how to exploit it.


    <i>He¡¯s lost his determination. He¡¯ll try and use Blink to escape.</i>


    Instead of attacking immediately, Kai straightened his back to elevate his line of sight. At the same time, he prepared his left hand tounch in any direction at any moment. This was the result of all that he experienced over the past few hours of hunting Wizards.


    As expected, the Wizard used Blink to reappear far away. ¡°Blink!¡±


    Simultaneously, Kai flicked his left hand.


    ¡°Holy Chains!¡±


    The chains shot out instantly, never losing the target he targeted. It was Kai''s monstrous concentration and relentless practice that created his overwhelming skill control!


    ¡°W-what is this!¡±


    The Wizard unleashed every skill to shake off the chains wrapped around his ankle, but that was useless.


    <i>It¡¯s not a Rare skill for nothing.</i>


    In the next moment, Kai pulled the chains, thrusting his sword into the Wizard''s heart as he was dragged in.


    ¡°Join yourrade.¡±


    After finishing off the Wizard who had been frozen, Kai gathered the loot and spread out his map.


    ¡°<i>Phew,</i> I guess the eastern encirclement is more or less cleared.¡±


    As a result of his relentless efforts over the past two hours, he had managed to take down over fifty Wizards. It was to the point where he could almost say he single-handedly dismantled the entire eastern, northeastern, and southeastern encirclements!


    <i>There was a surprising moment though...</i>


    Sometimes, the ck Bee Wizards hadid traps and waited for him.


    <i>Well, thanks to Skin of Magical Resistance and Tyrant of the Sea, it wasn¡¯t too dangerous.</i>


    There were only two things Kai was aiming for now. One was to help Cheonhwa and the Liberation Army escape through the eastern encirclement he had broken. And the other...


    <i>Is to destroy ck Bee.</i>


    Kai''s lips curled into a grin as he clenched his fist.


    A week ago, during the sparring match with Boyd, he had realized his shorings. The moment he recognized them, Kai had left the Elven forest to hunt.


    Kai quietly opened his stat window.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 151</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 34,100</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 59,400</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 600 Stamina: 341</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 248 Agility: 256</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 594 Dignity: 185</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 163</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance: +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: +70%</strong>


    <strong>All Attack Power: +6%</strong>


    <strong>All Speed: +6%</strong>


    Kai appeared after a week, having raised his level by a whopping 28 levels! He had the 105 remaining stat points from before, and gained 140 new stat points from leveling up, and all of those points were invested in his Strength and Holiness stats.


    <i>Thanks to that, my Strength stat is finally 600!</i>


    Unless someone was wealthy enough to cover Stamina and Agility stats with equipment, most Warriors typically invested 2-3 stat points into Strength with each level up, instead of going all-in on strength. In other words, Kai''s current strength stat was on par with that of a pure Warrior over level 200!


    <i>And the biggest gain from this hunt isn¡¯t my growth.</i>


    As he finished thinking that, a group approached him.


    ¡°How was your journey here?¡±


    They were the remaining members of the Cheonhwa guild and the Liberation Army. Theirbined number barely reached around one hundred.


    Seol Eun-Yeong replied, ¡°It was chaotic. The encirclement tightened so quickly... By the way, what about the eastern encirclement?¡±


    ¡°It''s cleared. It¡¯s safe now.¡±


    At Kai¡¯s words, not only Seol Eun-Yeong but everyone who heard him was stunned.


    <i>He broke the eastern encirclement by himself?</i>


    <i>Is he bluffing?</i>


    <i>But we really didn¡¯t encounter any enemies on the way here...</i>


    <i>Was Unknown really this skilled?</i>


    Various looks were directed at Kai. Most were filled with respect, admiration, and astonishment!


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re together, we should discuss the next part of our n.¡±


    At Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s words, Kai softly chuckled.


    ¡°No. Since the members of Cheonhwa and the Liberation Army have fought hard until now, I¡¯ll take care of it from here.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re not serious, are you?¡±


    ¡°Enhanced Summon.¡±


    <i>Snap, snap!</i>


    When Kai snapped his fingers twice, his pets were summoned.


    As always, the imposing Blizzard appeared.


    <i>And...</i>


    Kai''s eyes curved into a crescent moon as he smiled. What caught his attention was one of the greatest rewards from this hunt. It was Mimic.

 Chapter 133: Natural Enemy (3)

    <h4>Chapter 133: Natural Enemy (3)</h4>


    As Kai was about to leave with Mimic and Blizzard, a voice stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°Stop right there.¡±


    Kai turned around to find Seol Eun-Yeong standing there, exuding a chilly aura.


    <i>W-what¡¯s going on?</i>


    It felt like facing his mother who was genuinely angry!


    Slightly intimidated, Kai asked, ¡°...What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong approached Kai with a haughty expression until she was right in front of him, and slightly wrinkled her nose. She was clearly trying to look intimidating, but unfortunately, her beauty overshadowed the attempt, making her look simply beautiful instead.


    ¡°Are you telling us to leave everything to a mercenary and just sit back and watch?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I...¡±


    ¡°I know. You were trying to be considerate. But we¡¯re not so weak that we need that kind of consideration.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>...¡±


    Kai looked over her shoulder, hoping for someone to back him up, but Boyd shrugged and waved his hands, indicating he was staying out of it. In the end, Kai raised his hands in surrender and took a step back.


    ¡°Alright. We can go together. But promise me one thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°If I tell you to run, you¡¯ll do so without question.¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong stared at Kai for a moment, as if trying to gauge his intent, but the dragon-shaped helmet he worepletely concealed his gaze.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re saying this out of concern for us... so there must be something else.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I cannot exin.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Seol Eun-Yeong eptingly nodded and turned around. ¡°Just once, I¡¯ll follow a retreat order without asking questions. I swear, on my name. Is that good enough?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll proceed with the n to circle around to the north and strike the ck Bees from behind. Oh! That means we¡¯ll need topletely change our formation...¡±


    As Seol Eun-Yeong muttered to herself and walked away, Kai nced at Blizzard with a sad look.


    ¡°Blizzard, what should I do? It seems it¡¯s not just the women in my family who are scary.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrk,</i>¡± Blizzard softly snorted, as if asking if he just realized that now.


    ***


    ¡°Hardrock, deploy Earth Wall fifty meters ahead.¡±


    ¡°The enemies will be forced to the right. Group 2, deploy Ice Field on the ground in thirteen seconds.¡±


    ¡°Now! Attack!¡±


    Until now, Seol Eun-Yeong had been on the defensive against the ck Bees but with Unknown joining them, she found her confidence again and began pressing the ck Bee''s northern encirclement.


    ¡°Communication with Darimun has cut off. He¡¯s dead!¡±


    ¡°The enemy is continuing to advance from the south and west. We need orders!¡±


    ¡°Sting...¡±


    Of course, Sting wasn¡¯t just sitting doing nothing. He immediately ordered the guild members from the south and west to advance north and try to catch Cheonhwa from behind.


    <i>Is this a war?</i>


    Kai, who was experiencing themands of both Sting and Seol Eun-Yeong firsthand, couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. They were boldly making move after move as if they were ying a game of chess with each other right in front of them, and each move was a killing blow aimed at the other¡¯s throat!


    <i>But this is also reaching its limit.</i>


    The main force of the ck Bees was getting too close.


    Soon, when the full-scale battle began, it would be time to show how effective their strategies were.


    Seol Eun-Yeong was more aware of this than anyone else. She called Kai aside.


    ¡°An ambush?¡± Kai asked.


    "That''s right. A full-scale battle will start soon. We''ve already reduced their numbers significantly, so we shouldn''t be at a huge disadvantage. Moreover, if you don''t show up, the enemy will be forced to keep an eye out for you, which will slightly disrupt their focus."


    "Then when should I make my move?"


    "I''ll decide the timing, but..." Seol Eun-Yeong nced at Kai''s pets and tilted her head. "I¡¯ve seen that ck-armored summon when you fought Aosa, but I¡¯ve never seen the other one before. Can it really be of any help?"


    Kai''s gaze toward Mimic was filled with confidence. "Ah, this one may not seem like it, but it¡¯s like my secret weapon."


    ***


    At a fairlyrge clearing in the Elven Forest, about 200 yers were divided into two groups, each wary of the other.


    "<i>Tsk</i>, how humiliating..."


    Sting, with the ck Bees'' Wizards lined up behind him, clicked his tongue as he stepped forward. He quickly scanned the Cheonhwa yers.


    <i>Unknown isn''t here?</i>


    Did that mean it was an ambush? That would have been a simple but effective strategy in the current situation.


    <i>She¡¯s a woman who knows how to get under your skin.</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong was a woman who annoyed him in every way.


    Sting immediately opened his mouth, aiming to provoke her. "A woman with a stubborn will. <i>Ha</i>, you were lucky to escape the encirclement with Unknown¡¯s help."


    "It wasn''t wasps, but honeybees that swarmed me, so I tore them apart."


    "And where¡¯s Unknown?"


    "This isn¡¯t the time for you to be worrying about him, is it?¡±


    "What? <i>Pfft</i>... Bwahahaha!" Stingughed heartily, clutching his stomach, then abruptly stopped and red at Seol Eun-Yeong. "...If it weren¡¯t for Unknown, you would¡¯ve been dead long ago, yet you still dare to talk."


    "Recruiting him was part of our ability too."


    "Ah, so you used your pretty face to seduce him, I suppose?"


    "How dare you! If you utter one more filthy word to mdy..."


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    The moment Boyd, enraged, stepped forward, something brushed past his cheek. He didn¡¯t even realize he had been attacked.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 1,427 damage from Wind Cutter.]</strong>


    It wasn¡¯t until the system message appeared and blood trickled down his cheek that he realized it.


    <i>... Wind Cutter from this distance?</i>


    Boyd''s eyes trembled.


    Wind Cutter was far from being a high-level spell. It was a low-tier wind-based attack magic that even a level 20 Wizard could use.


    <i>But he hit such a distant target, at that speed, and with such precision...</i>


    It was a level of skill that required an exceptional understanding of magic, something even Boyd wasn¡¯t sure he could achieve.


    Sting nced at the dumbfounded Boyd and sneered. "When masters are speaking, dogs should keep their mouths shut. You need to keep better control of your pet."


    Seol Eun-Yeong didn¡¯t feel it was worth responding to and slowly raised her right hand. "Everyone, prepare for battle."


    "Soft. You¡¯re far too soft."


    Realizing his provocation had seeded, Sting smirked.


    <i>Unknown¡¯s ambush was a good move. However...</i>


    That was only up to a point. An ambush was most effective when the enemy was unaware of it. But now, everyone in ck Bee, including Sting, was on high alert for his presence.


    <i>Our focus might waver slightly... but it won¡¯t change the oue of this battle.</i>


    Sting leisurely raised his hand high. "Remember this. This is the power of a top ten guild."


    <i>Snap!</i>


    The moment Sting snapped, a barrage of pre-prepared spells covered the forest floor and sky. It was an overwhelming scene that couldn¡¯t be described with words unless witnessed firsthand!


    <i>A hundred Wizards casting spells, and there¡¯s no damage miss?</i>


    Each Wizard precisely dealt the amount of damage needed to their assigned target, ensuring not even a single point of damage was wasted. It was truly a wless disy of control!


    This demonstrated why the ck Bees consistently ranked among the top one or two in offensive power within the top ten guilds and why, despite beingposed entirely of Wizards, they easily outpaced other guilds in episode progression.


    ¡°<i>Aaaagh</i>!¡±


    ¡°Th-the Tank line needs urgent healing!¡±


    ¡°Healers, focus on healing the Tanks and use resurrection spells on the front lines!¡±


    ¡°W-we¡¯re losing people faster than we can heal or revive them!¡±


    Seol Eun-Yeong bit down on her lip so hard that it began to bleed.


    <i>Our difference is really this big?</i>


    They had dismantled the encirclement in the Elven Forest and killed two hundred ck Bees. She had thought they were doing well enough, and that if Cheonhwa¡¯s strength were just a bit higher, they could even rise to the ranks of the top ten guilds.


    <i>Ugh, how stupid. That was so stupid, Seol Eun-Yeong.</i>


    She had pretended to be so clever, yet failed to realize such a simple truth. Wizards were not a ss suited for guerri warfare. In fact, they were known as the flower of the battlefield because they were more specialized for full-scale battles than any other ss.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe I engaged such people in a full-scale battle...</i>


    Her overconfidence after easily breaking through the northern encirclement of the ck Bees had been the cause of her downfall.


    <i>Wait, could it be that Sting sacrificed the northern guild members on purpose...? To prevent us from dragging this out into a war of attrition?</i>


    As Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s expression showed disbelief, Sting let out a low chuckle. ¡°<i>Hah</i>. That¡¯s why they say you¡¯re too soft.¡±


    He looked at his subordinates dominating the battlefield.


    <i>Guild members are expendable anyway.</i>


    They were nothing more than pawns to solidify his position as an absolute leader.


    <i>So it¡¯s only natural to sacrifice them if it means securing my victory.</i>


    However, Seol Eun-Yeong couldn¡¯t do that. In the media, she acted to be cold, but in reality, she constantly sent reinforcements to aid isted allies and sought ways to save even one more life.


    ¡°That¡¯s the difference between you and me. The difference between those who will always be Under and those who are Over.¡±


    Sting¡¯s words were like a death sentence. Though the distance between him and Seol Eun-Yeong was far, it felt as if his mockingughter echoed in her ears.


    <i>I feel dizzy...</i>


    Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s vision blurred as she staggered.


    ¡°Shit, Mdy!¡± Boyd hurriedly cast a magic shield and supported her as he pulled her behind a rock, shouting, "I know damn well know you''d refuse, but I have to ask anyway. How about a tactical retreat?"


    ¡°...By myself?¡±


    ¡°If you aren¡¯t captured, Cheonhwa can always rise again. But the moment the guild master is caught...¡±


    Capturing the leader or failing to do so determined whether there would be another chance, and that was why Sting was so determined to wipe out Cheonhwa and personally kill Seol Eun-Yeong.


    ¡°I can¡¯t... you know that.¡±


    It had always been this way. She always strived to be the best, and tried to keep only the best by her side. But unfortunately, her efforts always ended in failure.


    <i>This time too, I...</i>


    <i>MID Online</i> was herst chance. If she couldn¡¯t seed here, her life would ultimately follow her father¡¯s ns.


    <i>I couldn¡¯t do anything.</i>


    As Seol Eun-Yeong resigned herself to her fate and closed her eyes tightly, a familiar voice nudged her.


    [Hey. We¡¯re getting pushed here. Are you timing this right?]


    <i>Unknown...?</i>


    Without him, they wouldn¡¯t have even made it this far. Even though they were in an employer-employee rtionship, she felt grateful to him.


    <i>No matter how amazing he is, he can¡¯t do anything alone in this situation.</i>


    If he got involved now, it would only lead to a pointless death.


    Eventually, Seol Eun-Yeong sighed softly and apologized.


    [I¡¯m sorry. You chose Cheonhwa, but we couldn¡¯t meet your expectations.]


    [... What do you mean by that?]


    [The battle is already over. We¡¯ve lost. You should escape, at least. As an apology... I¡¯ll pay you the full sess fee, even though we failed.]


    Seol Eun-Yeong opened the guild window and looked at the names of her guild members. Their names, glowing white, flickered out like dying light bulbs with each passing second. It was evidence that they had all died and logged out.


    <i>There are fewer than twenty left now.</i>


    Meanwhile, about eighty ck Bee Wizards still remained. It was a result that could only be seen as a nearplete defeat.


    [Escape, you say...]


    Unknown chuckled softly and continued speaking.


    [Though it may not seem like it, my family had a bit of a Spartan approach to discipline. My father always used to tell me, ¡°Help those who cry, help the weak.¡±]


    Seol Eun-Yeong stayed silent, not being able to understand.


    [Right now, you fit both categories. A weakling who¡¯s crying.]


    <i>What is he talking about... Crying? Me?</i>


    It was only after she touched her fingers to her eyes that Seol Eun-Yeong realized she was crying, and she quickly denied the reality.


    ¡°N-no way...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Unknown!¡±


    <i>What?</i>


    Before she could even wipe away her tears, Unknown appeared, standing on the highest branch near the clearing.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s not just a simple mercenary rtionship... Did you really use your charms on him?¡±


    As Sting joked andughed, the other ck Bee members burst into loudughter.


    ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>! I wouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡±


    ¡°With a face like that, there aren¡¯t many men who wouldn¡¯t fall for her.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s showing up on a battlefield that¡¯s already lost, they must be closer than we thought, right?¡±


    ¡°Look at the way they think,¡± Kai muttered to himself.


    Listening to the childish chatter of the ck Bees, he pushed off the branch and jumped into the middle of the battlefield.


    ¡°Oh? Quite confident you are...¡±


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    Blizzard and Mimic followed him, leaping down as well.


    Sting, who had been interrupted mid-sentence, made a puzzled expression for the first time since the battle began.


    <i>I¡¯ve seen that ck-armored warrior before when he took down Aosa. It was a warrior with pretty quick movements. However...</i>


    What really caught his attention was something else.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a skeleton?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean, why is something like that on a battlefield like this?¡±


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s holding a sword and shield, so it doesn¡¯t seem like a low-level skeleton.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kai smiled and responded to the ck Bees¡¯ spections. ¡°Allow me to introduce it. This one¡¯s name is Mimic, and now...¡±


    It was his pet, currently imitating a skeleton knight.


    <i>sh!</i>


    The Depraved Knight¡¯s Ring on Kai¡¯s finger shed.


    ¡°Activate Appoint skill.¡±


    <strong>[A total of 1 Skeleton Knight can be evolved to a Duhan.]</strong>


    <strong>[Appoint skill has been sessfully activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[A total of 1 Skeleton Knight has been evolved to a Duhan.]</strong>


    Darkness poured out from beneath Mimic''s feet. It quickly filled the gaps between the bones of the creature that had be a skeleton knight.


    ¡°Right. This is the maximum performance Mimic can achieve right now.¡±


    Mimic, surrounded by pitch-ck darkness and holding its head under its arm, stood protectively by Kai.


    ¡°It¡¯s my secret weapon.¡±

 Chapter 134: Natural Enemy (4)

    <h4>Chapter 134: Natural Enemy (4)</h4>


    No matter how good a skill was, it required repeated practice to build proficiency and understanding. In fact, most skill mechanisms in <i>MID Online</i> worked this way. The best example in front of them was Sting¡ªhe had elevated the beginner-level spell Wind Cutter to an astonishing level.


    Of course, this system applied not only to yers but also to their summons and pets.


    <i>Mimic was no exception.</i>


    Mimic''s mimicry was a Unique-grade skill.


    So when it first mimicked a rabbit, Kai was initially puzzled.


    <i>Why does it seem so weak for a Unique skill?</i>


    It seemed like a poor skill as it merely took on the rabbit''s appearance, and the skin, eyes, nose, mouth, and abilities of the rabbit were all poorly imitated.


    This was the main reason Kai had doubted Mimic¡¯s performance.


    <i>But I was wrong.</i>


    Over the past week, Kai had taken the time to experiment with Mimic''s abilities, and during this process, he discovered something incredible.


    <i>Each time it mimics the same target, its abilities and appearance be more refined!</i>


    When Mimic first mimicked a skeleton knight, it was just like with the rabbit. The skeleton¡¯s bones were slimy, dripping onto the ground like a slime. It was truly a pitiful sight, with not a trace of the skeleton knight¡¯s dignity!


    However, Kai didn¡¯t give up and continued to make Mimic mimic the skeleton knight. Then, after the second, third, and fourth attempts, finally on the fifth mimicry, Mimic became a perfect skeleton knight. And that wasn¡¯t the end of it.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Mimicking level 100%!]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic perfectly mimicked the Skeleton Knight.]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic perfected its understanding of the Skeleton Knight.]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic no longer requires a Skeleton Knight to be present for mimicry.]</strong>


    Once it had mimicked a target enough times to fully understand it, Mimic could reproduce the form anytime!


    Moreover, Mimic was a pet left behind by Aosa, a level 200 raid boss, so its performance was also extraordinary.


    <strong>[<u>Mimic - Perfect Skeleton Knight</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Boss Raid</strong>


    <strong>Level: 80</strong>


    <strong>HP: 44,000</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 460 Stamina: 440</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 80 Agility: 110</strong>


    <strong>-Mimic is currently mimicking a skeleton knight.</strong>


    <strong>-Depending on the summon¡¯s grade, the skeleton knight¡¯s stats are further enhanced.</strong>


    Its stats were at least double those of a typical skeleton knight!


    When Kai realized the true potential of Mimic, he felt a thrill.


    <i>Wait, so if I just nurture this one well...?</i>


    It meant that he wouldn¡¯t envy any other pet!


    Kai¡¯s heart raced at the thought of growing Mimic and having it mimic various monsters in the future.


    <i>But that¡¯s forter.</i>


    For now, there were the enemies in front of him. He needed to deal with the eighty bees first.


    ¡°Open Mimic¡¯s stat window.¡±


    <strong>[<u>Mimic - Ghastly Duhan</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Grade: Boss Raid </strong>


    <strong>Level: 130 </strong>


    <strong>HP: 62,000 </strong>


    <strong>Strength: 650 Stamina: 620 </strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 100 Agility: 170 </strong>


    <strong>-Mimic is currently unable to perfectly mimic this target, but its level has been forcibly raised using a skill. As a result, it cannot use all of duhan¡¯s skills. </strong>


    <strong>-Depending on the summon¡¯s grade, the duhan¡¯s stats are further enhanced.</strong>


    A satisfied grin spread across Kai¡¯s face as he looked at Mimic¡¯s improved state.


    At the same time, both of his hands began to glow brightly.


    <i>Mass Bless, Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Holy Enchantment, Haste...</i>


    Kai cast a series of buffs on himself and his pets, one after another!


    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Why do I suddenly feel a chill...?¡±


    ¡°<i>Gulp</i>.¡±


    Despite being faced with only three opponents, the eighty ck Bees hesitated to attack. This hesitation was proof that they were intimidated by the determination and aura of Unknown¡¯s party!


    ¡°You idiots, what are you waiting for? Attack!¡± Sting shouted angrily, and only then did the spells once again engulf the forest.


    Kai watched the iing magic calmly andmanded, ¡°Blizzard, to the left. Mimic, to the right. I¡¯ll... take the center.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrk</i>.¡±


    Blizzard dashed to the left with a grin, while Mimic pounded its head like a drum as it charged to the right!


    Kai watched them with satisfaction before drawing his weapon.


    <i>Is this the first time I¡¯m using them in front of others?</i>


    Then, what Kai slowly drew was not the Long Sword of the Enlightened One but the sword that had drastically increased his hunting speed over the past week.


    <strong><u>[Ironwill Longsword]</u> </strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 154-173</strong>


    <strong>+15 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+10 Agility</strong>


    <strong>*This de grants the user a strong will. This weapon cannot break.</strong>


    <strong>A sword that has been brought to the limit of its potential. Requires incredible power to wield.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 80+, Strength 500+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: Infinite</strong>


    It was the Unique sword made by a mysterious yer, given to him by Solid! After defeating Aosa and surpassing 500 in Strength, Kai was finally able to wield it. It was a monstrous sword with a minimum and maximum damage boost of over seventypared to the Long Sword of the Enlightened One.


    <i>And what I love most about it is...</i>


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Kai shed at the massive Fireball approaching him with his sword. If it had been the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, its Durability would have plummeted from the impact!


    However...


    <i>Boom!</i>


    <strong>[Strong Will effect applied to the sword.]</strong>


    <strong>[The sword¡¯s durability does not decrease.]</strong>


    The sword¡¯s Durability was infinite thanks to the Strong Will effect!


    ¡°He shed through a Fireball?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic and keep spamming skills!¡±


    ¡°The sword¡¯s Durability eventually will run out. Keep attacking non-stop until it does!¡±


    The ck Bees, unaware of the sword¡¯s properties, were under a serious misconception. They mistakenly believed that time was on their side!


    <i>They don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about.</i>


    Kai used Holy Chains to bind a Wizard¡¯s ankle, then spun his body around. As he did so, the Wizard formation copsed like a line of dominoes!


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s that skill again!¡±


    ¡°Holy Chains is annoying, but the damage is weak!¡±


    ¡°Just ignore it!¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to,¡± Kai replied.


    Because he wasn¡¯t fighting alone.


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    ¡°<i>Kraaah!</i>¡± Blizzard roared as it swung its two scimitars with precision at the fallen enemies.


    Mimic was just as strong, if not stronger.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s with this summon¡¯s movements?!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t an ordinary duhan!¡±


    ¡°Its magic defense is insanely high! And on top of that, its attack power is... <i>ugh</i>... powerful!¡±


    ¡°That summon is at least on the level of a boss monster! Fight it like you¡¯re in a raid!¡±


    Mimic¡¯s passive skill, Crisis Detection, alerted it to every kind of magic aimed at it in advance. The moment its instincts detected danger, Mimic moved like a ghost, dodging the spells with ease!


    ¡°D-damn it, even his summons are like monsters!¡±


    ¡°...This won¡¯t do.¡±


    Seeing the situation, Sting finally lifted his heavy body and joined the battlefield.


    <i>If we get caught up with the summons, it¡¯ll never end. Assign just enough forces to hold them off, and focus all firepower on Unknown, then take him down.</i>


    Normally, when the summoner died, their summons disappeared as well.


    Two enormous spears floated beside Sting. ¡°Reform the units! Groups 1 and 2, focus on the ck summon! Groups 3 and 4, take care of the duhan! The rest...¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    The iron spears shot toward Unknown! Though it was magic, the Iron Spear possessed physical attack power.


    <i>I¡¯ll take this hit.</i>


    For some reason, Kai didn¡¯t dodge Sting¡¯s attack and allowed himself to be struck.


    Despite being hit by just two attacks, Kai¡¯s health noticeably dropped.


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 5,172 damage from Iron Spear.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 5,189 damage from Iron Spear.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Joint Destruction status effect.] </strong>


    <strong>[All Speed reduced by 10%.]</strong>


    ¡°Everyone, attack Unknown!¡±


    ¡°... <i>Phew</i>, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.¡±


    <strong>[Joint Destruction status effect removed.]</strong>


    Kai quickly scanned the Wizards surrounding him.


    <i>All the elite Wizards of ck Bee are gathered around Sting.</i>


    It was a clear sign of Sting¡¯s sense of privilege, always keeping the strongest by his side.


    ¡°No point in looking around, you won''t find an escape. Earth Wall, Fire Wall!¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Sting and the other Wizards simultaneously raised Earth Walls and Fire Walls behind Kai.


    Kai nced back and clicked his tongue.


    <i>It¡¯ll be hard to escape.</i>


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    ¡°You¡¯re someone I can¡¯t afford to underestimate. I¡¯ll give it my all until the end.¡±


    Acknowledging Unknown as his primary main target, Sting didn¡¯t let his guard down.


    At the same time, he blocked Kai¡¯s retreat with a Fire Wall, he also cast Ice Field!


    Walls of earth and fire were behind and frozen ground in front! It was a perfectbination of spells, thoroughly restricting Kai¡¯s movements.


    ¡°The Ice Field is too slippery to run on. Your fancy footwork for dodging spells ends here, Unknown,¡± Sting dered Kai¡¯s end with a sly smile.


    But even at that moment, Kai was calcting something.


    <i>I have about 50,000 Holy Power left... Yeah, that should be enough.</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes shined as he quietly murmured, ¡°Supernova.¡±


    As the distinctive heat of Supernovabined with the forest''s humidity, sweat poured down Kai''s body like rain.


    <i>But with this, I¡¯ve gained speed.</i>


    With both effects of the titles Saint of Glendale and Saint of Whitehall, the effectiveness of all Holp Power-based skills was increased by 25%! Therefore, Supernova, which normally increased all stats by 30, now boosted them by 38.


    Kai turned his body sideways, dodging the iing Wind Cutter, and immediately unleashed Holy Chains.


    ¡°<i>Hmph</i>, do you really think I¡¯d get caught by something like this?¡±


    Sting snapped his fingers, and a spear shot up from the ground, easily deflecting the Holy Chains.


    However, that was exactly what Kai had intended!


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?!¡±


    ¡°Master!¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>?¡± Sting looked forward at the rmed cries of his subordinates. ¡°W-what?!¡±


    What he saw was Unknown, sliding across the Ice Field, pulling himself forward using the Holy Chains!


    <i>Did he know from the start that I¡¯d deflect Holy Chains... and use them on me on purpose?</i>


    Just as Sting had acknowledged Unknown as his opponent, Unknown had done the same.


    It was a strategy devised with the assumption of Sting¡¯s expertise in mind!


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>...!¡±


    Angry at being used, Sting began casting his most powerful skill.


    <i>He won¡¯t be able to stop this.</i>


    With the retreat already blocked, and while running on the Ice Field, there was no way to dodge this skill.


    <i>It¡¯s a Unique-grade skill, after all.</i>


    Sting possessed over six Unique-grade skills, an incredible array of skills befitting his rank as the third-ranked Wizard!


    <i>But from my analysis, Unknown¡¯s Magic Resistance is abnormally high.</i>


    That was why he had tested the waters with the Iron Spear during their first encounter.


    <i>His Physical Defense, on the other hand, is far lower than his Magic Resistance.</i>


    In other words, Unknown¡¯s weakness was physical damage!


    <i>A true Wizard is one who is always prepared and thoroughly analyzes the enemy.</i>


    Sting¡¯s analysis of Unknown wasplete.


    With a sly grin, Sting proudly shouted the name of his skill, ¡°Hear the mana¡¯s call and tear the enemy to shreds! de Tempest!¡±


    Hundreds of des formed around Sting, spinning like a storm.


    Kai, who had been watching, sent a message to Seol Eun-Yeong.


    [It¡¯s time to keep your promise. Run as fast as you can.]


    [Are you telling us to abandon the mercenary we hired and run away...?]


    [You promised, didn¡¯t you? On your name.]


    [Ugh...!]


    That was indeed her own words.


    Clenching her lower lip, Seol Eun-Yeong closed her eyes tightly andmanded, ¡°All units, retreat!¡±


    She nced back at Unknown, who was sliding into the storm of des, and silently apologized.


    <i>I¡¯ll repay this debt... twofold, threefold.</i>


    Kai smiled as he saw the twenty remaining Cheonhwa guild members, including Seol Eun-Yeong, retreating.


    <i>de Tempest. If it¡¯s a skill belonging to Sting, it''s likely at least a Rare-grade skill.</i>


    Kai had prior knowledge of this skill because whenever he watched ck Bees'' raid videos, this skill was always used as a finishing move.


    <i>I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment.</i>


    Kai had prepared every possible strategy to take down the ck Bees. He had Mimic, which they didn¡¯t know about, and the Ironwill Longsword, which they had never seen. He also maximized his Magic Resistance, bing their natural enemy.


    <i>That spear earlier... it really hurt.</i>


    When Sting hadunched the Iron Spear, Kai could have dodged it, but he had intentionally taken the hit.


    <i>I needed to let them know that my physical defense is low.</i>


    It was a deliberate bait. He had openly advertised it as his weakness, inviting them to exploit that specific w.


    <i>Sting is smart. Even though he¡¯s an enemy, I have to acknowledge that.</i>


    But this time, that intelligence worked against him. Being smarter than anyone, he couldn¡¯t shake the illusion that his judgment was always correct.


    ¡°Tear him apart.¡±


    Kai released the Holy Chains and pushed off the ground.


    The sight of Sting, looking down at him with arrogant eyes, grew closer and closer.


    The storm of des filled the air, shrieking like cicadas as they rushed toward Kai. To anyone, it seemed like the end for Unknown!


    However, instead of looking like someone who was about to die, Kai put on a rxed smile, and asked, ¡°As expected, the top ten guilds don¡¯t get along well, do you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If you were close with Goliath... I¡¯d be the one losing right now.¡±


    Ignoring Sting tilting his head in confusion, Kai shouted, ¡°Ethereal Body!¡±


    As Kai¡¯s body transformed into particles, the hundreds of des passed harmlessly through him and embedded themselves in the ground.


    Ethereal Body was a skill that ignored all physical damage!


    <i>Th-this can¡¯t be...!</i>


    Sting¡¯s once-proud expression crumbled. Could it be that Unknown had deliberately gotten hit by the Iron Spear at the beginning just to set this up?


    Sting¡¯s heart sank, but he didn¡¯t give up.


    <i>In Ethereal Body, he takes double damage from magic skills! If I act now...!</i>


    Summoning a Lightning Spear, he thrust it directly at Unknown.


    However, Unknown was faster. With a swift motion, Unknown grabbed Sting¡¯s face with hisrge hand, stared into Sting¡¯s wide-open eyes through his fingers, and murmured, ¡°Bye. Blue gue.¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    The blue nightmare that had once engulfed Whitehall erupted out from Kai¡¯s hand.

 Chapter 135: Even Things That Fall Have Wings

    <h4>Chapter 135: Even Things That Fall Have Wings</h4>


    Blue smoke rapidly spread, filling the clearing entirely. The trees and fruits that came into contact with the smoke quickly rotted and twisted, and the ckened, dead ground and withered weeds clearly showed that thisnd had be a ce of death.


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>!¡±


    Of course, people were no exception. Sting, unable to evenunch his Lightning Spear, clutched his throat and copsed. It felt as though his nose and mouth were being filled with flour!


    ¡°<i>Kugh, kuugh!</i>¡±


    <strong>[You¡¯ve caught the Blue gue.] </strong>


    <strong>[You will lose 1,500 HP per second.] </strong>


    <strong>[All skills are 25% less effective.] </strong>


    <strong>[-20% movement speed.]</strong>


    Created by gathering the energy of a hundred spirits, the Blue gue that Kai had unleashed was a devastating strike!


    <i>I worked my butt off hunting to gather that energy.</i>


    This was the first time he used the Blue gue after collecting the energy of a hundred monsters, but he was confident that he could thoroughly crush the ck Bees.


    <i>Now, those guys will have a hard time even while doing moving casting. Even their spells will be significantly weakened.</i>


    Moreover, without a Cleric among them, unless they carried expensive antidotes, there was no way for them to remove the status effects.


    <i>That¡¯s something I confirmed when I used Fermi¡¯s Venom on ude during the orc expedition.</i>


    Other than their difference in level, ude and the ck Bees¡¯ elite members weren¡¯t much different in terms of being Wizards.


    ¡°<i>Ugh...</i>¡±


    With trembling hands, Sting opened his inventory and brought a potion bottle to his lips.


    But of course, Kai wasn¡¯t about to just watch that happen!


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Kai swiftly kicked the potion bottle away and grabbed Sting by the cor as he writhed in pain.


    ¡°How... How dare you...!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, go ahead and enjoy your arrogance while you can, because today¡¯s thest day you¡¯ll get to do it.¡±


    Without hesitation, Kai drove his sword into Sting¡¯s abdomen.


    Then, bringing his face close to Sting¡¯s ear, he whispered, ¡°Flood of des.¡±


    <i>Whirr!</i>


    ¡°<i>Aaaargh</i>!¡±


    Sting screamed at the indescribable feeling of the strange sensation as though something was spinning inside his body. It wasn¡¯t physically painful, but it was an experience so horrific that he never wanted to go through it again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll... get back at you for this someday...¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t get the chance. Not unless I quit the game,¡± Kai coldly dered as he released Sting, whose HP hit zero.


    White polygons scattered onto the ground.


    ¡°Oh, he left something nice behind.¡±


    Kai picked up the staff that Sting had favored and turned around with a smirk.


    In his line of sight were the terrified Wizards, along with Blizzard and Mimic.


    Kai lightly gestured to his summons, ¡°Finish them off.¡±


    ***


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>...!¡±


    Mimic swung its sword, taking down thest remaining Wizard.


    The ck Bees had been defeated! It was an event so unbelievable that even if a news anchor reported it on the morning news, people would find it hard to believe.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>... It¡¯s finally over.¡±


    The forest clearing, which had been packed with two hundred yers just an hour ago, now held only three standing figures.


    ¡°You did well, Blizzard, Mimic.¡±


    Kai praised his pets for their efforts and then unsummoned them. He intended to let them rest after all their hard work.


    <i>Finished collecting the items... It¡¯s quite the haul.</i>


    The gear dropped by the eighty or so Wizards amounted to a whopping twenty-eight items! Among them, twenty-four were Rare items, and Sting had dropped a Unique-grade staff.


    ¡°I¡¯ll put these up for auctionter and make some good money.¡±


    However, there was something he had to do first. He lifted the Unique staff high, made a cheese pose, and took a screenshot.


    ¡°<i>Hehe,</i> let¡¯s make a meme that¡¯ll make Sting eternally suffer, shall we?¡±


    That photo was quickly posted to themunity under Unknown¡¯s name.


    Unknown¡¯s ount was already famous in themunity, so it didn¡¯t take long for it to gain attention.


    -What is this?


    -Hey, wait a minute. I think I¡¯ve seen that staff before...


    -Isn¡¯t that the Staff of the Deceived Wraith?


    ©¸ That¡¯s the Unique staff Sting uses, right?


    ©¸ No way, why does Unknown have it... Wait, could it be?


    -Is this for real?


    For a moment, the yers couldn¡¯tprehend Unknown¡¯s photo, but that confusionsted only briefly. The meaning behind his victory cheese pose was all too clear.


    -Unknown did it!


    -That¡¯s crazy! Cheonhwa actually took down the ck Bees!


    -If that staff is in Unknown¡¯s hands... It means Sting died at least once, right?!


    -Insane, absolutely insane! Where on earth did this guy evene from?


    Themunity yers loved to gossip as it was, and now they had the defeat and fall of a top ten guild to fuel their chatter!


    Kai smiled as he watched the yers excitedly chatter away.


    ¡°Even things that fall have wings.¡±


    Even if those wings belonged to bees.


    Kai closed the inte browser and looked around him.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>. But what should I do about this?¡±


    Due to the aftermath of the Blue gue, the trees, nts, and fruits in the clearing had all died. It was a sight that the elves, who considered themselves the guardians of the forest, would never appreciate!


    Kai anxiously ced his hand on the ground.


    ¡°Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.¡±


    <i>Whooom!</i>


    As the skill was cast and bright light touched the ground, surprisingly, the dead soil began to sprout weeds.


    At the same time, Kai¡¯s expression brightened.


    <i>Oh! I think I can restore this.</i>


    Since Kai nned to visit the Elven Vige, he couldn¡¯t afford to upset them!


    Though he wanted to rest his tired body, he went around the clearing, reviving the deadnd.


    <i>The Blue gue skill is powerful, but I can¡¯t use it recklessly.</i>


    He especially wouldn¡¯t be able to use it in a city, as turning an entire city into and of death would put a bounty on his head.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>, all done.¡±


    Just as Kai finished cleaning up, his message window began to flood with notifications.


    ¡°Well, the queen of Cheonhwa sure is impatient,¡± Kai chuckled to himself.


    ***


    "What exactly happened?" Seol Eun-Yeong asked, her face mixed with shock, confusion, joy, and more confusion.


    "I fought, and I won," Kai replied.


    Unfortunately, it was a simple answer that didn¡¯t live up to her expectations.


    She let out a light sigh before saying, "...Alright. I suppose it¡¯s not polite to ask any further."


    <i>Smart. She knows the difference between what she should and shouldn¡¯t ask.</i>


    Kai was impressed with Seol Eun-Yeong¡¯s tactful response.


    A yer¡¯s skills, items, and battle patterns were precious assets, and the higher one climbed in the rankings, the more valuable that information became.


    <i>If I hadn¡¯t seen de Tempest in the ck Bees¡¯ raid videos...</i>


    He wouldn¡¯t have been able to devise the strategy he just used!


    "Here," Seol Eun-Yeong said as she ced a heavy pouch of gold on the table.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. It looks like there¡¯s more in here than we agreed upon."


    "I added more. You did far, far better than I expected. It¡¯s a token of my gratitude."


    "I¡¯m not one to refuse a gift, but..."


    As Kai trailed off, Seol Eun-Yeong, understanding immediately, shook her head. "There¡¯s no catch. I swear on my name that this money is solely for you defeating the ck Bees.¡±


    "In that case, I¡¯ll dly ept it." With his doubts cleared, Kai smiled and put the pouch of money into his inventory. "But wasn¡¯t the sess fee supposed to be given when Cheonhwa bes a top ten guild?"


    "We will make it for sure. If we don¡¯t rise after everything you¡¯ve done, that would be a failure on my part," Seol Eun-Yeong said with a smile she had never shown before.


    Seeing the confident determination in that smile, Kai nodded and stood up. "Then I wish you a long life and sess in your business... no, in your guild."


    "If our interests align, let¡¯s work together again. The doors of Cheonhwa are always open."


    "I thought you¡¯d try to recruit me again, but you¡¯re not even trying this time."


    "Would you stay if I did? No, right?"


    <i>She figured me out way too quickly.</i>


    Kai smiled faintly under his helmet and then left Cheonhwa¡¯s guild headquarters.


    "Let¡¯s see... <i>Whoa</i>, how much did she put in here?"


    Kai was shocked when he checked the gold pouch in a back alley of the city. It contained a whopping 2,000 gold, equivalent to two hundred million won in real money.


    <i>I was supposed to get 1,000 gold... but she just doubled it. Definitely a golden spoon!</i>


    Money could make even ghosts dance!


    Kai, now grinning from ear to ear, closed his inventory.


    <i>What was supposed to be a simple visit to the Elven Vige ended up taking longer than expected.</i>


    But he was relieved to have wrapped things up well.


    <i>The ck Bee bastards will log in once their penalty is over though...</i>


    Being at the top was a position that couldn¡¯t ept defeat, and the ck Bee guild, having been crushed by Unknown, could no longer reign as champions.


    <i>Still, their power won¡¯t just disappear. I¡¯ll have to be careful for a while.</i>


    With that resolve in mind, Kai logged off.


    ***


    [By a vote of 9 in favor and 0 against, Sting has been expelled.]


    [Vulcan: Any final words?]


    [Sting: ...]


    [Sting has left the chat room.]


    Sting left the chat room on his own, preserving what little pride he had left.


    After he left, the heavy atmosphere in the chat room slightly lightened.


    [Vulcan: I never thought Sting would be taken out.]


    [Goliath: A defeated dog has no ce in this room.]


    [Xao Lin: I read in the articles that he was taken down by Unknown.]


    [Sandro: I¡¯ve thought this for a while... but that guy is something else. I never thought he would take down ck Bee.]


    [Katherine: Haha, but even so, the ck Bees were the weakest among us...]


    [Minerva: ... They¡¯re not, actually. Which is the problem. What do we do now?]


    [Yoshiatsu: ...]


    [Katherine: What do you mean? We were all going our separate ways anyway, right? Whether a pir copses or a mountain crumbles, just don¡¯t worry about it.]


    [Goliath: In any case, one thing is clear. From today onward, the names of Cheonhwa and Unknown...]


    [Leonard: ...Have risen to a levelparable to the top ten guilds.]


    [Vulcan: I¡¯m curious to see his next move.]


    To the guild masters, Unknown was no longer just a rookie or a shooting star.


    <i>Any chance he gets, he woulde for my head...</i>


    <i>A fierce hunter.</i>


    <i>But at the same time, if we could bring him into our guild...</i>


    <i>We could create an overwhelming power gap between us and the other top ten guilds.</i>


    All the powerful figures had their eyes on Unknown¡¯s next move.


    ***


    After a long night¡¯s sleep, Kai went through his routine of brushing his teeth, washing his face, eating cereal, and logging into the game.


    <i>... I¡¯ve made a ton of money. After this quest, I should find a nice ce with a view and treat myself to some steak.</i>


    It was the simple life of a gaming addict... no, a professional gamer!


    <i>Crack.</i>


    Feeling refreshed after a good stretch, Kai wasted no time heading toward the Elven Forest.


    ¡°This is the spot where Unknown wiped out the ck Bees!¡±


    ¡°Get your Unknown skewers here! Tender chicken topped with mustard, BBQ sauce, or ketchup!¡±


    ¡°Honey, am I in the shot?¡±


    ¡°Yep, one, two, three, cheese!¡±


    In just one day, the Elven Forest had turned into a tourist attraction! Previously, only those seeking the Elven vige would visit, but now it was packed with people.


    <i>All these people are here because of the rumors about me?</i>


    Vendors were selling their goods with his name pped on everything, but anyone could see that they were just ordinary chicken skewers or popcorn!


    Yet, the poprity was undeniable.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take an Unknown skewer!¡±


    ¡°How much for an Unknown popcorn?¡±


    <i>This... this can¡¯t be real.</i>


    Watching the bustling crowd, Kai realized that from now on, he would have to be mindful of every action and word he made. It dawned on him that his influence had grown beyond that of a mere yer.


    <i>Sigh, is this the burden of fame...?</i>


    It was a secret pain he could share with no one!


    With a heavy heart, Kai went deeper into the forest.


    Following the map given to him by Ayana¡¯s mother, he intended to enter the Elven Vige.


    ¡°Just a little further and...¡±


    Just as he was muttering to himself and looking at the map, the screen suddenly turned red.


    <strong>[You have been struck by a poison arrow.] </strong>


    <strong>[Poison Master skill activated.] </strong>


    <strong>[Sessfully resisted Sala¡¯s poison.]</strong>


    Kai was speechless.

 Chapter 136: Elven Village (1)

    <h4>Chapter 136: Elven Vige (1)</h4>


    Kai wondered if he had just gotten ambushed in such a secluded part of the forest. And on top of that, he wasn¡¯t even wearing his Tyrant of the Sea set, just his Cleric robes, so there was no way anyone could have known he was Unknown.


    As Kai stood there with a bewildered expression, someone perched on a tree branch suddenly dropped to the ground.


    "<i>Hehe</i>, I¡¯ve been waiting for you, human who wields the power of the Blue gue."


    The man who spoke arrogantly had pitch-ck skin and pointed ears.


    <i>An elf...? No, a dark elf!</i>


    They were recorded in the monster book, ssified as monsters rather than demi-human NPCs.


    <i>The books in the library mentioned that dark elves are ssified as monsters because they are violent and aggressive.</i>


    As Kai¡¯s eyes widened, the man chuckled. "Oh, you¡¯d better not think about moving. You¡¯ve been poisoned with Sala¡¯s poison, so the more you move, the faster it¡¯ll spread..."


    ¡°Holy Chains.¡±


    With no other questions, Kai immediately bound the man in chains and mmed him to the ground.


    It wasn¡¯t until his head hit the ground that he let out a scream. ¡°Th-this can¡¯t be! I definitely coated the arrowhead with Sala¡¯s poison!¡±


    Ignoring his words, Kai asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly attack me?¡±


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>, just kill me!¡±


    <i>Oh, so there is a reason.</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes shone with interest. Monsters usually had no reason to attack yers. They just struck first when they saw them, but this dark elf was different. He had mentioned the Blue gue right from the start.


    <i>Could it be that the dark elves are connected to the Church of Muldine?</i>


    If that were true, it was crucial to find out what he knew.


    Kai tightened his grip on the Holy Chains, causing the chains to be tight and squeeze the man¡¯s body.


    ¡°<i>Arghh</i>!¡±


    ¡°Did the Church of Muldine send you?¡±


    ¡°... Church of Muldine? What nonsense is that? I know nothing of such a thing,¡± the dark elf firmly denied it.


    <i>Interesting.</i>


    Kai pressed his foot down on the elf¡¯s back, surveying the area.


    <i>Luckily, it seems pretty deserted around here.</i>


    After all, it was a dark and secluded spot deep in the forest!


    <i>Snap, snap!</i>


    Then, Kai snapped his fingers, summoning Blizzard and Mimic.


    Seeing the summoned Blizzard and Skeleton Knight Mimic, the dark elf scoffed. ¡°<i>Hah</i>, are you gonna torture me? I¡¯m a proud scout of my tribe. I won¡¯t break under mere human torture.¡±


    <i>This guy practically advertises that he¡¯s hiding something with everything he says.</i>


    Kai shook his head, then looked down at the determined expression on the elf¡¯s face and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure if this qualifies as torture. Guys, attack, but keep him alive.¡±


    Aftermanding that, Kai sat down on a nearby tree stump and casually browsed themunity window.


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>, <i>argh</i>!¡±


    The dark elf scout, over level 210, had incredible endurance. Even with Blizzard and Mimic attacking him with full force, he managed tost a full twenty minutes!


    When Mimic tugged on Kai¡¯s sleeve, he stood up from his seat.


    ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Mimic nodded.


    The dark elf¡¯s face was swollen, but he looked up at Kai with a sly grin.


    <i>Heh, you didn¡¯t ask me anything and resorted to violence, but... in the end, I didn¡¯t spill the truth.</i>


    There was a certain pride that came from knowing things weren¡¯t going as the opponent intended!


    However, Kai simply stared down at the dark elf and ced a hand on his forehead.


    ¡°Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.¡±


    His holy power glowed for a moment and then sank into the dark elf¡¯s body.


    ¡°Ah, thank goodness,¡± Kai smiled as he watched the elf¡¯s wounds begin to heal.


    <i>I was worried he might take damage from my holy power if he was connected to the Church of Muldine... but it¡¯s healing him just fine.</i>


    <strong>[You have healed the dark elf scout.] </strong>


    <strong>[You have healed the dark elf scout.] </strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    As his vitality quickly returned, the dark elf burst intoughter. ¡°<i>Hahaha</i>! How pathetic.¡±


    At the same time, his expression was as if he knew exactly what Kai was thinking!


    ¡°Did you think I¡¯d be grateful to you for healing me? You¡¯re sorely mistaken! No one feels grateful to someone who gives them a disease and then offers the cure.¡±


    ¡°Grateful? No, no, I wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡± Kai waved his hand dismissively with a smirk and turned back to his seat without even looking back, saying, ¡°Guys, what are you waiting for? Attack. Don¡¯t forget to keep him alive.¡±


    Then, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.


    The dark elf, with a look that seemed to ask if this was a bit much, urgently called out, ¡°Human, human!¡±


    But by then, Kai had already turned up the music and was leisurely browsing themunity window!


    As the dark elf¡¯s lips quivered, Blizzard and Mimic slowly approached him.


    ***


    ¡°Ah, so that''s what happened.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn''t it have been nice if you had just said so from the start?¡±


    In front of Kai, who was sitting cross-legged on a tree stump, the dark elf with a face swollen like a snowball was kneeling.


    That was the result after two hours of what could be considered torture, even if it wasn¡¯t technically called that!


    <i>Even though he¡¯s an NPC, it¡¯s still painful to see a being¡¯s spirit break.</i>


    But in the end, the result was favorable, as he managed to hear the full story!


    Kai recalled the information he had gathered, and his expression turned serious.


    <i>Who would¡¯ve thought the remnants of the Church of Muldine would try to make contact with the dark elves?</i>


    ording to what the dark elf said, there were two elven viges in the Elven Forest. One was the typical Elven Vige Kai had intended to visit, and the other was the vige of the dark elves, like the one who was sitting in front of him, sniveling.


    <i>Since dark elves are considered monsters... it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they allied with the Church of Muldine.</i>


    The Church of Muldine had certainly learned from their defeat in thest war. The lesson was not to underestimate the demi-humans.


    <i>This is the second time now.</i>


    The first was with the merfolk. The Church of Muldine had allied with the naga tribe to try to destroy the merfolk kingdom.


    They understood better than anyone how terrifying a force could be when demi-humans and humans joined together! However, that attempt failed by Kai¡¯s invinciblebo of immortality and the magic conch shell.


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>.¡±


    It seemed wise to report this critical information to Tardal.


    As Kai slowly began to stand up, a sharp whistling sound sliced through the air near his ear.


    <i>An arrow?! </i>


    Kai¡¯s reaction was swift, but by the time he noticed the sound, the arrow had already pierced a heart.


    ¡°<i>K-kugh</i>...¡±


    Not his heart, but the dark elf''s.


    ¡°Hey, no!¡±


    Kai hurriedly attempted to use a healing spell, but it was useless against someone who had already turned into polygons.


    ¡°<i>Krooo</i>!¡±


    At the same time, Blizzard and Mimic, who had been quiet, suddenly began crying loudly.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Kai tried to calm them down, but they couldn¡¯t be soothed.


    <i>Blizzard¡¯s reaction... It''s simr to when it first saw Aosa.</i>


    Of course, back then, Blizzard had been frozen in fear, whereas now it seemed to feel eager to win in the uing battle.


    <i>If they¡¯re reacting this way... there¡¯s definitely someone nearby.</i>


    Kai closed his eyes and focused all his senses on his hearing. Among the countless sounds entering his ears, he gradually filtered out the unnecessary ones like the sound of the wind rustling the branches, the chirping of birds, and then, he heard the sound of the wind suddenly changing direction as it collided with something!


    <i>Got you!</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes abruptly opened as he quickly turned and unleashed Holy Chains without hesitation.


    ¡°<i>Aaaaah</i>!¡±


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Rushing over, Kai saw what had fallen on the ground.


    ¡°<i>Ughh...</i>¡±


    Two pointed ears slightly quivered, possibly from pain, andrge, teary eyes blinked up at him. Their nose, which was so perfect that it needed no cosmetic enhancement, had turned red, perhaps from anger.


    Then, Kai looked down and noticed the elf woman¡¯s skin color.


    <i>... White.</i>


    That meant she was a regr elf, not a dark elf, just like the one he had been searching for!


    With an embarrassed expression, Kai extended his right hand. ¡°<i>Uh</i>, sorry about that. I thought you were an enemy...¡±


    Then, another arrow suddenly flew toward them. It grazed Kai''s earlobe and embedded itself in the ground.


    <i>Is this a warning not to move?</i>


    Kai drew his weapon, calming Mimic and Blizzard who were howling, and slowly lifted his head.


    The dense forest was thick with trees, and on the branches that extended from those trees stood dozens of elves, their bows drawn.


    <i>When did they get here?</i>


    They were truly worthy of being called the guardians of the forest!


    Even Mimic, with its Unique-grade Crisis Detection skill, had only sensed the female elf right in front of him and hadn¡¯t noticed the others at all.


    <i>I could deal with the arrows if I used Ethereal Body, but...</i>


    Kai hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.


    <i>I didn¡¯te here to fight them, anyway.</i>


    As he raised both hands to show he had no intention of fighting, the elf who had been lying at his feet suddenly tackled him to the ground. It was a wless double-leg takedown, so clean that a professional jiu-jitsu fighter would have given it a thumbs-up!


    She growled in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯d better be prepared, you ally of that dark-skinned bastard.¡±


    ¡°<i>Um</i>, suddenly making such racially chargedments is a bit...¡±


    ¡°Quiet! Tell those things to drop their weapons now!¡±


    <i>What a loud voice she has.</i>


    Kai snapped his fingers and unsummoned his pets.


    ¡°Better now?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a summoner, <i>huh</i>? Keep your mouth shut.¡±


    She mmed Kai¡¯s head into the ground and tied his hands behind his back. After binding his wrists tightly with something, she finally grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled him to a sitting position.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    The elves, who had been standing on the branches, came down to the ground and surrounded Kai. During this process, they made absolutely no noise!


    Forced to kneel like a criminal, Kai looked around at the elves encircling him and couldn''t help but let out admiration.


    <i>Wow...</i>


    It was hard to believe a race could have such a high ratio of handsome men and beautiful women! Each one of them boasted a face and physique that could rival actors and models.


    Then, an elf who had three yellow stripes painted across his cheek, approached Kai and said, ¡°Human, we saw you conversing with the dark elf tribe. What did you discuss?¡±


    Kai wondered why he would ask such a thing when they had supposedly witnessed it themselves! Anyone could see it was a scene between a torturer and the tortured!


    Kai let out a soft sigh and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that elves can distinguish whether someone is telling the truth or not.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Then you should be able to determine if what I¡¯m saying is true. First of all, I am not an ally of the dark elves,¡± Kai said with confidence, his gaze unwavering.


    The elves, who had been staring into his eyes for a moment, looked at each other, taken aback.


    ¡°W-what is this?¡±


    ¡°This human... his truth level is high!¡±


    ¡°When someone has such a high truth level, it almost always means they¡¯re telling the truth...¡±


    ¡°Then did we make a mistake?¡±


    ¡°But that human used the power of <i>the</i> Blue gue.¡±


    ¡°And then he purified thend afterward.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we came to confirm his identity.¡±


    The elves couldn¡¯t hide their confusion, and even the elf questioning Kai had his eyes filled with uncertainty.


    After a moment of silence, the elf slowly asked, ¡°Then... what are you?¡±


    Kai then smiled and confidently replied, ¡°Sric Cleric, an apostle.¡±

 Chapter 137: Elven Village (2)

    <h4>Chapter 137: Elven Vige (2)</h4>


    An unexpected stillness descended upon the forest!


    Kai enjoyed the silence like a singer enjoying the afterglow of a performance, and met the eyes of each elf one by one.


    "W-what...?"


    "That¡¯s true?!"


    "What is going on...?"


    The elves who met his gaze all showed expressions of disbelief as they recognized that Kai''s words were true!


    "Well, this is bewildering, human," the highest-ranking elf who had questioned Kai said. "But as it turns out, everything you''ve said is correct. Luna?"


    "...<i>Hmph</i>."


    The woman who had been holding onto the back of Kai¡¯s neck swiftly drew a dagger and cut the vines that had bound him.


    "It¡¯s been hundreds of years since an apostle has visited. What is your purpose ining to the forest?"


    "I¡¯vee to visit the vige where the elves reside. I¡¯ve heard that there is an item left by my predecessors."


    "<i>Hmm</i>... so you''re here to retrieve a relic."


    Even though Kai had shown no change in expression when he learned he was an apostle himself, the mention of the relic made him look mncholic.


    "Since the rightful owner hase... I guess there''s no other choice." Muttering to himself, the elf extended his hand to Kai. "My name is Elduin. Let¡¯s go. I will escort you to the vige. We also have questions about the power of the Blue gue."


    "Yes, then I gratefully ept..."


    "Wait, Boss!" the woman named Luna suddenly knelt before Elduin, calling out to stop him. "Even if it¡¯s certain that he¡¯s an apostle, now is not the time. The relic is currently..."


    "Luna." Elduin, with a stern expression, rebuked her. "Elves do not covet what is not theirs. That is why we can purely resent those who covet our forest. Don¡¯t forget that."


    "But..."


    "I will hear no more. Stand up."


    "Y-yes..."


    Taking Elduin''s hand, Kai stood up and began to move along with them, observing his surroundings.


    <i>What¡¯s going on? Everyone¡¯s face darkened as soon as the relic was mentioned.</i>


    Even Elduin, who had been so blunt, showed a mncholy expression, so it was easy to imagine how the others felt.


    <i>Well, I guess I¡¯ll find out once we get there.</i>


    With the elves escorting him, Kai went deeper into the center of the forest.


    After walking for some time, the group suddenly came to a stop.


    <i>Is this the entrance to the vige...? But there¡¯s nothing here.</i>


    There was only arge clearing.


    As Kai blinked in confusion, Elduin turned to him and said, "From here on, follow my footsteps exactly as I tread them. If you make a mistake, you might get lost in an illusion, so do be careful."


    "Understood."


    Then, Elduin began to walk forward with strange steps. His steps were so bizarre that even professional models wouldn''t attempt such a walk!


    As Kai focused on following the footsteps, he suddenly realized that the surroundings had changed.


    "Oh..." admiration escaped his mouth.


    It was a pure expression of awe without any embellishment!


    <i>I can¡¯t believe such a ce exists in this world!</i>


    Dozens of fireflies floated peacefully, illuminating the vige. In the center of the vige stood an ancient tree that was thousands of years old, with enormous branches stretching out, boasting its magnificence. And the unique elf houses, unlike any human construction and unseen anywhere on Earth, also caught his eye.


    <i>Did they use trees and vines to build their homes? I kind of wanna go in and try sleeping there.</i>


    To put it bluntly, it was a sight too precious to witness alone. Hundreds of handsome men and beautiful women roamed freely in this eco-friendly living space!


    Kai finally understood why yers sought out the Elven Vige. It was to capture this mysterious scenery in their own memories.


    "Wee to the Elven Vige, Luteria."


    "Thank you for having me."


    "Wait here. I¡¯ll be back after I report to the higher-ups."


    As Elduin and a few warriors left, Kai found himself the center of attention, like a monkey in a zoo.


    "Is that a human?"


    "How strange-looking!"


    "Their ears are small and round. Can they even hear properly like that?"


    "His body proportions seem a bit off too."


    Sometimes, pure curiosity could be the most devastating attack!


    As Kai made a pained expression, the surroundings suddenly grew noisy.


    "The Queen is here!"


    "Everyone, step back!"


    Amidst the murmuring, the elves who had been watching Kai took a step back. At the same time, a group of elves began approaching him.


    <i>Wow, she looks so benevolent.</i>


    Even though she was aplete stranger, her kind face suddenly reminded him of his mother! Yet, she still had the inherent beauty of an elf.


    Kai instinctively realized that she was the queen and knelt on one knee to greet her. "The fourth Sris Cleric greets the Queen of the Elves."


    "Please rise. An apostle and an elf are sworn friends by covenant. Such formalities are unnecessary."


    "Thank you for your kindness."


    As Kai stood up, the queen stared intently at his face. "My name is nia. I am the only queen of the elves and a child of the World Tree, Luteria. What is your name?"


    "My name is Kai, Your Majesty."


    "Alright, Kai. Could you answer a few questions for me?"


    "Of course."


    "First, have a seat."


    As nia made a light gesture, a stone chair rose from the ground.


    <i>W-we''re going to have a conversation here? In such a public ce?</i>


    It felt like an interrogation, but Kai had no choice.


    As he sat down, nia asked in a soft voice, "First, Kai, could you tell me how you became an apostle of the sun?"


    "It''s actually a trivial story."


    Kai exined in detail about the shrine where he had be an apostle of the sun.


    "So it¡¯s true. You are indeed an apostle, Helik¡¯s beloved envoy on earth."


    "Well, I don¡¯t know about beloved... But, does this prove my identity, Your Majesty?"


    "Yes, but there are still some questions remaining." nia hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to ask, "Kai, did you use the power of the Blue gue in the western clearing of the forest a few days ago?"


    "Yes, I did."


    There was no point in lying to the elves.


    When Kai confidently nodded, the surrounding elves grew agitated.


    "Th-the power of the Blue gue is..."


    "The cursed nightmare of the Church of Muldine!"


    "<i>Eeeeek</i>!"


    "How could the envoy of the Srian God wield such power?"


    As they panicked, nia raised her hand to calm them down, saying, "Everyone, calm down. Nothing has been fully revealed yet."


    She then gave Kai a look that demanded an exnation, to which he calmly responded, "The Blue gue Aosa. I defeated it with my own hands. Thanks to that, I gained some control over its power."


    "Over Aosa...?"


    "So the blue nightmare no longer exists in this world?"


    "<i>Huh</i>... That¡¯s incredible."


    The elves reacted with a variety of expressions!


    <i>Well, it¡¯s better for me if they ask these questions publicly like this.</i>


    Elves couldn''t be deceived by lies, so all he had to do was speak the truth since he had nothing to hide!


    "...I see. Understood." nia sighed softly and gestured, "You came to our vige to retrieve a sacred relic, correct?"


    "That''s right. The relic kept by the elves is..."


    "The Holy Pauldron Nike. It was a robe that Shimizu loved to wear."


    "I see, then may I receive it now?"


    "Well, that is..." A shadow as dark as a storm cloud fell across nia''s face. "Could you dy the retrieval of the relic just a bit longer?"


    "...Pardon?"


    Kai tilted his head in confusion at her earnest expression.


    <i>Come to think of it, the elves'' faces have been suspicious every time the relic was mentioned.</i>


    Their expressions looked as if the weight of the world¡¯s worries had been dropped on them!


    "I¡¯ll listen to your reasons and then decide."


    "Well... I''m not sure if you''re aware, but we elves are the children of the World Tree, Luteria."


    "Oh, just like the name of the vige."


    "Yes. Without the World Tree, the elven race could not exist. Most elves are born from the fruit of the World Tree."


    <i>So... elves are kind of like cordyceps?</i>


    Kai tilted his head, puzzled. ¡°Are you saying that because you are born from the fruit... you cannot have children naturally?¡±


    ¡°It is biologically possible, but since weck sexual desire, we usually pray to Luteria. Then, she blesses us with children.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    They were such a wholesome race!


    ¡°But Luteria is not in good health at the moment.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°... It¡¯s all because of the dark elves.¡± nia let out a sigh that seemed toe from deep within her. ¡°The dark elves were once part of our tribe. But a thousand years ago, as the Devil descended upon the continent and the Church of Muldine brought nightmares periodically, our tribe became divided.¡±


    ¡°Divided, how?¡±


    ¡°A faction of elves emerged, believing that we needed to gain even greater power.¡±


    ¡°But aren¡¯t elves already strong?¡±


    The strength of the demi-human races was generally powerful. Even the merfolk Kai had encountered, though unable to exert their full power against their natural enemies, the nagas, had an average level of at least 200. Moreover, the king of the merfolk, Karius, was a giant among giants, boasting a level exceeding 400.


    <i>And from what I can see... neither Elduin nor the queen seem to becking in strength.</i>


    In other words, the elves were already quite powerful!


    However, nia shook her head. ¡°But the dark forces that spread across the continent always surpassed our expectations. Our current power was just barely enough to struggle against them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unbelievable...¡±


    He wondered how high the levels of those monsters were for such a thing to be true.


    As Kai¡¯s expression also grew serious, she continued, ¡°The extremists wanted even greater power. In the end, they abandoned their identity and severed their bond with the World Tree, and in exchange, gained cursed skin and great strength.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why their skin color is different.¡±


    ¡°But they couldn''t understand our moderate faction. Eventually, while the conflicts in the Elven Forest persisted, the dark elvesunched an attack on our vige."


    ¡°Then what happened?¡±


    ¡°They poured the poison given to them by the Church of Muldine at the base of the World Tree. As a result, Luteria has ceased all activity and is focusing solely on recovery.¡± nia¡¯s voice sounded notably sorrowful. ¡°For now, the power of the sacred relic is maintaining the barrier that conceals our vige, but if you were to take the relic now...¡±


    ¡°The barrier would fall, right?¡±


    ¡°Can you please reconsider?¡±


    Herrge eyes seemed ready to spill tears at the slightest touch!


    Kai stared at her for a moment and then stood up. ¡°I would like to see Luteria first. Perhaps the power of the Sric Cleric can find a way to heal her.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s dangerous. She is currently emitting a powerful poison, so even getting close could be...¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Kai threw back his shoulders and straightened his back confidently. ¡°Poisons are my specialty.¡±

 Chapter 138: Elven Village (3)

    <h4>Chapter 138: Elven Vige (3)</h4>


    "Then, on behalf of the elves, I ask you to please heal the World Tree, Luteria."


    "This is my specialty. Leave it to me, Your Majesty." Kai nodded confidently and then lifted his head. Even without looking far, the enormous World Tree was easily within view! ¡°They say you should strike while the iron is hot. Let''s go right away.¡±


    Following the elf queen''s guidance, Kai made his way to the path leading inside Luteria.


    "Kai, this is as far as we can go. If we get any closer, the poisonous fumes will cause us to lose consciousness..."


    "Right. This is close enough."


    Leaving the elves behind, Kai slowly approached Luteria. He had already felt the tree''s majesty upon first entering the vige, but seeing it up close was even more awe-inspiring.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe this is a tree... It¡¯s as tall as a skyscraper.</i>


    It was a building crafted by nature, without any human intervention!


    At the same time, Kai realized why the elf queen had given such stern warnings.


    <i>It¡¯s simr to the situation with Aosa.</i>


    A thick red mist clung low around Luteria. Moreover, this poison was not something Kai could simply dismiss.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Poison Master skill activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Due to your Poison Master skill, you are highly resistant to Akasha''s Judgment.]</strong>


    <strong>[You receive 2,000 damage per second.]</strong>


    <strong>[Recovery rate of HP, Mana, and Holy Power is significantly reduced.]</strong>


    "This is even with resistance from the Poison Master skill?!"


    Shocked, Kai quickly used the Sunlight¡¯s Warmth skill.


    <strong>[HP has been restored by 4,000.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have purified Akasha''s Judgment.]</strong>


    <strong>[Poisoned status effect removed.]</strong>


    With a sigh of relief, Kai stared at the thick red mist and said, "Analyze poison."


    <strong>[Poison Master skill activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Analyzing...]</strong>


    <strong>[Poison analysisplete.]</strong>


    <strong><u>[Akasha''s Judgment]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Legendary</strong>


    <strong>This poison is the culmination of a thousand years of research by the dark clerics of the Church of Muldine. </strong>


    <strong>Just a small amount inhaled from the air causes fatal damage.</strong>


    <strong>While poisoned, all forms of regeneration are significantly slowed.</strong>


    <strong>Rarity: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï</strong>


    <strong>Toxicity: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï</strong>


    The moment the potion was analyzed, Kai let out a breathless gasp.


    "Kai, are you alright? If it''s too much, quicklye back this way!"


    When the elf queen saw his reaction from a distance, she called out in concern, but Kai shook his head.


    "No, it''s not because I''m poisoned..." Kai¡¯s words trailed off as he stared at the interface window in front of him.


    <i>The toxicity and rarity aren¡¯t just five stars? And it''s a Legendary-grade poison?</i>


    It was a poison perfected by the Church of Muldine after a thousand years of research!


    As Kai calmed his surprised heart, his eyes sparkled.


    <i>Wait, when I appraised Rare-grade and Unique-grade poisons...</i>


    His appraisal skill proficiency had increased before, so he now wondered what would happen since he just analyzed a Legendary-grade poison. And that question was quickly resolved.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have analyzed a Legendary poison!]</strong>


    <strong>[Appraisal skill proficiency has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Appraisal skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Appraisal skill is now Advanced Lv. 1.]</strong>


    Satisfied, Kai allowed a smile to form and nodded.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe the proficiency that was stuck at Intermediate Lv. 9 has finally been resolved at once.</i>


    This was a ssic example of killing two birds with one stone.


    <i>Now I can appraise the sacred relic as well. But for now...</i>


    There was something more urgent to do.


    Kai walked straight through the door leading into the massive World Tree, Luteria.


    ***


    The interior of Luteria wasn¡¯t veryrge. In fact, there was only a narrow corridor, making it easy to find his way around.


    ¡°But something¡¯s strange,¡± Kai muttered, squinting.


    <i>Why hasn''t the title for the first visitor appeared?</i>


    When he visited the merfolk vige, Aquavera, the title popped up immediately, but there was no title when he first entered the Elven Vige.


    <i>So I even came up with a theory...</i>


    The vige shared the same name as the World Tree, Luteria. Based on that, he assumed he would receive the title upon entering the World Tree itself.


    <i>But still nothing... Could it be that another yer has already visited?</i>


    He made a mental note to ask about itter. With that thought, he continued to slowly walk down the corridor.


    ¡°... What is this? An altar and a flowerpot?¡±


    At the end of the corridor, there was a luxurious altar with a small flowerpot ced in front of it, and in the pot was an interesting nt.


    ¡°Mandragora? No, is it ginseng? What is this?¡±


    It was a small, cute tree with arms and legs, almost like a person!


    Kai stared intently at the creature, lying in the soft, fine soil as if it were its bed.


    <i>But... why does it look so sick? It looks like it¡¯s about to wither away...</i>


    Puzzled, Kai tilted his head and used his appraisal skill.


    ¡°Appraisal.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[<u>World Tree Luteria</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Legendary</strong>


    <strong>A guardian spirit of the forest created by the god of creation to watch over the woods.</strong>


    <strong>It is currently in a state of deep rest, sealing away its consciousness due to severe poisoning.</strong>


    <strong>*This is a legendary creation.</strong>


    <strong>*To learn more, you will need a Master-level appraisal skill.</strong>


    Kai stood there, dumbfounded.


    <i>Th-this is Luteria?</i>


    The answer to his question came through a message window.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: The One Who Met Luteria.]</strong>


    <strong><u>[The One Who Met Luteria]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to one who meets the World Tree, Luteria.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 to all stats, +50 Nature Affinity (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    ¡°...So it is the World Tree.¡±


    Kai wasn¡¯t sure whether tough or cry as he made a confused face.


    <i>At least my theory wasn¡¯t wrong.</i>


    Luteria truly was the essence of the elves'' existence!


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Nature Affinity does... but it¡¯s always good to have more of something.¡±


    Slightly nodding, Kai looked around.


    <i>If this little thing is Luteria...</i>


    What was the giant tree he was currently inside of?


    The tree that seemed to be thousands of years old, evoking a sense of nature''s grandeur just by looking at it turned out to be just arge tree!


    Kai looked down at the ginseng... no, at the World Tree, Luteria.


    Even though it was a tree, it had eyes and a mouth. And despite its odd appearance, it was more cute and endearing than monstrous or frightening.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe the World Tree Luteria is this small... Oh! Then is this ce...¡±


    Kai recalled what nia had told him.


    <i>She said they pray here when they want to have a child.</i>


    He wondered if this was the altar for those prayers.


    Chuckling at the unexpected situation, Kai rolled up the sleeves of his cleric robe.


    ¡°Well, this works out. I was wondering how I would purify a giant tree...¡±


    If Luteria was this small, it was actually fortunate!


    Kai''s hands immediately began to emit a bright light.


    ¡°Sunlight¡¯s Warmth!¡±


    <i>Woooong.</i>


    The holy power of the Srian Church enveloped Luteria¡¯s body. It looked like it was perfect for photosynthesis!


    The effect was immediate.


    <strong>[Akasha¡¯s Judgment has been purified. 1%...]</strong>


    <strong>[Akasha¡¯s Judgment has been purified. 2%...]</strong>


    <strong>[Akasha¡¯s Judgment has been purified. 3%...]</strong>


    The healing process didn¡¯t end in an instant, and instead went through a healing shower that continued until all the poison was purified!


    Before long, Kai saw the message he had been waiting for.


    <strong>[Akasha¡¯s Judgment has been purified. 100%...]</strong>


    <strong>[Akasha¡¯s Judgment has been fully purified.]</strong>


    <strong>[The World Tree Luteria¡¯s recovery isplete. Its consciousness, which had been submerged, is now surfacing.]</strong>


    The ginseng, Luteria, stretched and lifted its upper body. It blinked its ck eyes and then stood up proudly, looking directly at Kai.


    ¡°Is it you? The one who helped heal me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah... I mean, yes...¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much. I am the World Tree Luteria, guardian of the forest and the parent of the elves.¡±


    ¡°My name is Kai. Are youpletely healed now?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Now I can once again care for my children. This is truly fortunate.¡±


    It spoke as if a child were mimicking a father¡¯s tone, which made Kai struggle to suppress hisughter.


    ¡°But now that I look at you, I sense a very familiar aura. Are you perhaps an apostle?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Allow me to formally introduce myself again. I am Kai, the fourth Sris Cleric.¡±


    ¡°Ah, as I thought! I always end up receiving help from the apostles.¡±


    After pondering something for a moment, Luteria, who was no bigger than a thumb, nodded and said, "My savior, Kai. As past apostles have been, I recognize you as my friend. From this moment on, you will be loved by nature, and in the forest, nothing will be able to harm you.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean...¡±


    As Kai blinked hisrge eyes in confusion, a flood of message windows overwhelmed his vision.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Friend of the World Tree.]</strong>


    <strong>[You havepletely healed Luteria, a legendary being likely found only in fairy tales.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Legendary Healer.]</strong>


    <strong>[With Luteria fully recovered, the future of the elf race has brightened.]</strong>


    <strong>[Main Episode: The Withered World Tree and the Corrupted Elves quest activation condition has been nullified.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Withered World Tree and the Corrupted Elves quest no longer exist.]</strong>


    <strong>[1,712 rted quests no longer exist.]</strong>


    <strong>[Srian God Helikughs heartily and praises you.]</strong>


    <strong>[+20 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[+30 Stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Contribution to the Church of Sris greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[The hostility of the Church of Muldine has greatly increased toward you.]</strong>


    <strong>[The archbishops and inquisitors of the Church of Muldine are extremely displeased with this event.]</strong>


    <strong>[From now on, the assassins of the Church of Muldine wille for you. Never let your guard down.]</strong>


    ¡°W-what¡¯s all this...?¡±


    The number of messages was draining, taking him a full minute just to read through them. Of course, simply reading and fully understanding them were also two different matters.


    <i>I just deleted another episode quest again?</i>


    Even Kai, who was known for his strong nerves, started to feel a bit anxious.


    <i>... I think the number of quests I¡¯ve wiped out has surpassed three thousand now, right?</i>


    Thinking about how much work the developers and Ramus must have put into creating those quests sent a chill down Kai''s spine, but even now, he remained unashamed.


    <i>What, then should I have just let it die right in front of me? I¡¯m a Cleric, after all.</i>


    It was a wless logic that left no room for argument! Having reaffirmed his justification, he reviewed the message details again with shining eyes.


    <i>Two special titles, 20 Benevolence points, six levels up... and 5,000 Fame?</i>


    Kai¡¯s face lit up with a wide grin, but his smile didn¡¯tst long.


    <i>The messages regarding the Church of Muldine are concerning.</i>


    How much they must have despised and resented him to the point of sending assassins after him!


    <i>And how do they even know it was me who healed Luteria...!</i>


    It was a system that overwhelmingly favored the game against the yers, but currently for Kai, assassins of the Church of Muldine weren¡¯t what mattered most.


    <i>I have special titles. Two of them, in fact.</i>


    With his eyes shining, he opened his title book like a child unwrapping a birthday present.

 Chapter 139: Elven Village (4)

    <h4>Chapter 139: Elven Vige (4)</h4>


    <strong><u>[Friend of the World Tree]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the one who has be a friend of the World Tree, Luteria.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 to all stats, Dignity effect on Elves applies at three times the usual rate, +150 Nature Affinity (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).</strong>


    <strong><u>[Legendary Healer]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to one who has healed a legendary being.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +15 to all stats, increases healing skill effectiveness by 30% (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).</strong>


    Each title had effects that left Kai¡¯s mouth hanging open. Of course, it was rare for a Special-rank title to not be a good one, but the ones he had just acquired were certainly among the best of them.


    <i>The Elven Vige... I didn¡¯t even go through the same hardships as in the kingdom of the merfolk, yet I received even greater rewards.</i>


    Kai, feeling particrly pleased with this fact, smiled warmly at Luteria. "Luteria, thank you for the generous rewards, which far exceed my actions."


    ¡°Isn''t your tone a bit too formal between friends? You can stop with the formalities.¡±


    "<i>Haha</i>, how could I possibly do that when addressing you..."


    ¡°And you should consider those rewards as an advance payment since you¡¯ll need to prepare for war against the Church of Muldine from now on.¡±


    ¡°I must have misheard you. What did you just say?¡± Kai asked, naturally dropping his formal tone.


    Then Luteria sped its hands behind its back, nodding, and exined, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve regained my control over the forest, I can clearly sense that the Church of Muldine has infiltrated the vige of the dark elves.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you use your power to drive them out?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have been caught off guard and poisoned in the first ce if it were that simple.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah</i>, I suppose that¡¯s true...¡±


    That part was understandable, but he couldn''t understand the part about war.


    <i>Me, leading it?</i>


    He felt like receiving a draft notice when he had no intention of joining the army!


    ¡°I¡¯m kind of taken aback about this war against the Church of Muldine... Are you saying I just need to drive them out of the forest?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not all. Their army is on the way. Originally, they would¡¯ve drained my power, corrupted my children, and secured control over the forest.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    As Kai listened to Luteria''s words, he re-read the past system logs once more.


    <i>The Withered World Tree and Corrupted Elves quests were erased.</i>


    In other words, the original scenario likely involved the World Tree withering, the Church of Muldine seizing its power, and corrupting all the elves into dark elves!


    <i>Ha! Those Muldine bastards sure came up with a ridiculous scenario.</i>


    Thanks to Kai, that future had vanished without a trace, but that also meant that war was inevitable. He understood what Luteria meant.


    ¡°But Luteria, I can¡¯t fight the Church of Muldine alone...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m calling you my friend. There isn¡¯t a single elf who would ignore you now.¡±


    ¡°Oh...!¡±


    The Friend of the World Tree title effect, which tripled the Dignity stat against Elves, would certainly help him manage the elves.


    <i>So... this really does mean I¡¯m expected to lead the war, huh?</i>


    The scale of the battle was beyond anything he had ever imagined. He swallowed hard at the thought, feeling the intense pressure and anxiety building up inside him.


    <i>Wait, this might actually be an opportunity.</i>


    A yer leading NPCs into battle against another force was an achievement no yer had ever aplished before. Most yers could only participate in wars as low-ranking soldiers for noble households, so the potential rewards were beyond his imagination.


    ¡°How long until the Church of Muldine forces arrive?¡±


    ¡°Three weeks at most. But I would like for you to resolve this before they enter the forest...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    From Kai''s perspective, fighting within the forest was more advantageous. It would allow him to leverage the elves'' strengths in battle.


    <i>But this is war. It¡¯spletely different from fighting just a few hundred yers like with the ck Bees.</i>


    At that time, he had been exhausted just from the mind games between Sting and Seol Eun-Yeong. But now, he had to take on that kind of leadership himself!


    Kai''s eyes sparkled.


    <i>Study. Studying is the only way to survive!</i>


    Kai always sought to learn what he didn''t know and took lessons even from enemies.


    As he rekindled his passion for learning, Luteria said to him, ¡°My friend, could you take me outside? It would take me half a day to walk out of this tree on my own...¡±


    "Of course."


    Kai ced the small replica of the enormous tree, Luteria, on his palm and walked out.


    As he stepped outside, the expressions of the waiting elves brightened.


    "Look! The red poison mist is gradually disappearing!"


    "The surrounding trees and sprouts are no longer groaning in pain!"


    "Look over there, the human hase out!"


    "Wait a minute, what¡¯s in the human¡¯s palm... Is that Luteria?!"


    "Our Mother!"


    The entire elf n was thrown into a frenzy!


    The elf queen, with a pale expression, rushed forward and knelt down. At the same time, all the other elves, about a thousand of them, all dropped to their knees.


    "Our Mother, please reprimand us for our shorings."


    ¡°My daughter, raise your head. This incident was not your fault but the fault of those blinded by greed.¡±


    "But..."


    ¡°Thanks to my friend Kai here, my body is fully healed, so do not speak of this matter any further.¡±


    As soon as Luteria finished speaking, the vige fell into a brief silence.


    Then, all the elves erupted in shouts.


    "Whaaaat?!"


    "F-Friend?!"


    "The World Tree, revered even by dragons, calls a mere human its friend?"


    "That means..."


    "<i>Ahem</i>." Kai shed a smile at the elves who were staring at him in shock. "From today on, you can call me Kai, Luteria''s best friend. Pleased to meet you all."


    ***


    A festival was held in the Elven Vige, Luteria. It was a celebration of the recovery of their Mother and the reason for their existence, the World Tree Luteria!


    "...But this festival is different from what I imagined."


    There was no dancing or singing. It was simply a calm gathering where they shared delicious food and drinks while conversing. This was the traditional way the reserved elves celebrated! Moreover, the vegetarian diet of the elves didn¡¯t quite match Kai¡¯s love for meat.


    <i>Well, it is tasty though.</i>


    The fruits and vegetables grown by the elves were exceptional, rivaling the taste of meat.


    As Kai observed the elves chatting andughing, someone approached him.


    "Kai."


    "Oh, Corporal elf."


    It was Elduin, the chief warrior of the elves, identified by the three yellow stripes under his eyes.


    Elduin slightly tilted his head at the strange title Kai had given him before saying, "Corporal... I don¡¯t quite understand what that means. I havee to speak with you, along with this young one."


    Elduin persisted in speaking politely to[1], who had be a friend of the World Tree. Even though Kai said it wasn''t necessary, he insisted that it was the rule and stubbornly refused to bend his will.


    Then, behind him, Luna quietly emerged. She hesitated for a moment and then looked up at Elduin with a pleading expression, which quickly earned her a scolding.


    "<i>Tsk</i>. Luna."


    "<i>Ugh, </i>I know..." With a pitiful expression, she nervously nced at Kai before bowing her head deeply and saying in a barely audible voice, "S-Sorry... and thank you..."


    "Luna! When apologizing, do it properly! Make sure the other person can hear you!"


    "...I''m sorry for attacking you! And thank you for saving Luteria!"


    She quickly offered her apology and thanks like a rapid-fire machine gun, then covered her face with both hands and ran off. Her speed wasparable to that of Usain Bolt!


    As Elduin watched her with a regretful expression, he clicked his tongue and bowed his head. "Allow me to apologize on her behalf. Please forgive the rudeness from earlier."


    "Oh, that¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve already forgotten about it... though I¡¯d appreciate it if you could drop the formal tone."


    "That is not possible. Luteria is like a god to us. As her friend..."


    It was something Kai wasn¡¯t used to, but what could he do if that¡¯s what Elduin wished to do.


    Shrugging, Kai sipped on the wine made by the elves and said, "Luteria mentioned that a war would soon break out."


    "I have also been informed. The warriors of our elven n will be your sharp spear against the wicked Church of Muldine."


    "...But the number of elves isn''t particrlyrge."


    The entire tribe barely exceeded a thousand members. Moreover, there were elderly elves who were no longer active and children who had yet to grow up.


    "...Even so, all elves, both men and women, are capable of fighting. The number of warriors is over seven hundred, more than half of the total poption. It''s not a small number."


    "However, numbers are always rtive. The key is how many forces the Church of Muldine will bring."


    "No matter how many the enemy brings, the elves who protect justice will not be intimidated."


    "Well, in that case, thank you."


    After Kai gave a smile and sent Elduin away, he fell into deep thought on his own.


    <i>... No matter how I think about it, this doesn''t make sense.</i>


    From the start, the scenario dictated that the elves were supposed to be destroyed. Naturally, at this point, there shouldn¡¯t be any yer capable of waging war against the Church of Muldine.


    However, Kai had already instilled hope in them. At this stage, it wasn¡¯t something he could just walk away from, even if it seemed impossible.


    <i>I need to prepare thoroughly.</i>


    Kai resolved himself as he watched the rainbow-colored fireflies adding to the vige''s mystique.


    ***


    "Kai, please ept the garment left by the previous apostle," offered nia.


    "This is Nike..."


    Kai looked at the garment held by nia with an expression that was difficult to describe. The robe was entirely white, made of an unknown fabric that rippled continuously like a waterfall. Just looking at it evoked a sense of mystique!


    "Shimizu, who favored this garment, was nicknamed Guardian."


    "Guardian?" Kai asked back.


    "Yes. Shimizu was known to specialize in greatly enhancing the strength of all allies by harnessing the power of this garment."


    "That means..."


    This relic was equipped with buff skills!


    Kai''s eyes sparkled as he took the garment without hesitation, muttering to himself, "Item appraisal."


    <strong>[<u>Holy Pauldron Nike]</u> </strong>


    <strong>Grade: Eternal Legendary </strong>


    <strong>HP: +30</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: +70</strong>


    <strong>Dignity: +20</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 1415</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 1841</strong>


    <strong>Damage to Demons/Undead: +30%</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power Regeneration: +150% </strong>


    <strong>Ignores durability loss.</strong>


    <strong>Skill Hymn of Angels avable.</strong>


    <strong>Canmunicate with Shimizu''s thoughts.</strong>


    <strong>-A cleric garment favored by Shimizu the Guardian. </strong>


    <strong>The highest level of holy power constantly surrounds the garment, greatly aiding in the recovery of Holy Power.</strong>


    <strong>*This equipment grows with its wearer.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 200, Sric Cleric ss.</strong>


    <strong>Durability: Infinite</strong>


    "<i>Wooooow</i>..."


    None of the other details mattered. The fact that the item was ssified as Legendary made Kai shudder with excitement.


    <i>A Legendary item!</i>


    Aside from the statue he saw when he became a Sris Cleric and the poison Akasha¡¯s Judgment, this was the first Legendary item that he, no, any yer, could equip!


    However, he suddenly noticed the premodifier at the front and tilted his head.


    <i>Wait a minute, what¡¯s Eternal Legendary?</i>


    Of course, it didn¡¯t take long for that question to be answered.


    "...The equipment grows?"


    Kai¡¯s eyes widened.


    In other words, with this one item, he wouldn¡¯t need any other equipment until the game eventually shut down, excluding some special circumstances!


    <i>Of course, I can''t equip it yet because of the level restriction...</i>


    But once he could, another Special Title would surely follow! Moreover, with Kai''s current stats, he could rapidly level up to the mid-200s if he dedicated himself to hunting without distractions.


    <i>This garment is a jackpot. I¡¯ve never seen an item better than this.</i>


    The Legendary status alone was impressive, but Eternal Legendary was on another level!


    Kai, thinking of it, pulled out another holy relic from his inventory. It was the holy ring kept by the merfolk!


    "Item Appraisal."


    <strong>[<u>Holy Ring Petra</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Grade: Eternal Legendary </strong>


    <strong>HP: +15</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: +30</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: +50</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: +30</strong>


    <strong>Spell Power: +30</strong>


    <strong>Defense: +450</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: +500</strong>


    <strong>Damage to Demons/Undead: +20%</strong>


    <strong>Effectiveness of all skills consuming Holy Power: +30%</strong>


    <strong>Ignores durability loss.</strong>


    <strong>Skill Eternal Rest avable.</strong>


    <strong>Canmunicate with Cherantia¡¯s thoughts.</strong>


    <strong>-A ring that Cherantia of Rest always wore on her finger.</strong>


    <strong>Simply wearing the ring once owned by Cherantia, the high cleric, would earn the respect of NPCs in the Srian Church.</strong>


    <strong>*This equipment grows with its wearer.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 200, Sris Cleric ss. </strong>


    <strong>Durability: Infinite</strong>


    "As expected."


    It seemed that all the relics used by the previous Sris Clerics were of the Eternal Legendary grade!


    <i>Now, if I could just get my hands on the weapon of Patrick that the dwarves have... The Holy Sword Prius...</i>


    Kai¡¯s ultimate dream of solo ying, something he had vaguely imagined while soloing, dominating the game single-handedly, was now within reach.


    <i>... Interesting.</i>


    Storing the two relics carefully in his inventory, Kai looked at nia and Luteria. "Let''s hold the starting ceremony in about two weeks. I have a ce I need to visit first.¡±


    ¡°Friend, what are you going to do in such an unstable situation?¡±


    Smiling at Luteria¡¯s question, Kai gave a brief reply, "...War preparations."


    1. In the Korean raws, Elduin consistently uses the -? -nim honorifics when addressing Kai ?

 Chapter 140: King of Leveling Up (1)

    <h4>Chapter 140: King of Leveling Up (1)</h4>


    "Level 200. That¡¯s the task I need toplete within two weeks."


    Kai¡¯s eyes shone brighter than ever as he left the Elven Forest.


    The minimum requirement to equip the holy relics left behind by Shimizu and Cherantia was level 200.


    <i>Well, my level has been pretty lowpared to the stats I¡¯ve umted.</i>


    It wasn¡¯t that he had beenzy. It was just that he hadn''t had much time to focus on leveling up due to being caught up in various events.


    <i>First of all, my level is currently at...</i>


    Kai opened his status window for the first time in a while.


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 163</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 39,600</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 64,900</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 655 Stamina: 396</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 303 Agility: 301</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 649 Dignity: 240</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 183</strong>


    <strong>Remaining points: 60</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance +70%</strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity +200</strong>


    <strong>All Attack Power +6%</strong>


    <strong>All Speed +6%</strong>


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. Very good.¡±


    It was a disy of unbelievable stats, and even after all that, there were still 60 stat points remaining.


    <i>I leveled up while taking down the ck Bees, and I gained quite a few levels while healing Luteria this time.</i>


    Moreover, with the two new special titles he acquired, all his stats had significantly increased! There wasn¡¯t a monster he would be afraid to face.


    <i>For now... let¡¯s split the stat points half and half.</i>


    Kai assigned 30 points to Strength and the remaining 30 to Holy Power.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. Now I''m a strong and mighty Cleric."


    The power of an all-strength Cleric surged within him, almost ready to burst.


    However, even with this mighty strength, there were those he couldn¡¯t easily defeat.


    <i>If the Church of Muldine was bringing just a few hundred people, Luteria wouldn¡¯t make such a fuss about preparing for war.</i>


    Therefore, Kai had to assume the enemy¡¯s numbers were at least in the thousands. The difference in power was truly overwhelming!


    Kai closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of ways to bridge the gap.


    <i>There¡¯s no choice. We need to increase our numbers too.</i>


    But how? Ordinary yers couldn¡¯t be trusted. Especially if someone from one of the top ten guilds infiltrated as a spy and intentionally sabotaged the n, there would be no way to stop it.


    <i>So, yers are out. Even Cheonhwa... is out for now.</i>


    Though they had fought together before, Cheonhwa was currently very busy. They were working to win public favor by significantly lowering the entrance fees for the hunting grounds previously controlled by the ck Bees.


    <i>That leaves NPCs.</i>


    First, there was Tardal of the Darkness Hunters. If he informed Tardal of the situation, he would be able to receive support. However, it was uncertain whether NPCs would follow themands of an adventurer like himself.


    <i>And the other option is the merfolk.</i>


    However, they were powerless onnd.


    <i>The key to solving this dilemma is...</i>


    Kai''s mind worked quickly, various ideasing and going.


    After a while, once he had organized his thoughts, he opened the map.


    ¡°Map.¡±


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The continental map of <i>MID Online</i> spread open before his eyes and he quickly scanned the terrain of the Kingdom of Rashion.


    <i>The Elven Forest. To the north, there''s the Phevez Mountain Range, and far south is the Zigmunt Desert. </i>


    And to the side was a massive artificial waterway that ran through the entire Kingdom of Rashion, the Suver Canal.


    <i>If I can connect this canal to the sea, I could get help from the merfolk.</i>


    The only challenge was figuring out how to connect this vast canal to the ocean.


    After thinking deeply for a long time, one corner of Kai¡¯s mouth slowly curled up into a grin. It was a smile he wore when he came up with a satisfying n.


    <i>This might actually work.</i>


    ***


    Just as Karius had said, the merfolk had remained in the same location without moving. Thanks to this, finding them wasn¡¯t difficult.


    Of course, breathing underwater was entirely another matter.


    ¡°Well, look who it is!¡±


    ¡°The hero of our tribe!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Uncle Kai!¡±


    The merfolk greeted Kai warmly! As they swam closer, gently swaying their fins, they cast a spell after seeing bubblesing out from his mouth, struggling to hold his breath.


    ¡°<i>Whew</i>...! It really is tough holding your breath underwater.¡±


    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have gills.¡±


    ¡°What brings you here without any notice?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯vee to see Karius.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty is in his office.¡±


    After a brief chat with the merfolk, Kai headed straight to see Karius.


    ¡°Kai?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a familiar face.¡±


    Karius and Cyrus tilted their heads at Kai¡¯s sudden visit.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s good to see you, but it¡¯s a bit surprising. What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit surprised as well.¡±


    ¡°I know I have no right to do so, but I¡¯vee to ask a favor of you, Karius,¡± Kai replied.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>, go on.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve actually juste after meeting the elves.¡±


    ¡°Oh! The guards of the forest!¡± Karius¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°It¡¯s been quite a while since I¡¯ve met them, being chased by the nagas and all. How are they?¡±


    ¡°Not well. They¡¯re preparing for a war that could determine the fate of their entire race.¡±


    Kai¡¯s serious expression caused both Karius and Cyrus¡¯ expressions to harden.


    ¡°War? It¡¯s not against humans, is it?¡±


    ¡°No. I believe both of you would know them well. Do you remember the device that made the nagas so violent?¡±


    ¡°How could we forget! We suffered greatly because of it...¡±


    ¡°Are you saying it¡¯s connected to those who installed that device?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The ones responsible are none other than the Church of Muldine!¡± Kai informed them.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°The Church of Muldine?¡±


    The two of them responded with surprised expressions. When they had repelled the nagas from their spawning grounds, Kai had known nothing about the Church of Muldine. Because of this, the merfolk were still unaware of the connection between the nagas and the Church of Muldine.


    "They fear the reunion of humans and demi-humans, who formed the leaders of the World Alliance."


    "<i>Hmm</i>... Are the guards of the forest in a situation simr to ours?"


    "Yes. If I had been even a littlete, the World Tree Luteria would have perished, and the elves would have fallen under their control."


    "That''s horrifying." Karius shook his head slowly, then leaned forward with hisrge body and asked, "Are you asking us merfolk to join this war?"


    "Yes, I am."


    "The guards of the forest and the artists of the underground are like brothers to our tribe! Of course, we can''t ignore this."


    "Then...!"


    Kai''s face brightened momentarily, but Karius continued, "But we merfolk are not as powerful onnd. In the water, it''s a different story, but..."


    "Then how about a canal?"


    "<i>Hm</i>? Canal... You mean the artificial waterways created by humans?" Karius stroked his chin in thought for a moment and then nodded. "It doesn''t necessarily have to be the sea. As long as there''s a stage with deep enough water, we can exert our full strength."


    "In that case, I''ll create that stage."


    Hearing this, Karius grinned. "I¡¯ve told you before, haven¡¯t I? Even though we are of different races, you are a brother, a friend, and family to our merfolk tribe!"


    <i>Thud!</i>


    As Karius stood, mming his hand on the armrest of his throne, the royal robe he wore fluttered in the water.


    "Eight hundred of the best merfolk warriors will stand with you. Let¡¯s save the guardians of the forest together!"


    "Thank you for your help."


    With that, the first condition was met.


    Feeling more at ease, Kai hesitated for a moment before asking, "<i>Um</i>... Since you''re helping us anyway, could we possibly take the Magic Conch as well?"


    "We cannot do that. If we leave to help you, the conch''s power must stay behind to protect our vige."


    Karius''s refusal was as firm as a rock.


    "<i>Ahem</i>."


    After informing Karius of the detailed ns and concluding their conversation, Kai left the sea.


    His next destination was Tardal''s mansion.


    "<i>Hmm</i>? Didn''t you say you were going to the Elven Forest?"


    "I did."


    Kai began to exin everything, and even as he spoke, he was certain of one thing.


    <i>Tardal will definitely support me with an army.</i>


    The Darkness Hunters were part of a secret organization that opposed the Church of Muldine. Therefore, they wouldn¡¯t ignore this opportunity to strike at the Church''s forces.


    However, Tardal wore a troubled expression and shook his head. "<i>Sigh</i>. What unfortunate timing... This is quite troublesome."


    "Pardon?"


    "If we raise an army, the secret will inevitably leak to the Church of Muldine through a spy within the Darkness Hunters."


    "...Are you saying there''s a spy within the Darkness Hunters?"


    Kai wondered how there could be a traitor within an organization that had such a rigorous entry test, but after giving it some thought, it made sense. After all, it was difficult for the royalty, nobility, and high-ranking aristocrats of every nation on the continent to be truly united in purpose.


    "They may have sumbed to fear, or perhaps they were tempted by rewards, but recently, the mortality rate of Darkness Hunters on missions has risen significantly."


    "That means information is leaking," Kai said, his expression growing serious.


    The shock of realizing that a ce he had believed to be absolutely secure was, in fact, not so safe after all was significant. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t something that just ended with being shocked.


    <i>Tardal is right. If the army is involved, any strategy wee up with could very well reach the enemy''s ears.</i>


    In war, strategy was like a game of rock-paper-scissors. The most crucial aspect was concealing what one intended to y. The moment one¡¯s n for deploying the army was exposed, the war would be lost.


    "<i>Ugh</i>..."


    As Kai scratched his head, troubled, Tardal said in a subtle tone, "However, from the Darkness Hunters'' perspective, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss."


    "You''re right. But if the information does leak..."


    "If we assign someone from within the Darkness Hunters, it would be reported to officials in various nations, but if I send them personally, it won''t."


    "...What do you mean?"


    ¡°If it¡¯s just one Ironblood Knight unit, it means the Emperor can send them on an external inspection under hismand.¡±


    This meant that Tardal was offering to support Kai with the Ironblood Knights!


    The unexpected good news brightened Kai''s expression.


    <i>Right, a single unit of Ironblood Knights could be more valuable than thousands of ordinary soldiers.</i>


    Moreover, the likelihood of information leaking would nearly be eliminated, as it wouldn''t be an assignment from within the Darkness Hunters but a direct order from the Emperor to his subordinates.


    Additionally, the Ironblood Knights were directly under the Emperor''smand, wielding their swords solely for him! So naturally, their ideological and identity verification were far more rigorouspared to the Darkness Hunters.


    <i>That would be enough.</i>


    Elves, merfolk, and now the Ironblood Knights! Even though the numbers could still greatly differ, the quality of the allies was the very best elite force.


    "Oh, by the way, Tardal, would it be okay to use the Suver Canal for this war?"


    "...The Suver Canal? <i>Ah</i>, to supply war materials, I assume?" Misunderstanding Kai''s intention, Tardal readily nodded. "Use it as you wish. I''ll issue a restriction on its use under the pretext of repairs about a week before the day of the war. I''ll propose it to His Majesty. I''m sure he will grant permission."


    Having gained Tardal''s full cooperation, Kai headed directly to the teleport gate.


    "Where would you like to go?"


    "To the Zigmunt Desert."

 Chapter 141: King of Leveling Up (2)

    <h4>Chapter 141: King of Leveling Up (2)</h4>


    The Zigmunt Desert was a hunting ground where the scorching heat persisted all year round! In this ce, monsters were one thing, but there was a far greater threat that existed year-round in this ce.


    <strong>[The surrounding temperature is too high.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats decrease by 15%.]</strong>


    "<i>Ugh</i>, it''s way too hot."


    Even though Kai was wearing a cool cleric robe, he sweated profusely.


    Moreover, when night fell, the temperature plummeted below freezing,pletely changing the map''s nature.


    It was a harsh ce where one had to fight not only monsters but also the heat and cold. Because of this, not many yers went to the Zigmunt Desert.


    "But the tougher the challenge, the greater the reward."


    Zigmunt Desert was home to mostlyrge monsters. The treevagos in the Elven Forest weren¡¯t small, but at best, they were only medium-sized creatures. On the other hand, the predators in the desert were enormous; they were built to overpower their prey.


    <i>The characteristic ofrge monsters is that they have ridiculously high HP.</i>


    They also dropped an equally ridiculous amount of XP points and item materials! Of course, their difficulty level was also ridiculously high.


    At this point, it was hard not to question the developers'' intentions.


    "It''s like this ce was made just to mess with the yers."


    The sunlight wasn''t just warm. It was scorching. If it was this bad now, he couldn''t imagine how much worse it would be if he were wearing the Tyrant of the Sea set!


    With a sigh, Kai headed straight for the hunting grounds of Zigmunt Desert. As he climbed the sandy dunes, his surroundings grew silent.


    At the same time, his view was filled with a breathtaking sight! It felt as though the entire world was divided into the blue sky and the yellowish sand, creating an illusion.


    As Kai took in the scenery, he realized something.


    "Oh, if I hunt here for a long time, I might get depressed."


    That was how quiet and deste of an area it was. It was a harshnd where there wasn''t even a sign of a yer or NPC.


    However, Kai, being the positive person he was, found one silver lining amid the many drawbacks.


    "It''s perfect for power leveling. No one''s around either."


    In other words, all the prey in the area belonged to himself!


    Switching his gear to the Tyrant of the Sea set, he immediately summoned his pets.


    "Enhanced Summoning, Blizzard, Mimic!"


    <strong>[Enhanced Summoning grants you an increased attack buff.]</strong>


    <strong>[Enhanced Summoning grants you an increased Stamina buff.]</strong>


    "Use Knighted skill." Kai promptly knighted Mimic as a duhan andmanded Blizzard and Mimic, "Bring me a monster. Just one for now."


    Both of them nodded and obediently followed Kai''s orders. They left together and returned, not before long.


    "<i>Ah</i>, finally here."


    Kai, who had been smiling, suddenly tilted his head and rubbed his eyes.


    <i>Rumble, rumble, rumble!</i>


    Something massive was approaching, overturning the sandy dunes as it came.


    "...What are they bringing back?"


    After taking a closer look, they weren¡¯t bringing a monster but being chased by one.


    "Damn it, I need to protect my pets!"


    Kai quickly drew his sword and ran across the sand. Despite his feet sinking into the sand, significantly slowing his movement, he moved quickly!


    "Wow! It''s massive!"


    "<i>Kiieeeek</i>!"


    As the monster got closer, it became clear. The creature drawn by Blizzard and Mimic''s provocation was none other than a giant scorpion!


    <strong>[Giant Scorpion LV. 230]</strong>


    It was a monster about 60 levels higher than Kai, a behemoth among behemoths! Its size was so enormous that just one of its pincers was bigger than Kai''s entire body.


    <i>But it''s still smaller than Aosa.</i>


    And no matter how strong, it was just a field boss monster. It couldn''tpare to the hardships he''d faced before!


    "Stand back!" Kai yelled.


    As Blizzard and Mimic quickly hid behind a distant dune, the creature let out a roar.


    "<i>Kiieeek</i>!"


    The strong recognized the strong. Realizing that Kai was his true opponent, the creature quickly lowered its body. At the same time, its tail¡¯s venomous stinger shot quickly toward him!


    "A useless attack!"


    Using Ethereal Body to avoid the attack, Kai immediately used Holy Chains.


    <i>Shh-clink</i>


    He wrapped the chains around the creature''s head and used the momentum tond on its shell.


    "Deactivate Ethereal Body!"


    As soon as his body regained its form, he gripped his sword in reverse and drove it into the creature¡¯s shell.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    The giant scorpion''s shell was thick and tough, but it wasn¡¯t enough to withstand Kai''s attack power.


    "<i>Kieeeeeek</i>!"


    The giant scorpion lost 20% of its health in an instant.


    Considering the level difference between them, the attack power was unbelievable, but...


    <i>Considering my stats, it''s more surprising if it didn¡¯t work.</i>


    At the same time, Kai''s armor began to glow blue.


    <strong>[Courageous Knight effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats temporarily increased by 10.]</strong>


    <strong>[Tyrant''s Wrath effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[Water trait is added to weapon for 10 minutes. +100% fire resistance.]</strong>


    <strong>[Due to fire resistance, the perceived temperature decreases.]</strong>


    <strong>[Decreased stats are restored to their original state.]</strong>


    "Nice!"


    It was an unexpected ability from the Tyrant of the Sea set!


    However, the joy didn¡¯tst long as the scorpion¡¯s massive tail struck Kai¡¯s side.


    "<i>Kugh</i>!"


    Kai firmly nted his strong legs on the creature¡¯s shell and raised his left arm to guard to reduce the damage, and then endured the attack! The impact was powerful enough to make his entire body tremble, but he managed to hold his ground.


    <i>Now that I''ve taken the hit, it¡¯s my turn.</i>


    Kai¡¯s left hand began to glow brightly.


    "Holy Explosion!"


    It was a holy spell he hadn¡¯t used in a while! Every time he used it, Holy Explosion¡¯s destructive power was unmatched.


    <i>Snap!</i>


    The scorpion¡¯s tail was severed in a single blow! But that wasn¡¯t the end of it.


    "Holy Chains."


    Kai once again extended the Holy Chains and swung them around like a gymnast. In an instant, the Holy Chains wrapped around the giant scorpion¡¯s entire body several times.


    Then, Kai let go of his sword, grasped the ends of the chains with both hands and pulled with all his strength.


    "<i>Hrrrgh</i>!"


    "<i>Kreeeeek</i>!"


    The rock-hard shell slowly began to crack under the pressure of Holy Chains.


    The giant scorpion tried to attack Kai with its pincers, but...


    <i>A scorpion can¡¯t attack an opponent on its back with short pincers. Ever.</i>


    Kai, knowing this from his umted experience, didn¡¯t blink an eye.


    "This is... the end!"


    Heat surged as the temperature, thought to have been neutralized by Tyrant''s Wrath, began to rise again. That was a sign Kai had used Holy Explosion.


    At the same time, the shell, which had barely held out under the pressure, began to crack and groan.


    <i>Crack, crunch!</i>


    Then, the giant scorpion shattered into white polygons and scattered across the desert sands.


    "<i>Phew</i>, I guess with that level difference, it¡¯s tough even to take down one monster."


    And since no title was generated, that creature wasn¡¯t even a field boss.


    <i>That kind of absurd creature is just a regr monster?</i>


    Kaiughed in disbelief and swung his sword to shake off the green fluid on his de.


    "At least the XP points are fantastic."


    Mimic, which had been level 80, gained 7 levels in one go. While Blizzard, at level 138, gained 4 levels!


    As for Kai, the result was even more noticeable.


    <strong>[Level increased.] </strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    With about 80% of his XP bar remaining, he leveled up after defeating just one monster! Not only that, but the XP bar was already half-filled again.


    "<i>Hmm</i>, let''s see. I was really good at math back in elementary school..."


    Kai, who used to excel at calcting angles, eventually nodded after mentally calcting for a moment.


    "Yep, I''ve got it. Time for some explosive leveling."


    ***


    In <i>MID Online</i>, there were rankings for various categories. Arena rankings, fame rankings, and even questpletion rankings were tracked.


    However, the one ranking everyone referred to was the level ranking. Even Yoo Ha-Rin, who held the world¡¯s number one rank, was listed here.


    Level rankings didn¡¯t change easily, especially in a virtual reality game like <i>MID Online</i> where macros were nonexistent.


    <i>Running hard today will slow you down tomorrow.</i>


    <i>Leveling up isn¡¯t a sprint.</i>


    <i>Pacing is key. It¡¯s not about running the fastest, but aboutsting the longest.</i>


    <i>Thankfully, no one¡¯s been on firetely, so things have been a bit easier.</i>


    The rankings, especially from 1st to 1,000th ce, rarely changed, and the reason for that was simple. If a yer ranked 1,001st sped up their grinding, the yer ranked 1,000th would feel pressured and increase their pace too.


    This chain reaction would ripple through the entire top-ranking yers, and because of this, an unspoken rule had developed among the top ranks.


    <i>Hey, let¡¯s take it easy now.</i>


    <i>You¡¯re not going to climb any higher anyway.</i>


    <i>If you increase your grinding speed, I¡¯ll do the same.</i>


    <i>Is this your first day gaming? We¡¯ve got to stretch this out for our retirement ns.</i>


    <i>If we keep this up for years, we¡¯ll all burn out. Let¡¯spromise.</i>


    The ranking list had be a prime example of how society was built on mutual consideration andpromisation!


    However, in thest two weeks, that ranking list had undergone a massive disturbance. And of course, the spark that ignited it was none other than the coboration between Unknown and Cheonhwa for the hunt of the ck Bees.


    <i>Wow, Cheonhwa and Unknown really wiped out ck Bee.</i>


    <i>I never paid attention to this before, but thanks anyway!</i>


    <i>Wait, doesn¡¯t that mean the ck Bee guys... have a three-day login penalty?</i>


    <i>If not now, then when?</i>


    <i>Now is the time! Let¡¯s grind!</i>


    With many of ck Bee¡¯s rankers temporarily out of the game, a war erupted as others tried to im their spots. Thepetition in the top hunting grounds became so fierce that even rankers who usually uploaded videos daily were now focused solely on grinding.


    But now, after two weeks, things were starting to stabilize again.


    -In the end, Cheonhwa benefited the most, while the top rankers made some gains too.


    -And the ck Bees got wrecked.


    That was the general consensus. Everyone except the ck Bees was satisfied, and it seemed the ranking war was finally over.


    -Huh? What¡¯s going on now?


    -Did the rankers suddenly realize something?


    -Isn¡¯t it about time for them to take a break? Why are they still grinding?


    -Did they all take some drugs...?


    The nonstop grinding by the rankers puzzled the normal yers, but the rankers weren''t doing so because they wanted to.


    <i>There are lunatics catching up from below, what do you expect us to do?!</i>


    <i>Why are they grinding like crazy?</i>


    <i>You¡¯ve already gained enough. What¡¯s the deal?</i>


    <i>Ugh... I¡¯ve only been sleeping three hours a night for the past two weeks!</i>


    The second marathon that neither normal yers nor rankers themselves could understand had been forcefully initiated by a single yer.


    <strong>[Rank No. 32,000. Kai LV. 249]</strong>


    "Who is this guy?!"


    "It¡¯s gotta be a bug! How else do you gain 86 levels in two weeks?!"


    "I don¡¯t care! I¡¯ve already reported it, so if you don¡¯t want to get caught, just keep grinding!"


    A new rookie with a level of 249 had appeared, ranked at 32,000. Two weeks ago, he had been stuck in the mid-100s, but now he was achieving blinding growth.


    At first, there weren¡¯t many who paid attention to him. Only a few yers whose ranks ovepped with his noticed.


    <i>Wow, this guy is leveling up fast. Must¡¯ve hit a jackpot dungeon and gained a lot of levels. Lucky.</i>


    <i>Huh? He¡¯s still leveling up. Did he find two dungeons in a row by luck?</i>


    <i>... Wait, why is this guy leveling up every few hours?</i>


    <i>Is this... a bug?</i>


    <i>This must be... a bug!</i>


    Even when it seemed like his leveling speed was slowing down, it only sped up again after hitting level 200. He was the perfect example of someone you could call insane!


    -Who is this guy, does he think he¡¯s the king of leveling up?


    ©¸ It¡¯s gotta be a bug. I¡¯ve already reported it.


    -Yeah, I mean, <i>MID Online¡¯s</i> first anniversary is in a couple of months. It¡¯s held up pretty well, but a bug was bound to show up sooner orter.


    -But I feel like I¡¯ve seen this username before...


    ©¸ You probably just saw it in passing. Kai is a prettymon username, after all.


    ©¸ No, wait. I know this name. I heard it in Whitehall. They called him a saint.


    ©¸ Huh? I work as a dishwasher at a tavern in Glendale. The NPCs there talk about some adventurer named Kai, calling him the Saint of Glendale.


    ©¸ What are you all talking about? Are you saying this yer is a Cleric or something?


    ©¸ Of course. How else could he be a saint if he¡¯s not a Cleric?


    ©¸ No, but how does he get called a saint in two different cities?


    ©¸ Excuse me, I¡¯m a newbie who just arrived in Frica Vige, and they call this guy a hero here.


    ©¸ ????


    ©¸ ????


    It was utter chaos!


    Kai¡¯s name had suddenly and unexpectedly etched itself into everyone¡¯s minds in a way that shattered all expectations.

 Chapter 142: Like a Scene from a Movie (1)

    <h4>Chapter 142: Like a Scene from a Movie (1)</h4>


    Kai was currently at level 249, and Yoo Ha-Rin, the world¡¯s top-ranked yer, was at level 262. In other words, Kai had now be a ranker among the top-tier yers.


    More importantly, no one had discovered the connection between Kai and Unknown.


    "Even so, I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re using me of using a bug just because I¡¯m doing well... It should bother me, but... it doesn''t?"


    That was a natural reaction, after all. If he saw someone else gain nearly 90 levels in just two weeks, especially from the mid-100s and not from level 1, he would have written a longint to Pegasus Corporation himself.


    "Stats window."


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 249</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 44,800</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 101,100</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 910 Stamina: 448</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 340 Agility: 308</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 1,011 Dignity: 270 </strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 183</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance +40%</strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity +200</strong>


    <strong>Damage to Demons/Undead +50%</strong>


    Kai had gained 430 stat points from leveling up. After distributing those stats, his Strength entered into the 900s, and his Holy Power, crucial for a Cleric, had exceeded 1,000.


    Although some stats had decreased after he switched from the Tyrant of the Sea gear to the holy relics series, the increased attributes far outweighed the losses.


    Moreover, Kai received an unexpected gift in addition to his visible power boost.


    <strong>[<u>King of Leveling Up</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the king of leveling up.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 to all stats, +10% XP gain rate (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    The King of Leveling Up! Even the system acknowledged Kai¡¯s absurd leveling speed.


    However, despite what should have been a happy moment, Kai sighed.


    <i>Sigh. I assumed that reaching level 200 would naturally allow me to converse with the thoughts of Shimizu and Cherantia, but...</i>


    That assumption was thoroughly shattered, and he was only given a hint about what to do next about it.


    <strong>[Tomunicate with their thoughts, you must clear the Trial of Hanox.]</strong>


    He never imagined that not defeating the statues of knights at the Trial of Hanox woulde back to haunt him like this. As a result, Kai gave up on reaching level 250 for the time being and revisited the Trial of Hanox. He figured there wouldn¡¯t be enough time to pursue both tasks simultaneously.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve been here."


    As Kai entered the dome-shaped dungeon, a familiar statue greeted him.


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue. LV.130]</strong>


    "I used to be terrified of that thing.¡±


    Of course, back then, he was only around level 60, so it was understandable.


    He trudged forward and drew his Ironwill Longsword.


    Then, a blue aura red up around the statue!


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue has awoken from its slumber.]</strong>


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue is evaluating the challenger.]</strong>


    <strong>[Evaluating...]</strong>


    <strong>[Challenger¡¯s job confirmed to be Sric Cleric.]</strong>


    <strong>[Challenger granted highest level of ess.]</strong>


    <strong>[All gates have been unlocked.]</strong>


    They were the same messages asst time!


    Even back then, he was a Sric Cleric, so he had avoided the battle and gone straight to conversing with Patrick. Of course, taking such a sneaky route was the reason for his current troubles!


    <i>Back then, I was afraid of this thing. But now...</i>


    As Kai stepped into the battle, his gaze turned cold. The moment his foot pushed off the ground, the sword in his hand pierced through the chest of the knight statue.


    His speed was truly astonishing!


    <strong>[Apprentice Knight Statue has been destroyed.]</strong>


    <strong>[Challenger is requested to proceed to the next room.]</strong>


    ¡°It¡¯s gotten this easy.¡±


    Kai said nothing more and calmly moved on to the next room.


    <strong>[Proficient Knight Statue. LV.170]</strong>


    The second statue fell just as easily with a single swing of his sword, but this easy approach only worked up to the third room.


    <strong>[Hanox''s War Commander Statue. LV.250]</strong>


    The opponent in the fourth room was too strong to be taken down with a single strike, and it wasn¡¯t until Kai saw the statue that he remembered his past experience.


    <i>Ah,e to think of it... This trial¡¯sst room had a statue at level 300, didn¡¯t it?</i>


    It was a fresh reminder of just how absurd his ss was and how ridiculously he had acquired it!


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to waste time here. Blizzard, Mimic.¡±


    His lovely pets, summoned in an instant, looked different from before. Blizzard, now at level 197, looked imposing enough to be mistaken for a chieftain of a tribe.


    As for Mimic...


    ¡°Go, Mimic!¡±


    Mimic began imitating the form of a desert anaconda!


    Even while grinding levels like a madman, Kai had continuously made Mimic mimic various monsters.


    <i>As a result, I¡¯ve collected three types of monsters from the desert.</i>


    The level difference was too great in the early stages of hunting, so Mimic failed frequently, but as Mimic¡¯s level increased, its sess rate gradually improved.


    Now at level 146, Mimic was a formidable-looking desert anaconda to anyone who saw it!


    As Mimic swiftly coiled around Hanox''s War Commander Statue, Kai and Blizzard charged forward. Then, a one-sided beatdown followed!


    <strong>[Hanox''s War Commander Statue has been destroyed.] </strong>


    <strong>[Challenger is requested to proceed to the final room.]</strong>


    The statue in thest room could be considered the boss of this dungeon.


    <strong>[Hanox''s Ruler Statue. LV.300]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>, even I find this a bit nerve-wracking.¡±


    The statue¡¯s level was 300.


    It was a spine-chilling number Kai had never encountered in his seven months of ying the game!


    However, he had to face that monstrous entity.


    Then, the statue''s eyes glowed with a red light.


    ***


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 15 stat points.]</strong>


    ¡°I never thought I''d surpass level 250 here.¡±


    Kai had given up on leveling up and came to the Trial of Hanox, yet his level increased even more!


    At the same time, he recalled a forgotten part of his past.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The quest to clear the Trial of Hanox has beenpleted.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased by +1.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 5 stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>[As a dungeon clear reward, you can nowmunicate with the thoughts of the apostles infused in the holy relics.]</strong>


    ¡°Dang.¡±


    It was a quest he hadpletely forgotten about! It was the quest given by Huey, the master of the Training Grounds of the Dawn.


    <i>Oh, right. The reward was an increase of 1 in all stats and a level up.</i>


    It was a totally unexpected bonus, and felt like finding a money bill while cleaning his room!


    ¡°Now then...¡±


    It was time to have the long-postponed conversation with his seniors.


    ¡°Communicate with the thoughts.¡±


    <strong>[You can converse with the thoughts of Cherantia.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can converse with the thoughts of Shimizu.]</strong>


    Looking at the message windows that popped up, Kai smiled and said, ¡°I choose both.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Why has my friend still not arrived?¡±


    Sitting crouched down in nia''s palm, Luteria looked up at the queen with a gloomy expression.


    ¡°So cute... I mean, please don¡¯t worry too much, World Tree. He is the most genuine human I¡¯ve ever seen. He will never abandon us.¡±


    ¡°I do not fear his abandonment. It''s just... at this rate, time is...¡±


    As Luteria murmured its frequentints, an elf scout ran up with a beaming face.


    ¡°The apostle has arrived!¡±


    ¡°Oh! My friend!¡± Luteria wiggled its arms and legs, urging nia, ¡°Take me to him! Hurry!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The elf queen hurriedly apanied Luteria to find Kai. When they found him, she was taken aback.


    <i>He¡¯s changed... in such a short time.</i>


    Kai had certainly been a strong human before. But at that time, his strength was such that she could easily defeat him if she fought with all her might.


    <i>But now...</i>


    nia gazed intently into Kai''s eyes. She couldn¡¯t perceive his depth.


    ¡°Oh my.¡±


    In other words, his achievements over the past two weeks were extraordinary!


    The elf queen gracefully bowed her head. ¡°It seems you''ve had some kind of enlightenment. Congrattions.¡±


    ¡°Enlightenment? Not really...¡± Kai shrugged, wearing a slightly bothered expression. ¡°I just met two troublesome people, that''s all.¡±


    Ignoring nia, who tilted her head in befuddlement Kai said to Luteria, ¡°Luteria, I am ready.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for those words, my friend.¡± Standing proudly on nia¡¯s palm, Luteria raised its voice. ¡°My children! Follow this man! Be his spear and shield, sweep away the cruel Church of Muldine, and reim peace for thisnd and the future of our people!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Their obedience was without a hint of dissent!


    ¡°I cannot easily leave the forest. I entrust the children and the future of the forest to you. I wish you good fortune,¡± Luteria said to Kai.


    ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Smiling, Kai looked at the seven hundred elves lined up before him. ¡°Let us advance.¡±


    ¡°Kai, where is our target?¡±


    At Elduin''s question, Kai responded with a look that asked why he asked such an obvious thing, ¡°First, let¡¯s drive out the illegal aliens in the forest.¡±


    ***


    Today, the <i>MID Online</i>munity was peaceful, when all of a sudden a video was uploaded out of the blue.


    -Huh? It¡¯s Unknown.


    -Is this the footage from their war with the ck Bees?


    -Oh, if it is, this should be good.


    Excited yers, filled with anticipation, clicked y on the video.


    However, within a few seconds, they found themselves tilting their heads in confusion.


    -... What is this?


    -First-person view...?


    -Is this some kind of documentary?


    -Why is he suddenly doing something so different?


    Unknown''s videos were known for their impressive visuals and stories. But for some reason, this video had no special effects at all.


    However, it had such a gripping sense of immersion that viewers couldn¡¯t bring themselves to click away.


    -Wow, I don¡¯t know about the rest, but...


    -Even without the CGI, the first-person perspective is super immersive.


    -But isn¡¯t this the Elven Forest...? What is he doing alone?


    ©¸ How do you know he¡¯s alone?


    ©¸ You can tell by the sound of the footsteps. Try listening with a good headset.


    Unknown walked quietly through the forest alone. With each step he took, the only sound was the crunch of leaves underfoot. It was a silent forest, in which not even the birds chirped.


    Then suddenly, he stopped. As he turned his head, the screen shifted, and there appeared a man. It was a man with three yellow stripes painted under his eyes, and pointed ears. What those features indicated was clear.


    The yers immediately started typing on their keyboards.


    -What the! It¡¯s an elf!


    -Unknown found an elf!


    -No way... Did he record his discovery of the Elven Vige?


    -Nobody¡¯s ever done this before, right?


    -As expected of Unknown! He never disappoints!


    -Who is that elf oppa? He¡¯s so handsome ??


    The yers¡¯ excitement surged in an instant!


    However, Unknown didn¡¯t exin with words, and showed with his actions that what they should be amazed by wasn¡¯t now, but what came next.


    ¡ªSweep them away.


    It was the first time Unknown¡¯s voice was heard in the video. His voice was as strong as steel and as cold as a winterke.


    -Sweep? Sweep what?


    -Is this some kind of quest to clean up the Elven Vige?


    -Unknown¡¯s voice is pretty good.


    As their curiosity peaked, hundreds of figures began passing by Unknown¡¯s side. They were all elves.


    The overwhelming numbers left the yers speechless!


    <i>¡ªHeup!</i>


    In the next moment, Unknown started running, and the screen shook violently. Then, dark elves began appearing one after another before him!


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    Unknown¡¯s sword had no eyes and thus had no mercy. The dark elves running at him turned into polygons.


    The battle footage was only about twenty minutes long, which was very short.


    When the intense battle video, so gripping that yers could hardly breathe, finally ended, Unknown stylishly swung his sword and flicked off the blood from the de. At the same time, he sheathed his sword and turned his back.


    ¡ªElves.


    As his voice echoed through the forest, one by one, the elves knelt down. Hundreds of elves awaited Unknown¡¯smand in a posture of submission!


    In the scene, which seemed like one from a movie, Unknown slowly said with a voice filled with authority,


    ¡ªLet¡¯s go. It¡¯s time for war.

 Chapter 143: Like a Scene from a Movie (2)

    <h4>Chapter 143: Like a Scene from a Movie (2)</h4>


    The master of the Warriors guild, Vulcan, couldn''t hide his bitter smile as he watched the video posted by Unknown.


    "Unknown... He¡¯s truly unpredictable."


    <i>He struck at just the right moment.</i>


    The video by Unknown was a hot topic in themunity in real-time. Despite being just a twenty-minute preview, its poprity soared sky-high.


    Even the real-time search rankings on various portal sites were flooded with keywords rted to Unknown.


    Watching the overwhelming interest, Vulcan suddenly let out augh.


    "Do people realize that this video by Unknown isn''t just a promotion, but a kind of message?"


    He was right. The perspective of ordinary yers and that of the masters of the top ten guilds were bound to differ. Therefore, while ordinary yers were watching the performance of the elves and Unknown, the masters of the top ten guilds were focused on something else.


    "No, rather, Unknown tantly showed it."


    Dark priests of the Church of Muldine were among the dark elves that fled in terror from the onught of Unknown and the elves.


    In short, the quest Unknown was currently on was somehow rted to the Church of Muldine!


    <i>Recently, missions rarelye through because of the suspicion of a spy within the Darkness Hunters.</i>


    In other words, the link to proceed with quests rted to the Church of Muldine¡ªthe main episode¡ªhad been severed. In such a situation, this war that could potentially catch the tail of the Church of Muldine was like getting rain in the midst of a drought.


    Thus, the reason Unknown posted this video was simple.


    <i>On the surface, it''s to elevate his own fame. But underneath...</i>


    There were bound to be people who knew about the Church of Muldine and Unknown was telling them to pitch in and lend him their strength. This was an unparalleled opportunity to trace the Church of Muldine''s tracks.


    After closing his eyes in thought for a moment, Vulcan finally opened a chatroom.


    A lively conversation was already urring there.


    [Minerva: This war needs to be led by the top ten guilds.]


    [Yoshiatsu: It''s toote. No matter what we do, all the attention is on Unknown.]


    [Leonard: Even if we win the war, all the credit will go to Unknown.]


    [Goliath: It''s better not to support at all, and the best oue would be for Unknown to lose the war.]


    [Katherine: That¡¯s bullshit. You''re throwing away the only chance to chase down the Church of Muldine? I''m going.]


    [Goliath: ... I guess when I stuck a sword down your throat before, only your fingers survived instead of your mouth.]


    [Katherine: Ah, you''re talking about when I stuck daggers in your eyes, right?]


    There were bound to be sworn enemies even among the masters of the top ten guilds, who were practically rivals.


    Vulcan, quietly looking at the chatroom, finally spoke up for the first time.


    [Vulcan: The Warriors will participate.]


    [Goliath: You sly fox. You¡¯re only concerned about immediate profits, aren''t you?]


    [Vulcan: Then what¡¯s more important? There''s no reason not to participate.]


    [Katherine: Hey, Goliath. If you''re so dissatisfied, why not just mess the whole thing up?]


    [Goliath: Do you really think I''d fall for such a poor provocation?]


    [Katherine: Oh, what a shame. I could¡¯ve sent you packing.]


    Katherine sighed deeply in disappointment.


    However, neither Goliath nor any of the other masters in the chatroom seriously considered disrupting this war.


    <i>For a war of this scale, one or two people alone can''t sabotage it.</i>


    <i>At least a full attack team needs to be sent, but...</i>


    <i>Damn it. I should¡¯ve secretly prepared at least one attack team in advance.</i>


    <i>Besides, this scenario was created by Unknown. If we try to interfere, no matter the reason, it¡¯ll only look like a big organization bullying a poor individual.</i>


    The power of the top ten guilds was already widely known to the world since they conducted raids on a guild scale and sold the videos. Therefore, anyone on the attack team would be instantly identified within five minutes just from a screenshot. In short, the top ten guilds had only two choices!


    <i>Do we help Unknown and gain clues about the Church of Muldine...</i>


    <i>Or do we give up enormous benefits because we don''t want to participate in this annoying situation?</i>


    They had to choose between one or the other.


    Excluding the three guilds currently preparing raids, all other six guilds expressed their intention to participate.


    [Katherine: We¡¯vee to a conclusion. What about you, Queen?]


    In response to Katherine''s question, a woman who had been silently reading the conversation finally typed on her virtual keyboard.


    [Seol Eun-Yeong: We will participate.]


    ***


    "Contact them, now!"


    "But we¡¯ve already tried several times..."


    "<i>Ugh!</i> Is this the time to pick between hot or cold water? Send as many messages as necessary!"


    "Hey, it''s me. Immediately check what next week''s broadcast schedule is... no, check this week''s schedule."


    "Unknown definitely spoke in Korean in that video. He has to be Korean!"


    "No matter what it takes, we have to secure a contract with him. Try to make contact with Unknown and don¡¯t even think about getting off work until you do!"


    Broadcast stations that especially dealt primarily with gaming content were in a frenzy. The video Unknown posted this time was an irresistible bait for them.


    <i>When we broadcasted the field boss raid of an unknown party before, the viewing rates exceeded 11%.</i>


    <i>But this is none other than Unknown.</i>


    <i>And it¡¯s not just a raid.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s war. Somethingparable to... no, something that will surpass Cheonhwa¡¯s legendary Veghas raid.</i>


    Unknown¡¯s video was practically a guaranteed hit! Moreover, the intro of the video he posted this time was on apletely different level in scale. Since it was a video showing Unknown leading NPCs into war, there was no need for them to even test the waters for the audience''s attention.


    And as proof of that, the viewer boards of each broadcast station were already flooded.


    -Has Unknown¡¯s war video been contracted by TBC Broadcasting?


    -I¡¯m from Unknown¡¯s fan club. I saw NET Media recently aired a special on Unknown. Is it rted to this video?


    -Unknown spoke Korean in the video. Is he Korean?


    -The elf in Unknown''s video was really good-looking. Does anyone know his name?


    The posts were flooding in to the point where it was hard to tell if this was a viewer board or a tform like Reddit.


    Normally, pressure was built from the bottom up, and this incident quickly reached the ears of the broadcasting directors.


    "<i>Hm</i>? Unknown?"


    "I have heard of him. What? You want to secure a contract with him?"


    "Well... the video was interesting, but does it really need to be broadcast..."


    "<i>Huh</i>? Unknown led NPCs into a war? You idiot! That¡¯s the first thing you should¡¯ve said!"


    "We''ll match his schedule as much as possible. The contract fee doesn¡¯t matter. As the number one broadcasting station for <i>MID Online</i>, we at OnGames must secure this contract. If we don¡¯t, be prepared to submit a letter of apology!"


    There was a battle of wits among the broadcasting stations! They weren¡¯t foolish and knew very well how much influence the broadcasting station that secured this contract would wield in future <i>MID Online</i> broadcasts.


    "First impressions are important. A contract fee of two billion won should be enough to attract Unknown, right?"


    "Hey, you fool. He¡¯s the type who outfits even his pets with set items. He¡¯s at least a silver spoon! That kind of money won¡¯t cut it."


    "The director has given the green light anyway. If we¡¯re going to spend, spend big! Add more options too. Include incentives based on viewership and offer a joint program with a top-ranking beauty or idol. Spare no expense!"


    While the broadcasting station officials were racking their brains, Kai''s army had already arrived at the Suver Canal.


    ***


    Kai gazed at the artificial waterway that was eight hundred meters wide, the Suver Canal. Its overwhelming width and length made it indistinguishable from a natural river.


    With winter soon approaching, the vast Bir ins that bordered the canal was deste. There were no crops to harvest, and the area was void of human presence.


    As Kai took in the scenery that would soon be his battlefield, he got lost in thought.


    <i>Did the message get across properly?</i>


    The reason he had shot today''s video in first person and posted it in themunity was simple.


    <i>It was so I could capture the dark priests of the Church of Muldine clearly on screen.</i>


    It was all toy a trap!


    His neck ached from repeatedly turning it quickly to capture the dark priests on camera.


    <i>There are also regr yers who caught wind of an event and showed up.</i>


    Kai smiled as he noticed and watched ordinary yers slowly following from a distance, watching the procession of elves.


    <i>I guess there would be no need to post any additional footage.</i>


    It was obvious that they would post about him and his army of elves on social media. In short, other yers would soon know that he was here, in the Bir ins!


    <i>If the regr yers know, there¡¯s no way the top ten guilds wouldn¡¯t.</i>


    Kai felt a sense of relief. Initially, he hadn¡¯t nned on involving the top ten guilds in this war. After all, he would have to share some of the credit and fame. However, that mindset had changed during the departure ceremony.


    ¡°Sir, pleasee back safely, okay?¡±


    ¡°It pains me that I¡¯m too old to join you on the battlefield.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting. Come back in one piece.¡±


    As the elves bid farewell to the proud warriors of the forest with tears in their eyes, Kai realized his great mistake.


    <i>These beings only have one life. They¡¯re not like yers.</i>


    Even revival skills like Resurrection wouldn¡¯t be able to bring them back, so he resolved to save as many lives as possible and return them to their loved ones as he filmed the video.


    ¡°Kai, adventurers are approaching from the surroundings.¡±


    ¡°Where...¡± At Elduin¡¯s words, Kai turned his head and nodded as he saw the various gs.


    <i>Quite a few havee. The Warriors, Titan, ck Market, Pray, Limitless, and...</i>


    Kai was surprised as he spotted a familiar symbol among them.


    ¡°Cheonhwa?¡±


    Despite being busy managing the newly obtained ck Bee territory, Cheonhwa had brought their elite force to the battlefield.


    Seol Eun-Yeong approached and slightly bowed her head to Kai. ¡°I¡¯vee to repay a favor.¡±


    ¡°... Thank you.¡±


    Kai then turned his gaze toward the guild masters.


    <i>This is the first time seeing them in person.</i>


    Not even half a year ago, he had only been able to watch these famous figures on screen. But now, they hade to the battlefield he had created to aid him.


    Of course, there were exceptions.


    ¡°Hey, let me make one thing clear. I won¡¯t be taking orders from you.¡±


    Kai turned his head toward the direction of the voice. It was Goliath from the Titan guild.


    <i>Come to think of it, I¡¯ve had quite the bad blood with this guy too.</i>


    In the past, just hearing the names Goliath and Titan would have made him shrink. However, things were different now.


    <i>I¡¯m not powerless anymore... and more than that, I¡¯m Unknown right now.</i>


    Unknown. A coldhearted yer. Once he made an enemy, it didn¡¯t matter who they were, even if they were one of the top ten guilds. He would destroy thempletely like a vicious hunting dog. After all, when one wears a mask, they should act the part.


    Without warning, Kai drew his sword and pointed it at Goliath. At the same time, seven hundred elves drew their bowstrings.


    ¡°... What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. If you don¡¯t want to follow my orders, get off of my battlefield.¡±


    ¡°With those words, you could turn not just me but the entire Titan guild into your enemy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even feel the satisfaction of killing a bee since they were so small, but I guess a giant could be different.¡±


    ¡°How dare you...!¡±


    Just as Goliath was about to throw a punch in rage, a single voice stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re about toy hands on?¡±

 Chapter 144: Battle of the Bir Plains (1)

    <h4>Chapter 144: Battle of the Bir ins (1)</h4>


    Anger management disorder refers to a personality disorder where one cannot control the intensity of anger in frustrating situations, and this was exactly Goliath''s personality.


    Born with size, strength, and a natural boldness, he had reigned as a dominant force all his life. However, living life his own way was hindered by the existence ofws.


    Then, when Goliath discovered <i>MID Online</i>, he was deeply impressed.


    <i>It¡¯s a perfect world!</i>


    Just as <i>Mid Online</i> became a great escape from reality, a new world for Kai, it was the same for Goliath.


    <i>However...</i>


    Goliath slightly trembled as he looked at the man in front of him. The thought that he would die if he kept messing around constantly rang in his mind like an rm.


    Then, the man moved to stand right in front of Goliath and looked up at him. "I asked, who exactly do you think you were about toy hands on?"


    "You are...?"


    "I ask the questions. Your role is to answer. And also..."


    The man slowly raised his right hand. At the same time, the air around them shifted.


    "Lower yourself. My neck is hurting."


    "<i>Argh...</i>!"


    Goliath struggled to resist the unprecedented force pressing down on his shoulders. Sweating profusely, he finally gave up when he saw the calm expression on the man''s face.


    <i>I can''t win against this.</i>


    For the first time in his life, Goliath tasted the bitterness of utter defeat!


    <i>Thud!</i>


    As Goliath knelt in submission, he felt a cold de against his neck. And more chilling than the de was the voice that came from above him.


    "I''ll ask you onest time. Answer. Who were you about toy hands on?"


    "I... I was..."


    In the tense moment, Kai seized the perfect opportunity and naturally made his entrance.


    "Bach, sir, you¡¯ve arrived."


    Bach nced briefly at Kai and gave a slight nod. "By themand of His Majesty, I havee to fight alongside you in this battle. Although I retain independentmand of the knights, I will take your input into consideration as much as possible."


    "I am immensely grateful."


    "I intervened because it seemed like trouble, but what is this about?"


    "It''s nothing. I''ll take care of it. He''s just a rookie, far from capable of handling the sword of themander of the Ironblood Knights."


    Themander of the Ironblood Knights! The weight of the title that flowed from Kai¡¯s lips caused the guild masters'' expressions to change.


    <i>Oh! Bach! No wonder the name sounded familiar... He¡¯s Bach Den ck, themander of the Ironblood Knights!</i>


    <i>The sharpest sword of King Rashion.</i>


    <i>If he¡¯s themander of those knights, he¡¯s at least level 400.</i>


    <i>If someone like him is here on the battlefield...</i>


    <i>It means King Rashion himself must have given the order. What kind of connections does Unknown have...?</i>


    <i>Haha, what an idiot you are, Goliath. Serves him right.</i>


    While the others stepped back in pure amazement, Goliath was absolutely shocked.


    <i>This is insane! Why is someone like him here?!</i>


    It was as if kids were having a fight, only for a world boxing champion to show up.


    Goliath gulped as he looked up at Kai approaching.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you onest time as well. Are you going to follow my orders or get out of my face?¡±


    Goliath, whose clenched fists were trembling, finally closed his eyes tightly and said, ¡°... I¡¯ll follow your orders.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll leave the rear of the army to the Titan guild.¡±


    It was true. Retaliation was the most humiliating for those on the receiving end!


    Although the Titan guild was assigned to the very rear where making any significant contribution was nearly impossible, Goliath couldn''t utter a word since Bach and his knights were watching him with piercing eyes.


    That day, Goliath became an expert at managing his anger.


    ***


    <i>Roughly 1,700, huh?</i>


    The top ten guilds had each brought one hundred elite members. There were also seven hundred elf warriors, and fifty from the Ironblood Knights. Andstly, there were four hundred regr yers who had tagged along, curiously following Kai!


    With a total of 1,750 people tomand, Kai asked, ¡°Elduin, are you certain the forces of the Church of Muldine areing in this direction?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Luteria confirmed it multiple times.¡±


    If it was the assurance of the World Tree, there was no need for doubt. Though it looked cute, it was a legendary being straight out of a fairy tale.


    <i>Then there¡¯s no need to worry about the n going wrong. However...</i>


    Kai nced back at the regr yers behind him.


    ¡°They say there are over 1,700 of us. How is this real?¡±


    ¡°With this many people, there¡¯s nothing to worry about, no matter who the enemy is.¡±


    "With this kind of force, we could probably destroy a count''s territory, don''t you think?"


    ¡°This would definitely get broadcasted, right? Mom! I¡¯m on TV!¡±


    ¡°And once the war is over, there will be rewards from the Kingdom of Rashion. Dang, I feel amazing!¡±


    Unlike the disciplined members of the top ten guilds and the elf warriors, the regr yers were bubbling with excitement.


    Watching them alongside Kai, Bach said, ¡°... <i>Hm</i>, I wonder if it will really be such an easy battle.¡±


    Kai¡¯s army might have beenrge enough to be called the greatest of all time, but in reality, they were a disorganized crowd that prioritized their own gains!


    Seeing through this, Bach delivered a sharp critique. ¡°Is this all the strength we have on our side?¡±


    ¡°Well... about eight hundred more wille in time.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>, eight hundred more, you say?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just Bach who was surprised.


    <i>Eight hundred more?</i>


    <i>That¡¯s strange. As far as I know, Unknown isn¡¯t affiliated with any guild.</i>


    <i>Yet, he can mobilize eight hundred people? The only one capable of that would be Xao Lin of the ck Dragon guild... No, that must be a bluff, right?</i>


    <i>Well, we¡¯ll see the result soon enough.</i>


    Having drawn attention for various reasons, Kai closed his eyes and steadied his mind.


    <i>This war is both the greatest opportunity and the biggest challenge for me.</i>


    If things went well, his future in the game would unfold with ease. After all, he would be the only yer who had brought the top ten guilds under hismand


    <i>And if we win the war, the royal family will offer powerful support as well. But most importantly...</i>


    He would gain the overwhelming support of the elves and merfolk.


    <i>But for now...</i>


    His eyesnded on the distant peak of the Phevez Mountain Range to the north.


    Then Bach murmured, ¡°... That¡¯s a lot.¡±


    As he said so, the expressions of the 1,700 people around him stiffened.


    ¡°W-wait a minute.¡±


    ¡°N-no way... Is that all of them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the enemy?!¡±


    ¡°This is insane! I¡¯m getting out of here!¡±


    War was a violent act where opposing groups used military force and various other means to overpower one another. In such violent acts, the most prioritized factor was none other than numerical strength.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    As is typical in winter, the bare, leafless trees covered the Phevez Mountain Range. And lightly resting on them was the pure white snow that symbolized winter.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!</i>


    However, that snow was quickly stained by the advancing ck army.


    ¡°How many enemy soldiers do you think there are?¡± Bach asked Kai.


    ¡°... Well, at least five thousand, it seems.¡±


    ¡°You''re quite the optimist.¡± With a faint sigh, Bach continued, ¡°At least ten thousand. At most, it could be as many as twelve thousand.¡±


    ¡°T-ten thousand?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nearly five times our number...!¡±


    ¡°No, this can¡¯t be real.¡±


    The regr yers who hade thinking this war was just a simple event began getting out of formation in an instant.


    ¡°Hey, stop!¡±


    ¡°Hey, you bastards! You came all this way, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    The members of the top ten guilds urgently tried to stop them, but the yers ignored them and continued to vanish. They left the battlefield in the blink of an eye by logging out or using teleportation scrolls.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>...¡±


    ¡°Those spineless bastards!¡±


    The number of yers who fled was a staggering three hundred!


    However, Kai made no effort to stop them. In fact, he even encouraged their departure.


    ¡°Anyone who wishes to leave, do so now!¡±


    With the special ability as themander, his voice echoed across the vast Bir ins.


    ¡°U-Unknown says it¡¯s okay to leave.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s saying it so openly, it means...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no retaliation.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°... Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    With that, another fifty yers disappeared.


    Vulcan, the master of the Warriors, looked at Kai as if he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why are you letting them go when every hand is needed...?¡±


    ¡°Do you really think they would be of any help? Honestly?¡±


    Vulcan had no answer to that question. They had joined the war with only rewards in mind and lighthearted attitudes from the start. They had no determination, resolve, or conviction whatsoever.


    <i>Those people would flee in the middle of the battle if things turned against us anyway.</i>


    Whenrades started fleeing in the heat of a battle, armies copsed in an instant.


    During the past two weeks of hunting, Kai had diligently studied basic leadership, strategies, and tactics. He had researched various battles throughout history and thoroughly examined the strategies of greatmanders.


    <i>Anyone who participates in this battle must have no way out.</i>


    The famous saying, ¡°Those who seek death shall live. Those who seek life shall die,¡± guided his thinking. It was a famous quote by General Yi Sun-Sin, meaning that if one lives cowardly, they will die, but if they are ready to die, they will survive.


    ¡°I believe you all know who I am!¡±


    At Kai¡¯s words, hundreds of yers looked at him with puzzled expressions. Of course, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t know. He was Unknown. Currently the hottest yer in <i>MID Online.</i>


    "I won¡¯t say this twice. We are bound to win this battle."


    When Kai boldly disyed his overflowing confidence, the yers tilted their heads in confusion.


    ¡°Seeing is believing. I will show you today why I am Unknown and how I have always defeated overwhelmingly strong enemies.¡±


    He was the legend of the undefeated! If anyone else had said such a thing, they would have scoffed, but the trail of victories Unknown had left behind was enough to make his words credible.


    <i>Now that I think about it, with Unknown...</i>


    <i>He wiped out the Orc Lord and Orc Sorcerer, and the ck Bee¡¯s rookie party all at once, didn¡¯t he?</i>


    <i>He even solo-raided Aosa.</i>


    <i>Plus, he¡¯s the monster who single-handedly brought down the ck Bee guild.</i>


    <i>Then, if we fight alongside him...</i>


    <i>We might actually win.</i>


    A glimmer of hope sparked in the eyes of his nearly defeated allies!


    At that moment, a message window popped up in front of Kai.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have boosted your allies'' morale with a speech based on overwhelming dignity.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill reached Beginner Lv. 6.]</strong>


    <strong>[Allied morale has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All allies¡¯ stats will increase by 3% until the end of the battle.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, <i>wow!</i>¡±


    ¡°A buff that increases all stats!¡±


    ¡°We can do this. We can win!¡±


    The yers participating in this battle were all experts who were at least level 200! For them, a 3% increase in all stats was no small boost. And that wasn¡¯t all.


    ¡°O Father Helik, who watches over us,¡± Kai suddenly spoke in a reverent tone as he knelt down.


    Watching him, the masters of the top ten guilds murmured in confusion.


    ¡°He changed his gear?¡±


    ¡°... But why is he wearing cleric robes?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t see his face because of the hood.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the war ritual of the Srian Church,¡± exined Minerva, the master of the Pray guild, which had many Pdins and Clerics. ¡°He¡¯s praying to the Srian God to receive His blessing. Of course, the effect isn¡¯t that significant...¡±


    ¡°So basically, it¡¯s just for show.¡±


    ¡°Well, considering the footage that will be usedter, it makes sense.¡±


    Ignoring the chatter around him, Kai quietly finished his prayer and muttered softly, ¡°... Please protect us. Skill activation, Hymn of Angels.¡±


    At the same time, a brilliant ray of sunlight shone down on Kai¡¯s army.


    <i>Ni~ Nanino~</i>


    <i>Ni~ Nanino~</i>


    Soon, countless baby angels blew horns and flew above them!


    As the yers stared nkly at them, shocking messages appeared before them.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik has blessed you with the gracious light of the sun.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have heard the hymn sung by the angels.]</strong>


    <strong>[Physical damage received is reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Magical damage received is reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[All status effect resistance is increased by 40%.]</strong>

 Chapter 145: Battle of the Bir Plains (2)

    <h4>Chapter 145: Battle of the Bir ins (2)</h4>


    <i>Ni~ Nanino~</i>


    <i>Ni~ Nanino~</i>


    The yers nkly listened to the background instrumentals and angels¡¯ singing until they finally snapped back to reality.


    ¡°Wh-what is this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never received... no, I¡¯ve never even heard of a buff like this!¡±


    ¡°Both physical and magical damage are reduced by 30%? And resistance to all status effects is increased as well...?¡±


    ¡°This is an insanely overpowered skill!¡±


    ¡°Wait, if he¡¯s using this kind of buff skill, then...¡±


    All 650 yers turned their eyes toward Kai¡ªno, toward Unknown.


    The guild masters were no exception.


    <i>Unknown can use buffs like this?</i>


    <i>This is beyond what even a ranked Cleric can provide.</i>


    <i>But there¡¯s no way Unknown is a Cleric. That outfit is just a decoy.</i>


    <i>A Cleric couldn¡¯t possibly run wild like he does.</i>


    <i>Hmm. The Strength stat he showed when he took down Aosa was definitely not that of a Cleric.</i>


    <i>It could be possible if he were a crazy Cleric who had All-Strength... but then his Holy Power would becking.</i>


    <i>But he used Holy Chains without hesitation when he fought Aosa, which is a skill that consumes a lot of Holy Power.</i>


    <i>That means...</i>


    Each of them came to their own conclusions in their minds. Though they hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word, the answer they arrived at was the same.


    ¡°The rumors were true. Unknown is a hidden-ss Pdin yer.¡±


    ¡°A buff of this level wouldn¡¯t make sense if he¡¯s not.¡±


    There was no way a Cleric could be that strong! This belief was deeply ingrained in the minds of the yers and was no different for the guild masters.


    As the situation unfolded as Kai had hoped, he nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Yes, while I can¡¯t go into detail, I am a hidden-ss yer.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    ¡°W-wait a second! Something¡¯s still not right!¡± Just as the other masters were about to ept this exnation, Minerva, the master of Pray, protested with a bewildered look. ¡°As you all know, I¡¯m a hidden-ss Cleric. So how is it that Unknown, a Pdin, has a buff stronger than mine?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it...¡±


    ¡°Wait... Then...?¡±


    The masters once again shot suspicious nces at Kai, but he remained calm.


    <i>If I give in here, it¡¯s all over.</i>


    Determined, Kai decided to persuade them. After all, persuasiveness often stems from the confidence of the speaker!


    Kai immediately adjusted his posture¡ªhis back straightened like he was reaching for the sky, his shoulders broadened like the vast Pacific Ocean, and his chin raised to the sky at a thirty-two degree angle!


    With such a confident stance, Kai began to say, ¡°As you know, even among hidden sses, there are differences in rank.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡±


    ¡°Of course I know that. After all, I¡¯ve researched hidden sses countless times since my ss change. But my ss, Saintess, is one of the top-tier hidden sses. There shouldn¡¯t be such a gap in buff ability...¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps my hidden ss is in the <i>very</i> top tier.¡± Kai countered immediately.


    Kai¡¯s logic left them speechless!


    Determining superiority between professions was impossible without revealing each other''s skills. However, it wasn¡¯t the right time or situation topare those skills.


    ¡°Logically speaking, if I were a Cleric, how would my Strength stat be this high?¡±


    Kai let out a faint sigh and took a screenshot of only the Strength requirement of his beloved sword, the Ironwill Longsword, and shared it with the masters.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, the Strength requirement for his sword is 500?¡±


    ¡°Indeed... a Cleric could never wield a sword of that level.¡±


    The masters nodded in agreement once more.


    Minerva nodded reluctantly with a frustrated expression, unable to offer any further rebuttal.


    ¡°Then, could you at least tell us... the name of your ss?¡±


    ¡°Oh, the name of my ss is...¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kai sold out the name of the greatest pdin he knew. ¡°It¡¯s a hero-tier ss, following in the footsteps of Patrick, the Pdin of Radiance.¡±


    ¡°The Pdin of Radiance...¡±


    The masters epted the usible name, but Kai knew them all too well.


    <i>They may act like they believe it for now, but they won¡¯t stop doubting.</i>


    They would definitely look up the name Patrick the moment they returned to town, and only after they found out that Patrick had indeed been a real Pdin would they finally let go of their suspicions.


    <i>With this, they¡¯ll never find out about the Sris Cleric. The fact that he was an apostle must be a closely guarded secret within the church.</i>


    Even Kai hadn¡¯t known about it until he heard it directly from him.


    Having passed through another crisis, Kai let out a light sigh of relief.


    <i>Phew. This significantly boosts the survivability of the Ironblood Knights and the elves.</i>


    The reason he used Hymn of Angels despite the risks was simple. He wanted as many NPCs as possible to survive.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! </i>


    Kai, now watching the enemy forces advancing near the canal, said, ¡°That¡¯s enough talk. It¡¯s time to move from words to action.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Wizards, to the front!¡± At hismand, two hundred Wizard yers stepped forward in unison. ¡°Cast Ice Field and freeze the canal¡¯s water immediately.¡±


    However, the guild masters strongly opposed the n.


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i> That doesn¡¯t seem like a very good idea though.¡±


    ¡°If we freeze the canal, we¡¯ll have to face that massive enemy force head-on.¡±


    ¡°Right. We should block off the water bridge and steadily reduce their numbers instead.¡±


    They were all experienced in tactics and leadership in their own right.


    But Kai stood firm in his decision.


    ¡°I told you before, this is <i>my</i> battlefield.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes shone brightly as he looked at the guild masters. ¡°Now that you¡¯re on my battlefield, trust me and follow.¡±


    ***


    As wide as the Suver Canal was, it was also quite deep. So naturally, crossing it on foot was impossible! Because of this, a water bridge had been constructed there and all the yers believed it would be the site of the decisive battle.


    The same went for the army of the Church of Muldine, who were rushing toward the bridge.


    However, the situation changed due to Kai¡¯smand.


    The canal froze in an instant! While they couldn¡¯t freeze all of the water, a solid enough surface had been created that wouldn¡¯t easily copse under pressure.


    ¡°They¡¯re suspicious.¡±


    ¡°The Church of Muldine bastards aren¡¯t crossing.¡±


    The Church of Muldine had reached the frozen Suver Canal but hesitated to cross, suspecting some kind of trap.


    Kai seized the moment, his eyes shining.


    ¡°This is good. We¡¯ll secure a good position first.¡±


    Kai¡¯s army stepped onto the firm ice and quickly took control of the advantageous high ground. Despite over a thousand soldiers standing on the ice, it showed no signs of breaking.


    <i>Though the nature of Ice Field reduces movement speed on this surface...</i>


    That applied to the enemy as well!


    As Kai''s army advanced onto the canal, the Church of Muldine quickly sent out their first line of troops in a panic. They realized that if they dyed any longer, they would have to fight from a disadvantageous position.


    <i>Are they sending only a part of their force, while keeping the rest back on the hill to observe the battle?</i>


    It was somewhat of a wise move.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud, thud!</i>


    The vanguard of the Church of Muldine numbered around eight thousand. That was nearly six times the size of Kai''s army of 1,400 troops, but in war, a sh between forces was inevitable.


    In the first collision, over a hundred casualties urred on both sides! But as time passed, the Church of Muldine''s army began to get pushed back. The elves¡¯ fury against the dark elves was relentless.


    ¡°Die, you who pursue unjust power!¡±


    ¡°Immoral betrayers of our mother!¡±


    ¡°Nature itself rejects you!¡±


    The elves¡¯ swordsmanship and archery were clean, precise, and powerful. However, their true weapon was something else.


    ¡°Spirits of the earth, block the enemy¡¯s retreat!¡±


    It was the spirits! As beings with high Nature Affinity, the elves could summon the power of spirits through contracts.


    <i>Good. Our momentum is strong.</i>


    As the battle intensified on the canal, Kai fired Holy Explosion into the sky.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud, thud!</i>


    Then, a cavalry of fifty soldiers crossed the water bridge at the same time. It was none other than the Ironblood Knights.


    <i>While we engage their vanguard on the canal, the Ironblood Knights will continue to harass their main forces.</i>


    It was a strategy designed to throw the enemy into a chaotic state!


    Moreover, though the Ironblood Knights were few in number, their strength was not something that could be ignored.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Like enraged tigers, they broke into the heart of the Church of Muldine¡¯s main forces and shed the enemies like ughtering sheep.


    ¡°There must be a bishop leading them here! If we kill them, the chimeras will lose control!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Sir Bach¡¯s order! Find the bishop!¡±


    ¡°If the chimeras lose control, the enemy¡¯s numbers will go down significantly!¡±


    The Ironblood Knights rampaged through the enemy¡¯s main forces, relentlessly tearing them apart as they searched for the bishop to kill.


    ¡°Nice! As expected of the Ironblood Knights!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not fall behind!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s show them the strength of the yers!¡±


    ¡°Keep pushing!¡±


    ¡°Undefeated Unknown is with us!¡±


    The encouragement and shouts from the masters continued to echo across the canal.


    As the battle unfolded more easily than expected, the tense yers slowly began to loosen up.


    <i>This... might actually be doable.</i>


    <i>What the heck? I thought we¡¯d be ughtered just because they outnumbered us, but it¡¯s more evenly matched than I thought!</i>


    <i>Could we... actually pull off something big?</i>


    If they won this battle, they would undoubtedly be hailed as legendary heroes online! The yers fought with even greater intensity driven by this desire for fame.


    ¡°<i>Hmm.</i> Looking good.¡±


    Kai smiled at the sess of his feint strategy.


    However, that joy was short-lived, as the tide of battle suddenly shifted.


    ¡°T-the Inquisitors are here!¡±


    "At least level 250... What?! There''s a level 350?!"


    "Damn it. The dark priests and pdins are getting even stronger with their blessings!"


    The Inquisitors of the Church of Muldine who treated dark elves as mere expendables had finally revealed themselves.


    "Death to those who reject the teachings of Muldine."


    "The stench of heretics is piercing my nose.¡±


    "By Muldine''s will, let the purification begin!"


    With every swing of their swords and maces, yers were sent flying back!


    "Th-they''re too strong!"


    "Shit. Ten... no, twenty people get on one inquisitor!"


    "This isn''t a simple hunt anymore. Form raid formations!"


    The powerful inquisitors charged at the yers with the intent to end the war swiftly. Following them, dark pdins, chimeras, and dark elves attacked the yers as well!


    Messages popped up in front of Kai.


    [Sandro: Hey, Unknown. We can''t hold out any longer!]


    [Goliath: Damn! I thought things were going too well...!]


    [Vulcan: Unknown! Give the order to retreat! If we continue like this, we''ll all...]


    [Unknown: No. We have to hold on longer.]


    Kai spoke firmly, ignoring the desperate calls of the masters, and kept his eyes fixed on the east side of the canal.


    [Katherine: Hey! How are we supposed to hold out any longer? We''re barely defending, and we''re getting pushed back!]


    [Goliath: That crazy woman¡¯s right! Now¡¯s the time to pull back temporarily and regroup!]


    [Vulcan: Unknown, the only way to stop the inquisitors is to call in the Ironblood Knights.]


    [Unknown: The Ironblood Knights... won''t be joining us here.]


    They had to keep harassing the enemy''s main forces to tie down nearly four thousand enemy troops.


    <i>If the enemy¡¯s main forces join the inquisitors here, it''ll get even worse.</i>


    The bishop''s defensive perimeter would be more imprable, and the inquisitors would be able to attack more securely. The enemies were recklessly charging at the moment as if they had no way out, but they were desperate too!


    The fear that the Ironblood Knights instilled in them was beyond anything imaginable.


    <i>We have to hold out here, no matter what.</i>


    Immediately after arriving at the Suver Canal, Kai had summoned Mimic and sent it eastward. There was only one reason for that¡ªthe merfolk!


    <i>I need to keep the enemy on the canal until the merfolk arrive at the very least. In that case...</i>


    Now was the time for a big move. Something that could turn the tides and reverse the plummeting morale of his allies in an instant!


    "... <i>Hah.</i> I thought this might be an easy battle for once."


    Observing the battlefield as he led the army, Kai finally scratched his head and drew his sword. At the same time, he dashed forward and used the shoulders of nearby yers as stepping stones.


    "<i>Argh!</i> <i>Ow!</i> Who the hell...?"


    "<i>Huh?!</i>¡±


    "Unknown?!"


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    In an instant, Kai slid across the ice to the front lines.


    An inquisitor red at him at the same time.


    "<i>Mmm...</i>! What a disgusting stench...!"


    <strong>[Inquisitor LV.350]</strong>


    It was the highest-level and most powerful inquisitor among those on the canal, and the one who symbolized fear for all of Kai¡¯s allies.


    Kai pointed his sword at the inquisitor in front of him without hesitation, and murmured, "Sorry, but you''re going to have to die."


    For the victory of his allies.

 Chapter 146: Battle of the Bir Plains (3)

    <h4>Chapter 146: Battle of the Bir ins (3)</h4>


    The inquisitors of the Church of Muldine had a unique appearance. They held a sword in one hand, a mace in the other. Additionally, they wore full te armor with the robes of the Church of Muldine priestsyered over it.


    Dark energy continuously emanated from their entire body! They were truly figures that exuded a truly overwhelming presence.


    ¡°You say amusing things, filthy heretic.¡± The Inquisitor in front of Kai dismissed his words as a joke and swung their mace through the air. ¡°But once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. You will pay for them. Muldine! I shall capture this heretic and present him to you at once.¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The inquisitor¡¯s mace struck the ice and barely missed Kai, hitting the ground with incredible force.


    <i>They¡¯re fast.</i>


    And they were strong.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The thick ice field they stood on began to crack under the power of the blow! If that mace struck the ground a few more times, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if the ice shattered entirely.


    <i>I have to finish this before that happens.</i>


    After all, Kai was themander of this army. His role was to boost his allies¡¯ morale and lead the war to victory. In other words, he didn¡¯t need to fight on the front lines for long, as he usually did.


    <i>Be quick and decisive.</i>


    He would pour all his strength into ending the fight as quickly as possible.


    With his target set, Kai quickly said, ¡°Supernova.¡±


    <strong>[All stats increased by 47.]</strong>


    <strong>[You are fighting an enemy higher level than yourself.]</strong>


    <strong>[Courageous Knight effect activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats temporarily increased by 10.]</strong>


    It was a truly powerful skill that boosted 57 to all stats in an instant!


    The explosive effect of Supernova was thanks to the effect of Holy Ring Petra.


    <i>It increases the power of all skills that consume Holy Power by 30%.</i>


    Stacked with Saint of Glendale and Saint of Whitehall, the effect skyrocketed to 55%. Moreover, this incredible boost didn¡¯t just apply to Supernova. In short, thanks to a single Eternal Legendary ring, Kai¡¯s strength had reached another level.


    ¡°Sris Blessing, Sris Amor, Haste, Bless, Holy Enchantment...¡±


    <strong>[Physical/Magical defense increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All attack power increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All speeds increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Holy energy imbues your weapon.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    Buff after buff after buff!


    Kai¡¯s abilities rose dramatically with each surge of holy power from the Church of Sris.


    Of course, the inquisitor wasn¡¯t about to sit back and watch.


    ¡°<i>Aah</i>, I can¡¯t stand to watch such a disgusting sight any longer!¡±


    The inquisitor dashed across the ice field, sliding forward as they swung their sword at Kai.


    And it was precisely at the moment Kai¡¯s buffs had finished casting.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The fast and sharp sword cut through the air. It was such a terrifying attack that if it struck an average level 250 yer, they would lose 80% of their HP in an instant.


    But Kai took a light step forward, his expression unchanged.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    At the same time, his figure vanished from the battlefield.


    Even amidst the chaos, the eyes of those who witnessed the scene widened in shock.


    <i>Unknown disappeared?</i>


    <i>What kind of skill is that? Does the Church of Sris have a skill simr to Blink?</i>


    <i>No, he didn¡¯t disappear...</i>


    Unknown reappeared behind the inquisitor in an instant.


    <i>He just moved really fast!</i>


    <i>He moved so fast that they missed it!</i>


    <i>Just how high must his Strength stat and Speed buffs be to move that fast...?</i>


    As Kai began to draw the astonishment of the other yers, his sword began to spin with a thunderous roar.


    ¡°Flood of des!¡±


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i> I-Impossible!¡± the inquisitor screamed as they were struck by a sudden attack from behind.


    The fact that their level 350 self couldn¡¯t keep up with that speed was shocking! However, what was even more terrifying was that it wasn¡¯t just the speed that was overwhelming.


    <i>Flood of des took 18% of their HP in one hit. Not bad.</i>


    Unknown¡¯s attack power defied all logic.


    Of course, the one suffering the most was the inquisitor themself.


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>... Unholy power... is invading my body... Muldine!¡±


    The Church of Sris''s holy power was the only known counter to the Church of Muldine. And Kai¡¯s attack, drenched in that energy, was far from weak. On top of that, he was under the effect of over a dozen buffs.


    <i>My Holy Power is draining like crazy every second...</i>


    But the power overflowing within him was so immense that he weed the penalty with pleasure, and that fact made Kai even bolder.


    <i>I can read his attacks like an open book.</i>


    The inquisitor¡¯s mace that spun in their hand looked as if it were moving in slow motion to Kai.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    The mace flew toward Kai, aimed directly at his heart. He took a step to the side, and grabbed hold of the chain attached to the mace. Then he looked at the shocked inquisitor and took notice of the eyes watching him from all around.


    <i>What I need to show here isn¡¯t a fierce battle.</i>


    A fierce battle would¡¯ve been ideaI if this were for a video to post online, as viewers would get more invested in the fight and feel a rush of catharsis when he won. But on the battlefield, such intensity held no meaning.


    <i>A good battlefield is one where we achieve victory.</i>


    The fact that theirmander decisively overpowered a formidable enemy¡ªthat was the kind of impact that could instantly turn the tide and revive their morale.


    That was why Kai chose to face the inquisitor head-on.


    <i>I¡¯ll crush them from the front!</i>


    With his left hand, Kai yanked on the inquisitor¡¯s mace.


    ¡°<i>Argh!</i>¡±


    The inquisitor was pulled along helplessly!


    Just as Kai carried the morale of his allies on his shoulders, the inquisitor bore the same burden for their own side. They couldn¡¯t afford to show the humiliating sight of having their weapon snatched away.


    <i>But you should¡¯ve chosen to be practical instead of protecting your pride.</i>


    Kai¡¯s right shoulder stretched back. His body moved with the flexibility of a rubber band or a bowstring rather than that of a human.


    As his shoulder reached its limit, it timed perfectly with the inquisitor¡¯s approach,unching his fist like a cannonball.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The inquisitor¡¯s helmet crumpled and flew into the air. At the same time, blood poured from their nose, exposing their face to the world.


    ¡°<i>K-kugh</i>...!¡±


    However, Kai¡¯s attack didn¡¯t end there. He grabbed the dazed inquisitor by the cor with his left hand and the barrage continued.


    <i>Boom! Boom! Boom!</i>


    This was no longer a fierce battle to determine the morale of both armies. It was pure violence.


    Kai used his fists instead of his sword to raise his allies¡¯ morale and crush the enemy¡¯s spirit.


    <i>This way is more primitive, violent, and straightforward.</i>


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    Kai¡¯s final blow struck the inquisitor¡¯s face and they vanished into polygons, their HPpleted.


    As Kai watched this, he raised his sword high. ¡°The inquisitors are nothing but high-level fools! We can win this battle!¡±


    ¡°Yeaaah!¡±


    ¡°Unknown is with us!¡±


    ¡°Unknown just took down the strongest inquisitor by himself! Let¡¯s regroup and take them down too!¡±


    ¡°Kill them all!¡±


    The guild masters didn¡¯t miss the opportunity Kai created. Though they may have been bitter inside, they echoed his feat to boost their army¡¯s morale.


    <i>With this, my role is done.</i>


    Kai nced anxiously toward the east. He had bought enough time, but the merfolk still hadn¡¯t shown up...


    <i>Did my n fail?</i>


    That was the worst possible scenario! For now, the army''s morale was high, and they were pushing the enemy back. However, as time passed, the overwhelming numbers of the enemy would be an undeniable advantage. That was why Kai wanted to end the war before the day was over.


    <i>For that, I desperately need the merfolk¡¯s help.</i>


    Without Mimic mimicking a dragon, it was impossible to bring eight hundred merfolk at once.


    And that was why Kai had nned...


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Then suddenly, the ice field began to shake right in the middle of the battle.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Is it an earthquake?¡±


    While the yers looked around in confusion, Kai¡¯s face started to fill with hope.


    <i>They¡¯re here!</i>


    The vibration was proof that Mimic was close!


    Kai immediately raised his voice and shouted, ¡°Everyone, retreat! Get off the ice field and fall back to the edge of the Bir ins!¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? If we don¡¯t take this advantage, the worse it¡¯ll be for us the longer we wait!¡±


    "The current situation overwhelmingly favors us! There''s no reason to retreat right now..."


    While everyone questioned Kai''s order, Seol Eun-Yeong locked eyes with Kai, after driving her sword into the heart of a dark elf.


    <i>I decided I¡¯d repay my debt on this battlefield for sure.</i>


    The next moment, Seol Eun-Yeong sheathed her sword and shouted, ¡°Cheonhwa is retreating ording to themander¡¯s orders!¡±


    ¡°Secure the retreat route!¡±


    ¡°Retreat route secured! We are withdrawing!¡±


    With the front line held by Cheonhwa broken, the other guild masters had no other choice.


    ¡°Shit! I can¡¯t understand at all! Titan, fall back!¡±


    ¡°Warriors, pull back the front line.¡±


    ¡°Pray members, everyone retreat!¡±


    ¡°It was going so well! Why are they doing this? Limitless, fall back too!¡±


    The army that had charged forward like a flood after Kai''s overwhelming defeat of the inquisitor, now withdrew like a falling tide with a singlemand.


    The Church of Muldine¡¯s forces were confused and hesitant and they were suddenly left without opponents! Their inquisitors that should be giving orders had already been hunted down, and the main forces were tied up by the Ironblood Knights, unable to issue anymands. In the end, their choice was to chase after the retreating enemies!


    <i>Got them.</i>


    With a sly smile, Kai confirmed that his forces had made it to the foot of the Bir ins and raised his right hand high.


    ¡°Mimic! Now!¡±


    With his shout, a deafening sound like fireworks echoed across the battlefield, exploding for everyone to hear.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    One side of the Suver Canal¡¯s wall burst open and released a new stream of water.


    The one responsible for this was none other than Mimic!


    <i>And not just any ordinary Mimic, either.</i>


    Kai looked at Mimic¡¯s impressive form with a satisfied expression.


    <strong>[<u>Mimic - Starving King Sand Worm</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Common Monster</strong>


    <strong>Level: 195</strong>


    <strong>HP: 104,500</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 400 Stamina: 1045</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 110 Agility: 150</strong>


    <strong>-Mimic is imitating the King Sand Worm. </strong>


    <strong>-Mimic''s stats have been boosted based on its summoner¡¯s level.</strong>


    <strong>-Mimic has fully mastered the King Sand Worm.</strong>


    <strong>-Mimic can imitate all of the King Sand Worm¡¯s skills.</strong>


    <strong>-Mimic is imitating a Starving King Sand Worm. No matter how much it consumes, it remains hungry.</strong>


    The King Sand Worm was the monster that had made Kai p his hands in excitement the moment he encountered it in the Zigmunt Desert.


    <i>This is perfect!</i>


    The original n was to mimic a giant monster from the Zigmunt Desert and use it to transport the eight hundred merfolk to the Suver Canal. However, the moment Kai encountered the King Sand Worm, that n was scrapped.


    <i>The King Sand Worm is simr to the Wyrm Lizard I faced in the past.</i>


    The only difference was that it was higher in level,rger in size, and had tougher teeth! Even the level 65 Wyrm Lizard could devour mountains to create its own Sweet Home, so what about the King Sand Worm?


    <i>It would be nothing for it to chew through the rocks between the canal and the sea to open a path.</i>


    And indeed, Mimic aplished that task wlessly.


    <i>All the developers¡¯ efforts are being undone in an instant.</i>


    In a game, monsters resided in specific areas for a simple reason¡ªto eliminate variables. Ifva creatures from volcanic regions wandered into forests at will, or if fire elementals crawled into the ocean and died, developers would have a major problem on their hands. That was why they fixed monsters to certain habitats.


    <i>In other words, the King Sand Worm should be forever trapped in the Zigmunt Desert.</i>


    But Mimic was different. Mimic merely imitated its target, but its essence was still that of Kai¡¯s beloved pet. A creature not bound by the restrictions of movement.


    "R-retreat... Retreat!"


    As Mimic broke through the canal, the Church of Muldine''s army sensed danger and hurried to retreat across the ice field.


    <i>But it¡¯s already toote.</i>


    The water flooding from the tunnel that Mimic had carved out wasn¡¯t from the Suver Canal. From the rushing torrent emerged figures resembling humans that spilled out endlessly.


    ¡°What are those... Humans...?¡±


    ¡°No, their lower bodies are fins!¡±


    ¡°Which means...¡±


    ¡°Merfolk?!¡±


    The yers were shocked, their mouths hanging open.


    Then, a heartyughter echoed across the battlefield. ¡°<i>Ahahahaha!</i> My people! Help the hero and wipe out the dirty forces of the Church of Muldine!¡±


    It was Karius, the king of the merfolk. With a simple wave of his hand, the waters of the Suver Canal began to churn violently. The surging waters became a tidal wave and crashed over the Church of Muldine¡¯s forces as they crossed the ice field.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The ice field shattered like a toy!


    Then, the merfolk drew their weapons and began hunting the Church of Muldine forces who were now drowning in the water.

 Chapter 147: Battle of the Bir Plains (4)

    <h4>Chapter 147: Battle of the Bir ins (4)</h4>


    People have always wanted to conquer nature. The Wright brothers made an airne to conquer the sky, just as the light bulb was invented to conquer the darkness of night. However, no technology in the world has ever been able to conquer natural disasters like a tsunami. And that was the same in <i>MID Online</i>.


    "<i>Aaagh!</i>"


    <i>Ssh, ssh.</i>


    "<i>Kugh</i>...!"


    The army of the Church of Muldine fell into the water! Their numbers were a staggering seven thousand, and more than half of their massive force fell into the canal, looking like drenched rats.


    "Well, I did brace myself since this was supposed to be a war, but..."


    "But this is no different from when we used to go out searching for food."


    "The ones who tried to destroy Aquavera!"


    The merfolk warriors were highly skilled in magic, and to counter the naga tribe, they also trained in the use of weapons such as swords and tridents. That meant theirbat ability was exceptional! Moreover, they could also swim freely in the water, making it a nightmare for the Church of Muldine.


    The Church of Muldine¡¯s army struggled on the shattered ice field, but one by one, they drowned at the merfolk''s attacks!


    As Kai just observed quietly, he then nodded his head.


    <i>Demi-humans are indeed strong.</i>


    Elves excelled in archery and elemental magic, and merfolk excelled in magic and weaponry. While humans barely managed to learn one skill, these demi-humans mastered two. The merfolk disyed overwhelming power in the water, while the elves wielded absolute strength in the forest.


    <i>Forming friendly rtions with the demi-humans was the right decision.</i>


    He wasn''t the only one thinking that.


    The eyes of the masters of the top ten guilds widened at the merfolk''s performance.


    "Who would''ve thought... that the reinforcements would be merfolk...!"


    "Those merfolk... are insanely strong."


    "The Ironblood Knights, the elves, and now the merfolk... Who on earth is this guy?"


    Unknown was like an onion, revealing moreyers the more it was peeled.


    Then, Vulcan shook his head and approached Unknown. "So, do we just help the merfolk deal with the enemies in the canal now?"


    "No. Eight hundred merfolk warriors are more than enough to tie them down. So..." Kai raised his hand and pointed toward the bridge. "We''ll cross the bridge and join the Ironblood Knights on the other side."


    Strike at the main camp! It was basic military knowledge that an organization copsed when it lost its leader.


    Kai intended to use this momentum to swiftly take down the bishop.


    "So the merfolk will tie down the Church of Muldine''s forces in the water..."


    "And during that time, we attack the main camp."


    "There are only about four thousand left in their main camp now."


    "Meanwhile, our forces are still as strong as they were at the start..."


    "And if the Ironblood Knights join us?"


    They could win!


    Kai had already defeated an inquisitor, boosting his allies'' morale. However, that alone wasn¡¯t enough to instill confidence in a sure victory.


    "We can win."


    But this time was different. Victory that had once been out of sight, had nowe within reach.


    Kai raised his hand powerfully and ordered, "All troops, cross the bridge and strike the rear of the enemy¡¯s main camp!"


    The enemy''s main camp was already in chaos due to the Ironblood Knights, so they were focused entirely on that situation.


    In the midst of this, the Muldine forces were greatly taken aback as the army of elves and yers began crossing the bridge.


    "Your Grace! The enemy troops are crossing the bridge and aiming for our rear!"


    "What...?! Impossible! Where are the forces that were supposed to hold them off?"


    "They are trapped by the merfolk¡¯s magic and cannot move!"


    "H-how... disgraceful!"


    They suffered from a strategic defeat! It was no different than saying that themander''s abilities had beenpletely overwhelmed by the enemy. Therefore, it was an unbearably humiliating situation from the bishop''s perspective.


    As the bishop bit his lower lip tightly, three inquisitors approached him.


    "Your Grace! The situation is extremely unfavorable!"


    "It is time to make a decision."


    "Please, give us your orders!"


    Retreat or breakthrough¡ªthose were the options.


    Standing at a crossroad, the bishop sighed and finally said, "We cannot return to the church as mere remnants. Order the troops to consume the Essence of Darkness!"


    Once consumed, the Essence of Darkness would rob one of their reason, making them violently aggressive but granting overwhelming power in return.


    The bishop demanded that his troops consume this essence. Ordinary people would have called it madness, but...


    "Glory to the future of the Church of Muldine!"


    "Glory to the future of the Church of Muldine!"


    They wereplete fanatic cultists! Regardless of the destruction of their own will, all four thousand of the troops poured the Essence of Darkness into their mouths at the bishop¡¯smand. Groans could be heard from all directions at once.


    "<i>Argh</i>... <i>Kugh!</i>"


    "M-Muldine... ising to me!"


    "<i>Krr... Krrrr!</i>"


    Their bodies writhed in pain, and their eyes rolled back, showing only the whites.


    It was around that time that the Ironblood Knights noticed something was wrong, and Bach wore a serious expression as he shed through the enemies, suddenly showing strange symptoms.


    <i>This is... These symptoms are simr to the monsters described in the report that consumed the Essence of Darkness.</i>


    Losing their sanity, unable to feel pain easily, and gaining immense strength¡ªthis was a forbidden technique!


    Sensing something was off as well, the Ironblood Knights hurriedly gathered around Bach.


    "Commander, something''s wrong with them."


    "They¡¯ve suddenly be stronger. And that reckless way they attack without regard for their own bodies..."


    "The Essence of Darkness. It seems they¡¯ve consumed it."


    Bach''s quick and precise assessment infuriated the righteous knights.


    "Are you saying they forced their own troops to consume that cursed power?"


    "How monstrous...!"


    "Don''t forget. We are dealing with the Church of Muldine, a fanatical cult that worships an evil god without regard for means or methods."


    As Bach let out a light sigh, Kai and his forces approached.


    "Bach, is something wrong?" Kai asked, looking at the gathered knights, who had slightly withdrawn.


    "The enemy has consumed the Essence of Darkness. Their strength has increased dramatically."


    "The Essence of Darkness...!"


    "Is that true? They all consumed it?"


    "Until now, the only one who could consume that and still maintain their sanity was the King of Looters, Veghas..."


    That was news shocking enough to surprise even the guild masters. They, too, were part of the Darkness Hunters and had each gathered a few Essences of Darkness. They knew better than anyone how savage and ferocious the monsters that consumed it became.


    "<i>Hmm</i>..." Kai quietly observed the enemies, and finally said, "Bach, those who consume the Essence of Darkness lose their sanity, right?"


    "As far as I know, yes."


    "Then how is the Church of Muldine able to control them?"


    "Probably because of the bishop. Look over there."


    Bach pointed to the bishop of the Church of Muldine, who was emitting streams of dark power.


    "In other words, they''ll be nothing more than a disorderly mob if we take down the bishop, right?"


    "Correct. But that''s easier said than done because..."


    "Because the army protecting the bishop is too strong. Am I right?"


    "You got it."


    Nodding with a tired expression, Bach looked at Kai.


    <i>What is he nning on doing this time...</i>


    The adventurer that was always unpredictable sounded far more cheerful than Bach expected, and his prediction wasn¡¯t far off.


    "Then leave the bishop to me, and the Ironblood Knights should protect our forces and retreat slowly. Just minimize the damage."


    "Wait, as I said, it''s impossible to just break through their army and face the bishop alone..."


    "I have an idea."


    With a brief reply, Kai sprinted toward the Suver Canal.


    "Let¡¯s see..."


    As he looked around, searching for something, he waved energetically with a bright voice, "Mimic! Over here!"


    The King Sand Worm spat out the dark priest it had been chewing at the call of its master!


    Kai entered the massive mouth of Mimic as it approached, andmanded, "Mimic, let''s dig."


    ***


    <i>Rumble, rumble.</i>


    The bishop of the Church of Muldine was on edge, his nerves stretched thin.


    <i>If they consume the Essence of Darkness, they lose their sanity. I have to continuously release dark energy for them to obey mymands.</i>


    Despite years of research by the Church of Muldine, feeding the Essence of Darkness to humans was still iplete. Even in the only sessful case, Veghas, they had barely seeded after extensive preparation and using a refined version of the essence.


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    <i>But with this powerful army, I could turn the tide of this battle... but what is this vibration?</i>


    The bishop furrowed his brows at the vibrations he had been feeling beneath his feet for a while. Perhaps due to his heightened nerves, the persistent shaking was bing more irritating!


    "I never heard that the ground was unstable on the Bir ins. An earthquake at a time like this... Wait, an earthquake?"


    Suspicion filled the bishop''s eyes as something urred to him. The tremor felt simr to when the wall of the Suver Canal had been breached earlier!


    <i>No, this is different. It was weaker before...</i>


    The only difference was that now the vibrations were strong enough to shake his entire body.


    "No way...!¡±


    Just as the ominous thought crossed his mind, the ground beneath him copsed.


    "<i>Arrrghhh!</i>"


    As the ground supporting their legs disappeared, the bishop and the dark pdins plummeted downward!


    And what awaited them below was not solid ground.


    "<i>Kugh</i>... This is...?"


    A sticky, slippery liquid covered their entire bodies.


    At the same time, a voice could be heard from in front of them.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. Just as I thought. It¡¯s tough to pull just one out. The King Sand Worm''s mouth is too big."


    "Y-you are?!"


    The bishop immediately summoned his dark power after regaining his senses.


    That voice belonged to the enemymander who had led the elves and Ironblood Knights!


    The bishop''s voice roused the dark pdins, "Dark pdins, strike him down!"


    <i>Swish, sh!</i>


    Without asking or hesitating, two swords flew toward Kai, aimed at his heart and head.


    <i>This won¡¯t be easy.</i>


    There wasn¡¯t just one, but four dark pdins. They were the elite of the elite, tasked with protecting the bishop at close range! Their levels were each around 300, not low by any means.


    <i>If I can take them out...</i>


    The bishop would be within his grasp!


    Kai slightly shifted his body to dodge the attacks, and his hands moved like lightning. A sh of brilliance unfolded from his hands! Once Kai seized an opportunity, his attacks never stopped.


    <i>Left calf, right shoulder, and the crown of my head? And from behind, they''re aiming for my Achilles tendon!</i>


    It was the state martial artists asionally experienced, where all their focus was directed solely toward the battle. In other words, he was in the zone. He unknowingly entered that state, and he could clearly see every move of his enemies.


    Of course, Kai wasn¡¯t the type to get hit by attacks he could see.


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    <i>Dodge the enemies'' attacks.</i>


    <i>sh!</i>


    <i>Andnd my own!</i>


    It was a simple yet overwhelmingly effectivebat method!


    Kai''s sword began to chip away at the enemies'' armor, like the gentle start of a rainstorm. However, the gentle rain soon turned into a downpour, then into a storm.


    <i>The momentum has shifted to my side.</i>


    <i>Crack, crack!</i>


    Every time Kai moved, the enemies¡¯ swords sliced through nothing but air. And every time he swung his sword, the enemies¡¯ armor was broken without fail!


    <i>Craaack!</i>


    Kai''s sword strikes were far too brutal to be called precise swordy. In fact, the dark pdins'' armor wasn''t so much cut by the de as it was quite literally torn apart.


    His relentless and savage attacks continued until a message appeared before his eyes.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have focused your entire mind on the battle and dodged over 100 enemy attacks.] </strong>


    <strong>[You have focused your entire mind on the battle and attacked the enemy''s vital points over 100 times.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill proficiency in Swordsmanship of the Dawn has greatly increased.] </strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill has leveled up.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn increased to Advanced ranking.]</strong>


    <i>Thud!</i>


    "<i>Huff, huff...</i>"


    As the final pdin''s body copsed to the ground and disintegrated into polygons, Kai¡¯s skill proficiency increased. The Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill that was previously at level 9 of Intermediate, had finally reached the Advanced level.


    Gasping for breath, Kai stared at his hands.


    <i>... How did I just fight?</i>


    He had fought so frantically that being dazed was the only way to describe it. He could hardly remember how he had moved, but one thing was certain.


    "I won."


    A smile unknowingly spread across his face as the bishop''s horrified voice rang out.


    "Th-this is impossible... How could a mere adventurer defeat four dark pdins...?"


    Shaking his head in disbelief, the bishop refused to ept the reality before him. The time it had taken for the four dark pdins to fall was exactly four minutes and thirty-five seconds. Such a thing could never happen in his understanding of reality.


    "I wouldn''t be able to do it again, even if I tried," Kai replied, dragging his exhausted body to approach the bishop.


    Seeing Kai showing clear signs of fatigue, the bishop slowly regained some of his confidence and said, "You look tired, heretic adventurer."


    "Yeah. A little worn out."


    "Do you think you can face me, the bishop of the Church of Muldine, in that state? That''s arrogance."


    Too tired to respond, Kai simply stared at the bishop with an exhausted expression.


    <strong>[Church of Muldine Bishop LV.427]</strong>


    <i>Man, his level is ridiculously high.</i>


    In this game, level was indeed a significant advantage and absolute factor. And it was also true that in his current state, he was in no condition to take on the bishop. However...


    "I never said I was going to face you alone."


    "W-what?"


    As Kai kicked at Mimic''s tongue, Mimic began to move its massive body. Its destination, of course, was the main camp where the Ironblood Knights were stationed.


    "How cowardly!"


    Realizing what was happening, the bishop poured out attacks, but Kai endured every strike and took them all head-on.


    "Sunlight¡¯s Warmth, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth."


    When Mimic finally stopped, Kai gave a joyful smile and delivered his farewell, "You''ve arrived at your destination. The destination is hell. Hell."


    It was a deration signaling the end of the war.

 Chapter 148: After the War (1)

    <h4>Chapter 148: After the War (1)</h4>


    Those who had experienced victory many times, the ones who reign as kings of various sports, would all say the same thing: if there was the sweetest drug in this world, it would be victory.


    Kai used to think that was nonsense, but now he fully understood their sentiments at this very moment.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have won the war.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have achieved a great victory with minimal allied casualties through excellentmand.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[You have earned a total of 12,000 war merit points.]</strong>


    <strong>[The tale of how you defeated the Church of Muldine for the demi-humans in the name of the Church of Sris will spread across the continent.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10,000 Fame.] </strong>


    <strong>[+20 Dignity.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik, who has watched your entire battle, gives you a thumbs up.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[You havemanded over 1,500 NPCs. Special title acquired: First Commander.]</strong>


    The moment Kai read the sentence that he won, the tension that had kept him on edge for so long was finally released.


    Bach supported Kai as he was about to copse. "Are you alright?"


    Leaning on Bach''s shoulder for a moment, Kai nodded with a tired voice, "Thank you. My legs suddenly gave out."


    "It must be your first war," Bach gave a bitter smile and patted Kai''s shoulder. "If you can''t avoid it, you''d better get used to it."


    "Well, I don''t know if I''ll ever go through another war like this..."


    "Do you really think so?" Blinking, Bach patted Kai¡¯s shoulder once more with a pitied look. "The enemy we defeated this time was the Church of Muldine. Things are going to get a bit more troublesome."


    "J-just for me?"


    "Of course. You''re themander."


    Kai thought he would only receive the benefits, but along came the trailing obligations and responsibilities! However, setting those aside, the wave of rewards made Kai happy.


    <i>Dignity, Fame, and Benevolence all increased evenly, plus a special title, and my level...</i>


    Kai''s face froze in an instant as he checked his level with a pleased expression.


    <i>M-my level went up by 32?</i>


    It was an absolutely staggering number. The umted XP from allies defeating enemies and the victory reward points had alle in at once. With that, Kai''s level was now 285.


    <i>Wait a minute, the level of the number one ranked yer Yoo Ha-Rin was...</i>


    Opening the ranking list, Kai quickly closed it with a heart that nearly stopped. In that brief moment, the name at the top of the rankings was none other than Kai.


    <i>... It¡¯s me.</i>


    It was already a name notorious for being a bug yer recently. But now, after leveling up by 32 levels, he had seized the top spot in the <i>MID Online</i> level rankings. Anyone with even a bit of sense could deduce Kai''s true identity.


    <i>My level skyrocketed as soon as the battle on the Bir ins ended, so... It¡¯s too obvious.</i>


    In fact, the gazes of the yers felt so piercing from behind that they were almost painful.


    <i>It''s unfortunate, but given the situation, I need to think about whates next.</i>


    The main reason he had hidden the fact that he was a Cleric was to avoid being exploited by those in power.


    <i>But I am no longer so weak that I can be manipted by anyone.</i>


    He had instead equipped himself with sharp fangs capable of delivering a fatal blow the moment anyone dared to touch him.


    In times like this, he needed to show a more confident side. His mind started to race quickly.


    <i>If such a secret is going to be revealed anyway...</i>


    It would be far more dramatic to reveal it himself rather than letting rumors spread until everyone knew. Besides, after giving it some thought, it wasn''t all bad.


    <i>It''s not like I''ve been going around doing bad things in the name of Kai, right?</i>


    Quite the opposite, in fact. He had been doing nothing but good deeds. So much so that even if paparazzi had followed him around, they would have nothing to report but his integrity! As a result, it could only benefit the name of Unknown, with no downside whatsoever.


    <i>Was it Alice?</i>


    That was the yer who had requested an interview during the Orc Lord expedition. Kai decided he should reach out to her as he turned around.


    "Karius. You personally led the army for us. Thank you for your help," Elduin said.


    "<i>Hmm?!</i> Are you Elduin, by any chance? I saw you when you were very young, and now you''ve grown up."


    "<i>A-ahem</i>. I am now serving as the Chief Warrior of the forest."


    "What? That kid who used to crawl on the ground and eat dirt is now the Chief? <i>Hahaha! </i>Time sure flies!"


    "K-Karius..."


    The elves and merfolk shared news and greetings, reuniting after a long time.


    "So, do you know how the little ones underground are doing?"


    "Well... we''ve also been so busy dealing with the Church of Muldine and the dark elves that we''ve lost contact for quite some time."


    "<i>Hmm.</i> So it''s the same over there." With a serious expression, Karius worried about the dwarves. "I know a few dwarves who left Ingart, but it''s been a long time since I heard any news from the kingdom."


    "However, given that we were all attacked by the Church of Muldine at the same time..."


    Elduin and Karius''s faces darkened.


    Kai, who had been listening to their conversation from nearby, carefully spoke up, "If you tell me the location of Ingart, I will go there myself."


    "Really?"


    "We would be immensely grateful if you could do that."


    Kai nodded after learning the location of Ingart from the two.


    <i>This is the final ce.</i>


    It was the resting ce of thest holy relic of the apostles, the Holy Sword Prius.


    At the moment Kai resolved to head to Ingart as soon as possible, Karius sighed with concern.


    "But it''s worrisome. Who would have thought the Church of Muldine''s offensive would be this strong?"


    "If it weren''t for the apostle''s help, we elves would have suffered great harm."


    "<i>Hmm</i>. If only ournds were closer together, we wouldn''t need to worry so much..."


    <i>...Distance?</i>


    Overhearing theirment, Kai''s eyes shone as he cautiously suggested, "... If distance is the issue, why not live together?"


    "<i>Huh</i>? You mean us and the elves?"


    "Yes. Is that not possible?"


    "It''s not that it''s impossible... but elves need to live in the forest and we need the sea."


    "Land that suits both perfectly is rare. And even if it does exist, humans aren''t likely to easily give up theirnd."


    In the end,nd was the crucial factor. Whether in reality or in the game, there was nothing more important than real estate!


    Kai, who had been lost in thought for a moment, continued saying, "If suchnd does exist, would both of you be willing to move your viges?"


    "I don''t mind. After all, I just need to request Tarutaru to make the move."


    "I think it''s something I should consult with the World Tree and Her Majesty. The decision is too significant for me to make alone... But personally, I am in favor. It''s impossible for us alone to withstand the Church of Muldine''s offensive."


    Both of them showed positive reactions. In that case, Kai had only one issue to solve.


    <i>I neednd to gift to them.</i>


    Kai felt the need to findnd for the survival of the demi-humans.


    At that moment, Bach approached him. "Kai. Now that the war is over, we need to return to the capital to report and prepare for the aftermath."


    "The capital..." Kai''s eyes gleamed as he nodded. "Let us go immediately."


    ***


    War was not something amander fought alone. Amander could only exist if there were numerous soldiers to lead. This meant that Kai wasn''t the only one invited to the capital.


    "So this is the royal pce."


    "I''m not even a citizen of the Kingdom of Rashion, but this makes me nervous."


    "I need to be careful not to say anything wrong."


    The guild masters entering the royal pce couldn''t hide their nervous expressions. The atmosphere of the royal pce was so imposing that even the usually free-spirited Katherine fell silent.


    <i>I feel okay since I¡¯ve been here once before...</i>


    The pce had an overwhelming presence, where even the gatekeepers were over level 250.


    Following Bach through the corridor, the group entered the audience chamber and immediately knelt.


    "Why do the heroes of the war all look like criminals? Raise your heads."


    It was Beoruk Von Rashion. Even though this was Kai¡¯s second meeting, his hawk-like eyes and mane-like hair were hard to get used to.


    <i>I guess this level of intimidation is necessary to be a king.</i>


    He had an overwhelming aura that felt like his Dignity stat was at least over 1,000!


    Beoruk turned his gaze toward the guild masters, then finally looked at Kai.


    "I heard that youmanded the army in this war."


    "I only lent a modest hand, Your Majesty."


    "... You still remain as humble as ever." Beoruk gave a slight smirk and continued, "I will be brief. Each of you may state one thing you desire."


    A king''s gift to those who had won the war! The guild masters, who had been curious about the rtionship between Kai and Beoruk, clenched their fists.


    <i>It''s time.</i>


    <i>This will allow us to widen the gap with other guilds even more.</i>


    <i>What we need to obtain from this wish is none other than...</i>


    ¡°I desirend where a vige can be established.¡±


    At Kai''s straightforward answer, the guild masters turned their gazes to him. Of course, what they wanted was alsond. It was something of such immense value that no amount ofpleting quests or leveling up could usually secure it.


    <i>But... we have guilds, so we have the conditions to build viges and cities.</i>


    <i>What is Unknown thinking? He''s alone without a guild... Wait, could it be?</i>


    The quick-witted guild masters'' eyes shone.


    Beoruk, observing their reactions, slowly said, "Land, you say. It''s not something I can''t give. What kind ofnd do you want?"


    "I would like and with a vast, clean forest where elves could live, a sea that is suitable for the merfolk, and if possible, a ce rich in ores that the dwarves would like."


    <i>W-what a greedy prick!</i>


    <i>Even one of the conditions he listed would be enough to develop a major city.</i>


    <i>Does he expect to be given suchnd just for winning one war?</i>


    The guild masters smirked and criticized Unknown''s immaturity. They assumed that suchnd wouldn''t be given easily. However, as they continued to think about it, their expressions gradually stiffened.


    <i>Wait a minute. Unknown wasn''t emphasizing the forest, the sea, or the ores.</i>


    <i>It seems like he was, but the real focus was on the demi-humans.</i>


    <i>In other words, he wants to create a city for the demi-humans...</i>


    <i>From the kingdom''s perspective, with the loss of contact with them...</i>


    <i>... Damn it. It''s not entirely impossible. No, in fact, it''s quite likely.</i>


    From the perspective of the Kingdom of Rashion, interaction would be much easier if the demi-humans gathered in one ce to form a city. In other words, Kai had scratched Beoruk right where it itched!


    <i>I can¡¯t believe NPC rtionships could be used this way.</i>


    <i>It''s sneaky, but it''s something worth learning.</i>


    <i>It''s certainly effective. He''sid out favorable conditions that the other party can''t refuse.</i>


    To the guild masters, it seemed as if Kai was using the demi-humans as leverage to demand a prime piece ofnd.


    Even Beoruk felt the same impression, so he asked without hesitation, "Is your request for your personal gain, or is it to safeguard the convenience and survival of the demi-humans?"


    "Without a doubt, thetter," Kai answered without dy.


    Then, Beoruk''s eyes fixed directly on Kai.


    <strong>[Beoruk used Supreme Sight.] </strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk is verifying your im.] </strong>


    <strong>[Beoruk has realized you are telling the truth.]</strong>


    "... I see." Beoruk slightly nodded andmanded an attendant who was waiting. "Bring theplete map of Rashion."


    Soon, arge map was spread out before them, and Beoruk stroked his chin as he searched for a suitable location. After a moment, he pointed to a spot on the map.


    "It borders the sea and the forest and has mountains rich in high-quality ores."


    <i>Such a good piece ofnd actually exists?</i>


    <i>I can¡¯t believe Unknown just snatched it up. That makes me sick... huh?</i>


    <i>Wait a minute, but isn''t that ce...?</i>


    <i>Is Unknown on the king''s bad side or something?</i>


    The expressions of the guild masters became ambiguous as they looked at the location Beoruk had pointed out. Their expressions shifted from overwhelming envy and jealousy to pity!


    Beoruk then addressed Kai, who was still unaware of the situation, "Thisnd was cursed in the past by the Blue gue and became contaminated, causing everyone to avoid it, but I assume you''ll be fine with it."


    At those words, Kai was certain.


    <i>It seems Tardal has told the king about me.</i>


    It made sense that he would be given suchnd, considering he was a Sris Cleric.


    Understanding Beoruk''s intentions, Kai nodded without hesitation. "Thank you for Your Majesty''s grace."


    While the guild masters looked at Kai with pity, he bowed, smiling.


    <i>It will take some time to purify all of thatnd.</i>


    In other words, restoring thatnd to its original state was only a matter of time.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 149: After the War (2)

    <h4>Chapter 149: After the War (2)</h4>


    The requests of the other guild masters were more or less the same. In the end, what they wanted wasnd as well.


    Although they managed to secure somend, none received a piece as remarkable as the one given to Kai.


    <i>Thend is too small to develop into a territory.</i>


    <i>And it''s not even in a prime location.</i>


    <i>It seems like it will only serve as a ce to develop and manage a few hunting grounds.</i>


    <i>Well, at least it''s better than the cursednd that Unknown received.</i>


    Although it wasn''t the oue they had hoped for, Unknown seemed to have drawn the short straw, so the masters were mostly satisfied.


    "You all fought well. The merit points you earned in the war can be used in the royal treasury. Additionally, every adventurer who participated in the battle will be rewarded with 30 gold coins each."


    yers who had fought for only a few hours and earned three million won each!


    After saying those words, Beoruk dismissed the masters and spoke to Kai, who remained alone


    "Your merit points were overwhelmingly high. As a token of appreciation, I grant you special permission to browse the royal treasury. You may choose any item within the limits of your merit points."


    That meant ess to the royal treasury! This granted him the right to enter the treasure vault of the Kingdom of Rashion, which no one had ever set foot in before.


    Kai naturally bowed his head. "Thank you for Your Majesty''s grace."


    As Kai left the audience chamber, he was warmly greeted by the six guild masters.


    "Unknown. We need to discuss the footage from this war."


    "Of course, it was your stage, and your performance was outstanding, but our faces were also shown."


    "You''re not nning to edit the video by yourself and upload it to your personal ount, are you?"


    Kai lightly shook his head. "Of course, that won''t happen. The revenue from the video will be divided equally. However, I will handle the editing, negotiation, and distribution."


    "Wait. Rather than you editing it, it would be better to leave it to us at Goliath. Our editing team led by Jeremy Kobalt, a famous Hollywood director, produces videos that are practically movies."


    "Negotiations can be handled by our guild. We have plenty of marketers in our sales department who havepleted the NBA program. They will achieve the best results."


    Despite the masters'' attempts to persuade him, Kai calmly asked, unfazed, "Then why do the results you produce fall shortpared to mine?"


    The masters fell silent at that question.


    In fact, Unknown''s masterpiece, <i>Dance with the Moonlight</i>, had been holding the number one spot on the video board rankings for three weeks straight and showed no signs of dropping. It had quickly overtaken the performance of the highly-rated videos mentioned by the masters.


    As a result, they wanted to refute him, but they couldn''t.


    "Then I''ll take that as permission, and I''ll handle the video myself."


    As everyone nodded with bitter expressions, only Katherine shot up her hand.


    "I look best when filmed from a forty-seven-degree angle, okay? Make sure you stick to that. If you don''t, it''s over for both of us."


    "... I''ll do my best to incorporate that."


    As the conversation ended, attendants approached and began escorting the masters out of the pce.


    Thest to remain, Seol Eun-Yeong, looked at Kai and said, "The debt has been fully repaid now."


    "Yes, you''ve repaid it in full. Thank you again for your help."


    "Personally, I can''t stand being in debt. See you on a higher stage, then."


    With a faint smile, Seol Eun-Yeong left a brief farewell and followed the attendant.


    <i>A higher stage, huh.</i>


    He was willing to go there. No, if one wanted to im the top spot, it was a ce they had to go. However, now was not the time.


    "I have a mountain of things to take care of first."


    Only after dealing with all of that could he join the war among the stars.


    <i>Well then, let''s go solve one of them first.</i>


    Kai said to the attendant waiting for him, "Lead the way. To the royal treasury."


    ***


    The royal pce''s treasury of Rashion was a mysterious ce that was not easily essible, not even to the noble NPCs, let alone yers.


    "Please enter. The time limit is one hour. Your merit points are 12,000, so you may ess up to the third section."


    "The sections are divided?"


    "Yes. The further you go in, the more valuable the items be, so the merit points required also increase proportionately. I hope you find an item that pleases you."


    As the two guards at the entrance stepped aside, the seven apanying wizards each chanted their spells.


    <i>How many lock spells have they set on this ce?</i>


    Only after seven specially encrypted spells were dispelled did the door to the treasury finally open.


    <i>The time limit is one hour.</i>


    As Kai entered, a message window appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You are the first adventurer to visit the Treasury of Rashion¡¯s Royal Pce.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Treasure Hunter.]</strong>


    "Oh, a special title."


    Come to think of it, he had also obtained the title First Commander but hadn''t checked its effects yet.


    <i>I''ll check thatter.</i>


    For now, he was searching a ce with a time limit.


    After briefly scanning the first section of the treasury, Kai picked up a sword in front of him.


    "Item appraisal."


    <strong>[<u>Frozen Frost de</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare </strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 321-362</strong>


    <strong>Strength +30 Agility +20 </strong>


    <strong>*Imbued with a freezing effect. Has a 5% chance to freeze the enemy upon attack.</strong>


    <strong>A weapon created on a whim by a grand wizard who wielded ice.</strong>


    <strong>However, its durability is weak as it is made of ice.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 300+, Strength 700+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 41/53</strong>


    <strong>Required Merit Points: 1,200</strong>


    "This is just the first section, and items like this are already showing up?"


    Kai let out a bewildered chuckle. But that was only for a moment. As he appraised any kind of item around him, he nodded.


    <i>They''re all at least of Rare grade. Their effects are amazing. They''re good, but...</i>


    Each had a critical w. For example, the Frozen Frost de had Durability issues, and the Crazy Rogue''s Dagger had a chance of reducing the user''s HP.


    <i>The quality of the equipment is excellent... but they''re a bit tricky to actually use.</i>


    Realizing this, Kai moved on to the next section without appraising any more items.


    <i>Well, there could be a treasure without ws hidden in the first section, but...</i>


    He picked up a sword ced in the second section.


    "Item appraisal."


    <strong>[<u>Surging Wild Wind Longsword</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 347-392</strong>


    <strong>Strength +32 Agility +21 Stamina +10</strong>


    <strong>*Imbued with a wild wind effect. On critical hits, a wild wind blows, dealing additional damage to all nearby enemies.</strong>


    <strong>A dwarven weapon said to have been crafted on Storm Hill.</strong>


    <strong>A sword worthy of the title Treasure of the Ages.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 280+, Strength 700+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 87/118</strong>


    <strong>Required Merit Points: 5,420</strong>


    "<i>Ooo.</i>"


    The ws that the weapons in the first section had were not present in the second section. In short, it was a section filled with the highest grade of Rare items!


    <i>Then what about the third section?</i>


    The farthest he could ess was the third section, so he headed there without hesitation.


    "<i>Wow</i>..."


    The radiance emitted by the items was on a whole different level! The moment heid eyes on them, Kai had a good feeling and began appraising the weapons.


    "Of course."


    They were of Rare grade at minimum, with some reaching the Unique grade! However, even the Unique equipment had slight quirks, just like the items in the first section.


    <i>Unique equipment with ws is in the third section. So the fourth section likely contains wless Unique equipment. Then what about the fifth section...?</i>


    Kai had heard that the royal treasury was divided into a total of five sections. Therefore, the grade of the items located there could only be one thing.


    "Legendary items."


    Legendary items wouldn''t have any ws, which was likely why there wasn''t a sixth section.


    <i>Perhaps I could at least take a peek?</i>


    As Kai approached the door to the fourth section out of curiosity, the system stopped him.


    <strong>[You do not have authority.]</strong>


    <strong>[Insufficient merit points.]</strong>


    "Can''t even take a look, huh."


    Kai smacked his lips in disappointment and started searching the third section thoroughly.


    <i>I don¡¯t have enough time to explore the first and second sections.</i>


    Rather than hunting for potential treasures there, it was faster to find a usable item in the third section. Moreover, the number of items in the third section was fewer than in the first and second, which reduced the search time.


    After about forty minutes of appraising items, a message alert rang in Kai''s ear.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Appraisal skill level is now Advanced Lv. 2.]</strong>


    "... Nice."


    It was the result of appraising hundreds of Unique items!


    <i>Now it''s time to make a decision.</i>


    Kai looked at the two items ced in front of him.


    <strong><u>[Cloak of the Cursed Noble] </u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 812</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 781</strong>


    <strong>Strength +25 Stamina +25 Dignity +50</strong>


    <strong>While equipped, you are poisoned, taking 1,500 damage per second.</strong>


    <strong>A cloak frequently worn by a noble who, unable to ept the decline of his family, made a pact with a demon. Eventually deceived by the demon''s trickery, he now walks thends of hell.</strong>


    <strong>Requirement: Level 250+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 70/100</strong>


    <strong>Required Merit Points: 10,800</strong>


    <strong><u>[Elixir of Strength Enhancement]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>When consumed, there is an 80% chance to increase Strength by 10.</strong>


    <strong>When consumed, there is a 15% chance to increase Strength by 100.</strong>


    <strong>When consumed, there is a 5% chance to increase Strength by 1,000.</strong>


    <strong>Required Merit Points: 11,450</strong>


    "<i>Ugh</i>..." Kai let out a twisted groan.


    <i>Indecisiveness that only optimistic, well-behaved, and diligent people experience!</i>


    He continued to stare at the two items several times before sighing.


    "Only fifteen minutes left..."


    He had 12,000 merit points, so he could only afford to buy one of the two items.


    <i>If I buy the cloak, my power will increase immediately...</i>


    Kai''s gaze shifted to the elixir.


    <i>5% isn''t that low of a chance, right?</i>


    It was a low chance. However, Kai, blinded by the dream of hitting the jackpot, began to think in a strange direction.


    <i>Well, even if I hit the 15% chance and gain 100 Strength, it would still be a massive gain. And if Ind on the almost-nothing 80% chance? Digging the earth won''t give me 10 Strength, so that''s a gain too. And if I hit the jackpot...</i>


    That would give him an increase in Strength stat by 1,000!


    Faced with this unbelievable number, Kai repeatedly gulped. If the usual Kai had seen himself now, he would have smacked himself on the back of the head to snap out of it and then smacked himself again for still not getting a grip!


    "<i>Ugh</i>. This is driving me crazy."


    Of course, he knew that choosing the cloak was the much safer way to increase his stats. However...


    <i>My luck hasn''t been that badtely.</i>


    Strictly speaking, everything he had done recently had been a home run. Moreover, he couldn''t help but recall the time he hit the jackpot with the skill book gamble.


    "Could it be... that Helik is secretly helping me?"


    If Helik had been next to him, he probably would have scolded what nonsense that was.


    But like all humans when faced with indecisiveness, there was only one solution.


    <i>Sh-should I just go for it?</i>


    Closing his eyes and taking the plunge. The only solution was to use up all the money he had so that he couldn''t back out!


    "Based on your merit points, the withdrawal of the Elixir of Strength Enhancement is permitted. Congrattions."


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The door to the treasury closed firmly, seven locking spells were cast once more, and in his palm was a small vial.


    It was only then that Kai came to his senses.


    "W-what have I done!"


    Even with its drawbacks, the Cloak of the Cursed Noble was something that could fetch at least several million won at auction. Moreover, as a Poison Master, he could have naturally ignored the poison damage!


    <i>A chance to gain 25 Strength, 25 Stamina, and 50 Dignity...</i>


    That chance had now been turned into a single, radiant vial of liquid.


    <i>This is an item where luck-boosting items won''t help.</i>


    The item¡¯s probabilities were fixed from the start. No matter how many luck-boosting items he equipped, a 5% chance wouldn''t suddenly be 7%.


    <i>Gulp, gulp!</i>


    Kai first emptied a vial of holy water, filling his mouth with holy power. Then, kneeling in the hallway, he tightly closed his eyes and prayed to Helik.


    "Helik, this is my first prayer since my job change. How have you been? I have been well. To get straight to the point, please help me just this once... You see, I have always admired you so much..."


    It was the start of a sudden confession!


    The knights and wizards who were watching him in real-time had bewildered expressions.


    <i>This is the first time I''ve seen a lunatic like this.</i>


    <i>Did His Majesty really grant this guy ess to the royal treasury?</i>


    <i>Judging by his behavior, he seems like a cleric...</i>


    <i>Should this be seen as deep faith? The future of the Srian Church seems rather worrisome today.</i>


    Regardless of what they thought, Kai finished his plea disguised as a prayer and opened the vial.


    <strong>[Do you wish to consume the Elixir of Strength Enhancement?]</strong>


    In response to the system''s question, Kai answered with his actions.


    <i>Gulp, gulp!</i>

 Chapter 150: After the War (3)

    <h4>Chapter 150: After the War (3)</h4>


    What goes aroundes around. It was a famous saying, meaning that consequences urred exactly ording to one''s usual behavior.


    "What goes around...es around? <i>Hmm.</i> Is that the case...?" Kai muttered to himself as he wandered through the royal pce corridors.


    "There you are. Have you finished your visit to the treasury?" Bach nodded slightly in greetings as he asked. He then looked at Kai''s face and tilted his head. "... You should be happy if you¡¯ve visited the treasury, but why do you look so gloomy?"


    "Bach."


    Kai''s serious tone was something Bach had never heard before.


    Realizing this was not a trivial matter, Bach also lowered his voice. "What¡¯s the matter? Is there some problem with the treasury..."


    "What do you think of my usual behavior?"


    "<i>Huh?</i>"


    Bach''srge eyes blinked at the unexpected question.


    <i>When ites to Kai''s usual behavior...</i>


    They weren''t particrly close. However, they had gone to battle together twice, so they weren''t strangers either.


    After a moment of consideration, Bach gave the most objective assessment he could.


    "A kind and righteous opportunist."


    "<i>Hmm</i>... I see," Kai nodded with a displeased expression. Then his shoulders slumped as he continued, "It seems the Srian God has abandoned me."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I''m never praying to that guy again. Well, see you next time."


    Not knowing what to say, Bach silently watched Kai''s weary steps and could only tilt his head in confusion.


    ***


    "<i>Oh!</i> So this is why Nietzsche said what he did.¡±


    Nietzsche had stated that God was dead. Carving the philosopher''s words into his heart once more, Kai opened his stats window.


    <strong>[Kai] </strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 285</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 45,900</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 112,200</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 1,056 Stamina: 484</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 376 Agility: 344</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 1,127 Dignity: 326</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 193</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance +40%</strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity +200</strong>


    <strong>Damage to Demons/Undead +50%</strong>


    Atst, his Strength had surpassed the 1,000 stat mark! This was the result of investing 80 out of the 160 stat points he gained from the war with the Church of Muldine.


    "... Plus the 10 stat points from the Elixir of Strength Enhancement."


    Muttering with a bitter expression, Kai said in confusion, "<i>Huh?</i> But why have the stats gone up even more?"


    As he blinked in confusion and searched for the cause, he suddenly pped his hands and eximed, "<i>Oh!</i> Special titles!"


    He had two titles he hadn''t yet checked!


    He immediately opened the title book and checked them out.


    <strong><u>[First Commander] </u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the first person to lead over 1,500 NPCs.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +15 to all stats, increases all attributes of subordinates. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <strong><u>[Treasure Hunter] </u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the first person to visit a ce containing national treasures.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +10 to all stats, allows the detection of nearby treasures. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    "All stats increased by 25... and the attached effects are pretty nice too."


    The ability to increase the attributes of all subordinates would also include Mimic and Blizzard.


    <i>Plus... it''s going to be ready soon.</i>


    The equipment he hadmissioned from Korona that would create Skeleton Knights was soon to bepleted.


    <i>If I were to appoint all of them as duhans?</i>


    It sounded ridiculous, but it meant that he could lead an army of the undead as a Cleric!


    "Hmm. I''m not sure how the ability to detect nearby treasures works, but it can''t hurt to have it."


    Although the jackpot he had hoped for with the Elixir of Strength Enhancement did not happen, the effects of the special titles soothed his disappointment.


    "Alright, time to move on to the next task."


    As he left the royal pce, he opened the message window.


    <i>The guild masters who participated in the war should all know by now that Kai and Unknown are the same person.</i>


    Their levels had increased significantly, and naturally, their rankings had risen too. However, at the same time as them, there was one yer who had gained even more XP. That yer was himself.


    <i>If rumors are going to spread from their mouths, it''s better toe out and say it clearly myself.</i>


    Additionally, it could be an opportunity to clear his name as the bug yer, and he had already decided how to inform people.


    <strong>[Aris]</strong>


    She was the woman to whom he had once promised an interview during the Orc Lord expedition.


    Kai sent her a message.


    ***


    "<i>Huff, huff!</i>¡±


    Two strands of pink hair fluttered on either side of a girl, about 157 centimeters tall, dashing through the forest near the capital with all her might.


    <i>This is huge, this is huge!</i>


    Her name was Aris. She was currently very excited, and the reason for that was simple.


    <i>He finally contacted me to do an interview!</i>


    At least tens of thousands of interviews were posted on themunity boards every day. But among all those interviews, there was none about Unknown, who was the hottest yer at the moment.


    <i>That means I''ll be the first to do an exclusive interview with Unknown.</i>


    She had been active as a streamer in various games for years, but this kind of exclusive was a first even for her.


    "<i>Phew. </i>Well, there are still twenty minutes left until the appointment time... <i>Whoo.</i> I''ve got some time."


    Catching her breath, she arrived at the meeting spot earlier than the appointed time.


    <i>Unknown is famous for having a cold and strict personality. If I''mte, he might get annoyed and cancel the interview.</i>


    Although everything about Unknown was veiled in mystery, his actions so far had revealed his personality.


    <i>He ruthlessly kills those he doesn''t like, and he effortlessly takes down high-level boss monsters on his own. He might actually be short-tempered and violent, just like the rumors say.</i>


    Whether it was because of the nerves before the interview or the fear of meeting the intimidating Unknown, Aris kept gulping down water to quench her burning thirst.


    <i>I don''t know why he asked to meet at a ce like this though...</i>


    Unknown seemed to have a cautious personality. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have chosen a quiet hunting ground where people rarely came as the meeting ce.


    "Alright, so the things I need to ask are..."


    After reading through the 147 questions she had prepared for the interview with Unknown, she giggled to herself.


    <i>It feels like a dream.</i>


    She had been feeling down, thinking he had forgotten about her since there was no contact for months, but she never expected him to contact her so suddenly like this.


    <i>From the videos, it looked like he was involved in a big war recently. I wonder how that turned out.</i>


    Unknown''s recent actions had been very active. Previously, he would only show himself when uploading videos, buttely, he had been actively exposing himself to the media.


    <i>From the hunt for the ck Bees to leading the elves into this war... He¡¯s a man who brings major events wherever he goes. Oh, I wonder how the war turned out! I definitely need to ask about that.</i>


    While she was waiting anxiously for the few minutes left until the interview, she heard the rustling of bushes behind her.


    <i>H-he''s here!</i>


    With a bright smile, Aris turned her head and bowed politely. "Hello! The one who always smells a scoop...?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, it''s really her."


    "See? I told you I''ve watched her streams more than once or twice."


    Two men appeared,ughing snidely. Their equipment was all shiny, indicating they were far from beginners. And judging by the sly grins on their faces, they clearly hadn''te with good intentions.


    <i>T-their levels look really high.</i>


    Instinctively sensing danger, Aris took a step back and asked, "Wh-who are you?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, we''re fans of your stream. We always try to chat, but you never respond."


    "Even worse, getting bannedst time felt so unfair."


    "Banned... by me?"


    Aris never banned her viewers easily.


    <i>There are only two reasons I ban people on my stream.</i>


    One was for those who spewed insults and disrupted the stream. The other was for those who made dirtyments, lowering the overall standard of the stream.


    "Wh-what are your usernames? If there''s been a misunderstanding..."


    "<i>Hm</i>? I''m Jet."


    "And I''m Grang. I wonder if you remember."


    "J-Jet and Grang!"


    Anger surged in Aris''srge eyes.


    <i>They''re the troublemakers who constantly made dirty jokes and even cursed when I didn''t respond!</i>


    It was the worst situation possible! Moreover, they always boasted loudly about their high levels. They even went so far as to threaten other viewers, saying they''d kill them if they met in the hunting grounds.


    Swallowing hard, Aris firmly said to them, "I-I can''t unban you. Both of you broke the rules of my stream..."


    "Isn''t it my freedom to say whatever I want in a democratic country?"


    "Yeah, what is this, the Soviet Union? You can''t just ban people because you don''t like a few words."


    "Besides, the two of us have donated over 1.5 million won in total."


    "I''ll refund the money. I''ll give it all back, so..."


    "Hey, who said we''re doing this for the money? Just strike a cute and pretty pose for a few pictures, and we''ll leave."


    "Plus, you''ll have to try on some of the pretty clothes we''ve brought."


    "<i>Hehehe</i>."


    The two scumbags approached, theirughter lewd.


    Aris resented Unknown for choosing such a hunting ground as the meeting ce.


    <i>Damn it. Why did he choose this ce for the meeting?!</i>


    She was a bard, and her level was only 120¡ªshe practically had nobat ability! It was clear she stood no chance against the two men, who appeared to be closebat specialists.


    In the end, she closed her eyes tight and shouted, "Logout!"


    "Oh no, you don''t."


    Jet''s sword shed out instantly, tearing a part of Aris''s cloth shirt.


    <strong>[You cannot log out duringbat.]</strong>


    "N-no..."


    "Oh, hold that pose for a moment."


    "Stay still. Let''s take a picture first."


    Grang activated his camera app and slowly approached Aris.


    Just then, a voice echoed through the quiet forest and reached the ears of all three.


    "Hey, you two over there. Want to hear some good advice?"


    "Wh-what?"


    "There¡¯s people here?"


    Jet and Grang quickly turned around, scanning the surroundings.


    Soon, a cleric emerged slowly from the shadow of the dense trees. "The lesson I learned today is that what goes aroundes around."


    "... A cleric?¡±


    "<i>Hah</i>. You''ve got to be kidding me."


    Seeing the approaching yer, Jet and Grang rxed and let out a sigh of relief.


    "<i>Phew</i>, got scared over some dumbass."


    "Right? It''s a hunting ground right next to the capital, so soldiers and knights often patrol here."


    As Jet approached Kai directly, he suddenly became tense.


    <i>This guy... That cleric robe he''s wearing isn''t ordinary.</i>


    It was a robe of luxurious quality they had never seen before. It looked like it was at least of Unique grade.


    Realizing something was off, Jet and Grang exchanged nces.


    <i>This guy seems to have a decent level...</i>


    <i>Hey, so what? He''s just a cleric, right? And there''s no guild mark on his chest.</i>


    <i>So, there''s no future trouble if we kill him.</i>


    Quicklying to a conclusion, Jet pushed Kai''s chest with his finger. "Hey, get lost while I''m being nice."


    "Look, you seem to have a decent level for a Cleric, but don''t die a pointless death. Just go on your way."


    "The type I hate the most are those who make appointments and then show upte." The cleric made a randomment that had nothing to do with the current situation, then checked the time and smiled. "I have an appointment, you see. And there''s about three minutes left until the appointed time."


    "What the hell are you suddenly babbling about...?"


    "In short, get out of my sight."


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    "W-what the!"


    "What the hell are these things?!"


    Jet and Grang turned to look at the beings that had suddenly appeared behind them, pinning them to the ground.


    "W-wait... What is this...?"


    "This... this...?"


    "<i>Krrrk</i>."


    It was a ck lizardman covered in the Armor of the Undead set.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud!</i>


    And a duhan that repeatedly banged its helmet on the ground.


    "Unknown''s..."


    "Summons?!"


    Jet and Grang stared at the Cleric before them with horrified eyes.


    "What goes aroundes around," Kai replied.

 Chapter 151: After the War (4)

    <h4>Chapter 151: After the War (4)</h4>


    Jet and Grang recovered from the shock quicker than expected.


    "Get off of us, you bastards!"


    "You summons dare to block our way?!"


    As expected of yers who called themselves experts, they easily shrugged off Blizzard and Mimic and red at Unknown while remaining on their guard.


    <i>Unknown...</i>


    <i>The most famous yer in MID Online right now.</i>


    Swallowing hard under the pressure of that reputation, Jet asked, "Since when did Unknown start ying the hero of justice?"


    At that question, Kai¡¯s brows furrowed. "Hero of justice? I already told you, I just have an appointment to get to. Move aside."


    The moment he finished speaking, Kai drew his sword from its sheath. In one fluid motion, he swung it in a clean draw.


    <i>sh!</i>


    The sword shed deeply across the chests of both men before returning to its ce, having fulfilled its purpose. The speed was so incredible that Jet and Grang could hardly react.


    <i>H-he¡¯s really fast!</i>


    <i>The attack power is... Damn, it''s strong!</i>


    Facing Unknown¡¯s sword directly felt several times faster than it had appeared in videos.


    "... Nice," Kai muttered with a satisfied smile.


    <i>Advanced Swordsmanship of the Dawn. It¡¯s definitely good.</i>


    Kai was very pleased with the swordsmanship that had ascended to a new level through the war.


    <strong>[<u>Advanced Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.1 Passive.</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Does 300% damage when attacking enemies with a de.</strong>


    <strong>Attacks do additional holy damage based on Holy Power stat.</strong>


    <strong>Regenerates a certain amount of Holy Power with each attack.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency: 0/100</strong>


    When he first learned it from Master Huey, it was just a Normal-ranked skill. However, when it reached the Intermediate rank in Aquaria, it became a Rare skill. And through this war, the swordsmanship that ascended to the Advanced rank became a Unique skill.


    <i>The effect is outstanding.</i>


    The additional holy damage that triggered with each attack had proven highly effective when facing the Church of Muldine, and that wasn''t all.


    <i>The Holy Power regeneration is no joke either.</i>


    With each attack, his Holy Power replenished by at least 500.


    <i>Lately, I have been feeling a shortage of Holy Power, so I''ve been putting a lot of focus on my Holy Power stat, but...</i>


    This was truly like giving wings to a tiger! The endless supply of Holy Power would undoubtedly multiply Kai''sbat power.


    "Oh dear, only forty seconds left."


    Checking the time, Kai casually walked forward and bid them farewell. "I gave you two warnings to move aside. There won''t be another."


    ***


    <i>A-amazing!</i>


    Aris waspletely captivated by the sword dance the Cleric had just performed before her eyes.


    When the yer in cleric robes first appeared, she had no expectations.


    <i>Who would''ve thought it was Unknown!</i>


    Snapping back to reality, Aris rushed over to Unknown and bowed her head. "Th-thank you for saving me!"


    "No need to thank me. It''s my fault for suggesting this ce as the meeting spot."


    Unknown''s gentle voice shattered the prejudice that he would have a cold and intense image.


    Unknown extended his hand for a handshake. "Sorry for the dyed contact. I''m Kai."


    "<i>Oh</i>, I''m Aris! I''m just grateful you reached out. But Kai as in...?¡±


    Aris tilted her head. It was a name she had definitely heard somewhere before.


    After blinking for a moment, her eyes widened.


    "A-are you<i> the</i> Kai who''s currently number one in the rankings?!"


    "<i>Hahaha...</i>" Kai scratched his head with an awkward smile.


    Aris, in turn, was struck with another wave of shock and stood there with her mouth hanging open.


    <i>Th-this is huge. This is an incredible scoop.</i>


    Who would have thought that Unknown''s yer ID was actually Kai! There had been rumors floating around in themunity, but they had quickly died down due to ack of evidence.


    <i>But I can¡¯t believe it was true!</i>


    He was currently number one in <i>MID Online¡¯s</i> rankings, and was the most famous yer in<i> MID Online </i>at the moment. This man held titles in both hands that would be praised even if he held just one.


    <i>And that¡¯s not all...</i>


    Aris cautiously asked, "<i>Umm... </i>I once visited a ce called Frica Vige. The vigers there called their hero Kai... Could that have anything to do with you...?"


    "Yes, that was me. The same goes for the Saint of Glendale and Whitehall."


    It was a response so straightforward it was refreshing to hear!


    Aris beamed with a smile after finally receiving the answer to the question that the yers had been so curious abouttely.


    <i>Unknown is also an incredibly virtuous yer!</i>


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to obtain two Saint titles and one Hero title!


    With her thoughts organized, Aris bowed her head again. "Thank you for answering! I''ll make a correction report as soon as possible, so don''t worry."


    "A correction report...?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, I guess you might not know. I made a video about you some time ago, and the clerics of Frica called you a cleric, so my fans think you''re just that."


    "I see. Actually, that¡¯s part of why I requested this interview..."


    "Yes, I understand how you feel." Winking with one eye, Aris continued saying, "So, you changed your ss to the hidden ss of Pdin after, right? But now everyone thinks you''re still a Cleric, and that''s why things are a bit awkward."


    "... Pardon?"


    "Leave that part to me. I''m Alice. What I hate most are those trashy reporters who spread false information. Even when they know it''s wrong, they never apologize! I would never do that, so don''t worry!"


    Kai didn¡¯t know what to say and just continued to listen to Aris.


    "There''s no rule that says a Pdin can''t earn the Saint title. I''ll make sure to clear up everyone''s misunderstanding."


    Aris just began to get ahead of herself!


    However, as Kai watched her, he became intrigued.


    <i>Wait. If I just stay quiet...</i>


    Kai''s mind raced at a furious speed as he blinked quickly.


    <i>If I keep quiet, Aris will do a rification stream saying I''m not a Cleric...</i>


    Then, the only thing revealed through this interview would be that Kai was Unknown.


    <i>As a result, Kai will shed the name of being a bug yer... and Unknown will be known as a Pdin of a hidden ss. Plus, as luck would have it... I even set up some foreshadowing.</i>


    Before the war began, back when he hadn''t even thought of revealing that Unknown was Kai, he had given the guild masters false information that his ss was Radiant Pdin.


    <i>What if I provide Aris with the same information now?</i>


    There was a saying: Three men make a tiger. If one person lied about seeing a tiger, no one would believe it, but when two or three people say the same thing, people started to believe it. In other words, the more people who cry out a falsehood, the easier it was to deceive others.


    <i>And if viewers start spreading the false information after Aris''s broadcast...</i>


    Even lies could be turned into truth. That was the terrifying power of the media!


    After running through this thought process quickly, Kai smiled. "Yes. Oh, by the way, I''ll give you the information that I''m a Radiant Pdin. You can share that as well."


    "R-really?"


    "Of course. Since you''re doing an interview with me, it''s only fair to give you this much scoop."


    "Th-thank you! Unlike the rumors, you¡¯re such an angel!"


    "I get that a lot.<i> Hahaha</i>."


    The interview proceeded in a cheerful atmosphere. Aris was a professional who knew exactly which questions to ask and which ones to avoid, and thanks to that, Kai could participate in the interviewfortably.


    "Thank you! I''ll upload it to my channel as soon as the editing is done and let you know!"


    "Yes. Thank you for your time today."


    "No problem. Thank you for your time as well!"


    Aris left the hunting ground, excited about editing the video.


    Left alone, Kai hummed in joy.


    <i>Things went much better than I expected.</i>


    As a result, the significance of the mask known as Unknown had greatly faded. However, he wasn''t disappointed by that fact.


    <i>It''s just a change to a new mask, that''s all.</i>


    He had simply changed from the mask of Unknown to the mask of the Radiant Pdin.


    The most important information about himself remained shrouded in mystery.


    "<i>Whew</i>. Now once I finish thisst thing, I can head to mynd."


    Kai scratched his head and opened the message inbox on themunity. Messages from world-renowned broadcasting stations filled his inbox.


    "<i>Hmm.</i>" Kai let out a disinterested sigh and shrugged. "Well, why not? Let''s do another auction."


    ***


    An auction was a fierce battlefield where one could only win by offering a higher bid than others. However, while this applied to the participants, it was different for the seller.


    "It''s just about waiting until a winner emerges for the seller."


    That was why Han Jung-Woo preferred auctions. Because of this, he set up meetings with the broadcasting stations. And not just one, but seven domestic stations all at once.


    <i>Of course, the conditions they offered me were much better with the overseas stations due to therger market but...</i>


    Unlike the domestic broadcasters, who were willing to bend over backward for him, global broadcasters had their pride. Of course, they had the money to back up that pride, but what he needed wasn''t money.


    <i>What I need now is a broadcaster that can meet my conditions.</i>


    The global broadcasting stations tly rejected Han Jung-Woo''s terms, as the pride as the world''s best had them tied down.


    <i>Well, it just means they aren''t that desperate.</i>


    So, Han Jung-Woo decided to make deals with the morepliant domestic broadcasters.


    <strong>[Breaking News! Unknown in talks to sign an exclusive contract for the first <i>MID Online</i> war video with a Korean broadcaster.]</strong>


    <strong>[Unknown. What''s his nationality?]</strong>


    <strong>[The significance of the first war.]</strong>


    <strong>[ording to broadcasting insiders, the contract location is the convention hall at the Cheonhwa Hotel.]</strong>


    As all kinds of spective articles flooded in, Han Jung-Woo asked, "How much is it?"


    "7,100 won."


    "Here you go. Drive safely."


    After paying the taxi fare, Han Jung-Woo stepped out onto the road and shook his head.


    "People, really..."


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    "<i>Oh!</i> There''s the executive producer from TBC Broadcasting!"


    "Is Unknown signing with TBC?!"


    "Wait a minute. There''s also the executive producer from NET Media."


    "<i>Huh?</i> OnGames even brought their director along..."


    The reporters tilted their heads in confusion as they saw broadcasting officials entering the hotel one after another. Blocked by the Cheonhwa Group''s security guards, the reporters couldn''t get inside the entrance, so they kept pressing the camera shutters.


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    "Just take pictures of everything you can! That way, if the official articlees outter, we''ll have at least one good photo!"


    "Focus on the executive producers! It''s their job to secure the contract."


    After a while, a tall young man squeezed through the crowd of reporters, continuously mumbling, "Excuse me,ing through. Sorry, I need to get into the hotel..."


    "Hey, don''t push! Aren''t you a reporter?"


    "No, I''m not. Just passing through."


    The young man, who had barely managed to break through the wall of reporters, entered the hotel with a look of relief on his face.


    "Was that guy just now an actor or a model?"


    "What? I saw him briefly too, but he didn''t seem that handsome. He had a decent build, though."


    "Yeah, but... how should I put it? There was a sense of... dignity. Actors and models can project that kind of aura, you know?"


    "Come on, what are you talking about? Even I look like I have dignity when I look in the mirror when I really need to take a dump."


    "Shut up."


    "<i>Hehe</i>. But seriously, why hasn''t the guy suspected of being Unknown shown up at all?"


    "Tell me about it."


    The reporters stationed at the hotel entrance waited endlessly for Unknown.


    ***


    "<i>Whew</i>, why are there so many reporters?"


    The difference between feeling popr throughmunityments and actually experiencing it when surrounded by people was significant.


    Realizing this, Han Jung-Woo, slightly nervous, muttered to himself as he looked into the mirror inside the elevator, "You can do this. Just imitate Unknown, who has no mercy... No, no."


    The elevator doors slowly opened. An employee waiting there bowed and guided him forward.


    <i>Imitate Unknown? No, that''s not it. Why would I imitate anyone? I''m not Mimic.</i>


    <i>Creak.</i>


    As the convention hall, essible only to the hotel''s VIPs, opened, Han Jung-Woo entered with confident strides. He met the dozen pairs of eyes staring at him head-on and gave a slight nod.


    As his mouth slowly opened, a voice full of confidence flowed out.


    "Thank you foring. I am Unknown."


    The man standing on the podium introducing himself was no longer a twenty-two-year-old student on leave with nothing special going on. He was the absolute number one in the <i>MID Online</i> rankings. He was Unknown.

 Chapter 152: Contaminated Land (1)

    <h4>Chapter 152: Contaminated Land (1)</h4>


    The moment Unknown, Han Jung-Woo, entered the convention hall, a glimmer appeared in the eyes of the broadcasting officials.


    <i>Oh, so that young man is Unknown?</i>


    <i>He''s much younger than I expected.</i>


    <i>Judging by his appearance, he seems to be Korean.</i>


    <i>But I don''t quite feel the overwhelming charisma he had in the videos.</i>


    The broadcasting officials wore puzzled expressions at first, but the moment Han Jung-Woo introduced himself on the podium, their thoughts changed.


    ¡°Thank you all foring. I am Unknown."


    <i>Hmm. He''s not a young man to be taken lightly.</i>


    <i>Even though he looks very young, he''s full of confidence and exudes authority.</i>


    <i>It''s undoubtedly the aura that only those who have ovee numerous trials and hardships to reach the top can emit.</i>


    <i>Well, that makes sense. Bing the best in MID Online isn''t something you can achieve with just luck.</i>


    Leaving a strong impression with a brief introduction, Han Jung-Woo continued saying, "I believe you all know why I''ve invited you here today."


    The first war in <i>MID Online</i> consisted of an army of over 10,000 from the Church of Muldine and 1,500 NPCs. It was a war that involved more than 2,000 forces, including yers!


    The high-ranking officials of broadcasting stations had gathered here to purchase the broadcast rights for that video.


    "I''ll get straight to the point. Among the overseas broadcasting stations, there was an offer of 9.2 billion won."


    "9... 9.2 billion won...?!"


    "<i>Ugh</i>."


    "Well, the market size is different itself, so the money power is vastly different."


    "I never imagined they would pay that much without hesitation just for the rights to a video..."


    The expressions of those who had expected the amount to be at most 1.5 to 2 billion won hardened instantly.


    <i>As expected.</i>


    Observing their reactions, Han Jung-Woo said with a gentle smile, "Judging by your expressions, I can see what you''re thinking. I understand the position and sentiment of the broadcasting officials. It''s practically impossible for a small country like Korea to offer better terms than the overseas market."


    The executive producers and directors slowly nodded in agreement with Han Jung-Woo''s words.


    "That¡¯s right. The number of viewers is just iparably different."


    "America, China... no, even Japan''s market size is far beyond that of Korea."


    "9.2 billion won... There''s no way that kind of money can be put up in Korea just for a video."


    This time, they showed a rather positive reaction. Those who had initially given up on the auction upon hearing the mention of 9.2 billion won waited quietly like obedient students for Han Jung-Woo''s next words.


    "As you might have guessed, I am Korean. I was born and raised here, and my nationality is also South Korean."


    "I knew it!"


    "There were rumors that Yoo Ha-Rin, the previous number one, was Korean, but it wasn''t certain... But Unknown really is Korean!"


    "Regardless of the deal, this is truly something to be proud of!"


    "I''m curious about the rough adventures he must have had."


    During the Olympic season, all the citizens apuded with pride when a Korean athlete won a gold medal. The same was true for Han Jung-Woo.


    <i>It''s just a game, but it''s a game with over a billion registered users.</i>


    And he was number one in such a ce. In other words, a person who was one in a billion was Korean.


    Just knowing that brought smiles to the faces of the directors and executive producers. This was exactly the point Han Jung-Woo intended to exploit today.


    <i>I''ll emphasize the fact that I''m Korean and highlight that I''m intentionally selling the video to my own country.</i>


    A person''s impression was greatly influenced by their first impression. If the first impression of someone was not good, even their kind deeds became annoying, and that was the same across all cultures!


    On the other hand, if the first impression was good, they woulde off as endearing even if they clumsily tripped while walking.


    <i>Make the first impression strong, then be gentle afterward.</i>


    After lightly stirring the hearts of the broadcasting officials, Han Jung-Woo said, "Before you all participate in the auction today, I have only two conditions.¡±


    "May we hear what those conditions are?"


    "I hope they aren''t too unreasonable."


    "My conditions are simple." Han Jung-Woo paused for a moment and looked at the audience which looked to him as if he were their mother bird. Then he continued, "Firstly, the starting minimum bid for the auction will be 1.5 billion won."


    "1.5 billion won? <i>Hmm</i>. That''s not bad."


    "That''s within the expected range."


    "If the starting bid is that high, even if the auction bes intense, the maximum should be around 2.5 billion won...?"


    "Still, isn''t that quite expensive for just a video?"


    "What are you talking about? Compared to the 9.2 billion won offered overseas, this is a fair price. OnGames will participate."


    With most of the people showing a positive reaction, Han Jung-Woo grinned.


    <i>Would they have reacted the same way if I hadn''t mentioned that an overseas broadcasting station offered 9.2 billion won?</i>


    He didn¡¯t think so. Even though they knew he was Unknown, the number one ranking yer, appearances were important.


    <i>No matter what I do, in their eyes, I''ll just look like a young man in his early twenties.</i>


    In that case, even if they colluded on the price behind his back, there would be no way for him to intervene.


    He would have used his Bargain skill in the game, but he couldn''t because this was reality. That was why he had yed the 9.2 billion won card first. Humans were often swayed when an impossible condition was presented first, followed by a seemingly achievable one.


    <i>This is something I learned when I paid the registration fee at the Training Grounds of the Dawn.</i>


    All those past experiences were turning out to be invaluable.


    Without dy, Han Jung-Wooid out his second condition. "Second. I want Michael Reynolds to participate as the producer for the video editing."


    "... <i>Huh</i>?"


    "But we''re trying to buy the rights to the video itself..."


    "If we bring in an editor from elsewhere, then it''s not really our video..."


    "Moreover, he''s an amateur."


    The executive producers who directly managed the project showed slight signs of displeasure.


    However, Han Jung-Woo remained unfazed and said, "Michael has edited my videos several times, and his skills are already well-recognized in the industry. In fact, all the videos he''s made for me have been globally praised for their outstanding cinematography."


    "Well, that is true, but..."


    "Sure, he edits well. But this isn''t just a simple raid; it''s a war."


    "This is a massive project that could take weeks just to edit the footage."


    "How about we add more money and handle the editing independently?"


    They clearly didn''t like the idea of letting someone else take a piece of their pie. However, this was one point Han Jung-Woo wasn''t willing topromise on.


    "Of course, I respect the producers, directors, and editors here. But you must understand my position as well. If I hand over the video to a broadcasting station without consulting Michael, what does that make me? Please give Michael a chance."


    "... <i>Umm</i>, fine. But if Michael''s skills turn out to be less than what his reputation suggests..."


    "Of course, I won''t interfere after that. A professional should speak through their abilities."


    Though he said this, Han Jung-Woo wasn''t worried at all.


    <i>Michael''s skills are recognized worldwide. He only works in the underground scene because he finds the spotlight too bothersome...</i>


    Han Jung-Woo was currently transitioning from themunity''s video board to the television screen. However, it wasn''t possible to ignore the broadcasting stations and leave everything to Michael for the editing.


    <i>I''m sorry, Michael, but you¡¯re gonna need to step into the spotlight.</i>


    Of course, it would be all for nothing if Michael refused, but Han Jung-Woo was confident he would ept.


    <i>After all, I have already shown him the initial footage.</i>


    Michael loved video editing more than anyone else. Otherwise, he wouldn''t spend sleepless nights buried in work. For an editor with that level of passion, there was no way Michael wouldn''t be excited the moment he saw the footage Han Jung-Woo sent him.


    <i>He''s probably packing up by now, eager to get started.</i>


    Han Jung-Woo showed a faint smile, and called a nearby staff member to hand over a USB.


    "Before we officially start the auction, I should show you the product, right?"


    "By product you mean...?"


    "The video."


    As Han Jung-Woo smiled and snapped his fingers, all the lights in the convention hall turned off. Then, like a scene from a movie, the war began to y out on the screen that was big enough to belong in a movie theater


    ***


    The total running time was six hours and fifty-seven minutes. It was such a long duration that they had to take two breaks in between.


    These were busy individuals with packed schedules. Yet, not a single one of them made the foolish decision to leave their seat. In fact, when the video ended, only one thought dominated their minds.


    <i>I have to secure this no matter what.</i>


    <i>I''m certain that if overseas broadcasters saw this video, the bidding price would easily exceed 10 billion won.</i>


    <i>It''s just the raw footage but it''s this good. If we enhance it with editing, amplify the sound, insert an OST, and add effects...</i>


    <i>It''s at the level where it could attract over ten million viewers if shown in theaters.</i>


    Everyone here was a broadcasting professional. They could tell just by looking at the footage whether it would be a sess or not with their keen instincts, and their sharp instincts were screaming that this video was a jackpot.


    "1.6 billion."


    "1.7 billion."


    "1.8 billion."


    "Damn it, 2 billion! Plus a 5% incentive based on viewership!"


    That was why thepetition was so fierce.


    Sittingfortably in his seat, Han Jung-Woo wore a satisfied expression as he watched the heated bidding.


    <i>It seems showing them the video was the right choice.</i>


    Even Han Jung-Woo was meticulous when buying something. He considered whether the quality was good, if it was cost-effective, how its durability was, and what other people thought about it.


    And right now, he was selling a video worth billions of won, so of course they would be more cautious.


    <i>Of course I had to make them want it as much as possible.</i>


    That was why he showed them the video in advance, stimting their desire to purchase it!


    And the result was a huge sess. Starting with OnGames, which kicked off the auction at 1.5 billion, executives from NET Media, TBC, and GBM Broadcasting dove in with eyes zing.


    <i>Now, how much will it sell for?</i>


    The price had already exceeded 3.8 billion. On top of that, there was already a special program slot being discussed, with an additional 15% incentive based on viewership ratings.


    The executive producers finally began making phone calls to the directors, practically begging.


    "Director, this is a hit. Don''t you trust my judgment? You know how many sessful programs I have had so far, don¡¯t you?"


    "You know that footage from CTN in America with dozens of people fighting? It got a 21% viewership. I guarantee, the moment this video airs, that will look like child''s y."


    "Have you seen <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> or <i>The Admiral:</i> <i>Roaring Currents</i>? This is on par with them... No, it''s even better. <i>Ugh!</i> Just give me a generous budget, please!"


    But in fiercepetition, there can only be one winner.


    "4.8 billion, with a 20% viewership incentive. Plus, we''ll package your previously uploadedmunity videos into a special program, with an additional 35% incentive."


    "<i>Hmm.</i>" Han Jung-Woo slightly nodded and extended his right hand with a smile. "Congrattions to NET Media on winning the bid."


    It was a sessful deal.

 Chapter 153: Contaminated Land (2)

    <h4>Chapter 153: Contaminated Land (2)</h4>


    <strong>[Breaking News! Unknown signs an exclusive broadcasting contract with NET Media.] </strong>


    <strong>[NET Media: ¡®We¡¯re thrilled to work with Unknown¡¯¡ªofficial statement.]</strong>


    <strong>[NET Media¡¯s stock rises after contract. Is the ¡®Unknown Effect¡¯ already starting?]</strong>


    <strong>[NET Media¡¯s director responds to a flood of viewer inquiries: ¡®The program will air in three weeks.¡¯]</strong>


    The news of Unknown¡¯s exclusive contract with NET Media became big news in South Korea''s gamingmunity.


    ¡°This is insane, absolutely crazy!¡±


    ¡°No way, so we¡¯ll be able to watch Unknown¡¯s war video on the NET channel?¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s not just that. There¡¯ll probably be Koreanmentary and subtitles, too!¡±


    ¡°Amazing. Why did he sign with Korea though?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t the U.S. market way bigger for game broadcasts? Their offer surely must have been better...¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for the shocking reason behind this toe to light.


    Just a few hourster, Aris released the fully edited exclusive interview with Unknown. The views skyrocketed, and the yers¡¯ments poured in even faster.


    -Hey guys, did you watch the interview with Unknown?


    ©¸ Yeah, I did. He¡¯s Korean.


    ©¸ Saw it. Apparently Unknown is Kai.


    -Unknown, I¡¯m so sorry for using you of cheating :(


    -C¡¯mon, he was just a cheater. I just thought he was Korean haha


    ©¸ You¡¯ve got the order mixed up lol. But I guess it means the same thing.


    It was like adding fuel to the fire. Before the shock had even subsided, the second wave hit, leaving people unable to regain theirposure.


    -So the current number one yer is Korean?


    ©¸ Wasn¡¯t thest one Korean, too? Yoo Ha-Rin.


    ©¸ Judging by the name, she¡¯s probably Korean... but maybe not?


    ©¸ Nope, two consecutive Korean yers at first ce!


    Of course, some quickly regained theirposure¡ªparticrly South Korean gamers!


    -I knew it. From the way he moved in-game, I thought it was definitely Korean-style gamey.


    ©¸ Yeah right lmao. I checked your old posts. You called him a noob relying on gear and guild power.


    ©¸ Hey, that wasn¡¯t me. My cat wrote that.


    -We¡¯ve got Cheonhwa in the top ten guilds, and now Unknown, or Kai, in first ce!


    ©¸ Never underestimate Korea again!


    Simply by signing an exclusive contract with NET Media, Unknown¡¯s ount saw another wave of donations flooding in.


    ¡°I like it.¡±


    Kai smiled as he looked at the reactions, then closed the inte browser and spread out a map.


    ¡°This area is pretty heavily contaminated.¡±


    The vastnd that Kai had been granted by King Beoruk was rich with forests, seas, and high-quality minerals, yet no one could live there at the moment. The reason was simple.


    <strong>[You sense the presence of the Blue gue.]</strong>


    <strong>[Poison Master activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have fully resisted the effects of the Blue gue.]</strong>


    ¡°I¡¯m really thankful to Aosa.¡±


    Who would have thought that suchnd had been contaminated by it in the past!


    <i>The sooner I purify this ce, the better.</i>


    Afterward, his n was to gather the elves and merfolk here and build a city. That was his goal.


    <i>I¡¯ve already decided on a name for the city too.</i>


    It would be called the City of Freedom, Libertia!


    Kai acted quickly toward his goal.


    ¡°Thisnd is absurdly vast.¡±


    Everything within his sight was now his property. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be long before thisnd would belong to the demi-human races.


    <i>I can see the sea and the forest. Hmm, a citadel could even be built from here all the way over to there.</i>


    Kai strolled through thend with a satisfied expression and nodded to himself.


    ¡°Those Church of Muldine guys... They¡¯ll probably try something with the dwarves, too. I guess it¡¯s time to stopzing around and start moving.¡±


    With his decision made, Kai¡¯s slow walk gradually picked up speed, until his body shot forward like a bullet.


    <i>At least the good thing is there¡¯s no threat of monsters with the Blue gue here... huh?</i>


    Just as Kai was relieved, something shot toward him at high speed from the front. He dodged it by twisting and bending his back as if ying limbo, but the thorny vine grazed the tip of his nose as it whipped past.


    <i>If I had reacted even a secondter...</i>


    It would have hit him directly.


    Despite his nervous swallow, he turned to look at what had attacked him.


    <strong>[Contaminated ntia LV. 320]</strong>


    ¡°Level 320?!¡± Kai was startled and examined the creature closely.


    <i>It looks like a ntia, which is normally a level 260 monster, but...</i>


    ntias were massive monsters that took the form of nts.


    However, this one was covered in something like poisonous mushrooms.


    <i>So it¡¯s been contaminated, huh...</i>


    It was clear that the creature had been corrupted by the Blue gue.


    <i>I¡¯ll need to ask about thister.</i>


    With that decision, Kai drew his sword.


    ¡°Level 320 sure is high, but...¡±


    Kai had grown far stronger than before, thanks to the recent war.


    ¡°Supernova!¡±


    The ground Kai kicked off of shattered, sending pieces of the earth flying everywhere. At the same time, Kai appeared behind the ntia, and his sword cleanly sliced down the middle of the creature.


    Green, foul-smelling liquid spurted from the creature¡¯s split body, but Kai ignored it and continued swinging his sword.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    It took only about eight seconds for the contaminated ntia to disintegrate into polygons. Five strikes were all it took.


    ¡°Wow, the XP is amazing.¡±


    Kai grimaced as he pulled out a water bottle from his inventory and wiped off the creature¡¯s blood, his lips pressed tightly together.


    <i>I should ask what¡¯s going on with this...</i>


    Kai had a bitter gaze, as his fingers twitched.


    <strong>[Speak with the thoughts of Cherantia.]</strong>


    <strong>[Speak with the thoughts of Shimizu.]</strong>


    These were the special abilities tied to the Holy Ring Petra and Holy Pauldron Nike. The function allowed him to converse with the thoughts of the previous apostles and seek their wisdom...


    <i>... which is ridiculous. I almost died when I tried talking to both of them at oncest time.</i>


    The terrifying memory of two spirits constantly following him and talking non-stop made him shudder.


    Even so, he hesitantly moved his hand.


    ¡°Still, Shimizu was a bit more tolerable than Cherantia...¡±


    Kai selected the option to converse with Shimizu. As a result, 5,000 Holy Power was immediately consumed. At the same time, a translucent figure appeared before him.


    <i>¡ªOh my, it''s the Fourth One.</i>


    ¡°Shimizu,¡± Kai said.


    <i>¡ªYes?</i>


    The woman who was covering her faintly smiling lips was none other than Shimizu, the first Sris Cleric. She wore arge cleric robe and had a shining circlet on her head.


    Blinking her doe-like eyes, Shimizu asked,


    <i>¡ªSo what business today? Oh! Where is Cherantia? It was truly a meaningful and wonderful time when the three of us had a conversationst time. Could we possibly chat with the three of us again today?</i>


    ¡°No, absolutely not.¡±


    Kai wasn''t foolish enough to willingly walk into hell.


    Seeing his firm refusal, Shimizu frowned.


    Then, Kai asked her, ¡°Shimizu, could you please take a look around.¡±


    <i>¡ªLook around here... Hm! This energy... It''s the Blue gue.</i>


    Shimizu wiped away her yful expression and surveyed the area with dignity befitting a high priest.


    ¡°I heard this ce became uninhabitable because of the Blue gue that swept through in the past. But I¡¯ve seen monsters roaming around, and they¡¯re contaminated.¡±


    <i>¡ªThis is new to me as well. Normally, the Blue gue dissipates over time, as it spreads in a vaporous form... Could you tell me the exact location of this ce?</i>


    Kai unfolded a map and showed it to her.


    Shimizu let out a soft sigh in response.


    <i>¡ªThis used to be the location of a secret base of the Church of Muldine. I believe it was a site for repeated experiments and research on Aosa.</i>


    ¡°Then, the poisons contaminating thisnd are...¡±


    <i>¡ªYes, it''s likely a remnant of Aosa''s poison.</i>


    Kai let out a faint sigh at Shimizu¡¯s exnation.


    <i>This is turning out to be more troublesome than I thought.</i>


    Purifying this vastnd was already a great task. If there were also mutated monsters created from the Church of Muldine¡¯s gue experiments lurking around in addition to that...


    <i>I don¡¯t know when this will end...</i>


    Kai bit his lower lip before asking another question. ¡°What would be the fastest way to purify thisnd?¡±


    <i>¡ªHmm... It would be very difficult. You said you defeated Aosa recently, right?</i>


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    <i>¡ªWell, since these poisons originated from Aosa, they won¡¯t disappear easily unless Aosa were toe back and absorb them itself. Of course, you could forcibly remove them using the power of an Apostle, but...</i>


    Shimizu nced at Kai and shook her head.


    <i>¡ªI told you, didn¡¯t I? You should¡¯ve gone to the main church of the Srian Church and inherited the true power of the Apostle.</i>


    ¡°That is... I¡¯ve been too busy... I was nning to visit after finishing this purification,¡± Kai replied, unable to hide his frustration as he let out a deep sigh.


    Afterpletely clearing the Trial of Hanox, both Shimizu and Cherantia had told him:


    <i>¡ªHead to the main church of the Srian Church.</i>


    <i>¡ªMeet with the high priest there and inherit the true power of the Apostle.</i>


    But Kai hadn¡¯t had the luxury of time with the elves waiting for him.


    <i>That was why I was nning to quickly finish this purification and then visit the Srian Church¡¯s main church... </i>


    He hadn''t expected the corruption to be so severe that it would be difficult to purify even with his current power.


    Shimizu tried tofort him, noticing his disheartened expression.


    <i>¡ªIt¡¯s unfortunate, but it¡¯s still better if you head to the main church even now. Dead Aosa isn¡¯ting back.</i>


    ¡°... But what would happen if Aosa dide back?¡±


    <i>¡ªAosa was a creature who, through the research of the Church of Muldine, gained full control over the Blue gue. As I said before, if it were here, it could absorb the gue¡¯s power. Though, if that happened, it would grow even stronger, so I absolutely wouldn¡¯t rmend that.</i>


    ¡°Aosa can absorb it?¡± Kai murmured as his eyes sparkled. ¡°Enhanced summoning, Mimic.¡±


    <strong>[Due to the enhancement effect, maximum HP has been increased.]</strong>


    When Mimic was first summoned, it appeared in a slime-like form. From this basic state, Mimic had the ability to perfectly imitate any monster it had previously copied.


    <i>Usually, I only see it sleeping in its default form...</i>


    But today was different. Mimic quickly started crawling around the ground in its slime-like body!


    Watching this, Shimizu tilted her head and asked,


    <i>¡ªKai, what is this small and cute creature?</i>


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, Mimic? This guy is...¡± Unsure how to exin, Kai shrugged and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s like... a prototype of Aosa, I suppose?¡±


    <i>¡ªWhat is that supposed to mean...?</i>


    Shimizu, who usually maintained a calm demeanor like a stillke, showed a rare expression of surprise. It was no wonder, as the Blue gue that filled the surroundings was starting to be absorbed into Mimic''s body.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Mimic has begun absorbing the source of the Blue gue.]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic will be able to fully control the power of the Blue gue once the absorption isplete.]</strong>


    <strong>[Absorption rate: 0.3%...]</strong>


    <strong>[Absorption rate: 0.4%...]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Oooo</i>.¡±


    Kai''s lips curled upward into a smile as a parade of amusing messages appeared before him.

 Chapter 154: Contaminated Land (3)

    <h4>Chapter 154: Contaminated Land (3)</h4>


    When do parents feel the happiest while raising their children? Is it when their kids bring home good grades from school? Is it when they sing and dance to the songs they learned in kindergarten?


    Kai shook his head.


    "The happiest moments are when the child eats heartily and is on the verge of evolving."


    With a contented fatherly smile on his face, he watched as the slime-shaped Mimic crawled along the ground, diligently absorbing the poison.


    <strong>[Absorption rate 99.4%...]</strong>


    Taking small Mimic around such a vastnd was quite an ordeal¡ªparticrly so in areas with stronger toxins where Mimic would remain still for hours and absorb the poison.


    <i>Has it already been over two weeks...?</i>


    Kai had been to every contaminated area during the past three weeks. He had traveled through fertile ins ideal for growing crops, solidnd perfect for building structures, forests that were dead but soon to be revived, and even the polluted ocean depths!


    Having wandered all these ces with Mimic, Kai smiled at the thought of soon being liberated from thisbor. And thatbor referred to...


    <i>¡ªKai, I''m so bored. Could you call Cherantia? We won''t bother you, we''ll just have a quiet chat.</i>


    ¡°It''s impossible for the two of you to have a quiet conversation, so I reject your request.¡±


    <i>¡ªBut I promise we will. I was the first Sris Cleric and high priest. Why don''t you trust me?</i>


    It was the fact that Shimizu had followed him around for the past two weeks!


    <i>She disappeared quickly during the Trial of Hanox, so why is she hanging around so long this time?</i>


    Shimizu exined the reason for this.


    <i>¡ªYou asked me about the contaminatednd, right? Until this is resolved, I¡¯ll probably keep following you around.</i>


    ¡°... This can''t be happening.¡±


    She was a specter that wouldn¡¯t disappear until the task wasplete!


    <i>I¡¯ll definitely only summon her for quick, simple questions from now on.</i>


    More exhausting than fighting the contaminated monsters was being Shimizu¡¯s conversation partner.


    Soon, Kai was freed from that torment several hourster.


    <strong>[Mimic haspleted absorbing the Blue gue.]</strong>


    <strong>[Mimic can now perfectly control the power of the Blue gue.]</strong>


    <strong>[The contaminatednd has been fully purified. Life can once again thrive on thisnd.]</strong>


    "Oh, my Mimic! You''ve finally absorbed it all!" Kai proudly patted Mimic¡¯s head and unsummoned it. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, take some rest.¡±


    With a smile, Kai quickly checked Mimic''s skill list. Sure enough, the Blue gue skill was clearly registered.


    <i>Mimic can control the Blue gue now. This is certainly an unexpected gain.</i>


    And ording to the skill description, Mimic didn¡¯t need to defeat monsters to gather energy like Kai did.


    <i>It can perfectly control the Blue gue, just like Aosa once did.</i>


    After all, Mimic had been the core that handled Aosa''s essence. In other words, there was no reason it couldn¡¯t use the same techniques that Aosa had used.


    <i>So... could it grow asrge as Aosa did if its level increases?</i>


    If that were to happen, there would be nothing to fear.


    After thinking of this pleasant thought, Kai turned his attention to reality.


    ¡°Now, the issue is..."


    <i>¡ªThe remaining contaminated monsters. With the Blue gue gone, thend and sea will start purifying themselves naturally.</i>


    Kai nodded in agreement to Shimizu.


    "Yes, the contaminated monsters are the problem... but, I¡¯ve actually thought about that over thest couple of weeks."


    <i>¡ªThere are still tens of thousands of contaminated monsters roaming thisnd.</i>


    "Yes, there¡¯s a lot. Way too many, honestly."


    But instead of frowning, Kai smiled.


    <i>Once I bring the elves and merfolk here and build a city, yers will naturally start gathering.</i>


    However, yers inherently wanted to grow stronger. While the idea of elves and merfolk could draw them in initially, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to keep them around for long.


    <i>So, I¡¯ll need to give them a new reason to visit.</i>


    That was why Kai hade up with a n involving the contaminated monsters ranging from level 290 to 340!


    <i>It would be the perfect hunting ground for high-level yers.</i>


    In other words, it would be one of the best leveling zones currently avable. Additionally, whereas hunting here was previously impossible due to the Blue gue, things were different now.


    <i>Mimic absorbed all the gue. Even regr yers, not just someone like me who¡¯s a Poison Master, can hunt here.</i>


    Kai¡¯s goal was to spread the word among high-level yers about this fantastic hunting ground.


    <i>If a lot of high-level yers visit, the local economy will naturally flourish.</i>


    These yers valued their time more than saving a few coins. In other words, even if prices were a bit higher, they would prefer to buy everything from a nearby town.


    <i>Once that infrastructure is in ce, elves and merfolk will be able to mix with humans without any issues.</i>


    Kai quickly sprinted toward the Elven Forest with a satisfied expression.


    ¡°Friend, is it true? Is it and that has a forest, a sea, and even rich ore?¡± Luteria asked Kai.


    "It¡¯s true. However, the forest is quite badly contaminated..."


    ¡°<i>Heh</i>, you underestimate me, don¡¯t you think? I am the World Tree, the guardian of nature and the parent of all elves. Purifying one contaminated forest is a trivial task.¡±


    "Then when can the elves begin relocating?"


    ¡°We could move immediately... but some preparations are needed.¡±


    "Preparations? What kind?" Kai asked in confusion.


    ¡°The distance is quite far, isn''t it? We''ll need to prepare enough food for such a long journey...¡±


    "Oh, about that. His Majesty has arranged for help from one of the magic towers in the Kingdom of Rashion."


    Kai had been granted permission by Beoruk to receive the help of the Crimson Tower. This meant he could use teleportation magic to transport all the elves to their new home!


    ¡°<i>Oh!</i> Is that true? Then there¡¯s no reason to dy.¡± With Luteria¡¯smand, the elves quickly began packing their things. ¡°On the day we defeat the wicked Church of Muldine, we shall return to this forest...¡±


    With Luteria¡¯s determined voice, the elves began their move.


    The situation for the merfolk wasn¡¯t much different.


    "<i>Hmm</i>, as long as it¡¯s connected to the sea, we can travel anywhere in the world."


    In fact, the merfolk¡¯s relocation was even easier than the elves¡¯. Their giant turtle, Tarutaru, which carried their kingdom, could move very quickly.


    ¡°So, this is the ce where we¡¯ll live anew,¡± Luteria said, looking around.


    "Hmm, it¡¯s not perfectly purified yet, but it¡¯s good enough."


    ¡°I can help with that, King of the merfolk.¡±


    "<i>Ah,</i> it¡¯s the World Tree! It¡¯s been a long time."


    ¡°Indeed. You¡¯ve grown.¡±


    The two races shared a joyful reunion after a long time apart!


    As Kai watched this heartwarming scene, he slightly turned his head.


    <i>¡ªIs there something you want to ask?</i>


    There was indeed plenty. So many, in fact.


    Kai turned to Shimizu, who still hadn¡¯t disappeared, and asked, "<i>Umm...</i> Why haven¡¯t you left yet?"


    <i>¡ªI¡¯ve been holding on desperately because I have something important to say.</i>


    "Wait, you can hold on like that?!" Kai scratched his head in disbelief with a bewildered expression at the shocking fact. "Alright, fine. What is it you want to say?"


    <i>¡ªYou are nning to visit the main church of the Srian Church, right?</i>


    ¡°Yes, I have no choice but to go if I want to inherit the true power of the Apostle, don¡¯t I?¡±


    <i>¡ªWell, be careful.</i>


    Shimizu¡¯s warning was as cold as if a de had been pressed to Kai''s neck.


    Kai furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    <i>¡ªThink carefully about why the third Apostle, Patrick, didn¡¯t entrust the relics to the main church.</i>


    ¡°The reason Patrick entrusted the relics to the demi-humans....¡±


    Was there any other reason?


    ¡°Because he couldn¡¯t trust them, I assume.¡±


    <i>¡ªThat¡¯s right. Trust. If you can build trust with them, that would be ideal, but...</i>


    ¡°<i>Hm,</i> so just because they believe in god doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re all pure and righteous?¡±


    At that, Shimizu gave a bitter smile and nodded.


    <i>¡ªWhere there is light, there are shadows. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow bes.</i>


    ¡°So, even the ce with the brightest light in the world, the heart of the Srian Church, follows the same principle,¡± Kai nodded, signaling his understanding.


    ¡ªBest of luck to you, then.


    With those words, Shimizu¡¯s already translucent figure began to fade further. She gazed at Kai with sad eyes, tears rolling down her face.


    Kai let out a soft chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ll juste back when I call again, so why all the tears?¡±


    <i>¡ªThis way, it¡¯ll feel like a more memorable and sorrowful farewell, so you¡¯ll call me more often. </i>


    How boring must heaven be for her to act like this?


    Kai shook his head in disbelief as the king of the mermaids, Karius, and the queen of the elves, nia, approached him.


    ¡°Who were you speaking with just now?¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm?</i> Wasn¡¯t Kai alone?¡±


    Shimizu¡¯s figure wasn¡¯t visible to others, and Kai didn''t want to seem like a weird person, so he shook his head and replied, ¡°It was nothing. Do you like thend?¡±


    ¡°Yes, with the power of Luteria, the forest is rapidly being restored. The elves seem to be very satisfied with their new home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for us. The sea here is abundant with food, likely because there have been no predators for a long time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear you¡¯re pleased.¡± Kai smiled warmly and congratted them. ¡°With the elves and mermaids living together, it¡¯ll be easier to defend against any future attacks from the Church of Muldine. Adventurers will also continue to visit, and if you need it, the Kingdom of Rashion say they can send soldiers to support you. Just let me know.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. Living in such a ce, it¡¯s only right that we manage our own defenses.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. While we may not be of much use onnd, we¡¯ll certainly protect the sea with unwavering strength.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you ever need my help, please don¡¯t hesitate to call me.¡± Kai bowed his head, offering his farewell.


    It was time for him to depart for the Church of Sris¡¯ main church.


    <i>But...</i>


    Karius, nia, and the small Luteria on her shoulder were all wearing odd expressions.


    In the awkward silence, Kai cautiously asked, ¡°Did I do something wrong...?¡±


    To his surprise, the three looked even more taken aback by the question.


    ¡°Well... Are you leaving already? Weren¡¯t you going to be the lord of this city?¡±


    ¡°We naturally assumed you¡¯d take that role, Kai...¡±


    ¡°My friend, even if theymunicate well with you, never forget that the elves and mermaids have been isted from human contact for decades. A mediator is essential to bridge the gap between humans and demi-humans,¡± Luteria added.


    Kai''s mind processed this a bit slower than usual.


    When he finally understood what they were saying, he shouted in surprise, ¡°W-wait a minute! Are you saying you want me to be the lord of this city?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re saying,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the perfect fit for that role,¡± Luteria pitched in.


    ¡°But I¡¯ve never led anyone before...¡± Kai trailed off.


    ¡°Why speak such disheartening words?¡± Luteria extended a small, delicate branch and patted Kai on the head. ¡°My friend, you led the elves and mermaids to a great victory against the Church of Muldine. Even if you haven''t realized it yourself, you are more than qualified to lead many.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    Kai, who was about to continue, stopped speaking. The serious expressions on the faces of Luteria, nia, and Karius made him pause.


    After a moment, Kai asked one final question, ¡°Are you really sure about this? Can you trust me?¡±


    ¡°Haha, my friend. No parent would entrust the fate of their children to someone they do not trust. I have believed in you for a long time,¡± Luteria replied.


    ¡°The merfolk feel the same way. You were the only one who extended a hand to us when we were on the brink of extinction. If we cannot trust someone like you, then there''s no one in this world worth trusting.¡±


    Their heartfelt encouragement and unwavering trust made Kai choke back tears. The deep emotion Kai felt as the sincerity of those he had treated with genuine care came back to him with full force.


    As he absorbed the deep sentiment, he looked at each of them in turn and nodded. ¡°If you all truly believe in me that much... then I will be the most honorable lord this world has ever seen.¡±


    At that moment, several messages appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You are the first yer to be a lord.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: First Lord]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with the elves and mermaids has reached its maximum.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik sheds a tear, touched by the deep bond that transcends race between humans, elves, and merfolk.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Lord¡¯s Territory Management interface has been unlocked.]</strong>

 Chapter 155: Where the Sun Rises (1)

    <h4>Chapter 155: Where the Sun Rises (1)</h4>


    <i>I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m a lord... A lord!</i>


    It was a position Kai had never imagined. His intention had been purely to gift thisnd to ensure the safety of the elves and merfolk, but he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to reject the opportunity that hade to him.


    <i>This is an opportunity.</i>


    And it wasn¡¯t just any opportunity. Libertia was a natural fortress, surrounded by resource-rich seas, forests, and mountain ranges. This meant that, depending on how he managed it, he could grow this ce into a grand city!


    Kai exercised the new authority he gained from being appointed as lord.


    ¡°Territory management window.¡±


    <strong>[Territory Management] </strong>


    <strong>Name: Libertia</strong>


    <strong>Rank: F</strong>


    <strong>Poption: 3,845</strong>


    <strong>Monthly Ie: None</strong>


    The management window was so simple it felt almost barren. However, Kai still looked at it with warm eyes as if it were a treasure.


    <i>3,845 people... That¡¯s quite a lot.</i>


    No longer mere NPCs he had exchanged with, they were now his people to protect.


    Kai turned to the leaders of the two tribes who were staring at him intently. ¡°First, we need to address the town¡¯s security, which is in total disarray.¡±


    ¡°What if I cast an illusion spell around the town? No one would be able to enter,¡± Luteria suggested.


    ¡°... But that¡¯s already been breached once by the Church of Muldine.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>.¡±


    ¡°Revealing ourselves to the world might actually be safer instead of hiding away. Our first goal for Libertia should be to attract strong and numerous adventurers to live here.¡±


    ¡°Then what should we do?¡±


    ¡°First, we need to build at least a low-lying fortress across this vastnd. But... you don¡¯t have knowledge of that, do you?¡±


    They all nodded in agreement without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    ¡°Aquavera certainly has a royal pce, but... the dwarves built that for us. We don¡¯t know how to make one ourselves,¡± Karius said.


    nia added, ¡°We elves have always grown up under the protection of the World Tree, so we¡¯ve never even thought about building a fortress.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>, then we¡¯ll need the help of human engineers for this. In that case...¡±


    Money would be needed. Kai¡¯s face paled at the realization.


    <i>... This won¡¯t be something that can be solved with just a few coins, will it?</i>


    As Kai let out a faint sigh, Luteria asked, ¡°But is a fortress really necessary?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is. It makes defending against external threats easier, and...¡± Kai trailed off mid-sentence.


    <i>Wait, is a fortress really necessary?</i>


    The elves and merfolk werepletely detached from human civilization, each having their own unique way of life.


    <i>There¡¯s no need to impose human civilization on them. In fact, it¡¯s better if we don¡¯t.</i>


    yersing to visit the elves and merfolk would be looking for something different. But if the town were to have the same fortresses and buildings as other cities with only elves and merfolk as the residents...


    <i>That would be boring. Way too boring.</i>


    Kai closed his eyes and delved into thought.


    <i>I haven¡¯t visited that many cities in the game, but...</i>


    The most popr and frequently visited one was undoubtedly Aquaria. Kai, as well as everyone else, knew why.


    <i>The concept is clear, and there¡¯s plenty to do there.</i>


    Connected to the sea, Aquaria had a highly developed canal system. Thanks to this, people could enjoy fishing, and couples would go on dates to ride gonds along the canals.


    <i>Just like Venice in Italy is famous as a tourist city.</i>


    However, merely copying something sessful would only make him an imitator. So, Kai chose to go a step further.


    <i>I need to design this city while considering the movements of the elves, merfolk, and eventually the dwarves who will settle here.</i>


    Libertia was currently nothing more than a barren wastnd, without even amon storage shed. However, that also meant that anything could be built on thisnd!


    <i>In the end, the key is what yers will expect when they visit the town of elves and merfolk.</i>


    After a long period of contemtion, Kai slowly opened his eyes. "Luteria."


    ¡°Why do you call for me, friend?¡±


    ¡°Is it possible to construct buildings using trees?¡±


    ¡°I am the World Tree, protector of nature. That would be quite simple.¡±


    ¡°... Great.¡±


    With a grin, Kai gave the order and the construction began.


    ***


    Even if people cked off, time never did. Time flowed silently and diligently, always moving forward.


    ¡°No, a little more to the left!¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Right there.¡±


    Kai, the merfolk, and the elves were the same. They were spending their days busily, with no time to indulge inziness. Their goal, of course, was thepletion of Libertia.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally starting to take the shape of a vige,¡± Luteria said.


    ¡°To live in a ce like this... It''s truly an intriguing space.¡±


    ¡°This ce is beautiful. Lord Kai, did you study architecture?¡±


    Praise flowed continuously out of Luteria, Karius, and nia. Kai would have burst out in awe as well if it weren¡¯t his own nned city.


    <i>This is it. If it¡¯spleted with this level of quality...</i>


    He¡¯d be busy weing a flood of adventurers; it would be just like the opening day of a summer water park. With satisfaction, Kai¡¯s smile broadened.


    Like something out of <i>Jack and the Beanstalk</i>, a massive tree trunk now stood at the center of the town. And hanging from it like fruits were thousands of buildings!


    <i>To move between buildings, you¡¯ll either have to use the stairs or the enchanted waterway elevators powered by the merfolk¡¯s magic.</i>


    Of course, if one weren¡¯t a resident, they would have to pay a fee to use the waterway elevators. And that wasn¡¯t all. From the massive tree trunk, a pleasant fragrance filled the air, and behind the waterway elevators was a waterfall, creating a beautiful rainbow. It was truly a beautiful city, exuding a dreamy and magical atmosphere!


    ¡°There¡¯s no other city like this in the world.¡±


    It was a city that was the embodiment of fantasy itself. It felt like a ce straight out of a fairy tale, as if one had stepped into thend of fairies.


    Luteria then said, ¡°It seems likepleting all your requests will take a bit more time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we¡¯re almost there. It¡¯s just the finishing touches now.¡±


    While the area around the tree trunk was stunning, the ground level still felt somewhat bare.


    <i>But that¡¯s something the dwarves can fix once they arrive. My work here is done.</i>


    It was the sort of reckless attitude one would expect from a student who, one month before midterms, left all their studying to their future self.


    <i>The town is nearly finished. There¡¯s nothing more for me to do here now, so...</i>


    Now, it was truly time to visit the main church of the Srian Church.


    Kai turned to bid farewell to the leaders of the tribes. ¡°I¡¯ll visit the main church and return as quickly as I can.¡±


    ¡°You don''t need to worry too much about this ce.¡±


    ¡°Right. We¡¯ll manage it well on our own.¡±


    ¡°... Then I¡¯ll leave it to you and be on my way.¡±


    Bowing his head, Kai left Libertia.


    The elves and merfolk had worked so diligently that the roads were as well-maintained as those of the capital of the Kingdom of Rashion. However, since the roads were made using elven techniques rather than human methods, they felt more like walking along a well-kept country path than a rigidly paved road.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Libertia.¡±


    He wondered if it would truly grow and flourish as he hoped. With lingering doubts that were difficult to shake, Kai continued walking.


    <i>My destination is the main church of the Church of Sris.</i>


    A ce said to be where the sun rises. It would be his first visit to the main church since bing a Sris Cleric.


    ***


    Deep underground somewhere on the continent, there was a grand hall. Ominous pirs lined up in rows, and at the far end of the ce stood a throne.


    A man sat on the throne, draped in a ck robe, with almost no trace of life. It was as if he wasn¡¯t human, as though his presence didn¡¯t fully exist in that space.


    Shrouded in darkness, the man slowly lifted his head. ¡°My faithful servant, Morak. Did youplete the mission without issue...?¡±


    <i>Snap! Fwoosh!</i>


    As the man snapped his fingers, the torches along the walls ignited all at once. At the same time, ck smoke gathered and swirled through the hall, transforming into the shape of a person.


    The figure immediately knelt before the man, bowing their head to the ground. ¡°Yes, Cardinal Atroc.¡±


    ¡°And the candidate? Was he suitable?¡±


    ¡°As we thoroughly investigated beforehand, he seemed more than capable of epting the Essence of Darkness,¡± the man named Morak confidently smiled as he responded.


    Cardinal Atroc did not ask further as this servant had never disappointed him before.


    ¡°Then proceed with the ritual at once.¡±


    ¡°Yes. However, recently, adventurers have been a growing nuisance.¡±


    ¡°Adventurers?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Their growth rate is extraordinary. While they are still like insects now, given enough time, it is unknown how powerful they may be...¡±


    ¡°Indeed, even Muldine has mentioned them before.¡±


    If anyone on the continent had overheard this conversation, they would have been terrified. The name of the evil god Muldine struck fear into the hearts of the people of the continent.


    Cardinal Atroc stroked his chin, lost in thought. Each time his fingers brushed his chin, it made a sound like nails scraping on a chalkboard.


    ¡°For our church to stand tall across the continent, not even the smallest variables can be tolerated. And now these adventurers... they¡¯ve be quite the nuisance.¡±


    ¡°What would you have me do?¡±


    ¡°If we cannot kill them, convert them. Spread Muldine¡¯s teachings far and wide.¡±


    ¡°I will obey.¡± Then, as if recalling something, Morak briefly hesitated before speaking again, ¡°Cardinal, what of the one called Kai? How should we deal with him?¡±


    ¡°Kai...¡± Cardinal Atroc muttered the name with clear disdain. ¡°That heretic who refuses to understand Muldine¡¯s will¡ªeliminate him.¡±


    ¡°But he is a formidable opponent, strong enough to have defeated the army led by Bishop Haran.¡±


    ¡°At that time, the elves, merfolk, and other adventurers were supporting him firmly.¡±


    <i>Crack.</i>


    Cardinal Atroc lightly gripped the armrest of his throne, crushing it as he said, "Send the second candidate to Kai as soon as the ritual ispleted. He should make a fitting test opponent..."


    At thismand, Morak''s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Y-you mean to send the candidate for that child?¡±


    "He has disrupted our grand ns multiple times. It''s better to eliminate him for sure than to send a half-hearted force."


    ¡°... I will obey.¡± Bowing his head deeply, Morak turned back into dark smoke and vanished.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>...¡±


    The seemingly bored Cardinal Atroc rested his chin on his hand and casually flicked his fingers. Instantly, the air within the grand hall was consumed, and the mes of the torches were extinguished. As always, the ce was enveloped in silence.

 Chapter 156: Where the Sun Rises (2)

    <h4>Chapter 156: Where the Sun Rises (2)</h4>


    Those who visited Jerusalem or the Vatican, often called the holy sites of Christianity, all said one thing. They said that time seemed to flow slowly there.


    Kai realized the reason while standing on a hill overlooking the main church of the Srian Church.


    <i>People move in an orderly fashion and their every gesture is filled with reverence.</i>


    Since such people gathered in great numbers, the feeling was entirely different from other cities that pursued speed. It was as if everyone acted cautiously and with respect toward Helik.


    ¡°This is the Holy Kingdom, Lapis.¡±


    Created in the name of the first high priest, it was a kingdom of priests and pdins. Though its territory was small enough to beparable to a major city in another country, no power or nation could ignore the Kingdom of Lapis.


    <i>The influence of the Srian Church on the continent is literally at an all-time high.</i>


    No power couldmit acts of violence within the Kingdom of Lapis since that would mean two empires and three kingdoms would turn against them in turn.


    ¡°As expected, the best way to prevent conflict is to have power.¡±


    It couldn¡¯t be just any power. It had to be a power so strong that no one could challenge it. Simply possessing such power helped others control their anger.


    <i>Just like when Bach handled Goliath.</i>


    Slightly nodding, Kai began walking down the hill. The air was rather chilly in Lapis


    The fortress of the Kingdom of Lapis was pure white. On top of that, the Srian Church''s emblem was engraved in pure gold at regr intervals, adding to the sense of holiness.


    ¡°... <i>Ugh.</i> So all those ant-like people are standing in line, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    The main church of the Srian Church was the final destination for pilgrims and a ce where residents came to pray. Even yers had to offer prayers to Helik toplete their transition to Cleric or Pdin.


    Naturally, the line to enter the fortress was longer than anything he''d seen before.


    <i>It seems even longer than when I camest time. It looks like it will take at least ten hours to enter the main church now.</i>


    Letting out a faint sigh, Kai joined the line and thought about the true power of the apostles.


    <i>If I meet the High Priest, I¡¯ll be able to fully wield the power of a Sris Cleric.</i>


    Furthermore, since his halfplete job would beplete, he would also earn a new title.


    <i>They¡¯ll probably give me the title of the first Mythic rank yer.</i>


    Given that this game was notorious for the rich getting richer, its effects would undoubtedly be extraordinary.


    <i>And there will also be tons of new skills.</i>


    In any case, it meant hisbat power would noticeably increasepared to now. However, Kai didn¡¯t feel much excitement about that fact.


    <i>I¡¯m already ranked first... it¡¯s not like having more will hurt, but it¡¯s just about at that level.</i>


    Kai was currently ranked first despite possessing a halfplete ss. The result could seem easy, but looking at the process, it was anything but that.


    <i>Anyway, once I finish visiting the main church, I¡¯ll head to the Ebony Tower to receive the equipment from Korona... Oh! After that, the invasion event Director Kang Min-Gu mentioned will open.</i>


    Kai stroked his chin.


    <i>I originally nned topletely destroy the ck Bees¡¯ reputation during the invasion event...</i>


    But their image was already trashed. Not only that but as soon as the ck Bees were knocked out of the top ten guilds, its members quickly left the guild. They weren¡¯t close enough to share the final moments of a sinking ship together.


    <i>Things have changed quite a bit now.</i>


    His reputation had skyrocketed like thend prices in Gangnam, and the number of forces keeping him in check had also increased. Moreover...


    ¡°<i>Uggghh</i>.¡±


    Kai rubbed his tired face with his hands.


    <i>These challengers are driving me crazy.</i>


    Shuddering, Kai pulled his hood down even further.


    Currently ranked second was Yoo Ha-Rin, who had recently been bumped down. There was almost no one who challenged her these days. And that was because Yoo Ha-Rin had been the champion who protected the number one rank for several months. Those who sought to boost their fame by defeating her had already challenged her, lost, and given up.


    <i>And the number of people challenging Yoo Ha-Rin wasn¡¯t that high either. She had an overwhelming presence from the start. She easily climbed the rankingdder like a salmon swimming upstream.</i>


    But it was different for Kai. Unknown in the first video seemed clumsy in every aspect.


    <i>Well, it''s no surprise they see me as an easy targetpared to Yoo Ha-Rin, but...</i>


    Hundreds of challenges from rankers were registered in themunity! Of course, not many of them were purely chasing fame.


    <i>Most of them must have been paid off by those from the other top ten guilds.</i>


    If one of them seeded, the top ten guilds would benefit greatly since they could make the number one ranked yer unable to log in for three days with just a small amount of money.


    <i>First, assassins from the Church of Muldine, and now the rankers¡¯ challenges...</i>


    Kai regretted having revealed his face.


    <i>Now I understand why my parents told me not to expose my face carelessly.</i>


    It was a piece of advice from his parents that would never have hurt to follow!


    Meanwhile, the line continued to move forward.


    <i>I might be able to enter in about seven hours at this rate.</i>


    Just as Kai looked ahead with a positive thought, a carriage brushed past the line and approached the entrance of the fortress.


    <i>Clop, clop.</i>


    ¡°Move aside, move!¡±


    Kai scoffed at the sight.


    <i>There are people like that everywhere. But unfortunately, this is the main church of the Srian Church.</i>


    A few months ago, no, it had now been over two years in-game time. But back then, there were people like that too. Those who used their wealth and fame to avoid standing in line.


    <i>But they all got cut off at the entrance.</i>


    To cross the sacred Lapis Fortress of the Srian Church, one had to wait in the long line and show Helik their reverent heart. That was why this tedious and long line was called the ridiculous title of the Path of Proof.


    <i>I don¡¯t know who¡¯s riding in that carriage, but it must be their first time visiting the main church. They¡¯ll be pretty embarrassed.</i>


    Kai was about to dismiss the scene with a slightugh when he witnessed something unbelievable. The carriage crossed into Lapis Fortress without any interference!


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    Shocked, Kai asked a cleric standing in line with him, ¡°Excuse me, brother. Who are they to cross into Lapis Fortress so easily? As far as I know, those who haven¡¯t walked the Path of Proof can never enter the gates...¡±


    With a bitter smile, the cleric asked back, ¡°How long has it been since youst visited the main church, brother?¡±


    ¡°Almost two years.¡±


    ¡°I thought so... Then I guess you wouldn¡¯t know. During that time... <i>umm,</i> there have been some changes.¡±


    ¡°Changes?¡±


    The cleric nced around and whispered in a low voice, ¡°Rumors have been spreading quietly among the believers for the past year that High Priest Albert, who leads the Srian Church, has lost his power.¡±


    ¡°No way. That¡¯s impossible...¡±


    ¡°But tada, it turns out there''s no such thing as impossible.¡± Pointing at Lapis Fortress with one hand, the cleric continued, ¡°The influence of the Srian Church has grown absurdly strong over the past year. Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Kai naturally thought it was because of the yers. The yers had begun to undertake the missions of the Srian Church and track down the Church of Muldine.


    <i>But are they saying that¡¯s not the reason?</i>


    Kai¡¯s brows furrowed even more as the cleric said, ¡°There were always corrupt clerics in the past, but they never brazenly acted out in the open.¡±


    ¡°But they seem to be acting quite openly now, judging by what we just saw.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Two cardinals and several archbishops have taken over the power that High Priest Albert once held.¡±


    ¡°But aren¡¯t cardinals appointed by the newly elected High Priest? They should all be loyal to His Holiness the High Priest...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. In the past, they were.¡±


    ¡°In the past?¡±


    Kai¡¯s eyebrow twitched as he asked, and the cleric confidently nodded.


    ¡°Yes. Back then, they were mere bishops, and they were appointed as cardinals by His Holiness Albert, who miraculously overturned the vote to be the High Priest. That was twelve years ago.¡±


    Twelve years. That was enough time for rivers and mountains to change, and certainly enough time for a person¡¯s heart to change hundreds of times over.


    ¡°At first, they acted admirably, befitting their new positions as cardinals. However... it seems they couldn¡¯t resist the sweetness of power.¡±


    ¡°... Who is backing them? Cardinals and archbishops alone couldn¡¯t have pushed High Priest Albert into the shadows, who was supported by millions of believers.¡±


    ¡°I wish I knew.¡± The cleric showed a hollow smile and shook his head. ¡°Many people say that Helik only gives trials that hismbs can handle.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>...¡± Kai shrugged as he recalled his past. ¡°Well, considering that I¡¯m still alive and well, it does seem like that might be the case.¡±


    ¡°... <i>Hah</i>, you¡¯re lucky. To be honest, I¡¯ve been so exhaustedtely. It¡¯s not just me either; everyday believers who truly approach Helik with genuine faith are growing more and more weary by the day. If Helik really thought we could handle this trial... then He is definitely overestimating us.¡±


    ¡°How about gathering the believers and sending a petition?¡±


    At Kai¡¯s question, the clericughed.


    ¡°<i>Haha,</i> a petition? It¡¯s a nice thought. But even if we write one, who would we send it to? Two empires and two kingdoms im to be the allies of the Holy Kingdom Lapis. Unless we have the power to oppose them, we can¡¯t overhaul this system.¡±


    The cleric lowered their head after speaking, a wounded expression on his face.


    Kai, unable to say anything, tried to clear his disordered thoughts.


    <i>Why is Helik allowing this to continue?</i>


    He was a god. A god who could generously grant divine power to the clerics and pdins who believe in Him. Naturally, that power must be incredibly strong.


    <i>Given Helik¡¯s gentle sensitivity, He can¡¯t possibly be happy with this absurd situation.</i>


    He would surely be more saddened than anyone. So why was He simply watching this unfold?


    As Kai¡¯s thoughts continued to swirl, the long line finally came to an end.


    ¡°It¡¯s a badge proving you¡¯re a regr cleric. Kai, it¡¯s been two years since yourst visit to the main church. Please, go ahead.¡±


    Kai received back the badge he had been given when he changed his job ss from the pdin guarding the entrance. It was the lowest-ranked badge in Lapis, given to those upon their initial ss change. When he met the High Priest, it would surely be exchanged for a higher-ranking badge.


    However, despite this, Kai did not head directly to meet the High Priest.


    <i>The Holy Kingdom Lapis. The ce that had left such a fresh impression on me two years ago.</i>


    It was a ce where people gathered, not to do good deeds for rewards, but out of pure, heartfelt kindness.


    ¡°I need to see it with my own eyes.¡±


    He hoped he wouldn¡¯t be disappointed. He hoped the city he once admired hadn¡¯t be corrupt, and that the cleric who had stood in line with him was simply mistaken.


    His gaze, now cold, longed for that reassurance.

 Chapter 157: Where the Sun Rises (3)

    <h4>Chapter 157: Where the Sun Rises (3)</h4>


    Kai had been awed when he visited Lapis for his job ss change two years ago.


    <i>What a holy and pure city.</i>


    The pure believers, clerics, and pdins gathered under the name of Helik of the Srian Church. They never engaged in actions that would bring shame to the name of the god they believed in. They helped one another, showed consideration, and trusted each other.


    Although it was a kingdom the size of a major city, the bright energy and recognition flowing through it were unlike anything seen in the capitals of other kingdoms.


    <i>Hmm. On the surface, it doesn¡¯t seem any different fromst time...</i>


    The pdins, armed and orderly, patrolled the city. The clerics, dressed in their robes, read the scriptures of the Srian Church and learned the teachings of Helik in the streets.


    Watching them, Kai felt a bit relieved.


    <i>The corruption might not be as severe as I thought...</i>


    If the main church of the Church of Sris was corrupt enough to affect the regr clerics, there would have been no chance to save it.


    <i>The streets are still the same.</i>


    After observing the city for a while, Kai nodded in assurance. Most of the clerics residing in Lapis were still kind and considerate toward others.


    ¡°In that case, I should head inside.¡±


    Kai then confidently made his way to the main church of the Srian Church!


    It was a ce open to anyone, even those who were not followers of the Srian Church.


    <i>Huh? The atmosphere here feels a bit...</i>


    It was different. Kai¡¯s expression slightly stiffened as he sensed it.


    <i>The atmosphere here was never light before, but that was due to the reverence itmanded.</i>


    No one would dare cause amotion in a ce as sacred as this, akin to the bedroom of Helik. Thus, the main church of the Srian Church had always been very quiet.


    That was still the case today, but...


    <i>The atmosphere feels heavier. It wasn¡¯t like this before.</i>


    As Kai scanned the area with a sharp gaze, a cleric approached him.


    ¡°Brother, is it your first time here... no, it wouldn¡¯t be. You must be an adventurer, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    In response to Kai¡¯s answer, the cleric smiled kindly and held out a small container.


    ¡°I see. May the sun light your path, brother.¡±


    Staring nkly at the container, Kai asked, ¡°<i>Um, </i>what is this container...?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an offering box. Please demonstrate your faith to Helik, brother.¡±


    Offerings are merely one way to express faith in a god, but they should never be coerced.


    <i>There was never any sort of pressure like this when I visited before.</i>


    Instead of frowning, Kai smiled brightly and asked, ¡°It seems a little different fromst time. Is this mandatory now?¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, brother, it takes significant funding to spread the teachings of the Srian God across the continent. To make matters worse, we need even more money to protect people with the recent rise in monster attacks.¡±


    ¡°... I see.¡±


    It was a reason even a passing dog wouldn¡¯t believe.


    Regardless, Kai quietly nodded and pulled out 1 gold, cing it in the offering box.


    ¡°May the Srian Church see prosperity in its future.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh!</i> Thank you for proving your faith. May glory follow you on your journey, adventurer.¡±


    Havingpleted their task, the cleric leisurely moved on to the next target.


    Watching him, Kai shook his head.


    <i>There¡¯s no way this absurd system is what Helik wants.</i>


    While he had some financial freedom, not all believers visiting this ce did. In fact, many of them came seeking Helik¡¯s mercy, hungry and poor.


    <i>In the past, the Srian Church would provide modest meals, travel funds, and amodations, even guiding people to viges where they could settle...</i>


    Unfortunately, that seemed to be a story of the past as well.


    ¡°Hey! Do you realize where you are right now?!¡±


    Kai moved toward themotion. It was happening in a wide hallway leading to the sanctuary, where a shabby-looking many on the ground. ring down at him with disdain was none other than a high-position cleric of the Srian Church.


    The man, dressed in rags, grabbed the cleric¡¯s robe and pleaded, ¡°P-please! Just allow me to pray... just one prayer...!¡±


    ¡°A prayer?¡± The high-position cleric shook his head and pulled his foot away, brushing off the man¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Helik is not so idle that He would listen to the prayer of someone as shameless as you.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t Helik the god of the sun and mercy...?¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah</i>, mercy.¡± The high-position cleric smiled as he pulled a coin pouch from his robe. ¡°Yes, He is indeed merciful. He has even taught us to give to people like you.¡±


    <i>Clink, clink!</i>


    With each clinking sound of silver hitting the floor, tears flowed down the shabby man¡¯s face.


    ¡°My daughter... my daughter is sick! I don¡¯t expect you to help, but please, just allow me into the sanctuary. There was no issue before! But why now...?¡±


    ¡°That was in the past.¡± The high-position cleric continued, unfazed by the man¡¯s tears, ¡°People live in the present, don¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Please... Please just once...¡±


    ¡°Take him away. A mancking in faith has set foot in the sacred sanctuary of the Srian Church.¡±


    At hismand, several pdins who had been standing by hesitated.


    Watching them with an amused expression, the cleric asked, ¡°You allck faith, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°N-no, not at all.¡±


    ¡°... We will escort him out.¡±


    Under the cleric¡¯s gaze, two of the pdins carefully helped the ragged man to his feet and dragged him out.


    ¡°<i>Tsk,</i> filthy beggars keeping to this sacred ce,¡± the high-position cleric muttered, and clicked his tongue in disgust, then disappeared down the hallway.


    Watching in silence, Kai quietly said, ¡°Cherantia.¡±


    <i>¡ªDid you call me?</i>


    At the same moment, a translucent figure appeared behind Kai. He was a man standing proudly at two meters tall, with a fierce appearance more resembling a demon than a cleric.


    ¡°How did things get this bad? The Srian Church.¡±


    <i>¡ªWell, this ce is full of people, after all.</i>


    ¡°You¡¯re not surprised or angry.¡±


    <i>¡ªBack in my day, things like this happened twice. Flip things over once, and it runs smoothly for another few decades without corruption, so don¡¯t worry too much.</i>


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>...¡±


    It seemed that evil was like a stubborn stain that wouldn¡¯t disappear no matter how hard it was scrubbed.


    As Kai let out a hollowugh, Cherantia said in a calm tone,


    <i>¡ªWell, you could just ignore this if you wanted to. Even Helik seems to be turning a blind eye to such matters. It¡¯s the affairs of the human realm, so it¡¯s entirely up to you.</i>


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Honestly, it has nothing to do with me...¡±


    He had the money for offering, so he could pray anytime he wanted. However...


    <i>Tap, tap.</i>


    Kai tapped his temple and chest in turn, then said, ¡°I feel like its burning here, it''s like I''m going to explode.¡±


    <i>¡ªAre you angry?</i>


    ¡°Angry...?¡± Kai, who got momentarily lost in thought, tilted his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s less about anger... and more that I just don¡¯t like this situation. Why are those who should be protecting the weak the ones leading the charge in tormenting them?¡±


    <i>¡ªShimizu always denied it, but I think that¡¯s the true nature of humans.</i>


    ¡°Are you talking about the belief that humans are inherently evil?¡±


    <i>¡ªNot quite that far. Surely humans wouldn¡¯t be born evil. However... when people gain power and fame, their way of thinking definitely changes.</i>


    ¡°Did that happen to you, Cherantia?¡±


    <i>¡ªNo. If that had been the case, I would never have be an Apostle. Always remember, the path of an Apostle must be more noble and righteous than anything else.</i>


    ¡°Noble and righteous, you say.¡±


    <i>¡ªRecall the moment you made your oath as a cleric.</i>


    ¡°The cleric¡¯s oath...¡±


    With his eyes closed, Kai recalled the moment he changed his ss here.


    <i>Even though it was just something I memorized for the ceremony of my ss change...</i>


    Kai muttered softly, ¡°A cleric must always be pure and righteous, follow your teachings to stand for the weak, and destroy evil with your power to protect the vulnerable.¡±


    <i>¡ªYou got it.</i>


    With a broad grin, Cherantia asked,


    <i>¡ªSo, what will you do now? This is Lapis. No matter how rotten it may seem, it¡¯s a holy kingdom with a thousand years of history.</i>


    ¡°No matter how long the dragon¡¯s body is, if its head is cut off, it won¡¯t survive.¡±


    Then, a satisfying metallic sound came from Kai¡¯s left sleeve.


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    ***


    The High Priest, Albert, was the thirty-second high priest of the Srian Church, and currently the highest-positioned cleric in the church. However, despite his glorious reputation, his face was filled with worry.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, I don¡¯t deserve to see Helik when I die. How did things end up like this?¡±


    Everything had stemmed from his carelessness and the betrayal of the cardinals he once trusted.


    ¡°Molion and Bernard... I never imagined they would change this much.¡±


    Of course, the me wasrgely on him for not noticing their transformation. They were once people united by a single thought¡ªto spread the word of God throughout the world. When he was elected as the high priest, he appointed them as cardinals without hesitation.


    <i>That was ten years ago. And... two years ago, they began to change little by little.</i>


    At first, bad rumors started to spread like meaningless whispers. There were rumors that they had taken bribes to dispatch the pdins or bestowed blessings upon certain territories.


    <i>But I didn¡¯t believe it.</i>


    They had been close friends for decades. Albert, who knew their steadfast faith well, didn¡¯t doubt them.


    Next came the forced offerings. Albert strongly opposed it, but the cardinals didn¡¯t back down.


    <i>They said we needed to train more pdins to fight the Church of Muldine, and imed that required funding was needed.</i>


    However, the number of additional pdins trained was not that many. It was only then that Albert realized the seriousness of the situation.


    <i>The two of them are no longer in their right minds.</i>


    Like an evil lord squeezing taxes from his people, the Srian Church was raking in money from not just millions but tens of millions of believers across the continent.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t right. And on top of that, it¡¯s unclear where all that money is going...¡±


    One thing that was certain was that the money wasn¡¯t being used for the Srian Church. This was an era of peace where even the kingdoms and empiresid low in the first ce. There was no need for such an immense amount of money, nor any major incidents requiring it.


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>. I don¡¯t even want to think about this, but...¡±


    Albert could think of only one force capable of undermining and absorbing the Srian Church from within, and a ce bold enough to make an enticing offer to the cardinals of the Srian Church.


    ¡°Muldine... no, that can¡¯t be.¡±


    He knew better than anyone that the Church of Muldine had returned since he received all reports from the Darkness Hunters almost in real time.


    <i>From the moment they showed signs of resurrection, I¡¯ve tightened the discipline within the church. And yet...</i>


    Things had escted to this point.


    It was bing painfully clear how terrifying the Church of Muldine could be.


    <i>Knock, knock.</i>


    At the sound of a knock on his door, Albert asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Your Holiness, it is time for your outing.¡±


    ¡°... Outing?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the two cardinals said they had something urgent to discuss and requested your presence.¡±


    Sensing something suspicious in the visitor¡¯s tone, Albert refused. ¡°Tell them toe to me directly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but...¡±


    <i>Click.</i>


    Without waiting for Albert¡¯s permission, the visitor opened the door, and he wasn¡¯t alone. Several pdins followed him into the room, surrounding Albert.


    ¡°... What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°Apologies, High Priest. The two cardinals insisted that you be brought to them, so I will escort you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you. What is your name?¡±


    In response to Albert¡¯s question, the man, who was wearing a deep hood, removed it.


    Smiling kindly, the priest finally said, ¡°Please call me Morak, Your Holiness.¡±


    Albert stayed silent for a moment after hearing the name he hadn¡¯t heard before.


    ncing around, he realized he had no choice, and said with a sigh, ¡°Lead the way.¡±

 Chapter 158: Where the Sun Rises (4)

    <h4>Chapter 158: Where the Sun Rises (4)</h4>


    Chernatia asked,


    <i>¡ªWhat are you nning to do?</i>


    ¡°I heard the cardinals and bishops have taken the high priest¡¯s ce,¡± Kai responded briefly, walking nonstop. ¡°So I should meet with them first.¡±


    Kai passed the sanctuary and headed directly toward the inner area of the main church.


    <i>First, I need to find out where they are. The easiest way to do that is...</i>


    As he looked around, Kai spotted a familiar cleric holding an offering box. Then, he approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm?</i> <i>Oh!</i> It¡¯s our generous brother!¡± The cleric with the offering box greeted him with a bright smile.


    Kai responded with a smile and asked, ¡°I¡¯d like to meet with the bishops and cardinals. Where should I go?¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha.</i> I¡¯m sorry, brother, but they are not the kind of people a mere cleric can meet so easily...¡±


    ¡°Friendly Brother,¡± Kai muttered quietly and patted the cleric¡¯s shoulder again. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. I just want to know.¡±


    ¡°W-well... I¡¯m not supposed to say, but...¡±


    The cleric¡¯s gaze vigorously shook back and forth. Due to Kai¡¯s Friendly Brother skill, his affinity had jumped by 50 points in an instant. Additionally, Kai had already left a good impression by generously donating 1 gold earlier.


    ¡°Well... I don¡¯t know much since I¡¯m just a low-rank cleric, but... if you go further inside...¡±


    In the end, the cleric with the offering box began spilling information effortlessly!


    ¡°Thank you for the useful info.¡±


    After offering a brief word of thanks, Kai continued walking. As he went deeper into the sanctuary, eyes were drawn to him, but no one expressed suspicion about his presence thanks to the effect of the Friendly Brother skill. If anyone did, though...


    ¡°Brother, what are you doing here?¡±


    <i>It would mean they don¡¯t believe in the Srian God.</i>


    Kai looked at the man who had grabbed his shoulder to stop him.


    <i>A pdin of the church.</i>


    The pdins were the ones who were supposed to be the sword and spear of God, and the shield that protected the priests and believers.


    Yet, a man who didn¡¯t even believe in the Srian God was wearing the armor of a pdin and serving in the sanctuary.


    <i>What a joke.</i>


    Kai nced around and realized he had ventured deep into the sanctuary. It made sense, as there wasn¡¯t a single person nearby. It was also at that moment that Kai¡¯s hesitation disappeared.


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    He shrugged off the pdin¡¯s hand, and at the same time, a chain shot out and wrapped around the pdin¡¯s neck.


    The pdin, growling in anger, shouted, ¡°How dare you in this sacred church...!¡±


    ¡°And knowing that, you dare to be here?¡±


    The pdin quickly drew his sword and swung it, but Kai had no intention of dodging.


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    He simply pulled hard on the chain. That alone caused the pdin to lose his bnce, and as a result, his sword shed through empty air.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>.¡±


    As the pdin was pulled toward him, Kai used the momentum to grab the pdin by the cor and threw him over his shoulder!


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>...!¡±


    The pdin who was wearing full-te armor crashed to the ground with a thud.


    Kai pressed down hard on the pdin¡¯s wrist, forcing him to drop his sword. ¡°Answer me. Who are you with?¡±


    The pdin red at Kai but kept his mouth firmly shut. No matter how many times Kai questioned him, he refused to speak.


    <i>Damn it, I don¡¯t know when other clerics or pdins might show up...</i>


    Just as Kai furrowed his brows in frustration, Chernatia, who had been standing and observing, casually said,


    <i>¡ªI know a bit about torture. Do you care to learn?</i>


    Kai was momentarily stunned by the suggestion and gave Chernatia a look that seemed to ask why he hadn¡¯t mentioned that earlier.


    Noticing the expression, Cherantia slightly shrugged.


    <i>¡ªYou never asked.</i>


    ***


    ¡°<i>Aaagh</i>... I came following Lord Morak...!¡±


    With a slightly surprised expression, Kai looked at Chernatia. ¡°... This method really works wonders.¡±


    <i>¡ªHeh. Do you know why they called me Chernatia of Rest?</i>


    ¡°Because of rest. You helped patients find peace and rest, didn''t you?¡±


    <i>¡ªNo. It was because my enemies often begged for rest, for death, asking me to end their suffering.</i>


    The title was far more terrifying than Kai had imagined!


    Sightly terrified, Kai shook his head and shook the pdin by the cor. ¡°So, who is this Morak?¡±


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>... Th-that is...¡±


    ¡°Still resisting, <i>huh</i>?¡±


    When the pdin hesitated, Kai was about to put Chernatia¡¯s teachings into action once again. However, Chernatia, who had been watching, quickly stopped him.


    <i>¡ªWait, stop!</i>


    ¡°... <i>Huh?</i> Why?¡± Kai asked, showing his disappointment.


    Chernatia responded in a serious tone,


    <i>¡ªAs he tries to speak about Morak, his eyes are bing bloodshot, and signs of bleeding are starting to show. A strong taboo is at y here.</i>


    ¡°A taboo?¡±


    <i>¡ªYes, a powerful taboo curse that kills the caster slowly if they try to speak certain keywords to an enemy. However, such evil sorcery was only ever used by the Church of Muldine...</i>


    ¡°Did you just say Church of Muldine?¡±


    Kai looked at the pdin with a bewildered expression.


    <i>The remnants of the Church of Muldine have infiltrated the main sanctuary of the Srian Church?</i>


    If Helik knew about this, he would be weeping in the heavens.


    <i>It seems like the Church of Muldine is plotting something again...</i>


    Things might have gone differently if he hadn¡¯t known but now that he <i>did</i> know, he couldn¡¯t just let it slide.


    Kai pulled the pdin¡¯s cor closer and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Then tell me about those keywords without using them. And where is this Morak right now?¡±


    ***


    High Priest Albert sat in the carriage that was moving farther from Lapis.


    ¡°Where are we going? Where are Molion and Bernard waiting for me?¡±


    Morak smiled reassuringly and answered, ¡°The cardinals said they had something urgent to discuss. They chose a location with as few people as possible as it is something that requires maximum security.¡±


    ¡°What kind of matter could it be...?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. <i>Oh</i>, and please don¡¯t worry about your safety. The pdins under your directmand are apanying us, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    Reassured by Morak¡¯s repeated words, High Priest Albert slowly nodded.


    <i>What¡¯s going on all of a sudden...? But what Morak says is true.</i>


    Following the carriage that Albert and Morak were in was the Srian Church¡¯s elite order of pdins¡ªthe pdins under the high priest¡¯smand. This order, the Srian Pdins, were loyal to the high priest for generations, serving only him.


    Along with them, five inquisitors from the church were also apanying him, ensuring his protection.


    The presence of such a force made him feel at ease.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, we¡¯ve almost arrived.¡±


    The carriage entered a passage between steep cliffs. The space between the cliffs was so tight that only about two carriages could barely pass through at a time.


    ¡°Please step out, Your Holiness.¡±


    ¡°... Are you telling me Molion and Bernard are waiting for me in a ce like this?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    At Morak¡¯s exnation, Albert tilted his head in doubt and stepped down from the carriage.


    <i>The two of them have been pursuing only luxury and cleanliness recently, iming that that was the way to demonstrate the Srian Church¡¯s devoutness...</i>


    In other words, there was no way they would choose a shabby, dusty ce like this.


    <i>Just what kind of important matter could they have to discuss here...?</i>


    Under the protection of the pdins and inquisitors, Albert proceeded deeper into the gorge.


    ¡°How much farther do we have to walk?¡±


    Morak turned his head and grinned. ¡°We have arrived.¡±


    At the same time, a scream of death throes erupted from up ahead.


    ¡°What is that scream?¡±


    ¡°It seems it has begun,¡± Morak, speaking leisurely, began walking forward with a casual stride.


    ¡°Your Holiness, something feels off.¡±


    ¡°Srian Pdins, take protective formation. Even if it means facing Helik, protect His Holiness.¡±


    ¡°May the sun light our path!¡±


    The inquisitors and pdins strengthened themselves with their holy power and formed a protective barrier around Albert.


    Following Morak slowly, they soon arrived at arge open space.


    As Albert stepped into the clearing, he looked around and shouted in shock, ¡°W-what?! Molion! Bernard!¡±


    The two cardinals were bloodied and barely clinging to life as they crawled on the ground. Recognizing Albert, they reached out trembling hands and begged for help.


    ¡°<i>Kugh... </i>Y-your Holiness...¡±


    ¡°P-please... save...¡±


    ¡°<i>Tsk</i>, what nonsense, heretic traitors.¡±


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    A massive sword pierced straight through Molion¡¯s back, pinning him to the ground, and his body disintegrated into polygons.


    ¡°M-Molion!¡±


    Though their rtionship had be corrupt, they had shared more than twenty years of camaraderie.


    Watching his friend die so meaninglessly, Albert was immensely shocked. ¡°<i>Ohh</i>...¡±


    ¡°Your Holiness!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    As the pdins rushed to support him, the pdins of the Church of Muldine emerged.


    <i>T-there¡¯s so many of them.</i>


    <i>How did the Church of Muldine¡¯s pdins manage to get so close to Lapis?</i>


    An army of the Church of Muldine was something beyond anyone¡¯s imagination!


    The pdins and inquisitors of the Srian Church swallowed hard as they surveyed the area. The passage they hade through, as well as the cliffs above, were already filled with the Church of Muldine¡¯s forces.


    Morak scratched his temple, and then waved his hand nonchntly. ¡°Clean them up. <i>Oh, </i>but leave the High Priest.¡±


    With those words, the fates of the many pdins and inquisitors present were sealed.


    ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Albert unleashed immense holy power as he tried to protect them, fitting for the high priest of the Srian Church, but...


    ¡°What do you think you can do with only thirty people?¡±


    Morak¡¯s mocking tone quickly became a harsh reality.


    ¡°<i>Aah, aah</i>...¡±


    Even under Albert¡¯s holy protection, the pdins and inquisitors fell one by one, leaving Albert in tears as he watched the helpless deaths of Helik¡¯s children.


    When thest remaining pdin was finally pierced through the chest and copsed, Albert quietly knelt down and began praying for the souls of the fallen.


    ¡°Helik, please guide your youngmbs...¡±


    After finishing his prayer, he stood up with a resolute expression.


    He faced his death without fear and spoke boldly, ¡°You must have some nerve to send an army of the Church of Muldine so close to Lapis.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to these two... <i>Oh</i>, right... it¡¯s just one now, isn¡¯t it? <i>Haha</i>,¡± Morak mumbled as he stomped on Bernard¡¯s hand.


    Albert looked at Morak with a sorrowful expression. ¡°... You were never part of our church, were you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He didn¡¯t have the stomach to worship such a selfish, hypocritical false god.¡±


    As Morak shed a wicked grin, Albert rebuked him, ¡°I may die here today, but the strength of the Srian Church will not be extinguished by killing the high priest and the cardinals. Light and justice will once again drive you from this continent.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm?</i> Who said anything about killing you?¡±


    Seemingly amused, Morak let out a chuckle, pulling a small wooden box from inside his robe and opening it. Inside was a small orb, swirling in darkness as if painted with ckest night.


    ¡°This is the Essence of Darkness. Our church¡¯s creation after extensive research¡ªan energy almost identical to the power of Muldine himself.¡±


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>... Just looking at it is painful.¡±


    Albert sensed numerous negative emotions from the Essence of Darkness like sorrow, anger, pain, despair, fear, jealousy...


    Dozens of negative emotions that were difficult to process all at once seemed to be mixed together. Merely looking at it caused blood to trickle down from Albert¡¯s ears and nose.


    ¡°Oh dear, it seems the stimulus was too strong for you.¡±


    Morak, closing the box, slowly approached Albert.


    Today was the day that a second existence would ept the power of Muldine into their body after Veghas.


    <i>And the second candidate is none other than... the high priest of the Srian Church.</i>


    They would be able to use the head of the most troublesome and irritating faction as their pawn.


    ¡°You will be reborn through the Essence of Darkness. As a loyal servant of Muldine, and his highest priest who will carry out his will.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Albert¡¯s eyes trembled in fear at the thought of having his faith manipted by another.


    <i>Rather than bing a dog of the Church of Muldine, I¡¯d rather take my own...</i>


    Though suicide was forbidden by Helik, Albert was the high priest. He could never allow himself to be used as a pawn by the Church of Muldine.


    Just as Albert prepared to bite his own tongue, Morak¡¯s hand roughly mped his jaw.


    Smiling with amusement, Morak asked, ¡°You mustn¡¯t think of dying on such a fine day, Your Holiness. Do you know what today is?¡±


    With his jaw tightly held, Albert couldn¡¯t respond. However, a voice cut through the silence, answering the question.


    ¡°It''s the day of your funeral.¡±

 Chapter 159: Where the Sun Rises (5)

    <h4>Chapter 159: Where the Sun Rises (5)</h4>


    When Morak released his grip on Albert¡¯s jaw, the High Priest¡¯s body slumped to the ground. Then, Albert turned his head and his eyes fell upon a newly arrived cleric.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    The cleric was wearing a white cleric robe that looked holy, with his hood pulled low over his face.


    With a puzzled expression, Morak waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you made it this far... but kill him.¡±


    Once again, the dark pdins of the Church of Muldine began to move. These were highly skilled pdins, numerous and powerful enough to have defeated the Srian Pdins.


    Having already assumed the cleric¡¯s death was certain, Morak turned back to Albert. ¡°Now, where were we...¡±


    <i>Shh-clink! Boom! Boom!</i>


    Loud explosive sounds echoed from behind, interrupting Morak mid-sentence.


    <i>Explosions?</i>


    The opponent was merely a cleric, not even a pdin.


    <i>But why is he able to resist more than the Srian Pdins did?</i>


    His curiosity made him turn his head, and his eyes widened in shock. Three dark pdins of the Church of Muldiney defeated on the ground.


    Then, the cleric calmly retracted the chains in his left hand.


    <i>Shh-clink.</i>


    As Morak pieced the situation together, he suddenly began pping.


    ¡°So that¡¯s it! I see now! I didn¡¯t recognize you at first with your hood pulled low. You¡¯re the nuisance who dares to interfere with the grand mission of the church, Kai!¡±


    ¡°... You seem to know me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I do. In fact, I had nned toe pay you a visit once this task wasplete... Seems like you¡¯re in a hurry to die.¡± Morak showed an expression of relief, as if a troublesome task had been taken care of. ¡°Originally, I intended to use the second suitable candidate to kill you... but now there¡¯s no need for that.¡±


    As Morak¡¯s right hand rose, dozens of dark pdins of the Church of Muldine drew their weapons.


    ¡°You¡¯ve resisted the teachings of Muldine and repeatedly obstructed the church¡¯s mission. Even if you¡¯re a resurrecting adventurer... you¡¯ll eventually lose the will to resist if we kill you enough times.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad I guess.¡±


    Kai drew his Ironwill Longsword and looked at the many pdins positioned within the gorge.


    <i>Thirty dark pdins. Twenty dark priests.</i>


    Additionally, the twenty dark priests were all stationed atop the cliffs, looking down on him. They were specialized in long-range support and attacks, clearly intending to take full advantage of their position.


    <i>Sending the priests up to the cliffs to protect them was a good tactical decision.</i>


    It was a move anypetentmander would have made. However...


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate me.¡± With a sharp snap of his fingers, Kai shouted, ¡°Enhanced Summoning, Mimic, Blizzard!¡±


    Two magic circles sparked on the ground, each summoning a familiar creature.


    Kai looked at his adorable pets andmanded, ¡°Blizzard, fight alongside me in the frontline! And Mimic...¡±


    Kai pointed toward the top of the gorge and gave themand, ¡°King Sand Worm, attack!¡±


    At themand, Mimic''s size expanded frighteningly fast. Mimic grew to several times its original size in an instant!


    ¡°<i>Ooo</i>... so this is what was in the reports...¡± Morak, who had been observing Mimic now transformed into a King Sand Worm, snapped back to his senses only when it started burrowing into the gorge wall. ¡°... Wait! King Sand Worm!¡±


    There was only one thing Kai could possibly be nning with such a massive creature in such a confined space.


    <i>That bastard is nning to overturn the entire battlefield!</i>


    Realizing this, Morak shouted to the priests who had been supporting the dark pdins from the top of the gorge, ¡°Run! No, get down from there immediately!¡±


    The moment the dark priests tilted their heads in confusion, not understanding his words...


    <i>Crack! Crack! Crack!</i>


    The ground beneath their feet crumbled in an instant.


    ¡°<i>Whoa</i>!¡±


    ¡°W-what¡¯s happening?!¡±


    iling their arms in panic, they fell dozens of meters to the floor.


    Of course, the dark pdins moved quickly to try to rescue the priests, but Kai wasn¡¯t going to let that happen.


    ¡°Blizzard, make sure to give them a hard time.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrr</i>...¡±


    Blizzard showed his fangs with a sly grin and disyed his characteristic swift movements. Running along the walls, he shed at the falling priests with his twin scimitars!


    Meanwhile, Kai dealt with the pdins surrounding him while Blizzard rampaged.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Countless sword strikes came at him in rapid session from all directions, and he didn¡¯t hold back his full strength.


    ¡°Supernova.¡±


    All his stats surged to an insane level, and his movements became bold.


    <i>Supernova felt like ast resort in the past...</i>


    But not anymore.


    <i>sh! sh!</i>


    <strong>[You did 7,404 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You recovered 700 Holy Power.]</strong>


    <strong>[You recovered 550 Holy Power.]</strong>


    <strong>[You recovered 1,200 Holy Power.]</strong>


    With each hit he dealt, his Holy Power steadily increased!


    Supernova was a skill that consumed a whopping 1,000 Holy Power per second. But with the advanced level of Swordsmanship of the Dawn, it became practically sustainable indefinitely.


    <i>And...</i>


    In the past, he had to conserve his Holy Power, limiting how often he could use it. But now, he could use it freely.


    ¡°Holy Explosion!¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A beam of light shot from Kai¡¯s fingertips and struck the dark pdins directly in the chest. The attack, scaled with his Holy Power stat, delivered devastating damage!


    <i>And enemies of the Church of Muldine are vulnerable to the holy power of the Srian Church.</i>


    In other words, the dark pdins weren¡¯t enough to defeat Kai.


    ¡°They should¡¯ve brought a few inquisitors, at least...¡±


    Even though two cardinals had helped organize this, the fact remained they were near the Holy Kingdom of Lapis. While lower-level dark pdins and priests could operate here, it was much harder for inquisitors of the Church of Muldine to act openly in this area.


    ¡°Well, judging by their reaction, they clearly didn¡¯t expect to run into me.¡±


    Kai had a history of taking down inquisitors single-handedly in thest war. If they had known he would be here, they wouldn¡¯t havee with such a small force.


    <i>Finishing this will just be a matter of time.</i>


    Just as Kai was about to swing his sword in a rxed manner, a sharp shout stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°Stop right there! That¡¯s enough!¡±


    Kai turned his head to see Morak holding Albert hostage.


    ¡°This is the end of your rampage.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm,</i> but I haven¡¯t even warmed up yet.¡±


    ¡°Anyone with eyes can see it. With our current forces, we can¡¯t stop you.¡±


    Morak admitted their defeat without hesitation and calmly dered it.


    <i>... What¡¯s he nning?</i>


    As Kai furrowed his brows, Morak smiled and said, ¡°I have a proposal. Join forces with us.¡±


    ¡°... What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Your talent, your divine power, and yourbat sense¡ªeverything about you impressed me. And above all...¡± Morak lifted the trembling wooden box. ¡°The Essence of Darkness has chosen you even though High Priest Albert was the intended recipient.¡±


    ¡°... What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°<i>Heh</i>. Let me exin it simply.¡±


    Morak opened the box and put on a special glove. Then, he grinned and pulled out the Essence of Darkness.


    ¡°To start, do you know what this is?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it before, but...¡±


    Even just looking at the strange orb made Kai frown. He had seen items like this a few times before.


    ¡°A fragment of the Essence of Darkness... No, is that the original?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. This isn¡¯t some mere fragment. This is the Essence of Darkness itself. The Church of Muldine has finally perfected it, making it usable on people.¡±


    ¡°On people?¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of the name Veghas?¡±


    ¡°The King of Looters.¡±


    ¡°So you do. He¡¯s another one of our church¡¯s creations.¡±


    ¡°... You say that like it¡¯s something to be proud of. Don¡¯t you feel any shame?¡± Kai muttered, ring at Morak.


    Morak burst into madughter. ¡°Shame? <i>Hahaha!</i> What are you talking about? If anything, Veghas would be grateful to us. We turned a petty thief into a figure of terror.¡±


    ¡°So? What¡¯s your real motive for offering me this alliance in this situation?¡±


    ¡°The Essence of Darkness always seeks the strongest suitable candidate. And right now...¡± Morak gazed lovingly at the Essence of Darkness and continued to say, ¡°You are the strongest candidate here. It means that you can absorb the Essence of Darkness even more naturally than Albert.¡±


    Even though he had destroyed their army and ruined their ns at every turn, that man was still proposing an alliance without any hesitation.


    <i>Is this the way of the Church of Muldine?</i>


    If they could be stronger, if they had a way to win, they would choose that path without hesitation, no matter the cost¡ªa selfish but effective approach.


    As Kai shook his head in disbelief, Morak pressed him. ¡°So, what will you do? Will you join us? If you say no, the Essence of Darkness will enter Albert¡¯s body as nned.¡±


    ¡°... I...¡±


    Just as Kai was contemting how to stall for time, a message suddenly appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Helik is watching this situation closely with a weapon in hand. If you betray him, Helik will not hesitate to strike you down with divine wrath.]</strong>


    How could a god be so narrow-minded! Especially when he was racking his brain trying to save the head of his own church!


    As Kai shook his head, Morak interpreted the gesture as a rejection and wiped the friendly smile from his face.


    ¡°So, that means negotiations have failed.¡±


    ¡°What? No, wait...!¡±


    Startled, Kai tried to stop him, but Morak was faster. It was a surprise attack that left no room for reaction.


    ¡°<i>K-kugh</i>...!¡±


    Albert, forced to swallow the Essence of Darkness through his pried-open jaw, disyed a face of agony.


    ¡°<i>Agh</i>... <i>Aaargh</i>... <i>Kugh!</i>¡±


    The faint golden holy power that had always surrounded his body flickered like a dying lightbulb.


    Looking down at him coldly, Morak continued, ¡°With our current forces, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against you anyway. And if I let this chance slip by, it may nevere again... So even if I have to die, I¡¯ll make sure the high priest falls. This should throw the Srian Church into chaos.¡±


    Morak sneered at Kai with a mocking expression, as if to ask what he would do now. There was a clear sense of satisfaction and relief in him, knowing that he had alreadypleted his mission.


    ¡°... Move.¡±


    <i>Crack! sh!</i>


    Swiftly dealing with the pdins before him, Kai hurried to Albert, who was struggling. By the time Kai reached him, Morak had already darted behind the cover of the dark pdins.


    Laughing loudly, Morak shouted from behind them, ¡°<i>Hahaha!</i> I swear the Essence of Darkness, infused with Muldine¡¯s power, is the most perfect creation in the world. Once it¡¯s inside the host, no one can purify it.¡±


    <i>Thud.</i>


    Ignoring Morak¡¯s taunts, Kai helped Albert.


    ¡°Your Holiness, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>... P-please...¡±


    His face was contorted with bulging blue veins.


    He looked at Kai and pleaded desperately, ¡°Kill... Kill me before I bring more disgrace... to Helik...!¡±


    ¡°Kill you? You¡¯re asking a cleric like me to kill the High Priest of the church?¡±


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>... The darkness... I can¡¯t hold it back! If you wait too long... it will be irreversible...¡±


    ¡°High Priest Albert,¡± Kai spoke softly, almost like a teacher scolding a young child. ¡°A cleric¡¯s duty is to heal those who are suffering. Leave it to me.¡±


    ¡°This... this is different! It¡¯s my body, I can tell... no ordinary cleric can purify this...¡±


    ¡°Yes. An <i>ordinary</i> cleric wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡± As Kaiid down his weapon, both of his hands began to radiate immense holy power. ¡°When I became a Cleric, I dered it clearly. A cleric must always be pure and righteous, follow your teachings to stand for the weak, and destroy evil with your power to protect the vulnerable.¡±


    ¡°The Lapis... oath...?¡±


    It was the oath that every cleric and pdin made before the statue of Helik when they changed their ss.


    Hearing those words after so long, Albert shed tears.


    Kai gently wiped the tears from Albert''s wrinkled face and reassured him, ¡°So please, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    The overwhelming holy power radiating from Kai¡¯s hands finally reached its peak.


    ¡°I will fulfill the duty of a cleric. <i>Oh</i>, and by the way...¡± Kai¡¯s golden hands touched Albert¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m no ordinary cleric.¡±

 Chapter 160: Class Change, Solaris Cleric (1)

    <h4>Chapter 160: ss Change, Sris Cleric (1)</h4>


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The holy power resting in Kai''s hands slowly transferred into Albert''s body.


    ¡°Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.¡±


    Kai¡¯s voice was calm and soft, and carried a sense of warmth.


    High Priest Albert¡¯s eyes widened as the holy power flooded into him.


    <i>T-this is... very pure holy power...?</i>


    It was holy power so pure it could even bepared to his own, as the high priest. Moreover, he could feel the mercy of Helik as the holy power moved through his body. But the most astonishing thing was...


    <i>The pain... it''s disappearing.</i>


    Moments earlier, it had felt as if his soul was being torn apart. However, as the holy power passed through him, the pain vanished and was reced by aforting sensation. It was as if a powerful vine was hunting down the virus that had spread through his body.


    As Morak watched Kai heal Albert, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°<i>Bahaha</i>. Idiot. If you were capable of purification, Albert would have done it himself long ago. The Essence of Darkness is the very power of the god that the thousand-year-old Church of Muldine boasts of...¡±


    However, as Albert¡¯s expression grew more peaceful, Morak¡¯s eyes darted around in confusion.


    <i>... Something¡¯s wrong. Why isn¡¯t he screaming like before? There¡¯s no way he could look that calm.</i>


    The veins that had once bulged prominently on Albert''s skin had vanished long ago, bing as smooth as a baby¡¯s. His skin even seemed to have regained a slight, healthy glow.


    ¡°... That¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way he could be purifying it.¡± Sensing a growing unease, Morak shouted in a panicked voice, ¡°There¡¯s no need to give them a chance! He¡¯s defenseless now! Attack!¡±


    At hismand, dozens of dark pdins drew their swords and charged toward Kai.


    However, Blizzard and Mimic were not ones to simply stand by and watch.


    ¡°<i>Krrr!</i>¡±


    ¡°<i>Kroo</i>!¡±


    Mimic threw its massive body down, creating a protective wall around Kai and Albert, while Blizzard stretched out his twin scimitars and stood guard at the front.


    ¡°ck lizardman... Right, I remember you.¡±


    Morak red at Blizzard with contempt, recalling the creature from a past experiment.


    ¡°A worthless piece of trash that once was used as experiments... Now you dare to stand in the way of the church¡¯s pdins?¡±


    Morak, enraged, spat out his words in a sharp tone, ¡°Kill it! And secure Albert immediately!¡±


    Blizzard¡¯s current level was 230. While that wasn¡¯t lowpared to other yers, it was far from enough to handle dozens of pdins. However, Blizzard had the qualities of a future leader of the lizardman tribe.


    Even surrounded by Church of Muldine¡¯s pdins, Blizzard stood tall.


    ¡°<i>Krrr.</i>¡±


    Blizzard¡¯s fiery eyes seemed to shout that they shoulde at him if they dared.


    Of course, the dark pdins facing that arrogant gaze did not feel pleased at all.


    ¡°That arrogant little...!¡±


    ¡°How dare you, a mere test subject, stand in our way!¡±


    ¡°You insignificant beast that can¡¯t even speak!¡±


    Five dark pdins shot forward like rays of light, and swung their swords. Each strike was powerful enough to cut through Blizzard''s body both horizontally and vertically.


    However, the twin scimitars in Blizzard¡¯s hands deflected their attacks effortlessly, like sliding down a smooth surface. And that only indicated one thing.


    <i>It knows it can¡¯t take us on head-to-head.</i>


    <i>A lizardman, a natural-born warrior...</i>


    <i>Is avoiding a direct confrontation and taking a defensive approach?</i>


    Blizzard had once been the war chief of the lizardman tribe, one whose pride was second to none. However, now he had set aside his pride and focused entirely on protecting Kai.


    Realizing this, the dark pdins exchanged smirks with one another.


    <i>It''s surprising that the ck lizardman is fighting this way...</i>


    <i>But it gives us more options if it''s being defensive.</i>


    <i>It won¡¯tst long like this.</i>


    <i>ng! ng!</i>


    The five dark pdins surrounded Blizzard in a pentagon formation, attacking from all sides.


    Blizzard could only rely on his two scimitars, and whatever he couldn¡¯t block, he had to endure with his body.


    ¡°<i>Krrrk</i>...!¡±


    Blizzard had realized something during the battle with Aosa. He learned that in future battles where his master would stand, he wouldn¡¯t be able to wield overwhelming power. So, Blizzard began to think.


    <i>ng!</i>


    He deflected enemy strikes with the curved edges of his des, and used his agile movements to dodge their attacks.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    ¡°<i>Krrr</i>.¡±


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    ¡°<i>Aaargh!</i>¡±


    If the opponent showed even the smallest opening, he would relentlessly exploit it. He believed that was the only way he could truly be of help to his master.


    <i>Crunch! Snap!</i>


    ¡°<i>K-kugh</i>...!¡±


    Blizzard''s twin scimitars dug perfectly into the neck of one of the dark pdins, the two des meeting inside like a pair of scissors.


    Blizzard had abandoned his aggressivebat style and embraced the concept of defense, and the fighting technique he had mastered was none other than the counterattack.


    ***


    High Priest Albert''splexion looked better than ever. It was the kind of expression one might have after receiving a massage from a top-tier massager, followed by a dip in a hot spring.


    "... Thank you. Thank you so much."


    Albert¡¯s wrinkled hands gently covered Kai¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°No need to thank me. I only did what I had to... Please, don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Kai, bewildered by Albert¡¯s tears, found himself unsure of how to react.


    ¡°... <i>Ahem</i>. Right, I¡¯ve shown too much emotion in front of a young man.¡±


    Albert wiped away thest of his tears with his eyes tightly shut, and then looked at Kai with a resolute gaze.


    ¡°I am Albert, the old man holding the undeserved title of the thirty-second high priest of the Srian Church. If it¡¯s not too much to ask, may I know the name of my hero?¡±


    ¡°My name is Kai.¡±


    ¡°I see. Kai, I am truly grateful, but we¡¯ll have to talkter. Right now, it¡¯s more urgent that we drive out the remnants of the Church of Muldine.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, do not worry. I¡¯ll handle them quickly.¡±


    As Kai rose to his feet abruptly, Albert stopped him.


    ¡°Wait! Let me cast a blessing on you.¡±


    Soon, Albert¡¯s blessings enveloped Kai¡¯s body.


    <strong>[All stats increase by +50.]</strong>


    <strong>[All speed increased by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Damage received reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    It was a blessing from the high priest himself, superior even to that of a Sris Cleric! Moreover, all the skills he had cast were basic cleric skills.


    <i>Yet, the effect is this strong...</i>


    Just as Kai marveled at the buffs, the high priest cast one final blessing.


    ¡°Grant him a ray of light to pierce through the darkness... Holy Enchantment.¡±


    <strong>[All attack power against demons, undead, and corrupted beings increased by 250%.]</strong>


    ¡°These blessings should aid you greatly in battle.¡±


    ¡°With this level of blessing...¡±


    This wouldn¡¯t just aid him. The battle was practically already over!


    ¡°Mimic, it¡¯s alright now. You can get up.¡±


    As Kai patted Mimic¡¯s scales, it stretched and made a satisfied sound as it stood. With Mimic no longer blocking the view, the dozens of dark pdins and priests came into sight. And...


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡±


    Just as he had thought during the battle with Aosa, Kai had expected Blizzard to be overwhelmingly outmatched. However, reality turned out to be a little different from what he had imagined.


    ¡°One, two, three...¡± Kai counted as he observed the polygon fragments scattered across the ground. ¡°Looks like at least five... Blizzard did all this?¡±


    Of course, Blizzard''s condition didn¡¯t look normal, with blood pouring from its entire body. But even considering that, taking down five enemies while facing dozens alone would be impossible for anyone without abnormal stats like Kai.


    <i>The dark pdins are at least level 250 each. Every one of them is stronger than Blizzard, and yet...</i>


    Kai remained silent and watched Blizzard¡¯s fight closely. He dodged all the enemies'' attacks and skillfully deflected them with his scimitars¡ªtruly a divine technique! And in the moment when the enemies revealed a small opening, frustrated by their repeated failed attacks, he finished off his opponent without fail.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Even when multiple swords struck his body, he didn¡¯t seem to care. In fact, his tenacity caused the dark pdins to swallow nervously.


    ¡°Blizzard.¡±


    When Kai called from behind, Blizzard nced back at him. The moment he saw Kai, his shoulders drooped. At the same time, his entire body began trembling, as if he had be ill.


    <i>Blizzard¡¯s abilities aren¡¯t enough to sustain these kinds of movements.</i>


    In other words, Blizzard had been fighting beyond his limits.


    Kai ced a grateful fist against Blizzard¡¯s chest and said, ¡°You¡¯ve done well. Leave the rest to me.¡±


    ¡°<i>Krrr</i>,¡± Blizzard responded with a satisfied grin.


    ***


    ¡°Th-this is impossible...¡±


    Morak shook his head nkly, stunned by the scene unfolding before his eyes.


    ¡°Even though our inquisitors weren¡¯t here... we had fifty dark pdins and dark priests. But how...?¡±


    All of that was destroyed by just one person, and that person wasn¡¯t even a resident of this world.


    <i>If it were monsters like Bach, Korona, or Parsanax, I would have avoided the fight altogether. But the opponent was...</i>


    An adventurer. Someone who, just two years ago, had been hunting slimes and rabbits to grow stronger.


    ¡°This is so unfair...!¡±


    ¡°Life is always unfair. But in my case, just a little more so,¡± Kai released his grip on the pdin¡¯s cor and stomped hard on their throat as they fell to the ground.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    The pdin¡¯s body turned to polygons. That was thest of them. It had taken Kai just thirty-two minutes to obliterate all fifty dark pdins and priests.


    Then, Kai slowly approached Morak. ¡°You need toe with me.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯ll just let you take me so easily¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The hilt of Kai¡¯s sword mmed into Morak¡¯s side. The sound of bones breaking was followed by a wheezing groan from Morak.


    ¡°<i>Oof</i>...¡±


    Kai watched as Morak clutched his side and copsed, then slightly looked beside him.


    ¡°So, what should I do now? I¡¯d like to put him to sleep so he doesn¡¯t cause any more trouble. Could you advise me on how?¡±


    <i>¡ªHmm.</i>


    Chernatia, who had been standing idly, took a step forward and stood behind Morak. sping his hands together, he swung down hard on the back of Morak¡¯s head.


    <i>¡ªLike this. Hit the pressure point here with both hands, and he¡¯ll fall asleep instantly.</i>


    ¡°... Isn¡¯t that just knocking him out?¡±


    <i>¡ªNot at all! It¡¯s a proper sleep technique. I learned it from a warrior from the eastern continent, so it¡¯s reliable.</i>


    Kai shook his head as Chernatia stood firm in his belief, but he followed the advice and put Morak to sleep.


    ¡°... He¡¯s really just asleep, right?¡±


    <i>¡ªOf course. You could hit his jaw to knock him out, but that could kill him, so I rmend this method instead.</i>


    ¡°I see. I¡¯ve learned from you again.¡±


    Kai, having learned yet another useful technique, soon approached Albert.


    Albert was looking down at Bernard, his once close friend, with a sorrowful expression. ¡°Why did you do it? What wasn¡¯t enough for you...?¡±


    ¡°Your Holiness... No, Albert. Please, forgive me just this once for the sake of our old friendship... I must have lost my mind for a moment...¡±


    Just as Albert''s heart was about to soften at the sight of his friend, sobbing and sniffling...


    <i>Whack!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sped hands struck the back of Bernard¡¯s head with a powerful blow.


    Albert stared in shock as Bernard copsed, foaming at the mouth.


    Seeing that, Kai grinned and put on a confident expression. ¡°I¡¯ve put him to sleep by striking the pressure point. We can interrogate himter for the details of this incident.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just knock him out...?¡±


    Kai nced to his right for a moment, then shrugged casually. ¡°Apparently it¡¯s not.¡±

 Chapter 161: Class Change, Solaris Cleric! (2)

    <h4>Chapter 161: ss Change, Sris Cleric! (2)</h4>


    When something came to an end, people felt a variety of emotions. Regret, a sense of aplishment, emptiness, or even anger.


    Kai could see traces of many such emotions on High Priest Albert¡¯s face.


    ¡°Your Holiness, we should head back now.¡±


    ¡°... Alright.¡± With Kai¡¯s help, Albert stood up, his face still deeply troubled. ¡°May I ask how you¡¯re feeling right now?¡±


    ¡°I just feel relieved.¡±


    How could he not? He had weakened the Church of Muldine¡¯s forces once again, and captured Morak, who seemed to hold a high position within the church.


    ¡°I see. As for me... I feel deeply embarrassed, angry, and frustrated with my own ipetence.¡± With a bitter expression, Albert ran his wrinkled hands over his face. ¡°What do you n to do now?¡±


    ¡°I will return to the church. I¡¯ll root out all the corruption tied to the two cardinals and extract information from Morak about the Church of Muldine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the right thing to do. It surely is, but...¡± Albert weakly shook his head. ¡°The world doesn¡¯t run on just righteous thoughts. I don¡¯t have the ability to identify all those allied with the two cardinals. And... even if I did, I don¡¯t have the power to punish them.¡±


    ¡°...But you¡¯re the high priest, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Only in name. This is the result of my indecision. The previous high priests possessed either powerful charisma or an immense benevolence that earned everyone¡¯s respect and admiration... But honestly, I was just an ordinary believer. My strength was just in listening to others and empathizing with them. I believed that as long as I was righteous and treated others kindly, they would see my sincerity. However... reality isn¡¯t like that.¡±


    Albert¡¯s words resonated with Kai.


    <i>If I do well, others will recognize it... The world doesn¡¯t work that way.</i>


    Of course, there would be those who appreciated such sincerity, but most people didn¡¯t.


    <i>Once you show even the slightest weakness, it¡¯s over.</i>


    This was something Kai had learned in his twenty-two years of life. The world was not kind to those who were too good. And eventually, Kai made apromise. He would only help those worth helping, those he felt drawn to.


    After a brief moment of thought, Kai slowly said, ¡°Your Holiness, people don¡¯t change easily. Even you didn¡¯t try to adapt to them. You believed that if you treated them kindly, they¡¯d understand your intentions, and you stuck to that belief.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡±


    ¡°You are a kind person, Your Holiness. You have a warm heart. But, to put it bluntly, you¡¯re too soft. Because you couldn¡¯t cut out the infected parts, you¡¯ve now reached the point where you¡¯re risking losing the whole arm.¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯re right. I have no excuse. To be honest, going through this ordeal has made me deeply question the past years. It¡¯s been twelve years since I became high priest and over forty years since I became a cleric... I¡¯ve begun to wonder what I¡¯ve been chasing all this time.¡±


    ¡°You are not a bad person, Your Holiness. And there is a way to continue upholding your will.¡±


    Theck of support within the church was the only real problem Albert faced at the moment.


    <i>But if I back him... things could change.</i>


    Though they had only met briefly, Kai¡¯s experience told him that Albert had a pure soul, a man of integrity.


    Soon, Albert came to a stop and looked at Kai with deep, hollow eyes. ¡°Is there truly such a way? To live as a true cleric, eradicating corruption, protecting the weak, and showing love without any obstacles... Is that really possible?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Kai nodded confidently. ¡°I will help you.¡±


    At Kai''s response, Albert looked at him with a gentle smile, as if gazing at a beloved grandson.


    "I am grateful for your intentions. You are indeed a strong man, I''ve witnessed it with my own eyes. However, the battles that lie ahead won''t be solved by one person''s strength. It will be a fight where justification and support are far more important. The current state of the church... It''s embarrassing to admit, but it¡¯s no different from the corrupt politics of the nobility."


    "Justification and support... If there is a good reason, it would be easier to rally support and gain the backing of the believers."


    "That¡¯s right. There¡¯s little room for force in this..."


    "Then what justification do those opposing you within the church im?"


    "Cardinals Bernard and Molion, who led the opposition, imed that the downfall of the church was due to the ipetence of the high priest."


    "Ipetence? It doesn¡¯t seem that way."


    "It''s embarrassing to admit, but during my leadership, the church wasn¡¯t very wealthy."


    "Why?"


    "Because I gave generously to the poor, the hungry, and those in unfortunate circumstances."


    "But that¡¯s not wrong. It¡¯s exactly what a follower of the Srian God, the god of mercy and virtue, should do..."


    "But those in higher positions within the church didn¡¯t see it that way."


    "...In other words, they didn¡¯t like that there wasn¡¯t enough money to control."


    "<i>Haha</i>..." Albert let out a weakugh.


    <i>Hm, justification, huh...</i>


    After observing Albert¡¯s pitiful expression, Kai smiled softly. "Your Holiness, do you know what Shimizu, Cherantia, and Patrick have inmon?"


    Albert¡¯s body froze for a moment at Kai''s sudden question. Then, he squinted and looked at Kai.


    "...What are you getting at?"


    "It seems you¡¯ve been too preupied to notice." Kai released his grip on the high priest¡¯s shoulder and stepped back, then stretched his arms out to the sides. "Do you notice anything about my attire?"


    "...Are you talking about your cleric robe?" Albert tilted his head at Kai¡¯s sudden question and examined Kai¡¯s robe closely. "It seems to be made of a soft fabric I haven¡¯t seen before. And the golden embroidery is luxurious... The sun emzoned on your chest looks as if it might ignite at any moment..."


    As Albert listed the features of Kai¡¯s robe, his eyes widened.


    "I-is that robe...?"


    Seeing Albert¡¯s shocked expression, Kai grinned mischievously and greeted once again, "I apologize for thete introduction. I am Kai, the fourth Sris Cleric and the apostle serving as Helik¡¯s envoy."


    ***


    Fortunately, the carriage was parked at the entrance of the gorge, so the return journey wasn¡¯t as daunting.


    Since the pdin who had been acting as the driver died during the battle, Albert took the reins himself, and Morak and Bernard were loaded into the carriage like luggage.


    Driven by Albert, the carriage passed through the gates of the fortress.


    "The people seem to be in a disturbance," Kai said.


    "Of course. Not only is it shocking to see the high priest driving a carriage, but..."


    "They likely didn¡¯t expect us to return alive."


    The carriage continued onward toward the church¡¯s main grounds.


    High-position clerics who had been alerted of their arrival greeted them at the entrance, their faces filled with confusion.


    "Y-Your Holiness, w-what happened? Where are the others who left with you...?"


    "And who is this young man next to you...?"


    "I¡¯ll exinter, I¡¯m tired. For now, take the two men in the carriage, gag them, and lock them in the holy prison," Albert responded briefly and then led Kai into the inner church.


    Dozens of eyes followed them, and Albert epted the stares with a calm expression.


    <i>As expected of the high priest. He calls himself indecisive, but he¡¯s someone who¡¯s survived in this political arena for over a decade.</i>


    To be able to maintain such aposed demeanor amidst the endless scrutiny and suspicion¡ªKai nodded in admiration and attempted to mimic him.


    "Kai, we¡¯re going to head to the sanctuary."


    "Pardon? But didn¡¯t we already pass the sanctuary..." Kai murmured, ncing back at the sanctuary they passed.


    But Albert shook his head. "The ce we¡¯re going to is a more special sanctuary. I believe you will find what you¡¯ve been seeking there."


    "What I¡¯ve been seeking...?"


    Kai¡¯s gaze grew calm. There was only one thing he desired from the Srian Church¡¯s main church at the moment.


    <i>Theplete awakening of this half-formed ss.</i>


    In short, the ce they were heading to now was where that could happen.


    <i>Finally...</i>


    He had no majorints about his halfpleted ss. As a Sris Cleric, the mere presence of the Benevolence stat allowed him to easily overpower skillpatibilities and power.


    <i>But still, being a halfpleted ss is a bit...</i>


    It was true that there had always been a slight difort in his mind, but that feeling would end today.


    As Kai mentally prepared himself, a group of people hurried toward them from the opposite corridor.


    Loud enough only for Albert to hear, Kai quietly asked, ¡°Your Holiness, who are they?¡±


    ¡°They are supporters of Bernard and Molion, those who stand in opposition to me.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Kai noticed that the attire of the high-position clerics were clearly different from that of ordinary clerics.


    <i>Anyone would think they were kings, not clerics.</i>


    There were always people like that. Those who overdid it with tattoos on their bodies or covered their cars in excessive stickers. A few could look impressive, but once it exceeded ten, it started to make others judge.


    The way these high-position clerics dressed was exactly like that, with their colorful scarves and fabrics draped over their white cleric robes to the shy jewels hanging from their hands and necks.


    ¡°...I didn¡¯t believe that talk about your ipetence, but seeing this, I think I kind of get it now.¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>... I have no excuse to offer you,¡± murmured Albert in embarrassment.


    As the high-position clerics approached him, one of them said, ¡°Your Holiness, what in the world has happened? Where are the cardinals and the church¡¯s pdins...?¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>. I am tired, we will discuss thister,¡± Albert replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not eptable. We must hear why the cardinals and the pdins have not returned with you immediately.¡±


    It was clear they had no intention of obeying the high priest''smand.


    Receiving such disrespect in front of Kai made Albert¡¯s ears turn red with shame. ¡°I told you, I am tired. I will exin everything tomorrow morning when all the high-position clerics and bishops have gathered.¡±


    Hearing the slight anger in the high priest¡¯s voice, the high-position clerics and bishops exchanged nces. Eventually, they decided to step back for now. However, they had onest issue to address.


    ¡°Understood. Then rest well for today. But... isn¡¯t Your Holiness¡¯s chamber in the opposite direction?¡±


    ¡°I intend to visit the statue with this young man.¡±


    ¡°Even in these circumstances, your faith in seeking Helik is admirable, Your Holiness. However, this young man has no right to look at the sacred statue, does he?¡±


    ¡°The right to look at the statue, you say... Let me ask you this. Who decides such rights?¡±


    ¡°Well, many of the bishops and high-position clerics...¡±


    ¡°Yes, to put it bluntly, you all decided that.¡±


    ¡°...If you put it that way, we have nothing more to say.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. As it should be, no?¡±


    With the solid backing of a Sris Cleric, Albert spoke without hesitation.


    The bishops and high-position clerics were visibly taken aback by this newfound confidence from the high priest, something they had never seen before.


    ¡°Y-Your Holiness, what has happened?¡±


    ¡°I already told you, I will exin everything tomorrow morning. Now, please step aside.¡±


    With the weight of his years behind hismanding voice, Albert dismissed them and led Kai forward.


    ¡°Your Holiness, that was impressive.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to speak so boldly if you weren¡¯t with me.¡±


    ¡°Please continue to act with such confidence. It suits you well.¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, thank you for saying so.¡±


    Soon, the two arrived at the garden inside the main church. It was filled with beautiful flowers and nts that Kai didn¡¯t know the names of, and in the center stood a majestic statue of Helik, the Srian God.


    ¡°I had no idea there was such a garden within the main church.¡±


    "This statue is said to have been crafted by a sculptor who received a revtion from Helik. It is believed that praying before this statue allows one to hear the words of the Srian God."


    "So all the past apostles must have prayed here as well.¡±


    "That¡¯s right. ording to records, their faith was so deep that they would immerse themselves in prayer for at least half a day."


    "A whole day, huh..."


    Of course, Kai had no intention of praying for that long.


    "Well then, I¡¯ll leave you to it. I pray that you obtain what you seek."


    "Thank you. I¡¯ll find you once I¡¯m done."


    After the garden doors closed, Kai slowly knelt on one knee with the statue before him.


    "Now... what was that prayer again?"


    The prayer he memorized during his ss change had long been forgotten. In the end, Kai searched throughmunity forums for the prayer and began to recite it slowly.


    Then, after a few moments...


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik wishes to speak with you.]</strong>


    <strong>[You are invited to visit the Celestial Garden. Will you ept?]</strong>


    <strong>[Yes / No]</strong>


    "A conversation... Looks like this won¡¯t be a quick ss change after all.¡±


    Although it was an unexpected message, Kai remained calm and nodded.


    "Yes."


    The moment Kai finished his response and blinked, the Celestial Garden, which he had visited during his first ss change to Sris Cleric, revealed itself once again before him.

 Chapter 162: Class Change, Solaris Cleric (3)

    <h4>Chapter 162: ss Change, Sris Cleric (3)</h4>


    The cozy ind located in the sky was a mysterious ce where fountains adorned with angel sculptures emitted rainbows.


    Kai had visited this ce once before when he transitioned to Sris Cleric.


    ¡°The Celestial Garden. It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    It truly lived up to its name as a garden in the sky. Standing at the edge of the ind, he could see thick clouds stretching beneath him.


    <i>Now... where¡¯s Helik?</i>


    Kai turned his head and searched for him. Since Helik wanted to converse with him, he expected the god to show himself. It was also a chance to gain a new special title.


    However...


    <i>¡ªYou have arrived, my youngmb.</i>


    The voice came from far away. Very far away.


    When Kai turned in the direction of the voice, he saw a statue of a middle-aged man wearing a robe with a sun circlet resting atop his head. He appeared so majestic that anyone would easily believe he was a god.


    After seeing the statue, Kai had a thought.


    <i>I want it... I want that statue...</i>


    It appeared far more luxurious than the one he had seen during his first ss change! The previous statue was Legendary grade, so the one here in the Celestial Garden would be...


    <i>Could this one be Legendary too? No, maybe it¡¯s Eternal Legendary, like the holy relics.</i>


    But it wasn¡¯t just the value of the statue that tempted him. It was like seeing a masterpiece in a gallery and wanting to buy it.


    <i>No, this isn¡¯t the time to think about that.</i>


    Snapping back to his senses, Kai asked the statue, ¡°Are you Helik?¡±


    <i>¡ªIndeed, I am Helik.</i>


    Kai began to move slowly toward the statue, but as he approached, doubts started creeping into his mind.


    <i>Why would he call me here for a conversation... but not show himself?</i>


    There was a table and a single chair in front of the statue. Kai looked at them briefly before looking up at the three-meter-tall statue.


    <i>¡ªTake a seat, my youngmb.</i>


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Kai obediently sat down and waited for Helik to speak.


    <i>¡ªYou must know why I summoned you here.</i>


    ¡°To appoint me as a true apostle, I assume.¡±


    <i>¡ªCorrect... or rather, yes. You cannot save this world with the current halfplete power you possess.</i>


    ¡°Even with the power I have now?¡±


    <i>¡ªHow arrogant... Ahem, yes. Although you have grown rapidly over the past few months, you are still only on par with a kingdom¡¯s elite knight.</i>


    ¡°<i>Oh, </i>I see...¡±


    For Kai, who believed himself to be quite strong, this was a sharp rebuke.


    <i>¡ªThe Church of Muldine has not fully resurrected either. That¡¯s why they haven¡¯t deployed their elite forces yet. This time, they are being cautious. Very... cautious.</i>


    ¡°I¡¯ve certainly realized that through this recent incident.¡±


    The Church of Muldine aimed to copse not only the non-human races but also the Srian Church from within. That only indicated one thing.


    "Perhaps their influence has already reached the core of other kingdoms, or even the empire itself."


    <i>¡ªYour assessment is sound. If you n to walk the path of a true apostle, you must purify all forces tainted by the influence of the Church of Muldine.</i>


    "I will not leave a speck of dust behind."


    Kai did not say such things like: he would do his best or he would give it his all.


    <i>I need to show my confidence and win over Helik.</i>


    After all, no one would want to hire someone who was already intimidated before the task even began. In the current situation, Kai was a job applicant in an interview with Helik as the interviewer. Now was the time to convince the interviewer to trust in him.


    With a satisfied voice, Helik continued,


    <i>¡ªYour aspiration pleases me. The path ahead will be lonely and isting, and at times, it may be so difficult you¡¯ll want to give up. Even so, do you have the resolve to silently carry the burden of being an apostle and continue walking that path?</i>


    <i>This is a test.</i>


    Realizing Helik¡¯s intention immediately, Kai stood up from his seat and knelt on one knee.


    Words flowed naturally from his mouth, "I swore this oath when I first became a cleric. I swore to save those who suffer from evil, to punish those whomit evil, and to spread your teachings across thisnd to eradicate all evil.¡±


    <i>¡ªWow, that¡¯s excellent... no, truly excellent.</i>


    Helik¡¯s voice slightly trembled, as if deeply moved.


    At the same time, Kai¡¯s tightly closed eyelids slightly opened.


    <i>But... isn¡¯t a god supposed to have a more majestic way of speaking? What were the developers thinking when they set this up?</i>


    Kai subtly nced up at Helik¡¯s statue. Helik, the god of the sun and mercy, had a masculine andmanding presence. Yet, his way of speaking sometimes seemed so casual and flippant that it was hard to get used to.


    <i>¡ªHmm? Judging by your expression, it seems there¡¯s something bothering you... Go ahead, speak your mind.</i>


    As Kai hesitated about Helik¡¯s gentle tone, Helik urged him again.


    <i>¡ªIt¡¯s fine, speak up.</i>


    "... No, it''s nothing."


    <i>¡ªJust say it.</i>


    ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡±


    <i>¡ªCome on now, don''t worry about me and say it.</i>


    <i>Why... Why is he so persistent?</i>


    Helik was surprisingly stubborn in unexpected ways!


    Now sweating nervously, Kai continued to shake his head.


    <i>There¡¯s no way I can say it. How could I?</i>


    If he dared toment that Helik¡¯s speech was too feminine, Helik would surely think Kai was mocking him. In such a case, his ss could be stripped away under the charge of spheming a god! Yet once Helik set his sights on something, his persistence was impossible to ignore.


    <i>¡ªTell me what you''re hiding. If you don''t, I''ll take back all your holy power.</i>


    "What?! You can''t do that!"


    <i>¡ªOh, but I can. After all, it¡¯s power I granted you, isn¡¯t it?</i>


    ¡°Wow... that''s so petty,¡± Kai muttered in frustration.


    At that, Helik continued,


    <i>¡ªSo hurry up and tell me. I can''t focus on anything once I''m curious. Are you going to take responsibility if a great trouble falls upon the continent?</i>


    "You don¡¯t usually do anything anyway. You just watched while the Church fell apart."


    <i>¡ªW-what did you just... no. Why are we talking about that now?</i>


    "Then why are we talking about whether I''m hiding something?"


    <i>¡ªYou...!</i>


    As Helik¡¯s voice filled with anger, Kai suddenly came to his senses.


    <i>D-did I go too far?</i>


    Now that he thought about it, he realized that the one he was dealing with wasn''t just some interviewer. This was an immense being, akin to the chairman of apany!


    Quickly assessing the situation, Kai''s shoulders slumped. ¡°No, what I meant was...¡±


    <i>¡ªEnough! No, never mind. I don''t want to hear it anymore!</i>


    Helik shouted in a voice that clearly sounded sulky to anyone who listened to it.


    Then, a brief silence followed.


    Taken aback by this, Kai cautiously attempted to make peace. "H-Helik, are you really that upset?"


    <i>¡ªNot really. But now I''m reconsidering whether I should appoint you as an apostle. Someone who keeps secrets from me as an apostle... hmm. It¡¯s something serious to consider.</i>


    <i>... How can a god be this petty!</i>


    Kai wanted to protest this absurdity but couldn¡¯t gather the courage to do so. Instead, his tone turned sweeter and soft.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any secrets. I was just briefly overwhelmed by your majestic presence, that¡¯s all.¡±


    <i>¡ªAt least wipe your mouth before speaking such lies.</i>


    "It''s the truth. In fact, the statues of you on the ground fail to capture even a fraction of the grandeur and dignity that you possess."


    <i>¡ª... Is that so? I tried to hire the most skilled sculptor on the continent at the time.</i>


    "Come on, no human craft could truly capture your essence. Did you make this statue yourself?"


    <i>¡ªYes. I made it when I was bored.</i>


    "Of course, you are truly remarkable. Do you know what surprised me the most when I arrived at the Celestial Garden?"


    <i>¡ª... Was it perhaps my statue?</i>


    Helik muttered with a hopeful tone.


    With a grin, Kai shook his head. "No. It was everything I could see! This ce truly deserves to be named Celestial Garden. Living here forever would be the greatest blessing, wouldn¡¯t it?"


    <i>¡ªA-ahem.</i>


    As the saying went, praise could make even a whale dance! And today, Kai learned that this also applied to gods.


    With a slightly softened tone, Helik cleared his throat and bluntly said,


    <i>¡ªAlright, enough of that. Rise to your feet, Cleric Kai.</i>


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Kai¡¯s bent knee slowly straightened. Soon, a massive beam of light struck his fully upright body.


    Following that, Helik''s majestic voice echoed in his ears.


    <i>¡ªRemember this. You are the envoy of the Srian God¡¯s will on earth, the one all evildoers will fear, and the pir on which all the weak may lean.</i>


    ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡±


    When the radiant light subsided, Helik finished with a brief statement,


    <i>¡ªFrom today, you grasp the glory that only three before you have ever attained.</i>


    Then, a notification window popped up before Kai.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have been acknowledged by the Srian God Helik.]</strong>


    <strong>[All abilities of Sris Cleric (Mythic) have been unlocked.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can now visit the temple of the Srian Church to learn exclusive ss skills.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Mythic yer]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Fourth Apostle]</strong>


    <strong>[You have obtained the quest: The One Who Dispels Darkness II]</strong>


    ¡°... <i>Phew.</i>¡±


    It had been a long journey. A really long one.


    <i>It was... about three months.</i>


    Out of the twenty-two years and ten months¡ª274 months of his life¡ªjust three months had passed. Yet, they felt more valuable than thest three years for Kai.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe I did all this just for a game.</i>


    How could something like this make a person feel this way?


    Feeling something akin to aplishment, or perhaps fulfillment, Kai let out a small chuckle.


    <i>¡ªYou seem to be in a good mood.</i>


    ¡°I¡¯m in a great mood. I feel like I could fly.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just words. His once iplete ss had now formed into a perfect whole, though he didn¡¯t yet know what new abilities had emerged. Regardless, Kai could feel his senses sharpen, like the tip of a spear.


    <i>I feel like I can do anything now.</i>


    Of course, whether that was true or not was still unknown, but there was one thing Kai was sure of.


    ¡°Helik, how abouting out now?¡±


    Helik responded in a bewildered tone to Kai¡¯s unexpected request.


    <i>¡ªW-what are you talking about all of a sudden?</i>


    With a yful smile, Kai shrugged and said, ¡°I like this apostle thing. It¡¯s like having a radar in my head. <i>Oh!</i> It feels like what I¡¯ve heard about Rangers¡¯ passive skill, Enemy Detection.¡±


    Kai¡¯s eyes were focused on the giant statue before him, but instinct told him that behind it, there was something far greater.


    <i>It must be Helik.</i>


    Of course, it didn¡¯t seem like the Srian God was willing to fulfill his request so easily.


    <i>¡ªI''m not sure what you''re talking about. But I''ve said all I need to, so hurry and return to the surface.</i>


    "Then, would it be alright if I circled around the statue to offer a prayer before I leave?"


    <i>¡ªN-no! There¡¯s no need for that. You can pray just fine after you return to the surface!</i>


    "I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t do. You see, I¡¯m a devout follower, and I want to offer my prayer right now."


    Helik¡¯s urgent voice couldn¡¯t stop Kai¡¯s determined steps.


    <i>I can¡¯t miss out on getting a special title from meeting a god.</i>


    Kai swiftly grabbed the statue¡¯s ankle and poked his head around to look behind it. ¡°Helik, why are you hiding back here... <i>Huh?</i>¡±


    The smile lingering at the corner of Kai''s lips vanished, and his eyes slightly trembled. The imposing, dignified middle-aged figure he had imagined was nowhere to be seen, and instead...


    ¡°<i>Sniff</i>... I... told you... to return... to the ground...¡±


    In ce of the great god was a little girl, crouched and on the verge of tears.


    At the same time, a message that delighted Kai appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Witness of the Sun]</strong>


    Swallowing hard, Kai nced between the message and Helik, whose eyes were full of tears.


    Then, Kai awkwardly smiled and said, ¡°... Th-this is fun.¡±


    ¡°<i>Sniff</i>... <i>Waaaaah!</i>¡±


    ¡°Shoot... I messed up.¡±


    Unfortunately, there didn¡¯t seem to be a title for making the Srian God cry.

 Chapter 163: Class Change, Solaris Cleric (4)

    <h4>Chapter 163: ss Change, Sris Cleric (4)</h4>


    Level 298. Ranked number one in <i>MID Online. </i>The world''s first Mythic-grade yer. Ranked number one in <i>MID Online''s</i>munity influence rankings. Voted the number one yer gamers want to hunt with by Gamers Magazine.


    All this was a continuous streak of achievements so impressive they evoked admiration and even respect. However, this unmatched yer was now stiff with tension, ncing nervously at someone.


    ¡°<i>Um</i>... Helik. How is it? Do you like the taste?¡±


    ¡°It is quite delicious.¡±


    <i>Slurp.</i>


    The young girl sipped on a cold c that fizzed with popping ck bubbles, wearing a slightly cold but shy expression. She looked around ten years old, with long, flowing golden hair that reached all the way to the floor. asionally, a radiant glow flickered around her head.


    She was none other than the supreme God worshiped by the Srian Church that boasted a history of a thousand years.


    <i>... Oh my.</i>


    This was the true form of the Srian God, Helik.


    ¡°What is that colorful thing in your hand?¡± Helik asked.


    ¡°<i>Oh, </i>this is called candy.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, candy! I¡¯ve seen it a few times when I observe the human world. Quickly, hand it over.¡±


    Snatching a round candy from Kai, Helik tilted her head. ¡°How do you eat this?¡±


    ¡°You just put it in your mouth and enjoy the taste.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Helik popped the candy into her mouth, and it didn¡¯t take long before her eyes sparkled with delight. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! So very delicious!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, there¡¯s plenty more,¡± Kai chuckled and pulled out a stash of candy from his inventory,ying it all over the table.


    He had bought the candies while taking care of Ayana at Whitehall, using them to cheer her up.


    <i>Though I gave most of them to Ayana when I left...</i>


    It seemed he had developed the habit of eating one himself whenever he gave her some. Since then, stocking up on candy had be a regr part of his resupply routine.


    <i>...Of course, I never imagined they¡¯d be used like this.</i>


    Kai¡¯s bewildered gaze settled on the young girl in front of him.


    ¡°Amazing! This is the first time I¡¯ve tasted something like this! Humans are truly remarkable!¡±


    To see the almighty Srian God praising candy and c... It was something he had neither anticipated nor ever wanted to.


    ¡°And what is that?¡± Helik¡¯s eyes shined as she eyed the colorful treat in Kai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, this? It¡¯s called gum. Would you like to try it?¡±


    ¡°<i>H-hmm.</i> Since my loyal servant offers it as an offering, I cannot refuse.¡±


    Helik, who had been showing clear signs of wanting the gum, received it from Kai and started chewing.


    ¡°<i>Wow!</i> It tastes like fruit!¡± Helik enjoyed the gum for a while, but then her brows furrowed, and she swallowed it. ¡°But it¡¯s so chewy. No matter how many times I chew it, it won¡¯t cut.¡±


    ¡°<i>Uh</i>... Helik. Gum isn¡¯t something you swallow. You¡¯re supposed to chew it and spit it out...¡± Kai hesitated as he spoke.


    Then, Helik asked in a worried voice, ¡°...Is it something you¡¯re not allowed to swallow?¡±


    She wore a tearful face while gently rubbing her stomach.


    <i>C-cute!</i>


    Kai felt the same warm and ticklish feeling he experienced when looking at a kitten or a puppy!


    Kai¡¯s mischievous side got the better of him, and he put on a sorrowful expression, nodding heavily.


    ¡°Yes... it¡¯s something you must never swallow...¡±


    ¡°W-what happens if you do eat it?¡±


    ¡°You have to throw it up immediately. It won¡¯t digest.¡±


    Of course, this was a lie.


    However, Helik¡¯s golden hair bristled as she began to tear up again. ¡°I-I¡¯m a god... Even gods are in danger from this...?¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡±


    Helik fidgeting with her hands and mumbling softly was so cute, almost unbearable.


    Kai struggled to suppress hisughter, and continued in a serious tone, ¡°Swallowing gum is dangerous, even for a god... but I can fix it for you.¡±


    He gently stroked her head.


    Helik blinked herrge eyes, tilting her head as she looked up at Kai''s hand patting her crown.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get better if I rub your head like this. But you really mustn''t swallow gum again¡ªit is very dangerous.¡±


    ¡°<i>Mm-hmm</i>, I won¡¯t swallow it ever again.¡±


    <strong>[Helik''s affinity increased.]</strong>


    Kai felt a little guilty for lying, but wasn¡¯t it all for the best? Especially since Helik''s head was as warm and soft as a puppy¡¯s belly, making it incredibly pleasant to stroke. It was the kind of texture you could spend all day petting.


    ¡°In any case, Kai, you must never tell anyone that the Srian God is actually a little girl.¡±


    ¡°Of course. As your loyal servant and apostle, I will keep that promise.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I trust you. If anyone finds out I¡¯m a young girl, no one would believe in me anymore.¡±


    <i>I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not true...</i>


    Kai was confident that if Helik¡¯s true form were revealed, she would gain a massive fanbase.


    Of course, unaware of his thoughts, Helik crossed her arms with a satisfied expression and said, ¡°You¡¯ve acknowledged your mistake and offered tribute to the god, so I¡¯ll forgive you this time.¡±


    He wasn''t sure when candy, snacks, c, and gum became offerings of atonement, but Kai nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You truly live up to your title as the god of benevolence and mercy. I¡¯m in awe of your mercy.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hehe</i>,¡± Helik giggled, greatly waving her hand. ¡°Now, go back! It seems Albert has been waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°His Holiness, Albert?¡±


    "Yes. And I also sent him a revtion through his dreamst night, so you''ll be able to get plenty of help."


    ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡±


    Helik speaking about a revtion as if it were just a text message was rather amusing, but it wasn''t a bad thing.


    <i>I¡¯ll be getting a lot from His Holiness.</i>


    With his missionplete, Kai bowed his head to Helik. ¡°Thank you. I wish you well.¡±


    ¡°Yeup, goodbye now... <i>Oh!</i>¡±


    Mid-sentence, Helik suddenly turned her head, startled. Her gaze locked onto the table with snacks, c, and candy.


    She cleared her throat and casually added, ¡°Well... Y-you can visit sometimes if you get bored.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to visit, though I won¡¯t be able to stop by the main church too often...¡±


    ¡°I can help with that.¡±


    With a snap of her small fingers, a familiar notification sound echoed in Kai¡¯s ears.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Shadow Shift skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Celestial Garden has been registered as a return point.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Wooow</i>...¡±


    Suddenly gaining a new skill, Kai tilted his head and checked the skill¡¯s information.


    <strong>[<u>Shadow Shift</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique </strong>


    <strong>Consumes 1,000 Holy Power to transport you to a previously visited location.</strong>


    <strong>(Cooldown: 5 minutes)</strong>


    Kai¡¯s mouth naturally gaped open, his pupils widening in shock.


    ¡°A-A return skill!¡±


    There was a reason why Kai was so shocked. In <i>MID Online</i>, traveling to different regions required either paying a hefty fee to use a teleport gate or purchasing a return scroll unless one was a Wizard. There was only one way to stop this troublesome and wallet-draining process. That was to learn a return skill. Of course, it wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do.


    <i>Even a basic return skill book is... at least Rare-grade.</i>


    It was a skill worth at least several million won. On top of that, its cooldown timested for hours, and it required an absurd amount of mana and holy power. To make matters worse, not all cities or viges could even be registered as return points, and one was limited to registering just ten locations.


    <i>But... Shadow Shift doesn¡¯t seem to have those restrictions.</i>


    It was the jackpot of all jackpots.


    Kai could almost see the number 777 shing before his eyes. What made it even better was that he hadn¡¯t expected to receive such an incredible item. After all, the best gifts were the ones that came as aplete surprise, multiplying both the joy and gratitude.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Helik. Truly, thank you!¡±


    Grabbing Helik¡¯s small, delicate hands, Kai expressed his gratitude over and over.


    ¡°<i>Ahh</i>... if you grab my hand so suddenly...¡±


    Helik¡¯s face turned bright red.


    Realizing his mistake, Kai quickly let go and took a step back. ¡°<i>Oh</i>, I¡¯m sorry! I was just so happy I...¡±


    ¡°<i>A-ahem!</i> Don¡¯t worry about it. I haven¡¯t spoken to anyone in so long, I¡¯m just a bit rusty.¡±


    Turning her head away quickly, Helik waved her hand dismissively and signaled the end of their conversation.


    ¡°Now go on. You¡¯re going to bete.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯lle visit you next time. When Ie again... I¡¯ll bring chocte cake.¡±


    ¡°...Is it tasty?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a hundred times better than what you had today.¡±


    ¡°Come tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow might be tough, but I¡¯ll visit soon. Until then.¡±


    As Kai bid farewell to Helik, the unique god with the appearance of a young girl but speaking with the tone of an adult, a message popped up in front of him.


    <strong>[Would you like to return to your original location?]</strong>


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ***


    "Isn¡¯t it the first time only the clerics of Bishop rank or higher are summoned?"


    "Indeed. What is going on..."


    "They must be confident about something toe on this strong, don''t you think?"


    "That¡¯s true. Especially now that Cardinal Bernard is imprisoned in the holy prison, and Cardinal Molion is missing. What will happen to those of us who relied solely on them...?"


    "Well, we¡¯ll soon know once His Holiness tells us about it himself."


    The clerics acted as if the conference room were their personal rooms. These were the bishops of the Srian Church who aligned themselves with Bernard and Molion.


    "<i>Hmm...</i>"


    Unlike the clueless fools, Archbishop Hicks''s mind raced.


    <i>Yesterday was supposed to be the day of the revolt. Not only was Cardinal Bernard, but even Bishop Morak was thrown into the holy prison... How did this happen?</i>


    Hicks was one of the few archbishops personally recruited by Morak, alongside the two cardinals. His faith had always taken a backseat to his hunger for wealth and fame, making him unable to resist the secret offer from the Church of Muldine.


    <i>The Srian Church was a sinking ship anyway. If yesterday''s n had seeded...</i>


    The corrupt high priest would have massacred the believers, plunging the continent¡¯s residents into terror. But instead, Albert, the high priest, had returned as if nothing had changed.


    <i>Tsk, things have gone seriously wrong. I¡¯ll have to somewhat cut my ties off.</i>


    Deciding that he needed to deal with those now in the holy prison, Hicks actually felt a sense of relief.


    <i>The high priest can¡¯t touch me yet anyway. It¡¯s true that the church has been declining ever since he became high priest, and there''s no way he knows I¡¯ve allied with the Church of Muldine.</i>


    Albert hadn''t visited the holy prison since returning from his outing the day before. Therefore, he would have no information about the bishops who had allied with the Church of Muldine.


    Just as Hicks was beginning to rx, the door to the conference room opened.


    "...<i>Huh?</i>"


    Instead of the expected appearance of high priest Albert, a young cleric stepped through the door.


    <i>He¡¯s...</i>


    <i>The young cleric who returned to the main church with the high priest yesterday.</i>


    <i>But today¡¯s meeting is supposed to be for bishops and above only, isn¡¯t it?</i>


    The bishops exchanged nces, trying to understand what was happening.


    "Let¡¯s see... <i>Oh,</i> I can tell. I can really tell."


    As if picking out the freshest apple, the young cleric who had entered began closely observing the bishops gathered in the room.


    "Well? Can you truly distinguish them?" the deep voice belonging to Albert followed from behind the young cleric.


    In response, Kai smiled and nodded confidently. "Yes. I can tell them apart quite clearly. It''s downright chilling."


    Upon seeing the corner of Kai''s lips curving up, several bishops felt an eerie chill creep up their spines, causing them to tremble anxiously.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 164: Class Change, Solaris Cleric (5)

    <h4>Chapter 164: ss Change, Sris Cleric (5)</h4>


    Albert appeared dressed in his usual neat, clean cleric robe without any decorations.


    He approached Kai and said in a polite tone before heading to his seat, ¡°That¡¯s a relief then. I will ce my full trust in you."


    Though his actions were no different from usual, the bishops tilted their heads.


    <i>...The high priest is using honorifics? Who is this cleric?</i>


    <i>Judging by how they returned together yesterday, it seems like he saved his life... Maybe that''s why.</i>


    <i>Today, the high priest seems more confident, even in his walk.</i>


    <i>Could he be acting so proud because of that young cleric?</i>


    Most of the bishops had questioning nces, but Albert ignored them as he took his seat. Then, Kai naturally took the seat beside him.


    Albert gave Kai a brief reassuring look and turned his attention to the bishops.


    ¡°Please, be seated.¡±


    The already quiet meeting room became even more silent. The bishops unconsciously tried to make their breathing as quiet as possible.


    It was all due to Kai''s high Dignity stat, however, the bishops had no way of knowing this and were bewildered.


    <i>Why am I so nervous?</i>


    <i>...The high priest. He¡¯s different today.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s best to tread carefully for now.</i>


    These were the instincts of those who had long navigated the waters of politics. It was this animal-like intuition that told them to keep their mouths shut.


    ¡°I don''t think there¡¯s any need for a lengthy exnation, so let''s get straight to the point. It seems you''re all curious about what happened yesterday...¡±


    Now speaking confidently, Albert continued without hesitation, ¡°Cardinal Bernard and Cardinal Molion were heretics who conspired with the Church of Muldine. At the destination of the carriage, priests and pdins from the Church of Muldine were lying in ambush, their forces vastly outnumbering the Srian Knights... In the end, the youngmbs of the Srian God were ambushed and couldn''t even put up a proper resistance, meeting a tragic end. Let us pray that they have returned to Helik''s embrace.¡±


    Unlike his usual habit of speaking in a roundabout manner, Albert was shockingly straightforward. And with the mention of the Church of Muldine, even the usually quiet bishops raised their voices.


    "That¡¯s impossible! This is the Holy Kingdom of Lapis. Are you saying the Church of Muldine had troops nearby?"


    ¡°No, before we discuss that, shouldn¡¯t the focus be on the betrayal of the two cardinals?¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>... When did the Church be so corrupt...¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute. Shouldn¡¯t we also suspect the bishops who worked closely with those cardinals? Archbishop Hicks, what do you think?¡±


    Archbishop Hicks had always been known as someone close to the two cardinals.


    He flinched momentarily when his name was mentioned, but instead of showing it, he raised his voice boldly, ¡°How dare you say such a thing! I only just learned here that those two were puppets of the Church of Muldine!¡±


    Hicks had no intention of maintaining courtesy for the two cardinals, whose influence was now gone. As he shamelessly stood his ground and came out strong, the other bishops hesitated.


    <i>Good.</i>


    Hicks¡¯ eyes gleamed as he saw his chance.


    Standing abruptly, he pounded his chest with his fist and continued, ¡°The Srian God has always watched over me! My innocence, my purity, my faith! Helik will surely prove my innocence! The Church of Muldine is the most wicked of evils that must disappear from thisnd! How dare you use me... who has dedicated his entire life to serving the Srian Church?¡±


    The pride and indignation on Hicks'' face struck the bishops who had been pressing him.


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>.¡±


    ¡°My apologies.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to imply you were conspiring with them, Archbishop Hicks... It¡¯s just that the situation seemed suspicious. I apologize for my harsh words.¡±


    ¡°...I am deeply offended. I hope you won¡¯t make such a mistake again.¡±


    Hicks frowned, making it obvious that he was hurt as he roughly sat down. While his face was twisted in displeasure, his inner thoughts were quite different.


    <i>Tsk tsk, foolish fools. As if Helik would ever bother to give a revtion for the likes of you. If divine punishment wereing, it would have already fallen on the cardinals.</i>


    The existence of Helik had already been proven through the manifestation of holy power. However, he had never interfered with human affairs¡ªnot in a thousand years since the foundation of the Srian Church.


    <i>Anyway, with the two cardinals finished... It''s time for me to wrap up my affairs here and retire as well. It¡¯s a shame I can''t take any more money, but keeping my life is more important.</i>


    Hicks licked his lips as he began nning his future.


    At that moment, Albert the high priest spoke up. "Now, now, everyone, please quiet down."


    As the room settled into silence, with hundreds of bishops now watching him, Albert looked to Kai. "Will you handle it from here?"


    "Yes."


    Kai, with his hands behind his back and a nk expression, stepped forward.


    He met the countless stares directed at him and slowly began to say, ¡°Those of you worried about the future of the Srian Church, worry no more. I¡¯ll provide a thorough consultation to ensure we be a clean and incorruptible church.¡±


    "...What?"


    "Who are you, exactly?"


    ¡°Objection!¡±


    <i>Thud!</i>


    One of the bishops loyal to Cardinals Bernard and Molion mmed their hand on the table and stood up.


    They looked around at the other bishops as if trying to incite them, "Isn''t this meeting supposed to be for bishops or higher-ranking clerics only?"


    "That¡¯s correct."


    "Honestly, I thought it was odd from the start too..."


    Once one voiced their dissatisfaction, others quickly joined in.


    However, Albert calmly watched the situation unfold. It was the kind ofposure only someone withplete trust in Kai could show. Of course, the source of that trust was none other than Kai himself.


    "Bishop Giryan."


    Kai¡¯s calm voice echoed throughout the meeting room. Though the voice was not particrly loud, it held the power to silence those who heard it.


    Bishop Giryan, who was displeased by Kai¡¯s presence in this meeting, immediately became furious.


    "How dare you address a bishop by name so carelessly!"


    Ignoring the bishop¡¯s outburst, Kai continued in a calm tone, "Bribery, twenty-seven counts. Embezzlement of offerings, twelve counts. Sexual misconduct toward believers, fourteen counts. Illegally exporting the church''s sacred water four times... I¡¯m disgusted just reading this."


    Giryan''s eyes widened as he heard the list of usations Kai listed out, his whole body trembling.


    <i>How does he know all that...?</i>


    Those were the very crimes he hadmitted within the Srian Church.


    His eyes darted around wildly, and he put on the most bewildered expression he could put on, shouting, ¡°What nonsense is this? How dare you use me, the very symbol of purity and integrity, of such crimes...?¡±


    ¡°Purity and integrity?¡±


    As Kai scoffed, Giryan gathered all of his holy power. Even though it was corrupt, the faint holy power enveloping his entire body made him look like a devout cleric.


    "Do you even realize what nonsense you¡¯re babbling about right now? No matter how immature the words of a young cleric may be, I cannot tolerate this."


    It was natural to side with one''s own. As the confrontation between the two continued, the surrounding clerics began to take Bishop Giryan''s side.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe that someone as high-ranking as a bishop wouldmit such acts...¡±


    "Still, didn¡¯t he have a bit of a bad reputation?"


    "Maybe so, butpared to some random cleric we¡¯ve never even seen before... I''d trust the bishop more."


    Giryan puffed out his chest, feeling the growing support from the surrounding clerics. ¡°I am a bishop of the Srian Church and a spreader of Helik, the Srian God''s will. This time, I will ask you. By what authority do you spread rumors and try to sow discord among us? Could it be... that you''re a pawn of the Church of Muldine?"


    ¡°The Church of Muldine?¡±


    "Wait, indeed, the one who would benefit the most if the Srian Church were to copse from within... is the Church of Muldine..."


    As doubt filled the bishops'' eyes, Kai slightly scoffed and slowly raised his right hand. "Howcking in faith must one be for their holy power to be not just dark but yellow... Look."


    Then, the radiance that burst from his hand, the brilliant light of the sun once created by Helik, filled the entire conference room.


    "<i>Ahh</i>..."


    "My eyes..."


    "<i>Argh</i>... <i>Uph!</i>"


    Those who had engaged in corruption, those whocked faith, and those who conspired with the Church of Muldine to disrupt the order of the Srian Church cried out in agony as they gazed upon the light.


    Before Kai''s light, Bishop Giryan''s holy power waspletely extinguished like a firefly before the sun, quietly and without a trace.


    "I made a promise to Helik to save those who suffer from evil, punish those whomit evil, and spread Helik¡¯s teachings across thisnd to eradicate all evil."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    The holy power radiating from Kai grew even stronger.


    Looking down at the dozens of bishops groaning under his holy power, he said in a cold voice, "If you''re asking by what authority I judge you..."


    Kai slightly turned his head to nce at Albert, who stood up and dered, "Special Law of the Holy Kingdom of Lapis, Article 1, Section 1. The Apostle, the Sric Cleric, as the envoy of the Srian God, is to be treated as equal to the high priest within the Church."


    "S-sric Cleric?"


    "Then that young man is..."


    "Following in the footsteps of Shimizu, Cherantia, and Patrick after hundreds of years..."


    "He¡¯s the envoy of the Srian God. The Apostle!"


    Unlike the bishops who had colluded with the Church of Muldine, those who had always lived transparently stared at Kai with shocked eyes. For them, too, an Apostle was nothing more than a legend, known only through ancient texts and records.


    ***


    "Thank you so much."


    Despite Kai''s repeated refusals, High Priest Albert used respectful honorifics toward him ever since he returned from meeting Helik.


    "No, I merely did what was expected of me as an Apostle," Kai responded with a smile, while sipping tea in the high priest¡¯s office.


    Over thirty percent of the bishops within the main body of the Church had been involved in corruption or colluded with the Church of Muldine, but none could escape the gaze of Kai, who had fully awakened as an Apostle.


    Albert took a sip of the Agarit tea known for clearing the mind, and began to say, "Now, you stand as an equal to me within the Srian Church. Naturally, we should allocate a dedicated team to assist you in your duties, but... Well, with the recent weakening of the Srian Knights'' forces and the mass arrest of corrupt bishops, the restructuring of the main body is an urgent matter. It seems it will take some time..."


    At those words, Kai''s eyes gleamed as he asked, "<i>Oh. </i>For this team by any chance... May I pick the people I want?"


    "...Well, I don¡¯t see why not. Do you know anyone from the main church?"


    "Yes. I know someone very well who can help me greatly. We¡¯re quite close."


    "I¡¯ll see what I can do. Who might they be?"


    "Oh, I only need one person. You can fill in the rest as you see fit."


    "Just one person, you say... Tell me their name."


    At Albert''s question, Kai, seeming pleased, broadly smiled and said, "Her name is Minerva. Adventurer Minerva."


    She was the master of the Pray guild, one of the top ten guilds in the world that included many Pdins and Clerics in its ranks, as well as a global yer who had earned the Hero-rank Saintess ss.


    What Kai desired was not only her but the influence and power she held.


    <i>Well, this will probably feel like a bolt from the blue from her perspective...</i>


    But what could she do? High Priest Albert had just restored his authority by purging the corrupt bishops and followers inrge numbers. Refusing such a figure¡¯smand would put Minerva¡¯s position within the church at serious risk.


    "<i>Oh!</i> I know her as well. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s assigned to support you immediately."


    "I appreciate Your Holiness¡¯s consideration."


    The deal progressed swiftly and seamlessly!


    At the same time, Minerva shuddered involuntarily, feeling a strange chill.


    "<i>Hmm?</i> Minerva, are you feeling sick? If that¡¯s the case, you should log out early."


    "No, I¡¯m fine physically. It¡¯s just..." Rubbing the goosebumps on her arms, Minerva muttered in response to her guild¡¯s vice-master¡¯s question, "What is this... ominous feeling, like I¡¯m about to get tied up in something..."


    She was one who always had a sharp intuition.

 Chapter 165: Ready to Kill (1)

    <h4>Chapter 165: Ready to Kill (1)</h4>


    Kai hummed a tune as he strolled through the Srian Church¡¯s main church.


    "<i>Hm hm hmm</i>, so the Minerva issue has been resolved.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t an illusion that he seemed to be in a good mood.


    <i>I can¡¯t believe I got a skill like this just because I became aplete Srian Apostle.</i>


    It was thanks to the new passive skill that he acquired which led him to be in a good mood.


    Even if it weren¡¯t Kai, anyone who gained such a skill would find themselves humming.


    <strong>[<u>Srian Body - Passive</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Mythic</strong>


    <strong>All stats increase by 20% when the sun is in the sky.</strong>


    It was a Mythic grade skill that automatically boosted all stats by 20% during daylight hours! Just the existence of this passive skill alone raised Kai''s power to an iparable level from before.


    <i>But this is just the beginning.</i>


    Kai was looking for someone as he walked through the main church.


    <i>There should be a job NPC somewhere around here.</i>


    A job NPC was someone who taught yers new skills.


    He intended to learn new skills while his current streak was going.


    "There he is."


    It wasn¡¯t hard to find the NPC. After all, Kai had learned skills from this NPC before when he came for his ss change.


    As Kai approached, the cleric bowed his head. "Wee, brother. Have youe to learn new powers?"


    It seemed the fact that Kai was now a Sris Cleric was only known among the bishops. Therefore, the normal cleric was unaware of it and treated Kai casually.


    "Yes. May I see the list?" Kai replied.


    "Of course," the cleric nodded.


    Then, the skills avable for Kai to learn appeared in front of him.


    <i>I¡¯ve already learned enough regr skills. What matters now is...</i>


    Exclusive skills for the Sris Cleric, the Apostle!


    <strong>[Support Skills ¨C 12 Skills Avable]</strong>


    <strong>[Holy Magic Skills ¨C 19 Skills Avable]</strong>


    <strong>[Exclusive Support Skills for Sris Clerics ¨C 5 Skills Avable]</strong>


    <strong>[Exclusive Holy Magic Skills for Sris Clerics ¨C 2 Skills Avable]</strong>


    "<i>Huh</i>?" Kai tilted his head in confusion.


    His level was nearly reaching 300 now.


    <i>And yet, only seven skills are avable?</i>


    His first reaction was confusion, but he soon shook his head.


    <i>Well, MID Online¡¯s focus has always been quality over quantity when ites to skills.</i>


    Brushing aside his concern, he began looking at the five support skills first.


    <strong><u>[Upgrade]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Upon using this skill, the next three skills cast by the user will have greatly enhanced effects.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 10 minutes</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sr Field]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Consumes 5,000 Holy Power to dere a 20x20 meter area centered around the user as the Srian Domain.</strong>


    <strong>Within the Srian Domain, the user¡¯s stats and regeneration rate increase.</strong>


    <strong>Evil beings that step into the domain take damage per second and cannot be healed.</strong>


    <strong>The size of the domain increases with skill level.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 12 hours</strong>


    <strong><u>[Final Attack]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Consumes 3,000 Holy Power to turn the next attack into defense-ignoring damage, tripling the damage dealt.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 3 hours</strong>


    <strong><u>[Sun Clone]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Permanently consumes 5 Benevolence stats to create a clone of the caster.</strong>


    <strong>The clone possesses 70% of the caster''s abilities and explodes upon death, dealing damage to enemies.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 24 hours </strong>


    "<i>Wow</i>...!"


    All the skills were of Unique grade! Moreover, each of their effects was too powerful to ignore.


    <i>Upgrade, Sr Field, and Final Attack are skills I can use frequently. But Sun Clone... that''s a bit tricky.</i>


    What was required to use Sun Clone wasn¡¯t Holy Power, but Benevolence stats.


    Kai currently had six stats that could be enhanced with Benevolence points¡ªStrength, Stamina, Intelligence, Agility, Holiness, and Dignity.


    In other words, consuming five Benevolence points meant a total loss of 30 stat points!


    <i>Hmm. This isn¡¯t a skill I can use often.</i>


    Feeling slightly disappointed, Kai turned his attention to the exclusive holy magic spells for the Apostle.


    <strong><u>[Wrath of the Sun]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Consumes 30,000 Holy Power to unleash an intense sunlight that scorches all targets within the area.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 5 minutes</strong>


    <strong><u>[Chasing Light Arrow]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Consumes 10 Holy Power per arrow.</strong>


    <strong>Light Arrows automatically pursue a designated target.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: None</strong>


    "<i>Phew...</i> At least that''s a relief, I think."


    There were no skills among the holy magic spells that consumed Benevolence stats.


    <i>But I¡¯m sure there will be more skills like that as my level increases.</i>


    Skills as enticing as Sun Clone would likely emerge. However, Kai would have to sacrifice his precious Benevolence stats to use those skills.


    <i>Consistently raising Benevolence stats is key for a Sris Cleric.</i>


    Realizing this once again, Kai opened his inventory and asked, "I¡¯ll learn all six of these skills. How much will it cost?"


    "600 gold."


    "Yes, 600... Wait, how much?"


    "600 gold, brother." the cleric replied with a soft smile.


    "...Is there no chance of a discount?"


    "Even if the high priest himself came, we couldn¡¯t offer a discount."


    It was a solid, imprable refusal. Eventually, Kai reluctantly handed over the 600 gold with tears held back.


    <i>How is it nearly ten million won for a single skill... I know they¡¯re all Unique grade skills with amazing effects, but still...</i>


    It was to the point that without money, ying the game seemed nearly impossible.


    Fortunately, Kai was in a position where he couldfortably pay the equivalent of 60 million won.


    <i>Money keeps rolling in... and the broadcasting station will pay me soon too.</i>


    With a sigh, Kai handed over the pouch of gold to the cleric, and a message appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Upgrade skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Sr Field skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have acquired the Final Attack skill.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    Though the unexpected expense stung a little, a greater sense of joy followed.


    <i>I only had Holy Explosion for a holy magic spell before.... Now I¡¯ll have a bit more breathing room.</i>


    yers always got an itch when they acquired new gear or skills. Kai was no exception. The only difference was that he was someone who could control his desires well.


    <i>I should check my special titles too before I get on the move.</i>


    He had gotten a total of three special titles after his recent sspletion. Mythical yer, Fourth Apostle, and Witness of the Sun.


    Without hesitation, Kai opened his titlependium.


    <strong><u>[Mythic yer]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the first yer to acquire a Mythic grade ss.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: All stats increase when facing NPCs or yers below Mythic grade. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <strong><u>[Fourth Apostle]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the one who became the fourth envoy of Helik.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: Skill - Descent can be used. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <strong><u>[Witness of the Sun]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to those who have witnessed the Srian God Helik with their own eyes.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: An additional 50% is acquired when gaining Benevolence stats. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    "<i>Hmm?</i>"


    None of the titles provided an immediate boost in power. That was somewhat disappointing, but Kai soon shook his head.


    <i>There are no Mythic grade yers or NPCs yet, so... I can always benefit from the extra stats. And getting an additional 50% whenever I acquire Benevolence stats is nice. But what¡¯s Descent?</i>


    Kai immediately checked the skill information for Descent.


    <strong>[<u>Descent</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Grade: Mythic</strong>


    <strong>Permanently consumes 20 Benevolence stats to summon the past Sris Clerics into the caster¡¯s body.</strong>


    <strong>Duration: 1 hour, Cooldown: 1 hour.</strong>


    "... What?"


    After reading the skill¡¯s description, Kai immediately furrowed his brows.


    <i>Everything else is fine, but... it consumes 20 Benevolence stats?</i>


    In other words, using this skill once would result in a loss of 120 total stat points! It was a devilish skill that demanded the sacrifice of stats.


    <i>However...</i>


    Summoning the past Sris Clerics directly into his body was a power granted only to Kai, the Fourth Apostle walking the same path. Thus, the effect wouldn¡¯t be insignificant.


    Of course, Kai understood that much, but he still didn¡¯t have the courage to use it.


    "Only in a moment of extreme crisis... maybe just before death..."


    He doubted if the day would ever evene to use this skill.


    Shaking his head in disbelief, Kai left the main church without hesitation.


    <i>There are still many issues to resolve within the main church, but that¡¯s not my job.</i>


    After all, the corruption within the Srian Church had already been swiftly and urately rooted out by his hands. The rest was up to Albert and the bishops assisting him. Of course, interrogating Bernard and Morak was also their responsibility.


    <i>They promised to share any new information with me, so there¡¯s no need to worry about that.</i>


    Having registered the Srian Church¡¯s main church as a return location, Kai immediately used the teleportation gate.


    "Where would you like to go?"


    "To the Ebony Tower."


    In an instant, Kai was transported to the Ebony Tower and headed for the desk on the first floor.


    "Please state the purpose of your visit."


    "<i>Oh, um</i>... I have something to receive from Korona. Were there any special instructions left for me?"


    "Something to receive... <i>Oh!</i> Are you perhaps Kai?" the female wizard at the desk eximed, and pped her hands.


    Quickly realizing her mistake, she continued in a quieter voice, "There is. I was instructed to escort you directly to her office when you arrived... However, well..."


    The female wizard carefully lifted something and handed it to Kai. "Could you please put this on, just in case...?"


    Kai looked at the item she offered and asked in a bewildered tone, "...A ne of magic resistance? Why this all of a sudden?"


    "Th-the Tower Master... She''s been under a lot of stress. She kept saying that when you came to collect the item, she''d kill you first before anything else. So, just in case..."


    It seemed that Kai''s request had been harder to fulfill than expected.


    Swallowing nervously, Kai forced a smile and shook his head. "Come on. Korona wouldn''t actually kill me, right? She¡¯s the Tower Master, after all... I¡¯m sure she¡¯s very understanding..."


    "No, you¡¯re wrong. Our Tower Master is very narrow-minded. Her spinster hysteria is no joke. Trust me, I would know."


    Growing more anxious from her persistent warnings, Kai put the ne around his neck and switched his gear to the Tyrant of the Sea set.


    <i>Now my magic resistance is very high.</i>


    Though he doubted she¡¯d kill him outright for a favor he did for Parsanax, he couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of her attacking him.


    Kai nervously approached Korona¡¯sboratory and carefully knocked on the door.


    ¡ªWho''s there at this hour?


    "<i>Um</i>... it¡¯s Kai. You remember, right? I came to see you with Parsanax..."


    <i>Click!</i>


    Before Kai could even finish speaking, the door suddenly flew open, and a skinny arm shot out. The hand grabbed Kai by the cor and yanked his entire body inside.


    <i>N-not magic? No, apart from that, what kind of strength is this...?</i>


    Before he could resist, he was pulled into the room and found himself face-to-face with a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness.


    "My client..."


    "K-Korona, how have you been? <i>Haha</i>..."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Korona, the Tower Master of the Ebony Tower, who had already looked unwell, appeared to have lost even more weight in the past two months.


    "<i>Whew</i>... <i>Argh</i>..." With trembling hands, Korona patted Kai¡¯s shoulder and asked in a desperate voice, "H-hey... could I just... kill you once? You¡¯re an adventurer anyway. You¡¯ll revive."


    "That might be a bit of a problem... Could you refrain from doing so, please?"


    "<i>Ughhhh!</i>"


    As if the world was being unfair to her, Korona slumped to the floor and began to cry uncontrobly.


    "I spent two whole months... only getting three hours of sleep a day to make that thing... I didn¡¯t even have time to eat properly, so I could only manage two meals a day... and you won¡¯t even let me kill you once?"


    "Normally, not allowing that would be the right thing to do."


    After struggling tofort her for a while, Kai helped Korona back into her seat.


    Once she calmed her breathing, Korona red at Kai and pulled out a small ring box from her robes and threw it at him.


    "So, this is...?"


    "The monstrous item you wanted two months ago. The thing that made me want to kill you a thousand times over." Crossing her arms, she stared intently at Kai. "It¡¯s finished."


    Her eyes were filled with exhaustion, but they also gleamed with immense pride.


    Feeling as if he had been enchanted by her, Kai carefully opened the ring box.


    <i>Click!</i>


    As the box opened with a satisfying sound, a brilliant ring emitting a soft, pale purple glow was revealed.

 Chapter 166: Ready to Kill (2)

    <h4>Chapter 166: Ready to Kill (2)</h4>


    The unknown metalposed of a soft purple hue twisted and intertwined as if a serpent had coiled itself, forming the shape of the ring.


    <i>It¡¯s simple... but that''s why I like it even more.</i>


    It wasn''t like he usually cared about appearances anyway.


    Swallowing nervously, Kai muttered, "Item appraisal."


    <strong>[<u>Knight of Nightmare</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>+15 to all stats.</strong>


    <strong>Skill ¨C Summon Skeleton Knight (Cooldown: 24 hours).</strong>


    <strong>The summoned skeleton knight is influenced by the caster¡¯s level.</strong>


    <strong>If the summoned undead kills an enemy, that enemy will be a skeleton and follow the caster.</strong>


    <strong>Durability 100/100</strong>


    "<i>Wow</i>..."


    Kai, with an expression full of emotion, gently stroked the pale purple ring.


    <i>A Unique ring with all the effects I wanted!</i>


    In truth, Kai would have been satisfied just with the ability to summon a skeleton knight. However, Parsanax wasn¡¯t content with letting Korona pay off her debt so easily. Thus, after tormenting (read: negotiating with) her further, this ring was the result!


    <i>It might feel a bit awkward summoning the undead as a cleric, but...</i>


    Helik would surely forgive it with a simple offering of chocte cake. She was quiteid back about these things.


    "Thank you. This seems like exactly what I wanted."


    "Creating an artifact that summons even one monster is no easy task. And you asked me to make something like that... Are you nning to wage a war by yourself?"


    "Well, I¡¯d prefer to avoid such situations if possible..." Slipping the ring onto his finger, Kai smiled. "Now, I won¡¯t have to shy away from any fights thate my way."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ***


    After bidding farewell to Korona, Kai headed to his territory, Libertia. However, the closer he got to the city, the more bewildered he became.


    <i>Why are there so many people?</i>


    Unless one climbed mountains or went through forests, there was only one road that led into Libertia. And until just ten days ago that road had been a quiet path that only Kai used. But now, the road was packed with people, to the point of being overwhelming.


    "What the... what happened in just ten days?"


    With a dumbfounded expression, Kai reached the city¡¯s entrance and blended into the crowd as he naturally made his way toward the fortress.


    <i>At least the fortress waspleted while I was away.</i>


    As originally nned by Kai, the fortress was constructed using the roots of the great tree blessed by Luteria.


    It had an incredibly high resistance to mes despite its exterior appearing vulnerable to fire, and since it continued to grow, there was no need for maintenance, making it an eco-friendly fortress!


    "<i>Mhmm.</i> It¡¯s all about the ecosystem these days."


    Pleased with the thought of saving money, Kai approached the elves and merfolk standing guard at the fortress.


    As he slightly lifted his hood, their expressions immediately brightened.


    "Kai! You¡¯ve returned!"


    "Did everything go well with your task?"


    "Yes, thanks to you all. But... what exactly is going on here?"


    ncing into the city, Kai saw that it was even more crowded inside. It was so bustling as if a festival was taking ce.


    Watching the scene, the elven gatekeeper smiled and began to exin, "Once the city waspleted, word somehow reached the Kingdom of Rashion, and they sent a gift. Thanks to that, news spread, and merchants, adventurers, and travelers have been pouring in from all directions."


    "Don¡¯t even bother to exin. We¡¯ve been swamped with work."


    "So that¡¯s what happened. I¡¯ll take a look around the city first. I can head in, right?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, of course."


    Passing through the gate without any further checks, Kai quietly looked around the city. Libertia, which was blending with nature and constantly growing, looked vastly different from just ten days ago. Moreover, the shops run by elves and merfolk were doing exceptionally well.


    <i>Surprisingly... the elves and merfolk are great at business.</i>


    Just as Ayana''s mother had shown, the elves were a race highly advanced in herbalism. Naturally, the herbs sold by the elves of Libertia were no exception! The herbs sold out as soon as they were put on disy, and the supply could hardly keep up with the demand.


    However, that didn¡¯t mean the merfolk were overshadowed.


    "<i>Ahem</i>. This equipment is made from Bluesteel, which is only found in the ocean..."


    "Would you like to open a treasure chest? What¡¯s inside? Who knows. It could be treasure, or it could be a bottle of vodka. It¡¯s straight from the deep sea."


    The equipment and items sold were made from Bluesteel, a material mined exclusively from the ocean! yers lined up to buy them, resembling people waiting for thetest smartphone release.


    But that wasn¡¯t all.


    "<i>Ahhh</i>, please take a picture with us!"


    "That''ll be 1 silver per photo,dies."


    "I¡¯ll take two!"


    Libertia itself was a ce filled with unparalleled beauty, unlike anything seen before. On top of that, all the elves and merfolk were naturally stunning. Naturally, many people wanted to capture their memories of this precious ce in photos, which directly tranted into profit for the non-human races.


    <i>This is already more than I expected...</i>


    Kai¡¯s gaze shifted to a group that had just descended on the waterfall elevator.


    <i>They look like they would have high levels. Probably a party with an average level of 260?</i>


    And they weren¡¯t the only ones. Several teams, seeminglypeting with each other, were hastily buying up potions from the merchant stalls.


    "Damn it, why are the monsters around here so strong?"


    "Corrupted monsters, <i>huh</i>. They¡¯re not even listed in themunity. Let¡¯s grab everything we can before word spreads."


    "We don¡¯t have time. I¡¯ve noticed that the other parties we werepeting with are heading this way too. We need to widen the gap as much as possible. Buy everything as fast as you can!"


    The corrupted monster that respawned in the corruptednd that Kai had intentionally left behind captured the interest of high-leveled yers. Moreover, these yers were sweeping up the elves'' herbs and the merchants'' potions without even bargaining¡ªevery merchant¡¯s favorite kind of customer!


    Watching this scene absentmindedly, Kai finally came to his senses.


    "Wait... if the city is doing this well... Territory Management window."


    <strong>[Territory Management] </strong>


    <strong>Name: Libertia</strong>


    <strong>Rank: D</strong>


    <strong>Poption: 3,845 (Immigration requests: 17,150. Continuously rising¡ü)</strong>


    <strong>Monthly Ie: 329 gold (Estimated. Continuously rising¡ü)</strong>


    "<i>Oooo</i>...!"


    Libertia, which had been at an F rank, had risen to D rank, and over 17,000 NPCs had applied for immigration! Not only that, the monthly ie, which had previously been zero, had skyrocketed to over 3,000,000 won.


    <i>And one game month equals... ten real days.</i>


    Even with simple calctions, the ie from this single territory was close to a hundred million won per month in real-world value.


    <i>Considering the fact that the city is still growing...</i>


    It was an unbelievable sess for it to be considered the first month.


    <i>If it keeps growing like this, there¡¯s no need for me to invest any of my own money.</i>


    With the revenue generated by Libertia, the city could fund its own repairs and even expand further.


    What had once been a troublesome city had transformed into a goose thatid golden eggs in just ten days.


    As Kai stood there, watching the beautiful city with a dumbfounded expression, nia and Karius approached him.


    "So you really have returned."


    "You look quite surprised."


    "nia, Karius."


    These were the ones who had helped the city develop while he was away.


    Kai''s gaze toward them was full of warmth.


    "The city has changed a lot in the meantime, hasn¡¯t it?"


    "Yes. Seeing the things I had only envisioned now fully reflected... it¡¯s quite moving, really."


    "It¡¯ll develop even more. Not all of your ideas have been implemented yet."


    "Some things will take more time, and we¡¯ll also need the help of the dwarves..."


    As they continuously chatted, Karius patted Kai on the back and asked, "<i>Haha. </i>So, are you nning to stay here for a while now?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, I need to talk to you about that... I¡¯m sorry, but I have to head out again for an urgent matter."


    "<i>Hm?</i> But you¡¯ve only been here for a few hours..." Karius murmured with a sad expression.


    Kai apologized again with a sorry look, "I¡¯m really sorry. But this is something I¡¯ve been preparing for a long time."


    The Invasion Event. It was a major event Pegasus prepared for <i>MID Online¡¯s</i> first anniversary.


    <i>Even some of the top ten guilds will be divided in this event.</i>


    ording to Korea¡¯s branch manager Kang Min-Gu, the event was specifically designed with guilds in mind.


    <i>Meaning there won¡¯t be much room for solo yers to shine.</i>


    But Kai was different. He, as a solo yer, could rival the strength of an entire guild. And that power had been solidified when he received the Knight of Nightmare from Korona.


    <i>I should make the most of the Invasion Event.</i>


    This would give him an advantage in the territory war content that would follow the event.


    <i>Pegasus sure knows how to n these things.</i>


    An unannounced first-anniversary event, followed by seamlessly integrated major updates! They were throwing two massive events at the end of the year that no yer could resist loving. With this, yers who had nothing to do during the Christmas and New Year holidays would undoubtedly dive headfirst into <i>MID Online.</i>


    <i>The only trump card I really have for this event... is probably the Pray guild, which will soone under mymand.</i>


    That would be enough.


    Kai finished his quick nning and smiled.


    <i>As long as people don¡¯t get too greedy, this will be a mutually beneficial event for everyone.</i>


    However, if anyone dared to covet his honor or wished for his downfall, whether individuals or groups, he was determined they would undoubtedly experience the worst hell imaginable.

 Chapter 167: Ready to Kill (3)

    <h4>Chapter 167: Ready to Kill (3)</h4>


    As usual, yers logged into <i>MID Online</i>. However, the screen that greeted them was quite different from what they were used to.


    <i>What? Why is there a ck screen all of a sudden?</i>


    <i>It can''t beg... is it?</i>


    Faced with this unfamiliar situation, the yers¡¯ gazes darted around the screen. The screen was pitch ck, as if surrounded by ckout curtains, letting no light through. In that silence, a faint sound began to echo in their ears.


    <i>Dum... d-dum... dum... d-dum...</i>


    It was a repetitive rhythm, like a drum or a war drum being struck in time. Then, after a brief moment, a heavy, heart-pounding sound was heard.


    <i>Whooooom!</i>


    It was the sound of a war horn, signaling the start of battle. As if the curtains were being drawn aside, the dark screen suddenly peeled away, revealing a battlefield in the midst of chaos!


    "Kill them!"


    "Don¡¯t let those filthy monsters cross the border!"


    "<i>Kiieeeek!</i>"


    Tens of thousands of soldiers swung swords and spears, while wizards cast spells that rained down on the battlefield. Their enemy was none other than an army of monsters!


    <i>Whooosh!</i>


    The camera zoomed around, darting between the fiercebatants. The battlefield was so vast that its end could not be seen.


    The video concluded with the leaders of the humans and monsters charging at each other with their weapons raised. As the screen faded to ck once again, letters slowly appeared, as if embossed on the darkness.


    <strong>[Extra Ep.1 - The Invasion Has Begun.]</strong>


    ***


    <strong>[Pegasus surprises with massive December update reveal!]</strong>


    <strong>[<i>MID Online''s</i> first-anniversary event! Starting tomorrow, December 15.]</strong>


    <strong>[Extra Episode: The Invasion. What¡¯s the story behind it?]</strong>


    <strong>[Pegasus stock soars again after releasing Invasion Event video.]</strong>


    Pegasus was apany known for itsck ofmunication with yers. It was infamous enough to earn the nickname The Icon of Silence! However, when they had something to say, they made sure to announce it, either through Switter or FaceNote. This time was no different.


    [The first-anniversary event, The Invasion, has been revealed. Please enjoy it.]


    It was a polite yet brief post. But despite the short message, the yers responded with overwhelming responses.


    -Your ount didn¡¯t get hacked, right?


    -As expected of Pegodsus... What a gift for the end of the year. Who said there¡¯s no Santa?


    -Wait, but an event out of nowhere? This feels so out of the blue.


    -<i>Ugh...</i> I was supposed to go on a hot spring trip with my family to Japan for the holidays... Canceling it to y the game.


    ©¸ You¡¯d better stock up on food for the event.


    -The intro video when you log into the game was amazing. What could the event be about?


    ©¸ With all the recent issues about hunting zones, maybe it¡¯s about allowing infinite monster hunts?


    Even yers who were usually uninterested in hunting were captivated by the video, and the reaction was hot. That excitement was just the right temperature to warm Kai''s heart.


    "It looks like Pegasus really went all out with this one."


    After all, it had been months since he first got wind of this event. Back then, the development wasplete, and they were just fine-tuning the release date, so the preparations would inevitably be wless.


    "Well then, it''s time for me to get on the move too."


    Libertia was growing explosively without him even needing to intervene as word had already spread in themunity that it was the only city where elves and merfolk could be seen! Broadcastingpanies also announced that they were rushing to schedule programs featuring visits to Libertia. Of course, celebrities, rankers, and MewTube stars were also lining up to visit.


    <i>Hmm. That means all the money in their wallets will be mine.</i>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    This realization helped Kai make a quick decision.


    "Then there''s no reason for me to stay here any longer."


    There was no advantage to revealing that he was the lord of Libertia.


    Kai opened his contact list and scrolled through the names.


    "The contact should be here somewhere... <i>Ah</i>, here it is."


    <strong>[Minerva]</strong>


    Finding the name he was looking for, Kai smiled softly.


    ***


    Though no elves lived in the Elven Forest anymore, it was still a mysterious ce known as the Elven Forest. Kai had told Minerva to meet him there.


    Hearing the footsteps approaching from behind, Kai turned and smiled. "You''re here."


    In his line of sight were yers dressed in cleric robes bearing the symbol of the Srian Church.


    <i>Though, there seem to be more pdins in armor than clerics.</i>


    Seeing the faint smile on Kai¡¯s lips, Minerva calmly motioned for her guild members to stand down and walked slowly toward him. "... Why did you call me here?"


    "You can''t possibly be asking because you don''t know, are you?" Kai furrowed his brows, showing his disappointment.


    At that, Minerva sighed. "The main church under the high priest¡¯s direct order,manded me to support you, the Radiant Pdin, with all my heart... Was that your doing?"


    "Well, yes."


    As soon as Kai calmly admitted it, the members of the Pray guild erupted in anger.


    "You arrogant bastard!"


    "How dare you treat Minerva like that...!"


    <i>Well, I do understand their reactions.</i>


    To their eyes, it was no surprise that Kai appeared to be the worst of viins. After all, he was indeed nning to exploit the fact that Minerva had the hidden Saintess ss in order to use Pray, one of the world''s top ten guilds, for his own gain.


    <i>If she refuses my proposal, the Pray guild will undoubtedly face a troublesome situation.</i>


    Refusing the high priest''smand would be equivalent to dering the Srian Church as their enemy. Moreover, the Pray guild had grown based on the Srian Church, and if their friendship with the NPCs dropped drastically, their position as a top guild would be in jeopardy. In other words...


    <i>She has no choice but to ept my proposal.</i>


    And that prediction proved urate.


    "...What do you want?"


    "I trust a smart person like you has already grasped the situation."


    "So, what is it? Are you asking us to hand over the guild we''ve built up to you on a silver tter? Don¡¯t you feel any shame?"


    "Shame? Not at all."


    As Kai shrugged nonchntly, wearing a mischievous expression, Minerva bit her lip in frustration.


    "The Radiant Pdin. We''ve done our research too. Your ss is ssified as top-secret within the Church, so I couldn¡¯t ess much, but I understand that it¡¯s a remarkable job. And as a fellow yer belonging to the Srian Church, I congratte you. However, if you intend to use that position to swallow up our guild, that''s a different story."


    Letting out a light sigh, Kai looked at her indifferently.


    <i>Right. There¡¯s only one thing I need to make clear here.</i>


    After all, she couldn¡¯t disobey the high priest¡¯smand. However, as a guild master, she couldn¡¯t simply follow him without question. Her pride wouldn¡¯t allow it. What Kai needed to protect here was her dignity.


    "...I thought our conversation was off-key from the start, but it seems you''ve greatly misunderstood something." Raising his index finger to focus her attention, Kai continued, "I admit that I used my position to ask the high priest for a favor. As a result, you are now in a position where you must assist me."


    "Do you think I¡¯ll just simplyply?"


    Though Kai found Minerva¡¯s bluff amusing, he shook his head. "Of course not. I know well how you built one of the top ten guilds in the world. I don¡¯t know exactly how the high priest conveyed his request, but I simply want to establish a friendly rtionship with the Pray guild."


    "...Is that all?"


    Minerva still showed signs of distrust as she scanned Kai. But all she could see was his gentle smile and a seemingly kind face.


    "Of course. I think the high priest might have misunderstood because of my high position in the Srian Church and made it sound like you should assist me. Let me propose again. Wouldn¡¯t you consider partnering with me for this uing Invasion Event?¡±


    By framing the rtionship as horizontal rather than vertical, Kai gave Minerva the illusion of choice. And that, by itself, gave her a justifiable reason.


    <i>My guild members are watching... And...</i>


    <i>In other words, the decision is ultimately hers.</i>


    Not being a fool, Minerva could easily see through Kai¡¯s intentions.


    <i>If I refuse here, he won¡¯t be as gentlemanly next time. He¡¯ll probably go running to the high priest.</i>


    <i>If Minerva refuses here, I can just use more forceful methodster.</i>


    The key point was that, on the surface, it appeared as though Kai was offering a proposal and giving Minerva the freedom to choose. This preserved her pride as the master of a top ten guild and a famous Saintess ss yer.


    "<i>Hmm</i>..."


    After pretending to think for a moment, Minerva stared at Kai and slowly said, "Before I answer, let me ask you one thing. You, Unknown... no, Kai, could easily handle this event alone without partnering with a guild, right? I also know you have connections with Cheonhwa."


    "Of course, I can handle the event alone, and I could also partner with Cheonhwa this time. But I¡¯m a wanderer by nature. If I stick with one group for too long, my image bes fixed."


    "I see."


    Minerva immediately understood from that one sentence. The same went for the Pray guild members who had been listening to the conversation.


    <i>He¡¯s the kind of person who can team up with anyone if he has the chance.</i>


    <i>Does that mean he ns to act like a frence mercenary?</i>


    <i>Hmph. So, he¡¯s basically saying he¡¯ll y both sides.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s not a bad offer for us either. Unknown, or Kai, is still the hottest name in MID Online, so coborating with him would give us significant gains in this event.</i>


    While there was no room for escape, their interests were quite aligned.


    <i>He¡¯s a dangerous person. He¡¯s not just a skilled fighter.</i>


    Making sure her guild members couldn¡¯t see, Minerva subtly furrowed her brows before extending her right hand. "Let¡¯s eat this event up."


    "Yes. I look forward to working with you in the future as well."


    With the Pray guild, one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds, now firmly under his control, Kai genuinely smiled, satisfied.

 Chapter 168: Ready to Kill (4)

    <h4>Chapter 168: Ready to Kill (4)</h4>


    The Temple of Sirin was a hunting ground where monsters of at least level 280 roamed, and not many people were able to hunt in this ce. At most, about a hundred yers worldwide.


    <i>Kirik, kirik. Grnnng. Grnnng.</i>


    "Now. Move."


    The temple golems made noises periodically as they roamed the area and searched for intruders.


    A group of five managed to slip past the golems and enter the inner part of the temple, and waiting for them inside were five more individuals.


    "You called us here and showed upte? Are you joking?"


    "We weren¡¯tte. We both know time is of the essence."


    One of the yers dusted off his shoulders and removed the hood of his robe. Beneath it was a face that any seasoned <i>MID Online</i> yer would recognize¡ªGoliath of the Titan guild.


    The man waiting for Goliath asked, his voice mixed with slight annoyance, "We could¡¯ve just talked over the phone. Why did you bother making use all the way here?"


    Goliath responded with a wide grin, "<i>Hah</i>. And trust you just by hearing your voice? That¡¯s not possible."


    "Do you think being face to face would change anything?"


    "It¡¯s better than a phone call."


    "I came in person because you emphasized how important this meeting was, but if this turns out to be a waste of time..."


    "Don''t worry about that. Let me ask you something first. This uing event... how do you think it¡¯ll connect to whates after?"


    The man squinted, trying to gauge Goliath''s intentions. "What do you mean?"


    "Let¡¯s stop beating around the bush. I think this event will lead to siege wars and territory battlester on," Goliath, who clearly disliked speaking in riddles, made his point directly.


    The man on the other side paused to think, then slowly nodded. "It seems you''re being sincere. The number of monsters shown in the Invasion Event trailer was greater than the humans. The NPC soldiers who died were too numerous to count."


    "Cities and towns overrun by monsters will start popping up like mushrooms after rain."


    "And thend..."


    "...will likely be given to the adventurers who wipe out the monsters and gain the people''s trust."


    This was the direction the two guilds'' intelligence had determined the game would take.


    <i>The information-gathering capabilities of the intelligence units from the world¡¯s top ten guilds are nothing to scoff at.</i>


    <i>If it were just one guild, it might be different. But if two came to the same conclusion...</i>


    <i>Then it''s almost certainly urate.</i>


    After the Invasion Event, a true era of Warring States period would begin!


    Having revealed the results of their intelligence, both men nodded in agreement as if confident in their predictions.


    Goliath spoke again, "Which is why I¡¯m making a proposal. Help us during the Invasion Event, and we¡¯ll support you in the territory battles."


    "That¡¯s funny. I don¡¯t think our guild is weak enough to need your help."


    "Of course you don¡¯t. But are you confident you can win against the other top ten guilds in a head-to-head confrontation? If the Titan guild backs you, there¡¯ll be no chance of defeat."


    This was an implicit alliance between two of the world¡¯s top ten guilds! It was an extremely rare urrence among those who thrived on their own pride and power. Such a thing had never happened before, simply because no one had ever lowered themself to make such a proposal.


    Well aware of this, the man tilted his head and asked, "What exactly is there for us to help with during the Invasion Event?"


    "Unknown. Or rather, Kai." Goliath gritted his teeth, his gaze burning like a volcano. "You didn¡¯t participate in the Battle of the Bir ins, so you don¡¯t realize the power that man holds."


    "That again? I already understand. I know he''s a threat. But even so, he''s still just..."


    "No. The very fact you''re thinking that way means you''re underestimating him."


    Goliath''s stance was resolute. In his mind, Kai was the most dangerous variable in the game right now.


    <i>Yoo Ha-Rin. That monstrous woman was a target for recruitment, not an enemy.</i>


    Personally, Goliath believed Yoo Ha-Rin''s skills far surpassed Kai¡¯s, but the reason he didn¡¯t see her as a threat was simple.


    <i>She¡¯s just one person.</i>


    A solo yer. Someone who didn¡¯t belong to any faction and wandered alone, with no followers or allies. Though she was a yer, she was viewed by the others as an NPC with unparalleled strength. Because of that, the top ten guilds had tried to maintain friendly rtions with her, but none dared to antagonize her.


    However, Kai was different.


    <i>He¡¯s dangerous.</i>


    At first nce, Kai seemed to be walking a simr path to Yoo Ha-Rin. However, during the Battle of Bir ins, Kai revealed two hidden trump cards.


    <i>The Radiant Pdin ss, and... the elves and merfolk.</i>


    Goliath had ordered his intelligence to investigate the Radiant Pdin ss. But unfortunately, they didn¡¯t uncover much. Still, what they did learn was enough to show just how revered that ss was within the Church.


    <i>Kai must have strong ties with the Srian Church¡¯s main church. Maybe not as deep as Minerva, the Saintess, but... he could still call on their support if needed.</i>


    With just the two forces, the Srian Church and the non-human races, backing him, he had already be a person of great interest.


    "All the guild masters present at the time recognized how dangerous he is. Katherine dered she¡¯d keep watching the situation, and Vulcan made some childish statement about wanting a fair fight. The others were the same¡ªjust a bunch of cowards, too afraid to act."


    "From the way you talk, it sounds like you''re the only brave one here."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I wouldn¡¯t say you¡¯re wrong."


    As the man watched Goliath''s bold expression, he contemted for a moment.


    <i>If I ept Titan¡¯s proposal here...</i>


    Having the support of one of the top ten guilds in the world during the territory wars would mean securing the territory he wanted.


    <i>Not a bad deal. But before that...</i>


    A contract must always be made clear.


    With a sharp voice, the man asked Goliath, "I want to hear the exact terms. I get that you have a grudge against Unknown. So, what exactly do you need me to do?"


    "This Invasion Event seems to favor whoever has thergest numbers."


    "I see. So that¡¯s why you¡¯vee to me."


    The man smirked.


    Goliath was right. From the video, it was clear that the Invasion Event involved hordes of monsters invading human kingdoms.


    <i>In that case, there''s no doubt that joining hands with me is the safest choice.</i>


    Because this man was none other than Xao Lin, the guild master of the ck Dragon guild based in China, known as thergest among the world¡¯s top ten guilds.


    "Exin the details a bit more."


    Xao Lin¡¯s mind had already been swayed because there was already a specific city he had his eye on.


    ***


    Opinions on where the monsters of the Invasion Event woulde from wildly divided. Some said they would emerge from the sea, while others believed they would rise from the ground. However, everyone was wrong.


    "What is that?"


    "That... looks like a warp gate from <i>Star Trek </i>or something."


    The monsters poured out from a circr, purple-glowing hole¡ªa Gate. The locations where these Gates appeared were also very unexpected.


    "W-what the hell!"


    "This is a Gate?"


    "Why here, of all ces...?"


    They appeared not only in hunting grounds where yers were peacefully farming, but also along ordinary roads leading to other cities. However, the most shocking part was elsewhere.


    "Why is the Gate appearing there...?"


    "That¡¯s right next to the fortress...!"


    "Damn it! Weren''t viges supposed to be safe zones protected by the system?"


    "Why do I need to prepare for battle in a ce where I came to rest...?"


    Gates emerged right on the outskirts of several viges, and the monsters pouring out of them were all starving. Thus, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence that they immediatelyunched attacks on the fortresses. And with that, the event officially began.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Extra Ep.1 - The Invasion has begun.] </strong>


    <strong>[yers, please defeat the monsters and close the Gates.]</strong>


    <strong>[Gates have appeared across the continent, categorized into Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties. A total of 1,500 Gates exist.]</strong>


    <strong>[Points earned by defeating monsters and closing Gates can be exchanged for rewards with event NPCs.]</strong>


    Although the event had been announced in advance, the invasion itself happened without warning. This led to explosive reactions from themunity, and the servers became so crowded that they nearly crashed.


    Kai was in just as much of a rush.


    "Dang it...!"


    Regretting hiscency, he quickly opened themunity window.


    <i>The ce I need to protect first is...</i>


    First and foremost, Libertia. It was home to the NPCs most closely connected to him, and it was also his own territory. However, while Libertia was a top priority, it was not the only ce he had to defend.


    <i>The viges I¡¯ve passed through...</i>


    Not only the various towns where he had spent his early days, but also Frica, where Chief Bunther and the cksmith Maxim resided, Glendale, ruled by Master Huey and Baron Arsen, and even Whitehall, where Ayana¡¯s family lived!


    The faces of the NPCs Kai had formed connections with vividly shed through his mind.


    "First, I need to confirm everything."


    The more panicked one was, the moreposed one should be. This was something Kai''s father and mother had always told him.


    <i>When you¡¯re busy or in danger, keep your head cool and your heart warm.</i>


    After refreshing the page several times, Kai swiftly scanned themunity for updates.


    <strong>[Shocking news! Two Hard Gates open near therge city of Baran. Fierce battle underway.]</strong>


    <strong>[City of Nin falls! A glimpse of the power of Hard Gates...] </strong>


    <strong>[Easy Gate closed by an adventurer guild with an average level of 57.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Invasion is not just about iming rewards. It is about protecting your memories.]</strong>


    New articles were being updated every second.


    After scanning the numerous articles and yer posts, Kai quickly nodded.


    <i>Libertia is safe for now. Is it thanks to Luteria¡¯s blessing?</i>


    No Gate had appeared in Libertia, likely due to the World Tree Luteria¡¯s protection. As a result, Libertia was in a secure state. However...


    <i>An Easy Gate appeared in Frica. Glendale has one Easy and one Medium Gate. And...</i>


    Whitehall, which was still undergoing repairs, had a terrifying Hard Gate.


    <i>On top of that, Baran is a ce I¡¯ll have to visitter anyway.</i>


    Baron Arsen, the lord of Glendale, had once written him a letter of rmendation to the Count of Castle Barden. Kai had nned to visit there soon, but...


    <i>Baran can¡¯t fall yet.</i>


    This meant Kai would also have to protect Baran.


    As Kai was struggling to deal with theplex situation, a message arrived.


    [Minerva: Where are you nning to take over first?]


    Kai thought for a moment before slowly typing on the virtual keyboard.


    [Kai: Please head to therge city of Baran.]


    [Minerva: Aren¡¯t you joining us?]


    [Kai: I will join after.]


    While the Pray guild defended Baran, Kai¡¯s goal was to destroy the Gates near the other viges and cities.

 Chapter 169: The Hero Emerges (1)

    <h4>Chapter 169: The Hero Emerges (1)</h4>


    Unlike its usual calm, Frica Vige was bustling.


    ¡°Damn it! Bring more logs!¡±


    ¡°Bricks and furniture too! No, anything we can stack to make a wall, bring it all!¡±


    Both yers and NPCs were moving about frantically. This peaceful mountain vige had suddenly be so hectic because a Gate had opened nearby, and the monsters pouring out of it charged straight toward the vige.


    ¡°We need to fortify the fortress while the advance party holds off the monsters at the ins of the Gnolls.¡±


    While Toban, the master of the Crimson Sunset guild, was overseeing the expansion of the fortress, his younger brother Au led several guild members to the central square.


    There, the yers who had gathered after reading themunity announcements were already packed.


    ¡°<i>Ahem.¡± </i>Clearing his throat, Au began speaking naturally, ¡°As you all know, <i>MID Online</i> is currently hosting the Invasion Event. And unfortunately for us... an Easy Gate has appeared near our vige. We¡¯re short on hands, so everybody gets ready for battle.¡±


    His tone was authoritative, as if he was merely assigning an obvious task, and his gaze was just asmanding.


    Naturally, the yers were irritated and displeased.


    <i>Hah. You treated us like nobodies when we weren¡¯t part of your guild, and now it¡¯s suddenly ¡°our¡± vige?</i>


    <i>And what? Get ready? Who does he think he is, my boss?</i>


    <i>Should I just leave? I kind of hope the vige falls apart so those guys get what they deserve...</i>


    Sensing the discontent among the yers, Akan, a Wizard, ced his hand on Au¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°The mood among the yers isn¡¯t good. I¡¯ve told you before, if you act so forcefully, no one¡¯s going to listen to you...¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh!</i> Just shut up already.¡±


    Au roughly shook off Akan¡¯s hand, and frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed for a while now¡ªyou act like you¡¯re someone important. This guild belongs to my brother.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m the strategist of that guild.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Au gritted his teeth, at a loss for words.


    He wondered when everything became like this.


    <i>Right... It must¡¯ve been when we got involved with that cleric bastard, Kai.</i>


    Au had taken an overwhelming force to hunt down Kai but had made a foolish mistake and failed.


    <i>Since that incident, I¡¯ve been branded ipetent... while this guy¡¯s been on the rise ever since...</i>


    Akan was smart. Au knew this better than anyone, having hunted with him since their beginner days. However, Au wanted Akan to support him with his sharp mind, not surpass him and take a key position in the guild.


    ¡°This is something my brother entrusted to me, so stay out of it.¡±


    ¡°But if you keep giving orders in such a high-handed manner, it could lead to a disaster...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child. Do you think I don¡¯t know that much?¡± Au snapped irritably and nced at the yers with a displeased expression.


    Just as Akan had said, they all looked like they had the word dissatisfaction written on their faces.


    Au clicked his tongue.


    <i>Tsk... They couldn''t even make eye contact before the Gate appeared...</i>


    Now, they were all staring at him as if waiting to see what he had to say.


    Au didn¡¯t like the situation, but after taking a deep breath to calm himself, he said, ¡°Look, I¡¯m asking for your help, alright? And it¡¯s not just for our guild¡¯s benefit. This is an event, after all. If you participate, kill monsters, and close the Gate, you¡¯ll earn contribution points, and your reputation of Frica Vige will increase. If you n on staying active here in the future...¡±


    "Enough of that. If you''re asking for help, shouldn¡¯t you start with an apology first?"


    One of the yers,monly referred to as a graduating yer since they were about to leave Frica Vige soon, casually picked their ear and said, ¡°To be honest, the Crimson Sunset guild has been a real pain. You guys act all high and mighty, running your set item factory, but you¡¯ve been bullying regr yers, and it¡¯s really annoying.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! And why do you get to decide the hunting rotations for Red Gnoll Chiefs?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been getting pretty sick of a tiny guild like yours controlling the field all the time...¡±


    Once one yer voiced theirints, it was like a dam had broken, andints began pouring out.


    Au was not the kind of person capable of handling such a situation with grace. Eventually, the method he chose was...


    ¡°Everyone shut up! You think this is just for us? We¡¯re trying to protect our vige¡ª¡±


    "Our vige? How is this <i>our</i> vige? It¡¯s <i>your </i>vige. You go ahead and protect it. I¡¯m about ready to graduate from here anyway, so good timing.¡±


    ¡°There are other hunting grounds beyond level 30. I¡¯ve been putting up with this ce because I didn¡¯t want to waste time moving, but now? I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like the temple, the monk has to leave, right? What else is there to say?¡±


    As one yer snorted and left the square, others quickly followed.


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i> W-what...?¡±


    Aou stared nkly as they walked away, unable to hide the look of shock on his face.


    <i>Normally...</i>


    Yes, normally, the Crimson Sunset guild wielded immense power, practically ruling over Frica Vige. Toban, the guild master, could have a yer endlessly hunted with just a simple gesture. But now, the situation had changed with the Invasion Event and an Easy Gate opening near the vige.


    ¡°<i>Tsk.</i>¡±


    Biting his lower lip, Akan furrowed his brows and began typing on the guild¡¯s messenger window.


    <i>To close the Easy Gate, we absolutely need the yers¡¯ help...</i>


    The Crimson Sunset guild was essentially a business, created to mass-produce Red Gnoll set items. Thus, to prevent potential traitors or industrial spies, they operated as a small, elite force. They had only about thirty members. And no matter how low-level the Gate near Frica was, thirty yers alone couldn¡¯t close it.


    ¡°Au!¡±


    Toban, who had been briefed on the situation by Akan, hurried to the square.


    ¡°You idiot!¡±


    He reprimanded his younger brother, then bit his lip as he watched the yers leave the vige. After a brief moment, Toban let out a bitter smile, as though resigning himself to the situation, and slowly closed his eyes. He instinctively realized the truth.


    <i>...We¡¯re done for.</i>


    There was no way to reverse the situation. He trusted his brother because he was family, but that had been one of Toban¡¯s biggest mistakes. He never thought Au would fail even at such a simple task.


    After letting out a few hollowughs, Toban opened his eyes, and within them, a glint of madness began to emerge. "Still, I can¡¯t let them off that easily. If we¡¯re going down, we can¡¯t go alone, right?¡±


    With just thirty Crimson Sunset Guild members, it would be impossible to defend the vige. In that case, revenge was the only option.


    ***


    "...<i>Huh?</i>"


    Kai, who was sprinting down the mountainside of Frica, furrowed his brows.


    ¡°Please!¡±


    Having fully transitioned into the Sris Cleric ss, Kai''s body had be extremely sensitive, including his hearing. He could feel a faint sound brushing against his sharply heightened senses.


    "Is the Gate over there?"


    Kai¡¯s movements quickened as he pinpointed the location. Already running down the steep mountain at a rapid pace, his body now descended like the wind. Racing down the mountain trail at incredible speed, Kai soon arrived at the source of the sound.


    "...They''re yers?"


    Kai widened his eyes and tilted his head in confusion at the strange sight before him.


    <i>The Gate just spawned right in front of them... so why are they PKing each other?</i>


    Monsters spilling out of the Gate had mixed in with the chaos, turning the situation into aplete mess!


    After observing for a moment, Kai approached a yer who had copsed and was gasping for breath.


    "Heal."


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    As Sacred re healed her, Kai looked toward the battlefield and asked, "Sorry, but could you exin what¡¯s going on here? I¡¯m having trouble understanding."


    In a situation where yers should have been banding together to defeat the monsters, they were fighting each other instead.


    The female yer, her eyes filled with gratitude for being healed, began to exin, "It''s the Crimson Sunset guild. When some of the yers based in Frica refused to help them, they attacked us as we were leaving the vige. They''repletely insane!"


    "...What?"


    The Crimson Sunset guild. It had been a long time since Kai had heard that name.


    At the same time, a bitter smile crept across his face. "<i>Ohhh</i>, that guild. I remember now. It¡¯s a rather nostalgic name."


    Come to think of it, it was thanks to them that he had acquired the Sris Cleric ss. But back then, the frustration, the sense of injustice, and the shame of having to flee the vige, unable to ovee the limitations of being a solo yer, haunted him. All those feelings had once caused him enough pain to keep him awake at night.


    <i>Indeed... I never really thought about getting revenge once I became stronger.</i>


    Or rather, he hadn¡¯t had the time to even think about it. Kai had be far too well-known to bother with petty thugs in a small vige.


    <i>I''m already too busy dealing with the world¡¯s top ten guilds to waste time on Crimson Sunset.</i>


    However, Kai wasn¡¯t the type to let his enemies go when they were standing right in front of him. As if entranced, he began walking slowly toward the chaotic battlefield.


    <i>Shing!</i>


    With a smooth motion, Kai unsheathed his longsword and drove it directly into the chest of a Crimson Sunset guild member, sending them back to reality.


    <i>Crimson Sunset. Crimson Sunset.</i>


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to find them. They were the ones with abnormally high levels for residents of Frica Vige. And of course, they wore the Crimson Sunset emblem on their chests. All he had to do was find those distinct yers.


    "One down."


    <i>Shing!</i>


    As Kai''s Swordsmanship of the Dawn reached the Advanced level, his swordy became incredibly elegant. The elegance in his swordsmanship meant the sound of his de slicing through the air and cutting down enemies had be refined, like that of a seasoned knight.


    However, Kai¡¯s current power was far from elegant.


    <i>Crrrrunch!</i>


    As if an old car was being crushed in a junkyard or like stepping on an empty milk carton, crushing it underfoot, Kai''s sword savagely tore into those who had once been his enemies, his sworn foes. With each swing of his de, it was as though a wild beast had wed through, ripping apart their armor.


    ¡°W-what the hell?! Who is that bastard?¡±


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°W-why is his attack power like that? A tank died after just one hit?¡±


    ¡°Why is a monster like him here in this ce...?¡±


    Just as they had never answered him when he cried out the truth, Kai felt no need to respond to their questions. He simply swung his sword mercilessly.


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    The once noisy battlefield, filled with the shing of steel, began to grow quieter. The Crimson Sunset guild members sensed danger and grouped together, while other yers retreated little by little. Only the monsters continued noisily chasing after them.


    Kai stared at the Crimson Sunset guild members who swallowed nervously and watched him.


    <i>That ugly tank fromst time is here...</i>


    So was the irritating Wizard, Akan. The Archer, that Wizard¡¯s friend, was also there. And finally, there was Toban, the master of the Crimson Sunset guild. His face was clearly visible.


    <i>They say revenge is hollow, don¡¯t they?</i>


    Kai wasn¡¯t sure who had said that, but now he thought it might be true. Those who once made him wary and cautious now appeared so small.


    <i>So this is all they amounted to.</i>


    It hit Kai again just how much he had grown, and with that realization came a new feeling.


    <i>There¡¯s no longer any attachment to these guys.</i>


    In fact, dealing with them felt tedious and irritating. However, once revenge had begun, it had to be finished properly.


    Kai''s left hand, the one not holding his sword, slowly rose into the air.


    ¡°Chasing Light Arrows.¡±


    5,000 of Kai''s Holy Power was drained in an instant. Since the skill consumed 10 Holy Power per arrow, a total of five hundred light arrows floated into the air.


    The overwhelming sight made not only the Crimson Sunset Guild and the regr yers freeze in ce, but even the monsters stopped in their tracks.


    ¡°W-what the...?¡±


    ¡°That''s insane... Is that guy the top-ranking Wizard or something? No, wait... Wizards can''t learn Holy Arrow, right?¡±


    ¡°No, that''s not what¡¯s important! Look at the number of those arrows... How does that even make sense?¡±


    ¡°<i>Kerarak?</i>¡±


    Seeing the panic on the faces of the Crimson Sunset Guild and the monsters alike, Kai lightly waved his left hand.


    <i>Farewell, fragments of my past.</i>


    <i>Baaang!</i>


    Five hundred arrows tore through the air, piercing the enemies with explosive force.

 Chapter 170: The Hero Emerges (2)

    <h4>Chapter 170: The Hero Emerges (2)</h4>


    <i>Cra-craack!</i>


    Kai¡¯s longsword sliced through the gate as effortlessly as cutting tofu.


    <strong>[You have destroyed an Easy Gate.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have earned 500 contribution points for destroying the Easy Gate.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your total contribution points are now 700.]</strong>


    Each monster that emerged from the Easy Gates awarded 1 contribution point. Since he had killed two hundred monsters, earning 200 points, and destroyed the Gate for an additional 500 points, Kai now had a total of 700 contribution points.


    <i>And I also got to test out the power of my skill.</i>


    Kai smiled in satisfaction as he recalled the sight of five hundred arrows tearing through the sky. It was a powerful skill that had wiped out both monsters and Crimson Sunset guild members alike, without discrimination.


    It was a skill that only the top-tier ranker Wizards who had mastered arrow-type skills to an advanced level could hope to replicate¡ªsomething that would be impossible for an ordinary yer, no matter how hard they tried.


    "Closing the Gate is simple enough."


    All he had to do was attack and destroy the Gate¡ªit was that easy.


    <i>Alright. That¡¯s the end of the tutorial I guess.</i>


    Having gotten a clear sense of what to do now, Kai headed for Glendale without hesitation.


    ***


    Baden was the name of the castle tormented by two Hard Gates opening at the same time.


    <i>Dang. I even set up a shop in Castle Baden...</i>


    <i>If the city falls... it¡¯s all over!</i>


    <i>But with the current forces, we don¡¯t stand a chance.</i>


    Easy Gates spawned monsters with an average level of 50, and Medium Gates brought monsters around level 150. So, what about the Hard Gates? Without a doubt, they spewed out monsters averaging level 250.


    <i>Crraaaack!</i>


    "<i>Roooaaarrr!</i>"


    "<i>Screeeech!</i>"


    Regardless of size, level, and race, the monsters emerging from the Hard Gate seemed to share some kind of collective consciousness, showing no signs of hostility toward one another. Their only enemy was clearly the humans, as they relentlessly and mindlessly assaulted Castle Baden!


    Razley, the sub-master of the Pray guild, stood atop Castle Baden¡¯s sturdy walls and said to Minerva, ¡°Master, there¡¯s more bad news.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>.¡±


    Minerva watched the flood of monsters crawling over the ins like cockroaches with a face filled with horror. She turned her head. ¡°Go ahead and tell me. How could it possibly get worse?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, it can. If we don¡¯t destroy the Gates within a certain time, it seems they¡¯ll start spawning boss monsters as well.¡±


    ¡°...What did you say?!¡± Minerva, usually calm andposed, let out a shriek. ¡°I thought we were just supposed to defend the castle... and now boss monsters wille too?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The timing seems random, but the boss monsters are much stronger than we anticipated.¡±


    When Razley shared themunity feed with her, Minerva furrowed her brows as she watched the footage.


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>.¡± After viewing the entire video, Minerva rubbed her forehead with her small hand. ¡°Sure enough... it¡¯s extremely strong for a boss from a Medium Gate.¡±


    ¡°The ones from the Hard Gates will be even stronger.¡±


    ¡°If two of them appear at once...¡±


    Minerva¡¯s expression darkened.


    <i>The death of a guild member directly weakens the guild¡¯s overall power. That¡¯s why I nned to avoid directbat as much as possible...</i>


    At least until Kai arrived, Minerva had intended to focus solely on defense. But if two boss monsters appeared, the situation would change drastically.


    <i>Even for us, the Pray Guild, there¡¯s no way we can stop that.</i>


    After the ck Bee guild fell from having its wings torn by Kai, the top ten guilds'' reputations had tarnished. However, the power of being part of the top ten guilds was still formidable¡ªin other words, their strength remained undeniable.


    ¡°<i>Ugh.</i> Prepare for a full-scale battle right away.¡±


    ¡°...The losses could be significant. We¡¯re already facing four hundred monsters just from the two Gates.¡±


    That number of monsters wasn¡¯t something even a guild could typically handle in a mass hunt. Most rankers wanted to level up quickly, but none were willing to take the risk of death.


    ¡°Even so, Baden is finished if two boss monsters emerge.¡±


    It was a choice between two options. Abandon Castle Baden and retreat, or stay and fight the monsters emerging from the Gate.


    <i>Normally, we¡¯d have no choice but to abandon Castle Baden, but...</i>


    But this time, that wasn¡¯t an option because they hadn¡¯te here by their own will.


    <i>That bear-like fox!</i>[1]<i> Who knows what he¡¯ll do if we disobey his orders.</i>


    If Kai applied pressure through the Church, the title of a top ten guild could be stripped away in an instant.


    In her short life, Minerva had never experienced a year as intense and busy as the past one.


    <i>MID Online is no longer just a game for me.</i>


    It had be her very life itself!


    Having made her decision, Minerva nodded. ¡°Even if we suffer losses, we must defend Castle Baden.¡±


    The warmth usually present in Minerva¡¯s eyes was gone, reced by the gaze of a warrior preparing for battle.


    ***


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    ¡°Shit! Hey! Are we supposed to be happy about this?!¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve always wanted to mass-hunt these ogres, right?¡±


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff. </i>Sure, you idiot<i>.</i>¡±


    Party yers or those from small-scale guilds were desperately fighting off the monsters emerging from the Gates on the ins of Castle Baden.


    <i>There are more yers than monsters. However...</i>


    <i>The difference in power is ridiculous!</i>


    Castle Baden had now be a ratherplicated ce to call the frontlines. The monsters in the surrounding hunting grounds were around level 210, so while skilled yers could be found, rankers were rare.


    However, Castle Baden was a massive metropolis. As a result, numerous guilds had established their houses in this city, and many merchant guilds run by yers had also set up their tradingpanies here.


    ¡°We must hold the line! We can¡¯t let them through no matter what!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! How does it make sense that it¡¯s taking three yers to hold down a single ogre?!¡±


    The yers fighting on the ins were motivated by their desire to protect the city, but their enemies simply overpowered them.


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    Every time an ogre swung the massive tree trunk it carried, three or four yers were sent flying through the air.


    ¡°Darn, don¡¯t get hit by that smash attack!¡±


    ¡°Ogres are just strong, but they¡¯re not skilled! We just need to figure out their attack patterns!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a strategy for taking down one ogre! There are ogres everywhere¡ªwhen are we supposed to have time to figure out their patterns?!¡±


    The yers became severely stressed when things did not go well. Normally, dying in <i>MID Online </i>while ying would cause only minor frustration, but in this battle, losing would literally mean the loss of their home base! Naturally, the stress the yers were experiencing was far greater than usual.


    ¡°Adventurers, hold on a little longer! Reinforcements will surely arrive!¡±


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just the yers fighting. Soldiers, knights, and wizards from Castle Baden had also taken up arms, without hesitation, to protect their lord, families, and the people of theirnd. However, not everything could be solved by sheer will alone.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Only their reinforcements areing.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t our reinforcementse yet?¡±


    ¡°Those big guild jerks who always act so high and mighty are nowhere to be seen when it matters.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>, I just want to see my mom again...¡±


    More monsters poured out of the Gate and arrived at the battlefield.


    Staring at the scene in shock, the yers and Castle Baden''s army, all wore expressions of devastation.


    ¡°This is bad...¡±


    Even the captain of the knights lowered his sword, his gaze trembling.


    <i>Is this really the end for Baden...?</i>


    Retreating to fortify their defenses would buy them time. However, there seemed to be no way to deal with the overwhelming number of monsters.


    <i>We need to minimize losses for now.</i>


    The moment the knights¡¯ captain raised his sword to issue the retreat order, a clever gray troll hurled the wooden club it had been holding at the captain.


    ¡°<i>Kaaaahh!</i>¡±


    The club flew through the air, aimed directly at the captain. Even if he dismounted, he wouldn''t be able to avoid istion on the battlefield!


    At that moment, Sacred Barrier materialized in front of the captain and blocked the attack.


    <i>ng!</i>


    ¡°<i>Krrrk?</i>¡±


    ¡°W-what...?¡±


    Before either the gray troll or the captain could understand what had happened, the tightly shut gates of Castle Baden began to forcefully open, and out rushed hundreds of Pdins.


    ¡°Blessing of the Saint, Blessing of the Battlefield.¡±


    <i>Woooooom!</i>


    As a woman standing behind them raised her hand and murmured, light enveloped the Pdins. At the same time, the speed of the charging forces increased significantly.


    ¡°Charge! y the monsters and close the Gates¡ªthat is our mission!¡±


    ¡°First, break their formation! Orders one through three, hit the left. Squadrons four through six, take the right!¡±


    Hundreds of Pdins charged fearlessly at the ogres, trolls, and stone golems.


    ¡°T-that¡¯s reckless...¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid? Reckless, my ass! Do you not see their emblem?¡±


    ¡°Emblem?¡±


    At that, the nearby yers quickly turned to check the guild emblems on their armor. There was only one guild in <i>MID Online</i> that used the white-painted emblem of the Srian Church!


    ¡°P-Prray...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Pray guild!¡±


    ¡°One of the world¡¯s top ten guilds has arrived as reinforcements!¡±


    ¡°Yes! I knew the Pray guys woulde through!¡±


    ¡°Of course! They¡¯re different from ces like ck Bee or Titan!¡±


    At the arrival of reinforcements from one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds, the yers erupted into cheers.


    Then, Minerva approached the yers and gave orders in a charismatic voice, ¡°Fight without worry! The Pray guild¡¯s Clerics will provide support from the rear!¡±


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d live to see the day I¡¯d be supported by the Pray guild!¡±


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not doomed after all!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely subscribe to your guild¡¯s MewTube channel after this battle is over!¡±


    ¡°We are truly grateful for your support. I¡¯ll make sure to report this to the Count!¡±


    With high spirits, yers and NPCs charged forward once more!


    ¡°Now, let us join the fight as well.¡±


    Led by Minerva of the Saintess ss, the clerics of the Pray guild began chanting their spells.


    ¡°Heal!¡±


    ¡°Mass Cure!¡±


    ¡°Touch of Healing!¡±


    Hundreds of clerics held the rear line, continuously healing both yers and NPCs. However, what surprised the yers even more was something else.


    ¡°Oh no, the Haste spell duration is...¡±


    ¡°Haste!¡±


    ¡°<i>Argh,</i> the shield broke...¡±


    ¡°Sacred Barrier!¡±


    With eagle eyes on the battlefield, they renewed buffs with ghost-like precision the moment they ran out! And that wasn¡¯t all.


    ¡°Razley, enemies to the northeast!¡±


    ¡°Criden, a group of hobgoblins in the southwest are loading poison arrows.¡±


    Information was ryed constantly to the Pdins assigned to specific sectors! The details covered enemy attacks and patterns the Pdins hadn¡¯t noticed, providing precise briefings.


    yers who witnessed this scene up close couldn¡¯t help but swallow, utterly amazed.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>Wizards may be the flowers of battle...</i>


    <i>But Clerics are the flowers of war.</i>


    <i>Who knew Clerics could be this terrifying?</i>


    With skilled Clerics supporting them, the tide of battle quickly bnced out. At this, the yers wore expressions of relief, but Minerva remained concerned.


    <i>Even with our guild¡¯s help, we¡¯re only at a stalemate... This isn¡¯t good.</i>


    If there had been only one Gate near Castle Baden, victory would have been easily within reach. However, there were two Gates.


    <i>ording to information on themunity, bosses are summoned randomly six hours after the Gate opens.</i>


    The two Gates near Castle Baden had opened seven and eight hours ago.


    <i>It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a boss monster to appear at any moment.</i>


    It was a mystery why ominous thoughts always came true.


    ¡°Master! We¡¯ve received a report from the scout team!¡±


    ¡°A boss monster has appeared from the left Gate!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a level 278 Troll Hero!¡±


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>...!¡±


    As Minerva frowned, preparing to order an increase in the tempo of battle, another report quickly followed.


    ¡°A-addditional report from the scouts!¡±


    ¡°No way...¡±


    Minerva quickly turned her head toward the guild member delivering the report.


    With a trembling voice and teary eyes, the female scout stated, ¡°Another boss has appeared... from the right Gate as well.¡±


    ¡°Details?¡±


    ¡°L-level 310... It¡¯s a Triple-Headed Ogre.¡±


    Minerva wondered how ominous thoughts coulde true twice in a row.


    ¡°...What is the Srian God even doing right now?¡±


    Though Minerva had no way to know it, the Srian God was probably enjoying the candy Kai had left behind.


    1. A Korean phrase to describe a fanatic who will do anything to make people listen to them. An umon of umon usage of ? ?? ?? - bear pretending to be a fox ?

 Chapter 171: The Hero Emerges (3)

    <h4>Chapter 171: The Hero Emerges (3)</h4>


    "Make sure to eat it only with your parents'' permission, and don''t forget to brush your teeth afterward so you don¡¯t get cavities, okay?"


    "Okay!!"


    Kai patted Ayana¡¯s head as she politely responded to his request.


    It had been four hours since he swiftly destroyed the Medium and Easy Gates in Glendale and visited Whitehall. In what felt like the blink of an eye, Kai destroyed the Gates and then made his way to the Smile Clinic with Ayana¡¯s favorite treats.


    "Are you leaving again?" Ayana asked.


    "I have to."


    "<i>A...</i>"


    Seeing Ayana droop her shoulders and pout, Kai crouched down to meet her at eye-level andforted her.


    "There are still people suffering on other battlefields right now."


    "I know you have to go... It''s just..." she whined a little because she was sad.


    "I¡¯lle back when it¡¯s all over."


    "Okay! When you do, I¡¯ll show you some new medicines!"


    "I¡¯ll be looking forward to that."


    After purchasing a variety of potions made by Ayana and her parents at a generous price, Kai bid them farewell and stepped out into the street with a light heart.


    <i>Hard Gates... They¡¯re definitely more dangerous than the Easy and Medium ones.</i>


    However, Kai focused solely on dealing with the Gates and ignored the monsters that emerged from them.


    <i>I heard boss monsterse out of the Gates, too.</i>


    Luckily, no boss monster had appeared from Whitehall¡¯s Hard Gate, so he was able to destroy it easily.


    <i>Now, I need to head to Castle Baden...</i>


    As Kai walked down the street, he casually looked around, as if it was nothing.


    <i>Who are they?</i>


    A few yers kept ncing his way every now and then. It wasn¡¯t that Kai was being paranoid as if he was like a celebrity so full of themself.


    <i>They¡¯ve been following me since Glendale, haven¡¯t they?</i>


    From there, his heightened senses as an Apostle had picked up on something unusual. Someone was watching him. Since then, Kai had started scanning his surroundings and confirmed his suspicions.


    <i>All of them have ck hair...</i>


    One¡¯s body, hair, and skin were inherited from their parents. That was an old saying by Confucius, written in the ssic of Filial Piety. In modern times, no one would seriously follow that saying...


    <i>But in MID Online, there are some who do. People who never dye their hair.</i>


    They were Chinese people. Of course, not all Chinese yers refrained from dyeing their hair.


    <i>But a group that could mobilize this many people, all with ck hair, can only be one.</i>


    The ck Dragon guild was one of the top ten guilds in the world, and was known for having thergest number of guild members alongside India''s Shiva Guild.


    <i>Didn¡¯t their membership requirement include something ridiculous... like only epting Chinese yers with ck hair?</i>


    It was already widely known throughout <i>MID Online</i>.


    <i>So the important question is, why are they watching me...?</i>


    Kai slightly furrowed his brows. There was nothing he could think of that would exin it.


    <i>I¡¯ve never had any conflict with the ck Dragon guild.</i>


    After all, it took two hands to p. No matter how much trouble Kai stirred and how many enemies he made, there was no reason for someone he never interacted with to have a grudge against him.


    <i>Besides, Xao Lin of the ck Dragon guild isn¡¯t the type to attack me recklessly just to boost his reputation.</i>


    Public opinion on him was simple. He was known to be extremely calctive and sensitive to profit and loss. In other words, Xao Lin would never do anything that might bring harm to himself or his guild.


    <i>I¡¯ve heard it''s said he''s not the type to just check the stability of a stone bridge.</i>


    Instead, he would rather demolish the bridge and build his own right beside it with manpower and resources. Xao Lin was regarded as that kind of person.


    <i>In short, if the ck Dragon guild has started moving, it means they¡¯re getting something valuable in return...</i>


    No matter how much he thought about it, Kai couldn¡¯t figure out what that something was. However, there was one thing he was certain about.


    <i>Whatever their scheme is... I can¡¯t afford to go to Castle Baden with such a risky factor looming over me.</i>


    That left only one option!


    <i>Let¡¯s throw out some bait, shall we?</i>


    Feeling the eyes of several people on his back, Kai left Whitehall.


    At the same time, the ck Dragon guild members who had been watching him reported through their voice chat program.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "The target has left through Whitehall¡¯s eastern gate."


    "We¡¯ll begin pursuit."


    ck Dragon guild members poured out endlessly from the alleyways and corners of the street.


    ***


    "This ce should be quiet enough."


    The Wild Beetle Forest was a ce where massive insect monsters around level 190 roamed, and naturally, it was an unpopr spot. That was why Kai chose it.


    <i>They don¡¯t drop expensive materials, and every time you hunt one, you get covered in green goo. Plus, no one wants to deal with the annoying patterns of these bugs unless they¡¯re a real lunatic.</i>


    If Kai could just uncover what the ck Dragon guild was up to here, it would be a huge gain for him.


    <i>Besides, I have my Shadow Shift skill. It might take some time to cast since it¡¯s a return skill, but I can easily get myself out of here if needed.</i>


    Kai¡¯s confidence came from his umted experience and his current ss.


    <i>I was just arva, like the bugs here in the Wild Beetle Forest, but now...</i>


    Now, he was a butterfly with beautiful,rge wings. A butterfly armed with a toxic venom capable of subduing any predator.


    Silence filled the forest clearing.


    Large enough to hold at least a hundred people, Kai stood in the center and firmly pressed his feet into the ground as he said, "So, no need to act anymore. Come out."


    There was a brief silence. But soon enough, faint sounds reached Kai¡¯s ears.


    <i>Rustle, crunch.</i>


    It was the sound of dried winter leaves and branches snapping underfoot.


    <i>One, two, three, four... Wait, how many of them are there?</i>


    Kai observed the approaching figures.


    "<i>Huh?</i>"


    When Kai saw their faces and the emblem on their chests, his expression twisted in confusion.


    "They¡¯re not from ck Dragon."


    The emblem they wore was of a muscr arm, with flexed biceps prominently disyed. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the ck Dragon guild¡¯s emblem of a soaring ck dragon. However, just because it wasn¡¯t the ck Dragon emblem didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t famous.


    "...Titan."


    Before the word he muttered under his breath could even be scattered by the wind, footsteps echoed once again. It sounded as though an entire wall of massive humans was slowly surrounding the forest itself. It was indeed the ck Dragon guild.


    "This is..."


    Kai exhaled lightly through his nose, looking back and forth between the members of the Titan guild and the ck Dragon guild with a confused expression.


    "No matter how I see it, you all seem ready for a fight."


    "Correct," Goliath stepped forward and pushed the Titan guild members aside, giving a decisive nod.


    As that, Kai couldn''t help but feel not just baffled, but also a genuine sense of curiosity.


    "...Really, just like this? Out of nowhere?"


    "Since ancient times, the key to winning wars has been to strike first. What, did you expect us to send you an invitation in advance?"


    "You world-ss guilds sure know how to operate in the shadows."


    "<i>Hmph</i>, me your arrogance foring to a deste ce even though you knew you were being tailed."


    Goliath, ignoring Kai''s remark with a scoff, casually cracked the knuckles of his fist.


    <i>Crack, crack.</i>


    The unsettling sound echoed as a grin slowly crept across his lips.


    "<i>Oh</i>, and don¡¯t worry about the ck Dragon side. They won¡¯t be participating in the battle."


    "So they¡¯re just here to act as a wall?"


    "You catch on quick."


    "I have to ask¡ªthere¡¯s nothing for Titan to gain by picking a fight with me. Why go through all this trouble?"


    "Trouble? <i>Hah,</i> you still talk as if you¡¯re something special," Goliath growled. "We¡¯ve learned everything through the ck Dragon guild¡¯s vastwork of information. There are no elves, no merfolk, not even any NPCs from the Srian Church around here to help you."


    "So?"


    "Without your powerful allies, you¡¯re just a yer with the title of first ranked. Even that monstrous Yoo Ha-Rin didn¡¯t dare challenge the world¡¯s top ten guilds."


    "But I did, so it bruised your ego, did it?"


    "Keep provoking me and it won¡¯t end in your favor." With a sly grin, Goliath continued, "But I¡¯m a guild leader. Putting personal feelings aside for a moment... I¡¯ll admit, your role in the downfall of the ck Bee guild and yourbat sense in the Battle of the Bir ins weremendable."


    "Should I be thanking you?"


    "Of course. I¡¯m offering you a lifeline when you¡¯re backed into a corner."


    Goliath put on what he thought was the most benevolent and merciful expression he could make. Of course, to everyone else, it just looked terrifying.


    "Join Titan. Under our management, you won¡¯t need to fear any faction. We¡¯ll help you build the greatest career possible."


    "...What?" Kai took a step back, his face twisted in disgust.


    The image of this giant man, at least a head taller than him, offering his hand with that creepy smile was enough to give anyone nightmares!


    "Wait a minute. That¡¯s not what we agreed upon, is it?"


    A man from the ck Dragon guild stepped forward to block Goliath. Since Xao Lin wasn¡¯t present, Kun Feng¡ªthe thirdmander of the ck Dragon guild¡ªhad taken on the responsibility of overseeing their guild members.


    "This isn¡¯t the ce for a meremander to butt in. Back off.¡±


    As Goliath growled, Kun Feng was on the verge of retorting, but he remembered his master''s order not to cause unnecessary trouble and quietly stepped back.


    With the nuisance out of the way, Goliath raised his voice even more confidently as he made his proposal. "Now, make your choice. Will you soar with us behind you, or will you fall, your wings ripped apart until there''s nothing left?"


    After quietly listening to everything Goliath said, Kai slowly began to say, "I really don''t get it. I don''t understand."


    His expression truly conveyed confusion.


    "I don¡¯t know if the information hasn''t reached you, but... until today, I''ve destroyed three guilds with my own hands."


    The Crimson Fist, Crimson Sunset, and ck Bee.


    "Among them was even a guild that, like yours, was once praised as one of the top ten guilds."


    ¡°Don¡¯tpare us to them. And back then, your guerri tactics spread their forces thin. We don¡¯t make such foolish mistakes. Even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit.¡±


    Goliath had engraved the lesson deep in his bones that the failure of ck Bee taught them: never underestimate Unknown, or Kai. Thus, if Kai rejected his offer, he was fully prepared to kill him without hesitation.


    <i>Killing Kai might reduce the potential gains from the Invasion Event, but...</i>


    Eliminating a powerfulpetitor like a thorn in his side wasn''t entirely a loss.


    "So, what will it be?" Goliath asked.


    In Goliath''s mind, the answer was already clear.


    Even Kun Feng of the ck Dragon guild, who had been observing, sensed the gravity of the situation and had already contacted Xao Lin.


    <i>If Kai joins Titan... It''ll be a real headache.</i>


    Any top ten guild with the backing of the Srian Church, the merfolk, and the elves would be unbeatable.


    As everyone silently calcted their next move, Kai slowly shook his head. "I reject your offer. I won¡¯t be joining Titan."


    "Are you choosing death, then?"


    Kai shook his head again. "I reject that too. I¡¯m not exactly fond of dying."


    "You idiot... You¡¯ll regret your choice in less than ten minutes."


    "I¡¯ll return those words to you."


    <i>Click.</i>


    Kai set a timer to ten minutes and observed the surrounding Titan guild members with a cold gaze.


    <i>One hundred and fifty... They¡¯ve picked the best of the best.</i>


    And with the sturdy wall of the ck Dragon guild blocking any escape, the situation left no choice but to fight.


    <i>There¡¯s no time to be picky about the situation.</i>


    This was war. In war, the victor takes everything, and the loser loses it all.


    Kai wasn¡¯t foolish enough to hold back any cards in a life-or-death battle.


    <i>sh!</i>


    Kai raised his left hand, and on it were two rings.


    Then, without hesitation, Kai said, "Knight of Nightmare."


    As he shouted the activationmand, one of the rings emitted a brilliant purple glow. At the same time, around fifty skeleton knights appeared, ttering as they surrounded him


    In response, Goliath furrowed his brow and carefully examined them.


    <i>Are these the gnoll skeletons from that old video... No. These are different.</i>


    These skeletons were twice the height of gnoll skeletons and wielded swords and shields, d in full armor.


    "They¡¯re skeleton knights."


    Hovering above their heads, their levels showed as an impressive 298, reflecting the influence of the caster¡¯s own level.


    "I was wondering what made you so confident, and it turns out you had a hidden card."


    Goliath admitted he was slightly surprised.


    <i>But the situation hasn¡¯t changed.</i>


    The skeleton knights were a straightforward force. Typical of knights they wielded swords and shields, and their attack patterns were simple. So even if their level were at 320, Goliath felt confident he could defeat them.


    "Just think of it like a hunt. Sweep them away."


    With a slight nod of his chin toward his subordinates, 150 Titan guild members began activating their respective skills.


    <i>tter, tter.</i>


    On the other hand, the skeleton knights surrounded their master, waiting for orders.


    As Kai gazed into their hollow, empty eyes, he raised his left hand once again. "Sorry, but I never said I had just<i> one</i> hidden card."


    At that moment, the ring on his middle finger emitted a bright light.


    "Activate skill, Appoint."


    Then, an eerie darkness swept over the battlefield, so dense that even the midday sun could not shine through it.

 Chapter 172: The Hero Emerges (4)

    <h4>Chapter 172: The Hero Emerges (4)</h4>


    The ones most taken aback as the darkness swirled around were the closebat yers of the Titan guild. As they charged forward, they suddenly found themselves enveloped in the darkness and couldn''t see anything.


    <i>Argh... What is this?</i>


    <i>Is this something like the Dark Fog spell from a Necromancer?</i>


    <i>Doesn''t matter, he can''t escape anyway. The ck Dragon guild has all exits tightly sealed.</i>


    As they stood there, waiting for the fog to clear, an eerie sound echoed from within.


    <i>Thump... thump-thump...</i>


    "What is that sound?"


    "Not sure... Sounds like someone banging on a drum or something."


    "Wait, I feel like I''ve heard this sound before..."


    "Same. But I can''t remember where it''s from."


    The elite members of the Titan guild were all rankers, with levels over 240. They had faced countless hunting grounds and an even greater number of monsters.


    "Hold on. I know what that sound is."


    One of the yers among them with the best memory spoke up and drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    "What? What is it?"


    "It''s strange though, because that sound is..."


    Before they could exin that it was the sound of a duhan tapping its helmet against its side, a thick finger shot out from the fog, grabbed them by the cor, and dragged them into the fog.


    "W-what the!"


    "Damn it, the fog is clearing too slowly!"


    "How long are we supposed to wait here?"


    "Wizards! Dispel the fog with wind magic!"


    Frustrated, Goliath ordered the wizards to cast their spells, which dispelled the fog. As the fog cleared, what appeared were fifty duhans, d in ash-gray armor and exuding a menacing aura.


    ¡°D-duhans?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s duhans!¡±


    ¡°Wait, these are level 298 duhans...?¡±


    Duhans weren¡¯t unheard of in <i>MID Online</i>, nor were monsters of level 298. However, no one had ever encountered a duhan of that level before.


    ¡°Th-this bastard! Why the hell is a Radiant Pdin using necromancy?!¡±


    ¡°We should report this to the church...!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. Try,¡± Kai nodded, almost encouraging them to do so.


    He knew well that even if word reached high priest Albert, he would onlyugh it off. After all, Kai was a cleric favored by the Srian God Helik and held a position equal to the high priest''s as the Sris Cleric.


    "It might be a little tough to sweep away my guys... Do you happen to have a good broom?" Kai taunted Goliath, whose face had turned red with frustration.


    Then, Kai wiped the smile from his face, and delivered a serious warning, ¡°Just to be clear, you started this war.¡±


    Turning to Kun Feng of the ck Dragon guild, Kai¡¯s voice was sharp as he confirmed, ¡°Hey, ck Dragon is only setting the stage this time, right?¡±


    <i>Gulp... What kind of Pdin does...?</i>


    Although a subtle divine energy radiated from Kai, dark energy crept up and faded from Kai''s body repeatedly. In appearance, he resembled a Pdin of death, exuding a threatening aura.


    Intimidated by the overwhelming presence, Kun Feng nodded with difficulty, "Y-Yes, that¡¯s right. The ck Dragon guild¡¯s role is just to ensure the fight between Titan and Kai happens... and to make sure the target can¡¯t escape. That¡¯s all."


    "The target¡¯s me, right?"


    ¡°Th-that¡¯s correct.¡±


    In other words, from the ck Dragon guild''s perspective, they had no reason to stop the Titan guild members if they decided to retreat.


    <i>Well, even if the others escape...</i>


    As long as Kai captured Goliath, the battle would be his victory.


    Kai tightly gripped the hilt of his sword while forcefully closing Minerva''s message window, which had been constantly popping up.


    ¡°You¡¯ve picked the wrong person to mess with.¡± Kai waved his left hand smoothly, pointing toward the enemies. ¡°Wipe them out.¡±


    ***


    <i>Cruuunch!</i>


    The level 298 duhans were powerful. Both the members of the Titan guild, the ck Dragon guild, and even Kai himself realized that for the first time.


    <i>They have high stamina, fast speed, and even strong power.</i>


    They didn¡¯t have any ring weaknesses, making them formidable. But their biggest advantage was something else entirely.


    ¡°No. 24! Charge into the enemy lines!¡±


    It was that, despite being monsters, they fought under humanmand. That was the greatest strength of Kai¡¯s duhan army.


    Relying on the awareness he had developed during his early days, Kai actively participated in the frontlines while constantly monitoring the health of the duhans. Whenever he noticed one reaching the brink of death, he didn¡¯t hesitate to give the order to charge.


    <i>Thump, thump, thump!</i>


    Duhan number 24 gripped its helmet and longsword, and bravely plunged straight into the heart of the enemy lines.


    ¡°Kill it before it gets here!¡±


    ¡°Shit, I don¡¯t have enough damage!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with its dodging skills?!¡±


    ¡°Damages aren¡¯t being dealt! Fall back!¡±


    Like trying to jam an oversized object into an ill-fitting slot, the duhan forced its way into the middle of the enemy formation with its health on the verge of depletion. Knowing this, the Titan guild members tried to flee rather than attack it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t attack it now!¡±


    ¡°We need to create more distance before finishing it off...!¡±


    ¡°Chasing Light Arrow.¡±


    <i>Pew!</i>


    A light arrow floated through the air and pierced No. 24''s back. At the same time, the duhan¡¯s entire body, along with its helmet and longsword, began to glow and crack.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°It¡¯s going to explode!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, everyone get down!¡±


    <i>Boooom!</i>


    The thunderous explosion drowned out the screams of the Titan guild members.


    Kai looked down at the scorched ground, which seemed as if it had been hit by an airstrike, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.


    <i>Who was it again that said explosions are art?</i>


    This moment fit that saying perfectly. One of the key features of the duhans was that when their HP reached zero, they would explode, scattering their armor and weapons to damage everything around them.


    <i>I learned this pattern well during that time in Lynel¡¯s Dungeon with Min-Soo¡¯s guild, Rush.</i>


    The pattern that had been a nightmare to deal with turned out to be incredibly useful when he wielded it. On top of that, he could control exactly when and where those bombs would detonate. It felt as if he was fighting a war with fifty bombs at his disposal.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>... Closebat unit! Ignore the duhans as much as possible and focus on Kai!¡±


    ¡°Necromancy ends when the caster dies!¡±


    ¡°Kill that bastard!¡±


    ¡°You n on killing<i> me?</i>¡± The enemies'' confidence made Kaiugh, but it quickly transformed into a cold, sly smile.


    <i>They must not have noticed my abilities with all the duhans in the way...</i>


    He had already taken down fifteen Titan guild members himself.


    The key to his overwhelming powery in his boundless supply of holy power.


    <i>sh, sh!</i>


    With his advanced level of Swordsmanship of the Dawn, every strike he made replenished his Holy Power. Whenbined with Supernova, it became a devastating force. However, Kai wasn¡¯t satisfied with that alone.


    <i>The frequency of Minerva''s messages kept getting shorter... and now, they¡¯ve suddenly be infrequent again.</i>


    Though he didn¡¯t know the exact situation, he could tell that Castle Baden was in serious trouble.


    Kai instinctively knew he had to end this battle quickly, and said, ¡°Skill activation, Sr Field.¡±


    As he stomped his foot while activating the skill, holy power surged across the ground from his position, spreading out into a sizable area measuring twenty meters by twenty meters.


    "We don¡¯t have much time, let¡¯s speed this up."


    Even though Kai¡¯sbat power was already formidable, it increased dramatically within that space.


    <strong>[You are under the blessing of the Sr Field.]</strong>


    <strong>[While on the Sr Field, all stats increase by 30.]</strong>


    <strong>[While on the Sr Field, all recovery speeds doubled.]</strong>


    His Holy Power, which was already rapidly regenerating, now began to refill at an explosive rate.


    <i>At this rate...</i>


    Kai judged that there wouldn''t be any problems, and subtly twisted his body. At the same time, dozens of enemies surrounded him from all sides.


    "<i>Hmph!</i>"


    "Kill him!"


    <i>ng, ng!</i>


    Kai''s body was repeatedly pushed back. The elite forces of the Titan guild were indeed on a different level than all the people he had faced so far.


    <i>During the ck Bee fight, I was the perfect counter for Wizards, and the power of the Blue gue was incredible, but...</i>


    This time, the ck Dragon guild was nearby. If he used the Blue gue carelessly and it affected them, the situation would turn against him.


    <i>Even for me, fighting two top ten guilds at once would be too much.</i>


    Moreover, unlike the ck Bees, which wasposed only of Wizards, the Titan guild members had a well-bnced distribution of different sses.


    "<i>Tsk</i>, they''re troublesome to deal with."


    Clicking his tongue, Kai noticed a greatsword swinging toward him and tried to retreat quickly.


    "It¡¯s toote."


    "Binding Roots!"


    "Ice Field!"


    <i>When did they...</i>


    They were support spells cast by the Wizards out of his line of sight!


    His legs were stuck to the ground, making evasion impossible.


    "Ethereal Body!"


    Just as Kai used Ethereal Body to escape the immediate danger with no other choice, dozens of magic spells rained down on him.


    <i>They''re fast to react.</i>


    Before two seconds had even passed after using Ethereal Body, Kai canceled it. As he did so, swords and spears came rushing at him like a tidal wave again.


    "Holy Chains!"


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    In an instant, Kai wrapped Holy Chains around his left arm and raised it to block the iing attacks.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    <strong>[You have reduced Smash damage with Holy Chains.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 7,105 damage.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have reduced Piercing damage with Holy Chains.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 8,751 damage.]</strong>


    <i>Their attack power really is insane.</i>


    These were the best of the best, and the equipment they wore was not cheap.


    <i>Each of them is like a walking luxury car...</i>


    Kai was impressed by their strength, but the enemies felt the same way about him.


    "Damn! That fucking chain!"


    "That rat¡¯s reaction speed is insane!"


    From their perspective, it was equally frustrating that none of their direct hits seemed tond well.


    As there was a brief pause in the battle, Kai quickly darted his eyes around.


    <i>This isn''t working. I need to take out the Clerics first...</i>


    The battlefield had been locked in a meaningless war of attrition for a while now. The duhans, who had initially pushed back the enemies, were now down to just twenty-two. As the bnce of power had greatly shifted, the Clerics of the Titan guild began to shine.


    <i>It feels a bit odd to say this as a Cleric myself, but Clerics are really annoying.</i>


    No matter how much damage was inflicted, as long as they weren¡¯t wiped out all at once, the Clerics would focus their healing and fully restore the wounded. In short, there was no way to end this battle if the Cleric line wasn¡¯t wiped out!


    Eventually, Kai decided to pull out another card.


    ¡°Enhanced Summoning, Mimic, Blizzard!¡±


    Hemanded Blizzard and Mimic, ¡°Blizzard, draw their attention for a bit! Mimic, transform into King Sand Worm!¡±


    In an instant, Mimic transformed into a massive King Sand Worm! However, there wasn¡¯t a single person who couldn¡¯t take down a King Sand Worm alone.


    ¡°There¡¯s something suspicious going on!¡±


    ¡°Take down the King Sand Worm first!¡±


    ¡°Focus fire on it, focus fire!¡±


    The enemies'' attacks hammered against Mimic''s massive body.


    ¡°<i>Hoeeeek!</i>¡±


    As Mimic let out a pained scream, Kai gave it a sorrowful nce and ordered, ¡°Mimic, swallow me and spit me out. As far as possible that way!¡±


    ¡°<i>Kyoong</i>.¡±


    Mimic, exhausted, opened its mouth wide to carry out its master''s finalmand. The next moment, as it spat Kai out, Kai was left floating in the air, feeling ufortable by the saliva soaking his robe.


    <i>But I achieved my goal.</i>


    Both Mimic and Blizzard, being lower in level, were unsummoned in less than a minute, but they had already fulfilled their roles perfectly!


    <i>I¡¯ll raise you two properly when things get betterter.</i>


    Kai made a mental promise to his pets and looked down at the scene below.


    <i>Titan¡¯s elite Clerics. There¡¯s twenty-three of them.</i>


    Looking at their dumbfounded faces staring up at him, Kai said, ¡°Upgrade.¡±


    <strong>[Upgrade skill has been used.]</strong>


    <strong>[The next three skills used will have their effects greatly enhanced.]</strong>


    After confirming the satisfying message, Kai shouted loudly, ¡°Wrath of the Sun!¡±


    <strong>[Wrath of the Sun has been activated.]</strong>


    <strong>[The skill has been enhanced by the Upgrade skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[Both the attack power and range of Wrath of the Sun are increased by 1.5 times.]</strong>


    In one go, more than a quarter of his total Holy Power was drained, but the reward was certain.


    In the next moment, the clear blue sky suddenly lost its clouds, and the sr energy that pierced through the atmosphere began to mercilessly bombard the ground.


    <i>Zzzzing! Zzzzziiiing!</i>


    Like aser beam being fired from a satellite, the sunlight lightly skimmed across the earth! However, the aftermath was far from light.


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Wherever the sunlight touched, mes erupted, and the HP of those who took a direct hit plummeted in chunks.


    ¡°Wh-what kind of attack power is this...!¡±


    ¡°Clerics, be especially careful! If you''re in it for more than two seconds, you''ll die instantly!¡±


    The Titan guild members were collectively thrown into panic!


    Kai didn¡¯t miss this chance.


    <i>Now''s the time.</i>


    With the attention divided and everyone too preupied dodging the Wrath of the Sun, Kai¡¯s eyes caught sight of a giant in the distance, watching the battle with arms crossed.


    <i>Goliath.</i>


    Perhaps overconfident in his own strength, Goliath was calmly observing the battle with a nonchnt expression, without a single guard by his side.


    <i>This is my chance. </i>


    As soon as both of Kai''s feet touched the ground, he kicked off and sprinted toward Goliath.


    "Final Attack."


    His next attack would ignore the target¡¯s defense and deliver triple the attack power as a direct hit.


    Kai gripped his longsword firmly without hesitation.


    <i>Flood of des.</i>


    Flood of des was his most powerful physical attack skill.


    Kai closed the distance to Goliath in the blink of an eye, moving with such speed that even a top-ranked yer wouldn¡¯t be able to react easily!


    ¡°Flood of des!¡±


    Kai viciously swung the spinning longsword straight toward Goliath¡¯s heart.


    <i>With my stats, gear, and the Final Attack-enhanced Flood of desnding a critical hit...</i>


    Even Goliath wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. At the very least, it could leave him in critical condition.


    In this tense situation, Goliath''s voice came, slow and almostzy. ¡°You still think you¡¯re the best until the end, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    <i>He¡¯s not panicking... even in this situation?</i>


    Sensing something was wrong, Kai elerated his strike.


    Just as the de was about to pierce Goliath''s heart, he slowly said, ¡°Ethereal Body.¡±

 Chapter 173: The Hero Emerges (5)

    <h4>Chapter 173: The Hero Emerges (5)</h4>


    Kai had found it a bit strange when he had been fighting the members of the Titan guild in the Melbarun Ruins.


    <i>Those guys knew the name of the skill Ethereal Body, and they even knew its weakness perfectly at the time.</i>


    From what he knew, the skill Ethereal Body had never appeared before. He had searched through themunity and all kinds of search engines multiple lines so he was sure of that.


    <i>At the time, I just thought the Titan guild had incredibly high intelligence capabilities...</i>


    But now, all the questions were answered. The curiosity of how the Titan guild knew about the existence of Ethereal Body was dissolved.


    ¡°<i>Dang it</i>...!¡±


    Kai¡¯s Flood of des helplessly passed through Goliath, who was now translucent.


    In that moment, Kai finally understood the frustration his past enemies must have felt. However, he quickly came back to his senses and prepared his next move.


    <i>Physical attacks are immune with Ethereal Body.</i>


    Therefore, Kai cast Chasing Light Arrows. In the blink of an eye, dozens of arrows formed in the air.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know about this, did you?¡±


    As Kai smirked and snapped his fingers, the light arrows were sent rushing toward Goliath.


    Ethereal Body perfectly blocked physical attacks, but it took double damage from magic¡ªa double-edged sword!


    Kai had no doubt that his magic would turn Goliath into a hedgehog, but he became uneasy when he saw Goliath''s expression.


    <i>... He¡¯s smiling? Even in this situation?</i>


    His unease became a reality.


    ¡°Switching. Blessing of Mirror Lake.¡±


    Goliath, who had been translucent while using Ethereal Body, returned to his original form. Then, his body began to shine like a mirror reflecting something bright. Dozens of arrows made of light bombarded his body and the harsh sound echoed like thick raindrops striking the ground. However...


    ¡°No damage...?¡±


    For the first time since the battle began, Kai¡¯s eyes flickered with nervousness. Even when Goliath used the Ethereal Body skill, Kai was surprised but not panicked as Ethereal Body had a clear weakness as a skill and Kai had skills that could exploit that weakness.


    ¡°How foolish. I obtained the Ethereal Body skill long before you. Of course, I¡¯ve had a solution to its drawbacks prepared for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Switching... What about that skill?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll figure it out as you fight... but it allows me to register two skills and switch between them whenever I want.¡±


    ¡°... No way.¡±


    Goliath smiled arrogantly when he saw Kai''s shocked expression.


    ¡°Do you think I held back out of fear until now? Not at all. I¡¯ve just been hiding my abilities because I didn¡¯t want my information exposed. If you were leading a guild, I wouldn¡¯t have gone this far... But an individual shaking the position of a top ten world guild? That¡¯s dangerous. Extremely dangerous.¡±


    Thus, Goliath revealed the abilities he had been hiding to solidify his position without hesitation, even in front of a rival like ck Dragon.


    Kun Feng, who had been watching the fight, was left speechless.


    <i>Seeing how Ethereal Body skill is used by both Kai and Goliath... it seems like it is a skill that ignores physical damage</i>


    That alone would make it a highly troubling skill. Closebat yers would be left helpless like dogs chasing after a chicken[1].


    <i>But this game has Wizards.</i>


    With the help of Wizards, even a Ethereal Body skill could be countered without much difficulty. However...


    <i>Switching? I¡¯ve never even heard of a skill like that.</i>


    Thanks to that skill, Goliath could now switch at will between nullifying physical damage and magic damage. If one could strike the enemy without being hit, that entity would indeed be considered invincible.


    ¡°Consider it an honor. You are the first yer to face thisbination of skills.¡±


    Kai ignored Goliath¡¯s confident voice and first widened the distance between them. Then, he started to think.


    <i>What should I do?</i>


    The original duration of the Ethereal Body skill was ten minutes. That meant, no matter how bad the situation got, he could just run away for ten minutes. However, the existence of the Switching skill made the situation moreplicated.


    <i>How exactly does Switching work?</i>


    Kai wondered whether Goliath could switch freely only during the original ten-minute duration of Ethereal Body, or if he could do it whenever he wanted.


    The confusion in Kai¡¯s thoughts showed clearly on his face.


    ¡°<i>Hehe,</i> looks like you''re shocked.¡±


    <i>Crunch, crunch.</i>


    Having finished preparing for hunting, Goliath casually threw out ament. ¡°Curious, aren¡¯t you? How many times I can use Switching? How long it wouldst?¡±


    ¡°Then...?¡±


    ¡°Of course...¡± Goliath chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you.¡±


    Barely suppressing the surge of irritation rising within him, Kai observed his surroundings.


    <i>The situation is really disadvantageous.</i>


    In a normal situation, he would have used the terrain to escape, but...


    <i>Damn. I was toocent.</i>


    Kai had charged at Goliath, thinking he was defenseless, while ignoring the remaining Titan guild members behind him. Now, seventy of them were blocking his way out.


    <i>I managed to take out the Clerics... but there are still too many.</i>


    His only hope was that the thirty remaining duhans would hold them off.


    Gripping his longsword tightly, Kai replied, ¡°Alright. I admit it. I was surprised. I thought you were just a dumb bear... but turns out you¡¯ve got some tricks hidden inside.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmph.</i> This isn¡¯t a game where you can rise to the top with a dumb head.¡±


    ¡°But I think you forgot something.¡±


    Kai''s longsword in his right hand began to spin fiercely. At the same time, his left hand started casting a magic spell.


    ¡°I¡¯m a double-casting yer.¡±


    ¡°<i>Bahahahaha!¡± </i>Goliath burst intoughter, and nodded slowly as if he were watching his grandchild¡¯s cute tricks. ¡°I know, but... It doesn¡¯t matter anymore because...¡±


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    In an instant, Goliath¡¯s massive two-meter frame vanished from Kai¡¯s sight.


    <i>Below! He''s fast!</i>


    In reality, there was no way someone with Goliath¡¯s size could move at such speed. But this was a game. Stats and items could make even thergest of figures move like lightning.


    ¡°With the number one martial artist in front of you, you won¡¯t have time for double-casting,¡± Goliath said, throwing a jab with a fist the size of a pot lid.


    <i>Guard with the sword!</i>


    Kai stepped back, angling his sword to absorb the force of the punch. It was an excellent method for a warrior without a shield to reduce iing damage.


    However, each time Goliath''s jab struck the de, Kai''s HP drained rapidly.


    ¡°What? How is your attack power so...?¡±


    ¡°Ethereal Body and the Blessing of Mirror Lake. With these two skillsbined, I am as good as invincible. That means I don¡¯t have to invest in defense like others do.¡±


    In other words, Goliath had poured everything into his attack power.


    To Kai, it seemed like a stupid choice, but the results were undeniable.


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i>¡±


    Usually, martial artists'' skills were fast in attack speed butcked damage. However, there was a way to ovee that shoring¡ªlinking skills.


    <i>Once I get hit... I won¡¯t be able to escape!</i>


    Just like it would be a never ending stream of ants if he stepped on an ant hill, once Kai started guarding against Goliath''s punches, he couldn''t find the right moment to escape.


    To make matters worse, his Ethereal Body skill was still on cooldown after being used earlier.


    <i>I¡¯ll really die at this rate.</i>


    Kai continued to get pummeled, but he thrust his sword with his right hand and simultaneously cast apleted spell.


    ¡°Flood of des, Holy Explosion!¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A beam of light formed from holy power shot out from Kai¡¯s left hand while his sword shed from the right.


    The decision Goliath made when facing these two attacks was simple.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to get hit by either of them.¡±


    Once again, Goliath swiftly moved hisrge body, and retreated far back and effortlessly dodged all of Kai''s attacks.


    ¡°<i>Damn it</i>...¡±


    He may look like a bear, but in battle, he moved as cunningly as a snake.


    ¡°Give up. You can¡¯t win against me.¡±


    Using the Dash skill of a martial artist, Goliath approached in an instant, aiming a high kick with his big foot directly at Kai''s head.


    <i>If I duck here and counter...!</i>


    As Kai lowered his stance and was about to charge forward, Goliath''s leg, which was suspended high in the air, curved in a smooth arc and struck directly at Kai''s neck.


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i>¡±


    Caught off guard by the unexpected Brazilian kick, Kai lost his bnce and stumbled backward.


    Goliath¡¯s eyes shined as he seized the opportunity and charged at Kai relentlessly.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>... Flood of des!¡±


    ¡°Switching, Ethereal Body!¡±


    Bing translucent again, Goliath''s physical form became immune to Kai''s sword strike. He grabbed Kai''s face with his thick, massive hand and mmed him hard into the ground. Without giving him a moment to catch his breath, Goliath''s fist relentlessly followed.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>... Holy Chains!¡±


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    Kai swiftly wrapped his arm in the Holy Chain and used them to block Goliath¡¯s attacks. Then, he immediatelyunched another barrage of Light Arrows at him.


    ¡°Switching, Blessing of Mirror Lake.¡±


    <i>Ting, ting, ting, ting.</i>


    Goliath hastily retreated while activating his skill, and once again, Kai¡¯s attack did no damage. However, he managed to escape the danger this time.


    <i>He¡¯s far stronger than I expected.</i>


    Not only did Goliath keep up with Kai¡¯s movements enhanced by his Benevolence stats, but his reflexes were also outstanding.


    <i>I thought alternating between magical and physical attacks would throw him off...</i>


    Yet it was the opposite. Goliath¡¯s fluidbo attacks left Kai struggling to stay focused. Moreover, every time Kai tried to attack, Goliath neutralized it with his Switching skill, making him an extremely difficult opponent to deal with.


    <i>If only I had a hybrid skill at times like this...</i>


    A hybrid skill was one that dealt both magical and physical damage! While hybrid damage was usually weak unless wielded by a magic swordsman who increased both Intelligence and Strength, it seemed like the only thing that could counter Goliath in his current state.


    Kai tried using Double Casting to exploit Goliath¡¯s weaknesses, but even that wasn¡¯t easy.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about time to end this.¡±


    Seeing that Kai¡¯s HP had dropped to only half now, Goliath slowly approached him.


    <i>There¡¯s no way to beat him unless I cannd both types of damage at the same time. Both at once... Wait, at the same time?</i>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    As if lightning struck, a deafening roar echoed through Kai''s mind. He opened his newly learned skill list as if possessed.


    <i>There... is one!</i>


    Kai''s eyes gleamed as he found the information he had been searching for.


    <strong>[<u>Srian Self</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Consumes 5 permanent Benevolence stats to create a doppelganger of the caster. </strong>


    <strong>The doppelganger exhibits 70% of the caster¡¯s abilities and explodes upon death, dealing damage to enemies.</strong>


    <strong>Cooldown: 24 hours</strong>


    <i>Srian Self.</i>


    Because it required sacrificing 5 Benevolence stats permanently, Kai had tested every other skill but had never used this or the Descent skill.


    <i>I have no idea how this doppelganger will fight, but...</i>


    Kai was confident.


    <i>I just need to sync my attacks to it.</i>


    If the doppelganger performed physical attacks, Kai would cast spells. If the doppelganger cast spells, Kai wouldunch physical attacks. He could even adjust the timing by watching the doppelganger¡¯s movements.


    With this n clear in his mind, Kai didn¡¯t hesitate and dered, ¡°Srian Self.¡±


    As soon as he cast the skill, a powerful ray of sunlight swept over Kai from head to toe.


    <strong>[You have used the Srian Self skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[5 Benevolence stats have been permanently consumed.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Srian Doppelganger¡¯s level and stats are set at 70% of the caster''s.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level 216, Kai (Doppelganger) has been summoned.]</strong>


    The entity standing before Kai wore the same equipment as him and had a white body. Apart from the absence of eyes, nose, or mouth, its height and limb proportions were identical to his own.


    <i>It would have felt weird if the face was identical too.</i>


    It might have even given him chills.


    ¡°<i>Hm?</i>¡± Goliath furrowed his brows and he couldn¡¯t grasp the situation.


    Then, a t, emotionless voice emerged from somewhere on the doppelganger''s featureless face, ¡°Opponent confirmed. Commencing engagement.¡±


    1. This refers to a Korean saying about the futility of a dog chasing a chicken since the chicken will fly up to the roof¡ªIt is used when someone can''t pursue their goal because of an unbreakable obstacle/to do something in vain ?

 Chapter 174: Two Gates (1)

    <h4>Chapter 174: Two Gates (1)</h4>


    The Srian Doppelganger was essentially a level 216 version of Kai. However, the significance of Kai''s level 216 and that of other yers at the same level was quite different. Moreover, the doppelganger wasn¡¯t a living entity that could act independently of Kai¡¯s will.


    "Analyzing opponent''sbat patterns."


    The doppelganger stared intently at Goliath, before unsheathing its sword. Simultaneously, its left hand began casting Holy Explosion.


    ¡°<i>Hmph</i>. I don¡¯t know what''s going on but...¡±


    The doppelganger was equipped with the same gear as Kai, but as an experienced gamer, Goliath quickly pieced together the situation.


    <i>Is it like a doppelganger of the caster? Its level is 216... So it probably operates at around 70% of the caster¡¯s abilities.</i>


    After finishing his calctions in an instant, Goliath looked at Kai who had retreated to cast healing spells.


    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s just a doppelganger at that level, I guess it¡¯s meant to buy time...¡±


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    The massive form of Goliath moved like lightning and flew through the sky.


    ¡°I trust you don¡¯t seriously think you can beat me with that toy, do you? <i>Heup!</i>¡±


    Then, his massive fist swung down toward the ground.


    However, the doppelganger dodged the attack effortlessly, as if dodging it was second nature.


    <i>It dodged that?</i>


    Even Kai himself had barely managed to block such an attack, yet his doppelganger dodged it with ease.


    Slightly taken aback, Goliath quickly twisted his waist andunched a kick aimed at the doppelganger¡¯s head.


    Sensing the approaching high kick, the doppelganger ducked and charged forward.


    <i>Hah. As expected, the master and the doppelganger react the same way.</i>


    With a sly grin, Goliath smoothly bent his thick leg that had been stretching out toward the sky. It was a textbook-perfect Brazilian kick! It was also the powerful strike that had delivered a massive blow to Kai just moments earlier.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    But, as if it had read the future, Kai''s doppelganger suddenly halted its steps. As it did so, Goliath''s kick barely grazed the tip of its ear as it passed by.


    Taking advantage of Goliath¡¯s brief moment of surprise, the doppelganger leaped forward.


    ¡°Flood of des.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>. Switching, Ethereal Body!¡±


    ¡°Holy Explosion.¡±


    ¡°Switching, Blessing of Mirror Lake!¡±


    Goliath barely nullified the doppelganger¡¯s attacks and quickly retreated.


    ¡°How dare a doppelganger...¡±


    The doppelganger¡¯s attacks were sharp¡ªso sharp that Goliath even thought it might be better than its master.


    <i>If he starts working with the doppelganger in a coordinated attack...</i>


    Things could get difficult. As a shiver of unease ran down Goliath¡¯s spine, he shouted, ¡°What are you doing against those duhans? Finish them off and join me!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    The Titan guild members responded confidently and intensified their attacks.


    Havingpleted his own recovery, Kai¡¯s eyes began to shine as he saw Goliath. ¡°I can¡¯t let that happen. Mass Bless, Sris Blessing, Sris Armor, Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.¡±


    ??Kai, who had been observing the battlefield, began casting various buffs on the duhans and restoring their health.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°W-what? They''re undeads! How can they be affected by healing spells?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s cheating!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just like with those gnoll skeletons before¡ªnow them, too?¡±


    Hearing the cries of disbelief from the Titan guild members, Kai merely shrugged in response.


    <i>Maybe no one else has ever thought tobine a Cleric ss with Necromancy skills before.</i>


    Kai had once tried casting healing spells on his summoned gnoll skeletons to see if he could gain XP from killing them, but instead, it had only restored their health.


    <i>That means I can heal the duhans too.</i>


    <i>Thump, thump, thump!</i>


    Now supported by Kai, the duhans began to move more aggressively. What had once been fierce but contained sparks now transformed into a wave of mes, pushing the Titan guild members back. Moreover, each time the duhans killed an enemy, those enemies rose again as skeletons, lower undead creatures, and attacked their formerrades.


    ¡°<i>Argh</i>...¡±


    Goliath''s expression became annoyed as he realized he needed to hold out until his subordinates joined him.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s get this started again.¡± Having finished healing, Kai returned to the battlefield with a grin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t smile. Just because you have an extra doppelganger doesn¡¯t mean your chances of winning have improved...¡±


    ¡°Running low on mana, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Goliath¡¯s face froze for a moment at Kai¡¯s suddenment.


    He quickly masked his reaction and tilted his head, replying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡°Wow. If you die this time, you should quit gaming and be an actor. Your acting skills would put most professionals to shame.¡±


    With those provoking remarks, Kai drew his sword and squinted to scan Goliath¡¯s entire body.


    ¡°I watched you fight my doppelganger when I was healing myself, and I¡¯ve also been reying the entire fight in my head.¡±


    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t change anything.¡±


    ¡°No, it actually does.¡±


    Goliath¡¯s attacks were fast and vicious. When faced directly, it was a barrage of sharp attacks, leaving one barely able to fend them off.


    <i>However...</i>


    In all that time, Goliath had never used an offensive skill.


    ¡°You¡¯ve only used three skills so far. Switching, Ethereal Body, and Blessing of Mirror Lake.¡±


    Goliath stayed silent.


    ¡°The Switching skill must burn through a lot of mana, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    ¡°I kept wondering why you weren¡¯t using offensive skills. When I was down on the ground earlier, you could¡¯ve finished me if you used one.¡±


    ¡°You really do have a knack for spinning stories.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re scared, you can just die.¡±


    Kai pointed his sword at Goliath and said in a low voice, ¡°With the Switching skill draining your mana, how many more times do you think you can hold out?¡±


    If Goliath could use Switching indefinitely, he would be an unbeatable monster.


    <i>But I have a Srian Doppelganger, and Switching surely consumes an enormous amount of mana.</i>


    There was no way Pegasus would create an invincible, uncounterable skill. Even Kai¡¯s Mythic ss abilities had exploitable weaknesses.


    ¡°Enough talking.¡± Dismissing Kai''s words, Goliath took his stance and gestured with his hand. ¡°Come at me.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡±


    As Kai nodded in signal, the doppelganger charged at Goliath first.


    <i>It uses Flood of des and Holy Explosion first.</i>


    The doppelganger¡¯s fighting style was textbook-perfect. It was a purebat style, without any tricks or deception.


    <i>But... its basic abilities are exceptional.</i>


    Theputational power of the autonomously moving doppelganger was truly remarkable, as Kai couldn''t even maintain double casting while brawling with Goliath.


    <i>Then all I have to do is match its timing.</i>


    Kai circled behind Goliath, preparing Flood of des and Chasing Light Arrows.


    ¡°You rat!¡± Goliath used Ethereal Body to dodge the doppelganger¡¯s sword, but overhead, Kai¡¯s arrows rained down on him.


    ¡°<i>Urgh!</i>¡±


    For the first time in the battle, Goliath¡¯s HP took a hit. Moreover, since Goliath had given up defense, the attack drained a significant 12% of his HP in a single strike.


    ¡°You''re surprisingly weak for someone who looks so tough.¡±


    ¡°How dare you...!¡±


    Goliath dodged the doppelganger and charged toward Kai.


    <i>The doppelganger¡¯s attacks are weaker than his.</i>


    So, the n was to allow the doppelganger¡¯s attacks but dodge Kai''s. And at the same time, he would beat Kai senselessly and finish him off.


    "A brilliant choice. Well, as expected from a master of a top ten guild, I guess there''s no way you wouldn''t think that far."


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Goliath charged like a bull and rammed into Kai with his shoulder.


    ¡°<i>Heup!</i>¡±


    However, Kai had already anticipated this and lightly stepped on Goliath¡¯s shoulder, using the force to propel himself into the air.


    ¡°<i>Hah!</i> Trying to escape into the sky, where there¡¯s no way out?¡± Goliath mocked Kai¡¯s foolish actions, and leaped straight into the air.


    <i>If I cannd a critical hit here...</i>


    Goliath''s biceps bulged massively. Just before his fist, like an overinted bomb about to explode, wasunched forward, an irritating sound came from behind.


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡±


    ¡°Even if my doppelganger¡¯s attack power is weak, you shouldn¡¯t just ignore it.¡±


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    In an instant, chains wrapped around Goliath''s neck several times and mercilessly dragged his massive body toward the ground.


    Goliath hastily swung his fist, but it only cut through empty air. At the same time, he plummeted toward the ground.


    Watching this unfold, Kai aimed his finger at him.<i> </i>¡°Holy Explosion!¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°Sw-Switching! Blessing of Mirror...!¡±


    Goliath hurriedly opened his mouth, but no words could be spoken faster than the beam that had already been fired. In an instant, the beam struck him, and he was mmed straight into the ground.


    ¡°Hold on tight!¡±


    Using the recoil from Holy Explosion, Kai shot even higher into the air and drew his sword.


    <i>I¡¯ll end it here.</i>


    Goliath''s remaining health was at 70%, which was by no means a small amount.


    <i>But I have to finish it now.</i>


    No matter how much the blessed duhans were holding their ground, they wouldn''tst much longer. If Kai missed this opportunity, it was obvious that Goliath would switch to a defensive strategy in the battle.


    ¡°Upgrade.¡±


    <strong>[Upgrade skill has been used.]</strong>


    <strong>[The next three skills used will have their effects greatly enhanced.]</strong>


    ¡°Final Attack, Flood of des, Holy Explosion.¡±


    After enhancing his three skills, Kai began to slowly fall back down. With each passing moment, his body elerated due to gravity!


    "<i>Ugh</i>, get off!"


    Goliath was repeatedly hammering the doppelganger''s head with his fists. However, it clung tightly to Goliath and refused to let go even as its health was almost done.


    <i>W-what skill ising? That beam from before? Or the sword?</i>


    Goliath¡¯s eyes darted between Kai¡¯s left and right hands. It felt like a deadly game of rock-paper-scissors, with his life on the line. In addition to that, he was significantly advantageous.


    <i>If I lose, everything ends...</i>


    His opponent could try the same move over and over until they won.


    <i>Physical damage? Or magical damage?</i>


    All of Goliath¡¯s focus honed in on his eyes. His eyes turned bloodshot as he kept his gaze locked on Kai¡¯s left and right hands.


    Then, in that moment!


    ¡°Cover,¡± Kaimanded, and the doppelganger quickly reached out to cover Goliath¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°D-damn! Switching! Blessing of the Mirror Lake!¡±


    Momentarily losing track of Kai¡¯s movements, Goliath made the best decision he could in that split second.


    <i>Smart as always. He¡¯s not using Ethereal Body.</i>


    If Goliath had used Ethereal Body, any magical damage would have inflicted double the harm, but it seemed that the Blessing of Mirror Lake didn¡¯t carry such a penalty. In short, Goliath had made the best possible choice he could.


    ¡°However...¡±


    The oue of this game was already decided from the start.


    ¡°You lost the moment you made your move first.¡±


    Kai''s right hand moved like lightning, thrusting his sword forward.


    At the perfect moment, the doppelganger used Ethereal Body for Kai''s sword to slide through, and pierced Goliath''s heart.


    ¡°<i>Graaahhhh!</i>¡± Goliath screamed as he watched his HP plummet to the end in an instant.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to hurt a bit,¡± Kai said in response.


    Goliath hadn''t invested in defense at all. What little defense he had was nullified by the Final Attack effect, and Kai''s attack power had been tripled.


    ¡°To the point where you''ll want to go home.¡±


    With those words, Goliath¡¯s body began to crack and split apart.


    ¡°N-no...!¡±


    Once the first crack appeared, it triggered a chain reaction.


    <i>C-crack, crack!</i>


    Goliath''s massive body shattered like fragments, with white light seeping from his wide eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll never forgive you...!¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve controlled yourself better, like you did in front of Bach.¡±


    The final moments of one who couldn¡¯t control their rage were truly pitiful.


    <i>ng.</i>


    All that remained as Goliath vanished was a single gauntlet, which appeared to be at least Rare grade.


    ¡°Or maybe it''s a Unique grade.¡±


    This was an equipment used by the master of one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds. Just thebined value of his gear alone would easily be worth several billion, and weapons, of course, fetched the highest price of all.


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll put it to good use.¡±


    <strong>[You have obtained the Demon''s Gauntlet.]</strong>


    Kai added the item to his inventory and casually stepped through the remains of Goliath¡¯s broken polygons as he walked forward.


    The shing sounds of weapons that had echoed across the battlefield until just moments ago had long since stopped. It was all a result of Goliath''s death.


    ¡°Master... lost?¡±


    ¡°Then... what do we do now?¡±


    The monster who was ranked number one had just devoured even their trusted master.


    As Kai approached them, the Titan guild members nervously retreated, step by step.


    The ck undead army naturally moved to guard Kai, who wore the robe of a holy cleric¡ªa scene that appeared absurd to anyone watching. However, no one wasughing.


    All they could do in the presence of the savage hunter who had just taken down his second massive prey was hold their breath.


    ¡°Hey, ck Dragon.¡±


    ¡°... Did you need something?¡±


    Kun Feng¡¯s voice was respectful as he responded to Kai''s call. He had received strict orders from Xao Lin to not provoke Kai.


    ¡°This battle''s already decided, right? I¡¯ve got other things to attend to.¡±


    ¡°<i>Mmm... </i>The master of Titan Guild is dead, and even if the battle continues...¡±


    Kun Feng looked to the demoralized Titan rankers, who were overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness, and shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s unlikely the result will change. The ck Dragon guild acknowledges that you, Kai, have won this battle.¡±


    "Is that so? Then, could you clear the path for me now?" Kai casually patted one of the ck Dragon guild members on the shoulder, who had been creating the barrier.


    Kun Feng immediately responded, "Make way for him."


    "Yes, sir."


    With that, the ck Dragon guild members quickly parted to create a clear passage.


    "Well, I¡¯ve got lots to do, so I¡¯ll get going now."


    Kai began to lead his undead army away but suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    "<i>Oh,</i> wait a second."


    "...What¡¯s wrong?" Kun Feng cautiously asked, swallowing nervously.


    Although the ck Dragon guild hadn¡¯t done anything too wrong, their actions could certainly have earned them Kai''s wrath.


    Aware of this, Kai nced at Kun Feng and smiled. "You brought quite a few Wizards with you, right?"


    "We have a fair number, yes."


    "Then, how about teleporting me and my guys out of here?"


    He was a man rude enough to use the prestigious ck Dragon guild¡¯s Wizards like a taxi service!


    However, as Kun Feng noticed Kai''s brows furrowing, he quickly shed a bright smile, like that of an amusement park ticket clerk, and said, "Of course, that''s a service we''re more than happy to provide. Hey! Get the teleportation ready!"


    Kun Feng, who yed the role of strategist for the ck Dragon guild, was a quick-witted individual.

 Chapter 175: Two Gates (2)

    <h4>Chapter 175: Two Gates (2)</h4>


    It was possible to destroy Easy and Medium level Gates if a group of appropriately leveled yers gathered, but Hard Gates were different.


    The Invasion Event itself was designed more for high-level rankers than low-level yers, and Pegasus didn¡¯t make it easy for them to im the rewards.


    "Damn it..."


    "How are we supposed to kill all those monsters?"


    "We¡¯d need at least one of the top ten world guilds to even have a chance with that many."


    The yers standing at the walls of Castle Baden collectively let out low groans.


    Morale had reached its peak when the Pray guild joined the battle, however, the situation changed drastically when two boss monsters appeared on the battlefield. The boss monsters were a Troll Hero and a Triple-Headed Ogre which were monsters that were rarely encountered outside of special events.


    Once the number of yers logged out by the monsters reached double digits, they would be forced to retreat inside the castle.


    "What happens if Castle Baden falls?"


    "I¡¯m not sure. But one thing I do know is that Count Baden is one of the key figures influencing the Kingdom of Rashion."


    "<i>Ugh</i>, that¡¯s going to be a headache."


    "All the quest routes will be messed up, and there will probably be a flood of quests that can¡¯t bepleted."


    "Are those Pegasus guys out of their minds? Why would they set up two Hard Gates in a ce like this...?"


    Shaking their heads at the grim reality, the yers shuddered as they watched the monsters roaring.


    <i>Just the appearance of a boss monster shifted their momentum.</i>


    <i>So this is the influence of a boss monster from a Hard Gate...</i>


    <i>The only relief is that no more monsters areing out of the Gate after the boss monsters appeared...</i>


    <i>Tsk, but even so, it¡¯s only a matter of time before the castle falls.</i>


    Surprisingly, the monsters were capable of using their brains. Realizing that they couldn''t easily break through the sturdy walls of Castle Baden, they started bringingrge boulders and tree roots from the forests and mountains.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "They''re nning to break down the castle gate with those."


    "Shit, how are trolls and ogres that smart?"


    "What happens to all the NPCs if we die?"


    At one of the yers¡¯ sudden question, the others voicing theirints fell silent.


    <i>What happens...?</i>


    <i>They''ll probably all die.</i>


    Everyone knew that truth, but no one could easily say it aloud. Even though they understood they were just programs, the NPCs'' terrified, trembling bodies as they prayed looked all too human.


    "<i>Ugh</i>, I did post a request for reinforcements on themunity board."


    "There¡¯s no point. Once a boss monster appears, you can¡¯t use teleportation magic near it."


    "So, we really can¡¯t expect any help from other yers?"


    "Who knows. Maybe some yers will teleport to the nearest city and run over here."


    "Yeah, right. Don¡¯t you know how rankers are? If they see no chance of sess, they won''t lift a finger."


    Coming to aid a castle like Baden, where the tide had already turned against them was a joke that would make even a passing dogugh.


    To make matters worse, Castle Baden wasn''t suited for defense. Although its position in the ins made it a hub for trade and cultural exchange, that very characteristic had be a fatal w in this situation.


    <i>It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they attacked from any direction¡ªnorth, south, east, or west.</i>


    <i>And it¡¯s not like there¡¯s only a small amount of monsters...</i>


    <i>Should we escape before the castle is fully surrounded?</i>


    As yers mulled over various thoughts, an old man was gripping his forehead inside the lord''s hall.


    "My lord, you must make a decision."


    A deep sigh escaped the lips of Count Hind, the lord of Castle Baden and a noble of the Kingdom of Rashion. He looked at the woman sitting respectfully in front of him.


    <i>The new Saintess of the Srian Church.</i>


    The fact that a mere adventurer had been chosen as the Saintess of the church was astonishing in itself. But the woman had quickly built a power base among adventurers, and now the Pray guild was well-known even among the people of this world.


    "So, what do you suggest we do?" Hind asked.


    "You must flee. We will escort you..."


    "That¡¯s ridiculous!"


    <i>Bang!</i>


    The old veteran mmed the table, his eyes fierce.


    "Are you telling me to abandon the people who trust and follow me? To give up thend that I, and those before me, have cultivated as our home?"


    ¡°There are times when you must let go.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>. Telling me to let go of human lives so easily? That doesn¡¯t sound like something a Saintess of the church should say.¡±


    Minerva bit her lip as she watched the rapidly declining Affinity window. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to rmend this method, but... Castle Baden has already suffered irreparable damage...¡±


    ¡°I still have a solid fortress, and my people, knights, and soldiers are here. As long as my will to protect them remains unbroken, I will not be the first to turn my back,¡± Count Hind said in a firm voice, as if hammering in the final nail.


    Minerva let out a sigh in frustration.


    As a leader, Count Hind possessed the highest virtues.


    However, Minerva, trapped with Castle Baden, felt a headacheing on.


    <i>We can¡¯t use the teleportation gate because of the boss monsters¡¯ aura. There¡¯s no support, and our forces are significantly insufficient.</i>


    In the worst case, even the Wizards¡¯ teleportation magic couldn¡¯t be used here. They would have to leave the castle and escape the bosses¡¯ debuff area to use it. And to make matters worse, Unknown, Kai, was still out of contact.


    <i>Could it be a high-degree trap to take us down...? No, that can¡¯t be.</i>


    There was no reason for him to turn against them. And since Kai had already won over the High Priest of the Srian Church, the Pray guild had to stick with him whether they liked it or not.


    <i>There¡¯s no benefit in weakening our guild¡¯s forces, so something must have happened...</i>


    As Minerva let out a small groan, another massive shock rocked the castle.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°Count Hind...¡±


    With a deep sigh, the count brushed his hand over his face lined with deep concern and wrinkles, and asked themander of the knights, ¡°Has the fortress been fully surrounded?¡±


    ¡°Though there are many monsters, they aren¡¯t enough topletely cover the fortress. Because of that, the eastern gate remains lightly guarded.¡±


    ¡°If we can buy some time here, could we evacuate the women, children, and elderly?¡±


    At the count¡¯s question, the knightmander¡¯s eyes widened and shouted, ¡°Count! If anyone should go, it must be you first...¡±


    ¡°No. I have a duty to protect them. Why do you think they paid taxes and built their lives here? It¡¯s because they believed they would be safe under my rule.¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The fortress shook again, and a cloud of dust fell.


    Sweeping his hand to clear the dust from the air, Count Hind stood from his seat. ¡°Arm any men who are willing to fight, and evacuate the women, children, and elderly first. If we do nothing... it will only lead to meaningless deaths.¡±


    ¡°But, sir...¡± the knightmander, filled with respect for his lord¡¯s resolute decision to face death, couldn¡¯t hide the sorrow in his eyes.


    <i>Pat, pat.</i>


    Sensing themander¡¯s emotions, Count Hind gently patted him on the shoulder, then firmly ced the golden helmet that had always protected him in battle on his head.


    ¡°My father, the former lord, once told me this. A good lord must know when to act swiftly and when to move slowly. Right now, I believe it is time to move slowly.¡±


    ¡°With your current condition... Do you n to go out to the battlefield?¡±


    ¡°Some fresh air will heal me right up,¡± Count Hind said with a grin, showing his teeth.


    Despite his age, the count was still a solidly built man. His muscr physique made his white hair and beard easy to overlook, though his paleplexion failed to hide signs of illness.


    ¡°What are our forces?¡±


    ¡°Excluding the honor guard, 73 knights and 425 soldiers will apany you, my lord.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. What do you intend to do?¡± he asked Minerva.


    Minerva met the deep gaze directed at her and pondered.


    <i>If the Pray guild withdraws now...</i>


    Castle Baden would fall to the monsters, and, naturally, the Pray guild¡¯s reputation would be ruined.


    <i>I don¡¯t care if we get criticized by other yers. However...</i>


    Falling out of favor with the NPC nobles and King of Rashion would be disastrous, especially for the Pray guild, whose main stage was the Kingdom of Rashion.


    Eventually, she chose the best option avable to her.


    ¡°Of course, I will go to the battlefield with you, Count. And as you mentioned evacuating the women, children, and elderly, I will send half of my forces to escort them.¡±


    ¡°<i>Mm</i>. I appreciate your consideration.¡±


    Though it was to preserve half of the guild''s forces, Count Hind expressed sincere gratitude.


    Castle Baden began to stir with activity. The knights started their final checks on their equipment, and weapons were distributed to the men who had volunteered to protect their loved ones.


    <i>There are quite a few yers here as well.</i>


    There were hundreds of yers who had made Castle Baden their home. With them, the Pray guild, and the NPC army, it seemed they could hold out defensively even if a direct confrontation was impossible.


    <i>We can only hold out as long as possible and wait for Kai to arrive...</i>


    But even that was doubtful as he wasn¡¯t likely to bring elves or merfolk to this battlefield.


    <i>He¡¯ll probablye alone.</i>


    Even if he was the top-ranked yer, there were limits to what one person could do in <i>MID Online</i>. But at this point, Kai was the only lifeline Minerva could grasp.


    ¡°My people.¡±


    Count Hind looked down at his warriors as they prepared for what could be the final battle of Castle Baden. They were true warriors, d in crude weapons and armor, fully prepared to face death.


    <i>These are the people who have kept Baden strong for five hundred years.</i>


    Understanding this better than anyone, Count Hind drew his sword and pointed it to the sky.


    ¡°Today, we fight to protect our loved ones, our families, ourselves, and our homnd!¡±


    ¡°<i>Yeaahh!</i>¡±


    ¡°The army of monsters will be powerful. However! They cannot instill fear in those who have already embraced death.¡±


    ¡°<i>Yeaahhh!</i>¡±


    ¡°The more time we buy, the farther our loved ones can flee. Never forget that!¡±


    The count¡¯s sword gleamed with a holy light.


    ¡°The Srian God blesses us all! For Baden!¡±


    ¡°For Baden!¡±


    Moved by the emotional disy of the NPCs, the more sensitive yers were already wiping their teary eyes.


    ¡°Damn... He¡¯s so cool for an old man.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to fight like hell in this battle until I die.¡±


    ¡°If anyone tries to run away, they might as well cut off what they¡¯ve got hanging below.¡±


    With that, the NPC guards of Castle Baden and the Pray guild began escorting the elderly, women, and children through the eastern gate.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    At the same time, the thick door of the western gate was destroyed by the monsters.


    <i>Shing!</i>


    ¡°Follow me!¡± Count Hind, showing no fear, took the lead and charged out.


    ¡°That grandpa...¡± Minerva, surprised, quickly gave orders to her guild members, ¡°Our guild is joining the battle immediately! Do everything you can to keep the lord of Castle Baden alive!¡±


    As her sharp voice spread across the square, her message window shed.


    <i>Kai...!</i>


    Minerva¡¯s eyes lit up as she checked the sender.


    [Kai: Hold out for thirty minutes.]


    [Minerva: Thirty minutes? The western gate has been breached, and the monsters are flooding in like a tidal wave. We can barely hold for fifteen minutes.]


    [Kai: I doubt the Saintess ss is that unimpressive, right? Don¡¯t save your best hand for the grave¡ªuse it now.]


    [Minerva: H-how could you say something like that...]


    [Kai: Anyway, thirty minutes. Just hold out for that long, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.]


    [The conversation has ended.]


    ¡°<i>That little...!</i>¡±


    Kai¡¯s attitude was arrogant and reckless!


    Yet, despite massaging her forehead where a vein had bulged, Minerva couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly.


    Kai had pulled off miraculous victories on countless battlefields where nothing hade easy. That fact alone brought Minerva a small sense of relief.


    <i>If we can just hold out for thirty minutes, after that...</i>


    The monster would take care of the rest.

 Chapter 176: Two Gates (3)

    <h4>Chapter 176: Two Gates (3)</h4>


    "Is this the best you can do? Are you sure?"


    Xiao Yu, who was leading the ck Dragon guild''s Wizard division, was at a loss for words in response to Kai''s question.


    The ce Kai wanted to teleport to, Castle Baden, already had boss monsters present. Naturally, teleporting there was impossible.


    <i>Castle Baden has two Hard level Gates, with bossesing out from both.</i>


    The no-teleport zone was much wider than in other cities. Thus, they had quickly calcted and teleported to the nearest city to Castle Baden, but...


    "It-it¡¯s the best we can do. We can''t go any further. The boss monsters¡¯ interference is too strong..."


    "Then how am I supposed to get to Castle Baden from here?"


    "<i>Huh?</i> Well, I¡¯m not so sure about that..."


    Xiao Yu wondered why Kai asked her that.


    As Kai stared at the puzzled Xiao Yu, he let out a sigh. "Call whoever is responsible."


    "Pardon? I''m the one leading the Wizard division, so I would be responsible for..."


    "Really? So, you''re saying that if I were to go to war with the ck Dragon guild, you''d be fully responsible?"


    "<i>Ha... haha</i>... What a deadly joke you''re making..."


    Xiao Yuughed awkwardly, but Kai''s gaze grew cold.


    "A joke? Does this sound like a joke to you?"


    "W-what?"


    Xiao Yu wondered why Kai was so intent on making things difficult for her. If it were any other yer treating her like this, she would have frozen them with magic by now. However, her opponent was none other than Kai.


    <i>The monster who crushed ck Bees and Titan. And the guild master told us...</i>


    They had been instructed to avoid provoking him at all costs.


    With no way out, Xiao Yu put on the most pitiful expression she could muster, one that would have left most men speechless with sympathy. However, unfortunately for her, it didn¡¯t work on Kai in the slightest.


    "Oh, do you feel wronged?"


    "Not exactly, but..."


    "Not exactly? Your face says otherwise... You know what?" Kai stepped forward as he continued speaking. "If the ck Dragon guild hadn''t orchestrated that fight between me and Titan, I would already be at Castle Baden fighting by now. Am I wrong?"


    It was true.


    Xiao Yu hesitated, unable to give a response.


    "Nevertheless, I showed consideration for the ck Dragon guild. I didn''t hold you ountable for anything and just asked for teleportation because getting to Castle Baden is more urgent than anything else. But if you can''t handle something as simple as this, then things change."


    "But that''s not our fault, it''s a system restriction..."


    "So, it¡¯s my fault then?"


    Faced with Kai''s icy stare, Xiao Yu bit her lower lip and shook her head. "Then how should wepensate..."


    "<i>Hmm</i>. So, realistically, it¡¯s impossible for me to get to Castle Baden right now, correct?"


    "Y-yes..."


    "Alright, let''s do this then." Kai suddenly smiled, as if the coldness in his eyes and face had been a lie, and gently patted her shoulder. "Make sure Castle Baden doesn¡¯t fall until I get there.¡±


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What? But I don¡¯t have the authority to..."


    "Which is why I told you to bring your superior, didn¡¯t I?"


    After finishing his words, Kai stretched his neck, shoulders, back, and knees in sequence before turning away.


    "Well, I guess if I run at full speed, it''ll take about thirty minutes to get from here to Castle Baden. If the castle falls before then, I guarantee that what happens next won''t be fun."


    ***


    <i>Crash!</i>


    The building struck by the ogre''s massive club shattered, scattering debris in all directions.


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    Though there were no catapults, giant boulders flew across the battlefield!


    Surveying the chaotic battlefield, Minerva bit her lower lip.


    <i>This is better than fighting outside, but still...</i>


    The monsters that had steadily forced their way through the western gate had strong momentum, but the streets of Castle Baden were built to human scale.


    Therefore, it was only natural for the medium andrge-sized monsters that came from the gates to have restricted movement. As a result, hundreds of monsters were still outside the castle, waiting their turn in line!


    <i>But since the northern gate was just breached, the southern gate will likely fall soon.</i>


    For now, they were barely holding off the monsters in the narrow streets. However, even that would be impossible once the monsters attacked from three directions, forcing another retreat.


    "Are reinforcements evening?"


    "Damn it, my friends said they¡¯re on their way... but they said they have to run here because teleportation isn¡¯t working!"


    "How are we supposed to wait for that?!"


    In the relentless warzone, the yers were under immense mental stress. The troll¡¯s regenerative body kept healing no matter how many times it was cut, and the ogre¡¯s attacks left them near death if even one hitnded.


    Just managing all these factors drained their mental strength more than ever before.


    "Th-the eastern gate is opening!"


    "What!? It was said there were no monsters at the eastern gate... Wait, it wasn¡¯t breached, and it¡¯s opening?" the knightmander, who had just severed one of the ogre¡¯s heads, shouted in fury at the report from his subordinate.


    "A-adventurers! Reinforcements!"


    "Reinforcements?"


    At that one word, the faces of the yers and NPCs brightened.


    "They''re not many, but the ones wearing the symbol of the ck dragon on their chest are..."


    "The adventurers'' faction, the ck Dragon!"


    "The ck Dragon guild!"


    "A guild from the world¡¯s top ten has sent reinforcements!"


    While everyone else rejoiced, Minerva couldn¡¯t hide her bewilderment.


    <i>... Xao Lin sent reinforcements to Castle Baden? That¡¯s impossible.</i>


    He was not someone who engaged in losing battles. In other words, he never involved himself in fights where the odds of losing were high. Unfortunately, it was clear to anyone that the monsters had the upper hand in the current battle for Castle Baden.


    "Minerva, something about this feels...¡±


    "It feels strange, doesn¡¯t it?"


    Vice master Razley sensed the oddness as well and spoke up. "Well, they¡¯vee to help for now... so they won¡¯t stab us in the back."


    If the ck Dragon guild betrayed them in this situation, it would not only destroy their reputation but also stir up hostility from NPCs, and Xao Lin wouldn¡¯t make such a mistake.


    "The reason doesn¡¯t matter right now."


    "Yes, ma¡¯am."


    As the scout had reported, the number of ck Dragon guild reinforcements wasn¡¯trge¡ªaround 150 at most. Yet, they fought more bravely than anyone else on the battlefield.


    "Castle Baden must not fall, no matter what!"


    "Hold out for just fifteen minutes! After that, it''s not our problem if it falls!"


    "We only need to hold for fifteen minutes!"


    The ck Dragon guild members shouted as they cut down monsters, their voices echoing across the battlefield!


    The yers tilted their heads at the ck Dragon guild members'' shouts.


    <i>Fifteen minutes? Why fifteen minutes?</i>


    <i>Did more information about the gate get revealed while we were fighting?</i>


    <i>Maybe if we hold out for a certain time, the gate will disappear...</i>


    While the yers were imagining such wild possibilities, a massive rumble shook the castle.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    It was the sound of the western fortress copsing.


    Through the crumbled fortress, the dazzling light of the setting sun streamed in.


    "My God! I can understand the castle gate being broken, but..."


    "Monsters breaking down the fortress? Come on, Pegasus, this is just too much!"


    "The sun is setting..."


    To make matters worse, the Troll Hero trampled over the fallen stones and entered Castle Baden.


    "Damn it. Hey! What exactly happens if we hold out for fifteen minutes?"


    "Does the gate vanish? Or will the ck Dragon elite forces arrive?"


    "<i>Huh?</i> What nonsense are you talking about?" One of the ck Dragon guild members scowled and said, "There won¡¯t be any more reinforcements from our guild."


    "W-what? Then what were you guys talking about when you said to hold out for fifteen minutes...?"


    "You¡¯ll still have to fight like hell even after that, so if you¡¯re hoping for a miracle, I¡¯d say wake up. But..." He nced at the three-meter-tall Troll Hero and muttered, "In fifteen minutes, someone will arrive who can easily deal with that monster, so just try and hold out."


    ***


    "<i>Hmm.</i> This is more pleasant than I expected."


    If Kai had sprinted to Castle Baden alone, he might have arrived even faster, but even a game character had basic Stamina limits. There was no one in the world who could face two Gates after exhausting all their Stamina. That was why Kai had hitched a ride on the back of a duhan.


    <i>One of the undead¡¯s advantages is that their Stamina is always maxed out.</i>


    After dismounting from the duhan, Kai looked toward the distant Castle Baden. If it were autumn, the ins surrounding Baden would have swayed like a golden sea. However, the post-harvest ins looked deste, as if they were witnessing and of death. Moreover, the fields were filled with hideous monsters instead of wheat or rice, making the scene even more grim.


    "Let¡¯s see..."


    Kai scanned the battlefield with a sharp gaze.


    <i>The western fortress haspletely copsed. The northern gate is breached, and the southern gate is still holding. And the eastern gate... Huh? Only a few dozen monsters there.</i>


    If he were to join the others in defending the inner castle, entering through the eastern gate would have been the easiest route, but Kai saw no need for that.


    "This is exactly the kind of situation mentioned in <i>The Art of War</i> that I read a few days ago."


    <i>The Art of War</i>: Strategy 2¡ªBesiege Wei to Rescue Zhao. This strategy exined that when allies were trapped in a siege, instead of blindly joining them, it was much more effective to circle around and attack the enemy from behind.


    <i>So, the action I should take here is...</i>


    Attack the rear. Specifically, attacking the monsters at the western gate where the fiercest assault was taking ce.


    Kai nced at the half-set sun.


    "Unfortunately, the time of the sun has ended."


    As the sun hanging just above the horizon finally set, darkness descended over thend.


    <strong>[Night has fallen, and the sun has disappeared. The effects of Srain Body are no longer active.]</strong>


    It was a sweet passive skill that increased all of his stats by 20%! He could feel a significant drop in his abilities, as his stats had drastically decreased. However, Kai showed no sign of frustration.


    <i>tter, tter, thump, thump!</i>


    When the sun set, all monsters'' stats increased by 30%. Of course, the monsters summoned by yers didn¡¯t receive this benefit, but the undead were different.


    <i>There¡¯s a reason why all Necromancer rankers have pitch-ck skies in their videos.</i>


    Just as the Sris Cleric grew stronger during the day, the Necromancer ss became powerful at night. And although Kai didn¡¯t have a single Necromancer skill, he did have undead.


    <strong>[Night has fallen. The stats of your controlled undead have increased by 30%.]</strong>


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    <i>tter, tter.</i>


    Commanding twenty-three duhans and fifty-nine skeletons, Kai charged straight down the hillside.

 Chapter 177: Two Gates (4)

    <h4>Chapter 177: Two Gates (4)</h4>


    One of the yers muttered, "We''re doomed."


    It wasn¡¯t simply because there were too many monsters.


    <strong>[Night has fallen. All monsters'' abilities increase by 30%, and XP gain increases by 20%.]</strong>


    It was because of the message that appeared in front of the yers defending Castle Baden. The short sentence was enough to make the yers lose their tempers.


    "Damn, who cares about XP in a situation like this!"


    "Just nail the coffin shut already, for good!"


    It was a message of despair that appeared in an already overwhelmingly unfavorable situation, and as irritating as receiving a critical hit when one barely had any HP left!


    Minerva and the members of the ck Dragon guild checked the time, their faces troubled.


    <i>The promised thirty minutes have passed... Why isn''t he here yet?</i>


    <i>The promised fifteen minutes are up... Where is he?</i>


    Though the time Kai had promised had passed, there was no sign of him from any direction¡ªnorth, south, east, or west.


    <i>He hasn''te through the eastern gate yet, so either he hasn''t arrived, or...</i>


    <i>Is he aiming for Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao?</i>


    They were like people dying of thirst, unable to drink from the pure spring, Kai.


    "Retreat, retreat!"


    "Dang it, the western side of the city haspletely copsed! Run!"


    The yers and knights who had been holding the western front admitted defeat and pulled the defensive line back toward the central area.


    Monsters surged in like water bursting from a barely plugged faucet!


    "<i>Ugh</i>..."


    As Minerva grabbed her forehead and staggered, her vision spinning, Razley supported her trembling body, gritting his teeth.


    "That Kai bastard... He really left us to¡ª<i>huh?</i>"


    Just as Razley was about to curse Kai, some guild members ran up, panting. "<i>Huff, huff!</i> Minerva, Razley!"


    "What''s the matter? Catch your breath before you speak."


    "<i>Huff, huff...</i> Thank you..."


    After taking a deep breath, one of the guild members slowly pulled out a letter and handed it to Razley.


    "This is...?"


    "A skeleton lurking near the eastern gate was holding this letter. As you''ll see... it''s from Kai!"


    "Why didn''t you mention something this important sooner!" Razley yelled, quickly tearing open the letter to read its contents.


    <strong><i>West, deployment. Standby request.</i></strong>


    "West... the west!"


    Hearing Razley''s voice, Minerva immediately spread out the map of Castle Baden. "The west... that¡¯s where..."


    The Troll Hero and the monsters following it were pouring through.


    <i>He ns to clear the western side first.</i>


    Then, he would likely regroup and block the Triple-Headed Ogre advancing from the north.


    "But what does <i>standby request</i> mean...?"


    Could it be that he was saying they don''t need to assist him?


    <i>No matter how strong Kai''sbat abilities are, there¡¯s no way he brought elves or merfolk with him here.</i>


    That meant he nned to handle it alone.


    Minerva slowly lifted her head and looked toward the west. "...Is he really going to get through all of that by himself?"


    When something seemed utterly unbelievable, a person couldn¡¯t help but let out augh. Minerva, feeling a strange mix of emotions, could only chuckle softly.


    ***


    The skeleton knights that Kai had summoned were level 298. When they used the Knighted skill to be promoted to duhans, their stats increased significantly, but that wasn¡¯t all. In that state, they received buffs from Kai, and now, with nightfall, their stats had risen by 30%.


    <i>That means...</i>


    Although temporarily, the strength of Kai¡¯s undead army was now far superior to the monster army before them! Of course, the blessings of Kai, a Sris Cleric, didn¡¯t end there!


    "Skill activation, Hymn of Angels!"


    The skill inherited from the holy relic left by Shimizu of Guardianship enveloped the undead army.


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik has blessed you with the gracious light of the sun.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have heard the hymn sung by the angels.]</strong>


    <strong>[Physical damage received is reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[Magical damage received is reduced by 30%.]</strong>


    <strong>[All status effect resistance is increased by 40%.]</strong>


    "They''re a monster army with an average level of 250. Sweep them away!"


    At Kai¡¯smand, the undead charged forward with ruthless des, shrouded in darkness.


    The limbs of trolls that were known for regenerating most wounds quickly were severed in single strikes and sent flying through the air while ogres boasting immense strength were sent tumbling backward from a single kick from a duhan.


    Moreover, whenever a monster was killed by a duhan¡¯s sword, a skeleton emerged from the spot where the body fell. It was literally an undead army that multiplied endlessly!


    And all the achievements from the monsters they defeated flowed directly to Kai.


    <strong>[Your duhan has hunted a hard troll, earning you 7 merit points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your skeleton has hunted a grey orc, earning you 5 merit points.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your duhan has hunted a sharp mantis, earning you 12 merit points.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    Merit points umted rapidly, growing by the second!


    <i>If I wipe out all the monsters here and destroy the two Hard Gates myself...</i>


    Achieving the top spot in the merit rankings could be impossible, but he could at least secure a ce in the top ranks.


    Realizing this, Kai began to move alongside his doppelganger.


    <i>I can leave all the trash mobs to the undead.</i>


    His job was to target the named and boss monsters roaming the battlefield!


    <i>I need to take down the ones they can¡¯t handle on their own.</i>


    Drawing his sword, Kai stepped on the heads of orcs, trolls, and mantises, going deeper into the heart of the battlefield.


    "<i>Raaaargh!</i>"


    "<i>Graaaah!</i>"


    The monsters were desperate to kill Kai, who had fearlessly entered their domain, but every time they tried, Kai simply flicked his fingers.


    "Wrath of the Sun."


    <i>Crackle... Boom!</i>


    Each time, sunlight that had no business being present at night pierced through the darkness, raining down upon the battlefield and leaving it in ruins. After this scene yed out a few times, the monsters would flee at the mere sight of Kai approaching, without even looking back.


    <i>Works for me.</i>


    Leaving the terrified monsters behind, Kai made his way into the inner part of the copsed western fortress. As he crossed the fortress, a massive monster came into view.


    <i>There it is. The Troll Hero.</i>


    The Troll Hero was one of the boss monsters that had emerged from the Hard Gate! It even bore the title of Commander, and its very presence greatly strengthened the monsters around it.


    "I''ll start with you."


    The difference between someone who had done it once and someone who had never done it was irreparable.


    Having gained experience in urban warfare during the battle against Aosa in Whitehall, Kai skillfully climbed onto the rooftops of the burning city. He moved from roof to roof, and when paths were blocked, he used his Srian Chains to create new routes.


    "Bind it," hemanded as he got near the Troll Hero, and his doppelganger shot two Holy Chains from its arms.


    <i>Shh-clink!</i>


    "<i>Graagh?!</i>"


    Feeling the unpleasant chains wrapping around its neck, the Troll Hero immediately grabbed them and pulled.


    With just one motion, Kai¡¯s doppelganger was dragged helplessly toward the Troll Hero.


    "Its HP is almost done anyway."


    While other summons could be healed with recovery skills, the doppelganger could not.


    <i>It¡¯s probably a bnce thing.</i>


    After all, if Srian Self could be continuously healed with a healing skill, it would be possible to create an endless army of powerful soldiers.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Let''s start with a big hit."


    Kai¡¯s doppelganger had already been beaten to a pulp by Goliath. Now, as the enraged Troll Hero plunged its sharp ws deep into the doppelganger¡¯s abdomen, the doppelganger began to glow brightly.


    <i>The doppelganger and the duhans are opposite entities, but they share one key trait.</i>


    They both explode when they die.


    "<i>Gragh...?!</i>"


    Sensing something ominous, the Troll Hero tried to throw the doppelganger away, but the Holy Chains binding the doppelganger kept it firmly attached to the Troll Hero¡¯s body.


    "And then... Boom."


    <i>Boom!</i>


    An enormous explosion erupted in the streets of Castle Baden. It was unlike anything that had ever happened before. Even Kai, who knew the doppelganger would explode, was startled by the sheer magnitude of it.


    "That damage is brutal."


    The Troll Hero, at level 278, had its massive HP reduced by a staggering 30% in one go. It was no surprise that the other regr monsters nearby were left barely alive after the st.


    The moment Kai checked their health, he didn¡¯t hesitate and leaped down from the rooftop.


    <i>Is this what they call a walk in the park?</i>


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Wrath of the Sun crashed down into the streets, instantly striking down the weakened monsters with a single blow.


    The Troll Hero was no exception.


    "<i>Graaaaargh!</i>"


    The Troll Hero let out a scream and red at Kai with murderous intent as it was exposed to a level of pain it had never imagined or experienced before.


    Meeting the bloodshot eyes of the Troll Hero, Kai slowly drew his sword. "What are you looking at?"


    <i>The strength of trolls lies in their rapid health regeneration.</i>


    However, its weakness was just as clear.


    "Holy power."


    Despite not being an undead or a demon, the troll was one of the few monsters highly sensitive to holy power.


    ording to the monster encyclopedia, trolls were descendants of priests who once served a certain god. They had been granted strong, healthy bodies that never suffered illness, but in their arrogance, they began to mock the god they once worshiped.


    <i>As a result, they were struck by the god¡¯s wrath, bam!</i>


    Now, the trolls were vulnerable to holy power and had be monsters with significantly diminished intelligence.


    <i>Who knew all that studying woulde in handy like this!</i>


    Rankers always prepared meticulously before hunting. They studied a monster¡¯s weaknesses, its patterns, and the best equipment to use. Anyone who could ignore all that preparation and still excel would have to be a true genius.


    <i>Unfortunately, I¡¯m no genius.</i>


    That was why Kai worked harder than anyone else. He thoroughly analyzed the skills of the Sris Cleric ss,pensated for its weaknesses by building his stats carefully, and increased his Strength. Learning tricks like double-casting was just a bonus!


    The result of all this effort was simple.


    "Supernova."


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    The hot energy radiating from his entire body mixed with the cold night air and dissipated into the air.


    <i>I¡¯ll do it by myself.</i>


    As a result of his hard work, Kai became one of the few who could hunt, go to war, and even raid all alone.


    "<i>Kiieeeek!</i>"


    The Troll Hero''s gaze trembled violently as it faced the holy power radiating from Kai''s body.


    However, it was the leader of its group, a boss monster. The fear it felt quickly turned into rage. With a sharp cry, the Troll Hero¡¯s sharp ws tore through the night air as it charged forward! Once pierced by those ws, the only way to escape would be to sever them¡ªan attack that was nearly impossible to evade.


    "Upgrade."


    <strong>[Upgrade skill has been used.]</strong>


    <strong>[The next three skills used will have their effects greatly enhanced.]</strong>


    "Holy Chains."


    Kai suddenly felt his left arm grow heavy. The Holy Chains were much thicker and heavier than what he usually summoned.


    <strong>[The skill has been enhanced by the Upgrade skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[The binding power, size, and weight of the chains have tripled.]</strong>


    "<i>Heup...!</i>"


    Kai slowly spun his body to generate centrifugal force, thenunched the chains forward.


    Until now, Holy Chains had only been able to bind the enemy''s joints, but with the Upgrade skill''s enhancement, things were different.


    "<i>Graaaah!</i>"


    The massive Troll Hero was struck in the chest by the thick chain, and the force sent it crashing into several buildings, toppling them as it fell backward.


    "Holy Chains."


    Kai felt the heavy sensation in his left arm once again. He sent the chains out, binding both of the Troll Hero''s arms.


    "<i>Grrrr?!</i>"


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    The Troll Hero mmed its bound arms against the ground, but despite the loud noise, the Holy Chains did not break easily.


    Kai watched the creature, unable to rise under the weight of the two chains, and slowly raised his left hand.


    When his arm was finally aligned at a perfect ny-degree angle with his chest, he lightly snapped his fingers and muttered, "Holy Explosion."


    A brilliant beam of light, intense enough to swallow the darkness, illuminated the city streets.

 Chapter 178: Two Gates (5)

    <h4>Chapter 178: Two Gates (5)</h4>


    <strong>[You defeated the boss monster, Troll Hero.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have earned 2870 merit points.]</strong>


    <strong>[The power of the monsters that emerged from the gate has weakened.]</strong>


    "<i>Whew.</i>"


    It only took twelve minutes for a level 278 Troll Hero to be defeated by a single yer.


    "Upgrade and Holy Chainsbo works pretty well.¡±


    The chains were so strong that even a boss monster couldn¡¯t easily break free.


    Kai smiled, pleased with the unexpected sess.


    <i>And Holy Explosion... I underestimated that basic skill...</i>


    His smile slowly faded into an awkward expression. The fact that one skill had destroyed several buildings in the western part of Castle Baden like a bulldozer was astonishing. For other sses, this level of power could only be achieved by a Wizard who hadpleted a second job ss change and was using a high-tier skill.


    <i>This Upgrade skill will be more useful than I thought for creating variabilities.</i>


    The cooldown time was only five minutes, which wasn¡¯t too long. Plus, being able to strengthen three skills at once provided a significant strategic advantage.


    "Judging by the continuous merit points, it looks like things outside are still going smoothly..."


    Kai nced at the central area of Castle Baden, where barricades were set up.


    <i>Saving the lordes first.</i>


    After that, he could take care of the remaining boss monster and destroy the gates.


    With his sword at his side, Kai cut down the monsters in the central area indiscriminately as he advanced forward.


    ***


    "Wow."


    "No way."


    "That¡¯s insane."


    Expressions of disbelief slipped out one after another, devoid of any real emotion. But what could they do? When ordinary people witnessed something unbelievable, they often found themselves speechless, so even uttering such expressions showed that they were no ordinary spectators.


    "He defeated the Troll Hero... in just twelve minutes?"


    "This is insane. What level are his gear and skills... or how are his stats distributed?"


    "Look at him, just charging through and slicing up monsters like it¡¯s nothing. Is he a one-man army?"


    Just as they said, Kai was charging through the city, effortlessly slicing through the limbs of approaching monsters.


    "<i>Heup!</i>¡±


    One reason Kai could rampage like this was the elixirs made by Ayana''s family.


    <strong><u>[Chikapura Leaf Elixir LV.7]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases maximum Stamina greatly for 30 minutes. </strong>


    <strong>Greatly increases Stamina regeneration for 30 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Grants Sharp Senses LV.2 for 30 minutes.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Potion of big-eared bat swallowed by mint asio - LV.5]</u></strong>


    <strong>Increases all stats by 17 for 20 minutes.</strong>


    <strong>Reduces damage taken by 6% for 10 minutes.</strong>


    "<i>Huff, huff!</i>"


    No matter how much he ran or swung his sword, he never felt out of breath. The significantly boosted Stamina and regeneration kept his heart and veins strong!


    <i>First, I need to secure the western section.</i>


    Their already limited forces were spread thin, guarding the west, north, and south all at the same time. If they could focus on just one area, the situation would be much more manageable.


    <i>I can see why the low-level yers were so upset about this Invasion Event.</i>


    No matter how many monsters they fought from Easy and Medium level Gates, the XP, merit points, and materials were nothingpared to what came from the Hard Gate monsters. In other words, the higher their level, the more advantageous the event was!


    Kai nced at his XP bar that was steadily rising, and nodded unconsciously.


    <i>I think I can reach at least level 320 here...</i>


    Considering he was only level 298 just before the Invasion Event began, that was tremendous growth. Especially given that XP increased as a yer''s level rose in <i>MID Online</i>, this Invasion Event was turning out to be quite a blessing for yers.


    <i>Crack.</i>


    This made Kai even more furious.


    <i>I can''t believe I wasn¡¯t able to fully enjoy this amazing event because of those Titan bastards!</i>


    The hours he had been tied up by them could have been spent ying hundreds more monsters or closing at least one more gate.


    <i>I¡¯ll make sure they pay for thister.</i>


    Killing Goliath once wasn¡¯t enough to make up for the huge losses he had suffered. With thoughts of revenge in mind, Kai''s sword became even more fierce.


    <i>"Graaaah!"</i>


    <i>"Grrrr!"</i>


    The ogres and trolls turned around after noticing that theirrades were being killed off.


    "<i>Uh-oh!</i>"


    "Hey, look out!"


    As the monsters that had been attacking them suddenly turned and charged at Kai, the yers watching shouted in rm.


    However, Kai remained calm and calcted the movements of the monsters rushing toward him.


    <i>Three ogres, two trolls, and four mantises.</i>


    With this many enemies, it was a jackpot among jackpots!


    "Upgrade, Supernova."


    <strong>[Supernova has been enhanced by the Upgrade skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[The stat-boosting effects of Supernova have greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[All stats increase by 65.]</strong>


    Kai¡¯s movements became even more agile, and the strikes of his sword grew sharper.


    ***


    Despite having fought a rough battle, his footsteps were heavy and steady, but it wasn¡¯t because he was as tall as Goliath or as massive as an ogre. The intense weight of his footsteps came from his unwavering confidence.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± Count Hind, his armor soaked in the blood of monsters, asked with a slightly wavering gaze.


    The yers could easily understand why the usually fearless Count was shaken.


    <i>Anyone would be unnerved standing in front of someone like this...</i>


    <i>This guy is unbelievable.</i>


    <i>No, cause why is a Pdin leading undead in the first ce?</i>


    Having annihted the monsters in the west, Kai made the sign of the cross and slightly bowed his head. ¡°I am Kai,mander of the Holy Blood Order of the Srian Church.¡±


    ¡°...Holy Blood Order? Was there such a group within the Srian Church?¡±


    ¡°It likely hasn¡¯t been formally announced yet. It will soon be introduced by the High Priest as a new military order of the Srian Church.¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>... Holy Blood, you say...¡± ncing at the undead, Count Hind let out augh, as if giving up on understanding. ¡°Well, what does a name matter? The fact remains that you saved Castle Baden from a crisis. However... Why are you helping us when you have no connection to Baden?¡±


    ¡°I cannot say I have no connection,¡± Kai smiled and pulled out a letter that had been sitting in his inventory for a long time, handing it to the count.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    "It is a letter of rmendation from Baron Arsen. He said if I brought it to the lord of Castle Baden, I would be granted an audience..."


    ¡°<i>Ah!</i> Now I remember! You¡¯re the Saint of Glendale, Kai!¡±


    Once his identity was confirmed by a trusted source, Count Hind warmly weed Kai.


    ¡°I do recall receiving a message about a letter of rmendation that had been given to an efficient and sharp adventurer. I was looking forward to it since thest person rmended was very impressive... but I was worried when you didn¡¯t visit sooner.¡±


    ¡°There have been many things going on. I apologize for the dy.¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize. I didn¡¯t bring it up to hear an apology. In fact, I¡¯m grateful that you remembered toe when Baden was in need,¡± Count Hind smiled, his calloused hand, hard as stone, patting Kai¡¯s hand. ¡°But the war isn¡¯t over yet. There are still monsters in the north and south.¡±


    ¡°It is only a matter of time.¡± Kai, exuding confidence, began preparing to leave again. ¡°The forces in the south should be manageable for you and the adventurers. I¡¯ll go deal with the monsters in the north, and return after eliminating the Gate.¡±


    ¡°Are you gonna be okay alone? If needed, I can send knights to support you...¡±


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°I can only fight with peace of mind if you remain safe.¡±


    ¡°Son...¡± Count Hind looked deeply moved.


    Of course, the yers watching the exchange merely scoffed.


    <i>He sure knows how to y the game.</i>


    <i>Well, most rankers know how to tter their way through.</i>


    <i>Ugh, I could be smooth like that too... I bet I could raise my affinity quickly if I had the chance...</i>


    Of course, ttery alone didn¡¯t raise affinity. Only when it was done at the right time, in the right situation, and with sincerity did it truly have an effect!


    <strong>[Count Hind¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    Kai nced at the message window with a satisfied expression, then turned around and headed toward the north gate.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Minerva rushed after him and asked with a bewildered expression, ¡°The Holy Blood Order? Is that somehow rted to our guild too?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The Pray guild will need to support me fully.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard anything about that!¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because I didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    Minerva looked hurt by Kai¡¯s blunt response and asked again, ¡°D-do I really have to hear news about my guild like this?¡±


    Minerva¡¯s wounded expression made it clear she wanted to be consoled.


    However, Kai tilted his head as if he was confused as to why she was upset. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear it from anyone else. I told you myself. And this is the first time I¡¯ve mentioned it. So, what¡¯s the problem?¡±


    She had heard it directly from him, before anyone else, so Kai wasn¡¯t wrong. He wasn¡¯t wrong, but...


    <i>What is this? Why does this feel so wrong?</i>


    Minerva felt something was off but couldn¡¯t quite exin what.


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>... Still, next time, please let me know about anything rted to my guild first. Hearing it alongside others doesn¡¯t feel quite right.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll do that.¡±


    Even the way he nodded and agreed so easily annoyed her!


    However, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it out loud, so she let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll be defending the southern fortress with my guild members.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you then. And don¡¯t worry, the Holy Blood Order won¡¯t be a loss for the Pray guild.¡±


    ¡°...Why is that?¡±


    Kai only smiled slyly at Minerva¡¯s question without offering any exnation. In truth, he had nothing more to say to her.


    <i>How could I exin something I don¡¯t even know? I¡¯ve only been told by High Priest Albert that he ns to establish a military group with that name.</i>


    Even Kai wasn¡¯t sure what the exact purpose of the group was. However, he was certain of one thing. Now that High Priest Albert had regained full power within the church and recognized Kai as the envoy of the Srian God Helik, he wouldn¡¯t disappoint Kai.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll see youter.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Minerva wanted to ask him about the undead, but she knew it was impolite to bring that up among rankers. In the end, she said nothing and slowly returned to her guild members.


    <i>So, all that¡¯s left is to take down the Triple-Headed Ogre.</i>


    The remaining monsters could all be defeated with enough time.


    <i>I hope I can finish before the undead are unsummoned.</i>


    Luckily, it seemed like the war would end before the twenty-four hour time limit was up.


    Thanks to that, Kai headed toward the north gate with a light heart, as if going for a stroll, but then his brows furrowed.


    <i>Battle sounds...?</i>


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t impossible. There were still adventurers and NPCs fighting at the north gate. However, the sound reaching his ears now was a bit different.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>That¡¯s the sound of someone continuously slicing through monster hide with a sharp de.</i>


    Naturally, this wasn¡¯t something just any fighter could do. Only someone extremely skilled could produce such a sound. And as far as Kai knew, there was no yer of that level present.


    <i>The knightmander of Baden is around level 330... but I saw him sticking right by Count Hind earlier.</i>


    Unable to resist his curiosity, Kai began eliminating the monsters blocking his path at an even faster pace.


    ¡°<i>Whew!</i>¡±


    After his entire body was covered in blood and his level increased by one, he finally saw the battle he had been so eager to witness.


    ¡°That sword...¡±


    With light movements, a woman sprang up, stepping on the Triple-Headed Ogre''s knees, belly, and shoulders in sequence. At the same time, her slender arm raised a sword that reflected the bright moonlight brilliantly. Her long, flowing silver hair shimmered in the air, as if it had absorbed the moonlight itself.


    The scene imprinted itself in Kai¡¯s eyes like a moment from a movie as she swung her sword.


    ¡°Smash.¡±


    Her soft voice echoed quietly, calm as though reading a fairy tale to a child. But despite the gentle tone, her sword decapitated all three of the ogre¡¯s heads in a single strike like lightning.


    <strong>[You defeated the boss monster, Triple-Headed Ogre.]</strong>


    <strong>[The power of the monsters that emerged from the gate has weakened.]</strong>


    Kai swallowed hard as he watched the woman slowlye down from the air.


    Although this was his first time seeing her in person, he recognized her immediately from videos. She was the gamer that all rankers in<i> MID Online </i>unanimously called a genius.


    Though she had lost the title to Kai now, she had held the first-ranked title for over half a year¡ªa living legend among legends.


    ¡°<i>Heut-cha</i>.¡±


    The silver-haired swordswoman wearing a ck helmet pulled low, Yoo Ha-Rin,nded as softly as a feather, letting out a cute sound.

 Chapter 179: Merry Christmas Online (1)

    <h4>Chapter 179: Merry Christmas Online (1)</h4>


    Yoo Ha-Rin lightly shook her sword to flick off the blood and nced up at Kai.


    She was known for being extremely reluctant to reveal any personal information to others, so Kai found it surprising that she was there but didn¡¯t feel particrly threatened by her presence.


    <i>Does she know I¡¯m Kai?</i>


    She probably did not. After all, most yers still didn¡¯t know what Kai¡¯s face looked like.


    <i>Once NET Media releases the footage of the Battle of Bir ins this Christmas holiday, people will start recognizing my face.</i>


    That would inevitably draw more unwanted attention. Only a few top ten guilds knew his face currently, but even that was already troublesome.


    <i>Right now, Yoo Ha-Rin and I areplete strangers.</i>


    There was no rtionship between them¡ªno reason for her to be hostile, nor any reason to be friendly. At least, that was what Kai thought.


    But it seemed Yoo Ha-Rin thought differently.


    "...<i>Oh</i>."


    She let out a small gasp as she stared directly at Kai, then walked over to the fallen Triple-Headed Ogre and began looting its corpse.


    <i>As expected, she¡¯s ignoring me.</i>


    Kai, with an awkward smile, thought that this was typical Yoo Ha-Rin behavior. But then, she approached him with long strides.


    <i>Is sheing over to me? Why?</i>


    ording to rumors, Yoo Ha-Rin usually ignored yers when meeting them in person, which had earned her the nickname Cattitude Goddess.


    As Kai tried to figure out how to interpret Yoo Ha-Rin¡¯s sudden approach, she held out her hand.


    ¡°This is... the Triple-Headed Ogre¡¯s hide?¡±


    Kai slightly furrowed his brows and thought deeply about her intentions in offering him the hide.


    <i>Is she threatening me into buying the hide from her?</i>


    There would be no other reason for a stranger to suddenly hand over a rare hide!


    After some thought, Kai nodded to himself.


    <i>Well, it¡¯s not a bad deal for me either. A hide from a level 310 boss monster is Rare material. I should buy it and have winter gear made for Blizzard and Mimic.</i>


    Having made up his mind, Kai carefully raised a finger. ¡°How about... this much?¡±


    Yoo Ha-Rin silently stared at his finger for a moment, then shook her head.


    <i>Does she mean 100 gold isn¡¯t enough?</i>


    Feeling slightly shocked, Kai raised a second finger. ¡°Then perhaps 200...?¡±


    She shook her head again in firm refusal!


    As Kai seriously considered whether he should raise a third finger or back out of the deal altogether, Yoo Ha-Rin gently ced the hide on Kai¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift in return.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡± Kai couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    <i>Yoo Ha-Rin spoke to me? And to me, of all people?</i>


    If her fan club heard about this, they would probably send private guards to hunt him down!


    Moreover, her words carried weight.


    <i>A gift in return? In return for what?</i>


    By definition, a gift in return, was something given in return for receiving something else¡ªan exchange of favor.


    <i>Oh... Could it be...?</i>


    Kai stared at the cold corpse of the Triple-Headed Ogre.


    <i>Is she offering me part of the materials because she managed to kill it after I cleared the western area... and since she gained XP and merit points, she¡¯s sharing the loot?</i>


    Given the circumstances, that interpretation made sense.


    To that, Kai waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Come on, there¡¯s no such thing as whose is whose when ites to monsters wandering the area. You don¡¯t need to give me anything.¡±


    Yoo Ha-Rin shook her head firmly and spoke clearly, ¡°I was taught that when you receive a gift, you must always return the favor when you meet again.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, I see...¡±


    What an admirable upbringing!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lost for words, Kai awkwardly smiled as he patted the hide. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll dly ept it then. <i>Wow</i>, this hide is really soft. It¡¯s warm too.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>... that¡¯s right. When you wear monster hide over your shoulders, it keeps you warm.¡±


    As the conversation turned to the topic of hides, Yoo Ha-Rin¡¯s voice grew more lively, and she began to speak faster.


    ¡°The warmest hide of all is the yeti hide from the snowy mountains. It¡¯s amazing when you wrap yourself in it. The fur is fluffy and feels great, and the hide has natural instion properties, so you feel like you¡¯re melting in warmth.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah,</i> I see...¡±


    ¡°But the best for value is orc hide. It¡¯s a bit smelly and tough, but the hide from strong orcs keeps the cold out well. Kobold hide doesn¡¯t work¡ªit¡¯s too thin and lets the wind in. Gnoll hide is tricky though...¡±


    After giving a long speech about hides, Yoo Ha-Rin seemed to realize her enthusiasm and was embarrassed, slowly stepping back.


    ¡°W-Well then, goodbye.¡±


    Then, she dashed off, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and disappeared into the distance without looking back.


    ¡°...What a night goblin of a woman she is.¡±


    Kai scratched his head and looked at the huge hide draped over his shoulder, trailing on the ground, and chuckled.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe she gave me something like this on our first meeting. She¡¯s a good person.¡±


    ***


    <strong>[You have destroyed a Hard Gate.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have earned 50,000 contribution points for destroying the Hard Gate.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your total contribution points are now 121,082.]</strong>


    <strong>[All Gates on the continent have been destroyed, ending the Invasion Event.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your contribution ranking: 7th.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Whew.</i>¡±


    By the time Kai closed the second Hard Gate, dawn had already begun to break.


    ¡°7th ce... Not bad. <i>Ugh, </i>I could¡¯ve aimed for 1st if it weren¡¯t for those Titan guys.¡±


    Feeling a bit unsatisfied, Kai sighed and addressed his duhans and skeletons.


    ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard too. Take a good rest.¡±


    When he unsummoned the hundreds of undead that had grown overnight, he felt an odd sense of emptiness.


    As he looked at the vacant space they left behind, he thought, <i>Knight of Nightmare... It¡¯s truly a powerful item.</i>


    It was the only one of its kind in the game, crafted over two months by Korona, the master of the Ebony Tower¡ªa masterpiece! Even though he had only used it once, he was highly satisfied with its performance.


    <i>This ring has the power to turn a single yer into an army.</i>


    The top ten guilds, and even some well-known guilds, were massive. They had hundreds of elite yers, and if including their rookie recruits and general members, many guilds had thousands.


    On the other hand, Kai, as an individual, was no more than the size of a small sailboat in the vast ocean where those massive ships sailed.


    <i>But things will be a little different now.</i>


    He was a yer capable of defeating an entire army alone and he had proven this by defeating the Titan guild¡¯s elite forces and killing Goliath.


    <i>I¡¯ll take my time delivering my revenge once this event ends. They can count on that.</i>


    With a resolve to thoroughly get his revenge against those who had irritated him, Kai headed back to Castle Baden.


    "You¡¯ve all worked hard."


    Half of Castle Baden had been reduced to ruins in just one night. However, most of the NPCs had evacuated through the east gate, so there weren¡¯t too many casualties.


    "Thank you all, truly. I will make sure to reward your efforts," Count Hind dered with a gleaming gaze.


    He wasn¡¯t sorrowful about half the city being destroyed but instead thankful that the other half had survived.


    "To the proud knights and warriors of Baden! You have defended our city with your own hands!"


    "Yeaahhh!"


    NPC soldiers and knights hugged each other, shedding tears of joy.


    "Let us not forget to thank the adventurers who helped us in today''s battle!"


    "Of course!"


    "We¡¯re truly grateful."


    "I used to think adventurers only did things for profit, but... I¡¯ll repent about that."


    "Castle Baden would have fallen long ago if it weren¡¯t for you guys. Thank you so much."


    The yers received the NPCs¡¯ words of gratitude rather awkwardly.


    <i>Heh, this is where the difference between me and them bes clear.</i>


    Having helped countless NPCs before, Kai was more than used to situations like this¡ªhe was sofortable with this situation that it was no different from talking with friends at his home!


    "It was a great challenge. The teleport gates weren¡¯t working, and rumors said the situation in Castle Baden was dire... But with the determination to save even one more citizen, I ran all the way across the Arna ins to reach this castle."


    "<i>Wooow!</i> Are you saying you ran here from Miron Vige?"


    "<i>Sniff</i>... I can¡¯t believe you did all that for us...!¡±


    "Now I see why they call you a saint in Glendale and Whitehall!"


    <strong>[NPC Horn¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[NPC Votgan¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[NPC Quimil¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    The NPCs'' affinity continued to rise!


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Castle Baden would already be in ruins if not for the Death Army you led. Your desperate desire to save even one more life has given hope to the despairing citizens of Baden.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik, who was listening to your story, tilts her head curiously.]</strong>


    <strong>[She realizes that you really did run across the Arna ins.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Srian God Helik is deeply moved by your good deeds.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[With the effect of Witness of the Sun, you have gained an additional +5 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15,000 Fame.]</strong>


    "<i>Ahem</i>."


    With just one speech, Kai had captivated not only the citizens of Castle Baden but even a god with his miraculous eloquence!


    Feeling satisfied as he looked at the message windows, he opened his stat window.


    <strong>[Kai] </strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 318</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 49,400</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 121,200</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 1156 Stamina: 494 </strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 386 Agility: 354</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 1212 Dignity: 336 </strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 203 </strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance +40%</strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity +200</strong>


    <strong>Damage dealt to demons/undead +50%</strong>


    "Level 318. That¡¯s pretty good."


    Although he hadn¡¯t quite reached level 320 because he wasn''t the one who defeated the Triple-Headed Ogre, the massive level increase from the Invasion Event made it a worthwhile venture.


    <i>Even though my contribution points are lower because I didn¡¯t close as many Hard Gates, I probably gained the most in terms of levels.</i>


    Count Hind approached him while he wasforting himself with such thoughts.


    "Commander of the Holy Blood Order, Kai. I¡¯ll formally express my gratitude to you through the main Church of the Srian Church."


    "It was no problem. Any person in my position would have made the same choice."


    "<i>Haha</i>, just like Baron Arsen said¡ªyou are truly humble. Everyone he sends my way turns out to be exceptional."


    "<i>Oh</i>, speaking of which..."


    Count Hind had mentioned in passing before that there was another adventurer who hade with a rmendation from Baron Arsen.


    <i>Baron Arsen never mentioned anyone else to me... Who could it be?</i>


    With his curiosity activated, Kai carefully asked, "What kind of person was the adventurer that came before me?"


    "<i>Hmm</i>... She was the most beautiful adventurer I¡¯ve ever seen."


    "Beautiful... you say?"


    "Yes. That silver-haired swordswoman was a master of swordsmanship. She stopped by because she was concerned about Castle Baden and left a letter behind. Have you perhaps encountered her on the battlefield? Her name is Yoo Ha-Rin... She¡¯s unforgettable once you meet her."


    Kai tilted his head after hearing Count Hind¡¯s words.


    <i>Wait a minute. So, Yoo Ha-Rin, the former number one yer, once met Count Hind through Baron Arsen¡¯s rmendation?</i>


    He had assumed he was the first yer to meet with the lord of Castle Baden, as no other yer had mentioned such a meeting.


    <i>But it makes sense if it¡¯s Yoo Ha-Rin.</i>


    She was like a lone wolf that rarelymunicated with others, so naturally, no rumors would have spread.


    <i>But if it¡¯s Yoo Ha-Rin...</i>


    Suddenly, a memory resurfaced in Kai¡¯s mind. On the day he had finished the orc expedition mission and enjoyed a dinner banquet at Baron Arsen¡¯s mansion, the woman he had met there had also been stunningly beautiful, and her name was Yoo Ha-Rin.


    <i>Once might be a coincidence, but with so many simrities...</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes lit up.


    <i>There¡¯s no way it¡¯s just a coincidence. They must be the same person.</i>


    Kai let out a smallugh as he looked at the Triple-Headed Ogre hide in his inventory.


    "...Wait, that means she knew all along."


    She had known that he was Unknown and that he was currently the top-ranked yer.


    <i>And yet, she didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it.</i>


    Instead, she had given him the hide of a level 310 boss monster as a thank-you gift for some orc hide.


    For someone who had always been the one helping others, it was probably the first time Kai had received such a generous act from someone else.


    "Yoo Ha-Rin, <i>huh</i>..."


    After chuckling softly to himself in disbelief for a while, Kai stretched and looked up at the sky.


    "She fooled mepletely, but I don¡¯t feel bad about it. In fact, if we meet again..."


    He had a feeling that next time, they could interact more casually, like good friends.

 Chapter 180: Merry Christmas Online (2)

    <h4>Chapter 180: Merry Christmas Online (2)</h4>


    After the Invasion Event ended sessfully, Pegasus Corporation made another surprise announcement.


    ¡°A Christmas Event, <i>huh</i>...¡±


    If the Invasion Event had been designed to help yers grow, the Christmas event had a bit of a different purpose.


    ¡°Limited edition character outfits... and Crystal Hearts for expressing your feelings?¡±


    In short, this event was meant for those with lovers and friends¡ªa conceptpletely unrted to Kai! ...Or so he thought.


    ¡°I have something I want to eat¡±


    Helik, her cheeks puffed out with air, sulked as she looked at Kai, who hade to visit her after a long time.


    ¡°What is it that you want to eat this time?¡±


    ¡°A Christmas Special Split.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>... How did you even hear about that?¡±


    Kai, who hade to the Celestial Garden to bring her snacks, rubbed his forehead. When he nced at Helik, it seemed like her belly had gotten slightly rounder sincest time...


    <i>I¡¯m not ruining a god¡¯s figure, am I?</i>


    A god gaining weight from receiving too many treats from her follower was unbelievable.


    As Kai carefully set down the bundle of snacks he had brought, he asked, ¡°Do you even know what Christmas is?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh?</i>¡±


    Kai tilted his head when Helik showed surprisingly deep knowledge. He had always thought she was rather foolish.


    <i>Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ... How does Helik know about that?</i>


    His question was quickly answered.


    Helik crossed her arms, puffed up her tiny shoulders, and chuckled, ¡°This was the first day that I bestowed my teachings upon humans.¡±


    ¡°... Really?¡±


    ¡°You, have you been neglecting to read the holy scriptures?" Helik grumbled as she slightly pouted.


    <i>Her affinity is about to drop!</i>


    rmed, Kai quickly waved his hands and said, ¡°Of course not, I was just joking. See, I even brought gifts for Christmas, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Kai hurriedly shook out the contents of the snack bag, presenting a pile of cookies, candies, choctes, and cakes.


    ¡°<i>Wooow</i>... As expected of my envoy! You understand me so well!¡±


    Helik¡¯s eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky as she lunged toward the mountain of treats.


    Of course, Kai raised his arm to stop her.


    ¡°W-Why are you stopping me...?¡± Helik sadly asked, conveying her feelings with a trembling gaze.


    ¡°Make sure to brush your teeth after eating, and only three treats a day.¡±


    ¡°S-So many... but only three a day? That¡¯s cruel! What a brutal person you are!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll gain weight. And it¡¯s bad for your teeth.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡±


    ¡°If you promise to listen, though... I¡¯ll bring you the Christmas Special Split.¡±


    The Christmas Special Split! Upon hearing those words, Helik perked up instantly.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. Well, I¡¯ll have to go through quite the ordeal to get it... But still, I¡¯ll make sure to get it for you.¡±


    The Special Split she wanted was a limited item avable only during the Christmas Event. It was a banana topped with chocte, vani, strawberry, and coffee ice cream, drizzled with three special syrups, and garnished with delicious cookies. It was an incredibly popr item!


    <i>I¡¯ll have to hunt a lot of monsters to get that...</i>


    It would be a loss for Kai since he would have to hunt low-level monsters, but the affinity boost from Helik would make it worthwhile.


    <i>I¡¯ll just think of it as an investment for the future.</i>


    Based on his past experiences, Kai realized that Helik was the one who bestowed the Benevolence stat.


    <i>She gives the stat whenever she¡¯s moved or convinced.</i>


    Favoritism always worked in one¡¯s favor! Thus, if Kai, who already behaved sweetly, did good deeds on top of that...


    <i>My Benevolence stat is going to keep piling up.</i>


    Moreover, his Benevolence stat increased by an additional 50% with the special title Witness of the Sun.


    <i>I was supposed to get 10 Benevolence points, but I ended up with 15 this time.</i>


    He had earned more Benevolence points from saving a single city, Baden, than he had when he saved the entire Kingdom of Aquavera. In other words, how much Benevolence he earned depended entirely on Helik¡¯s will!


    <i>To other yers, she might just be a god for form''s sake, but to me... she¡¯s practically a real god.</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Helik.


    Whether she knew that or not, Helik had the happiest expression in the world as she stuffed her mouth full of chocte cake.


    ***


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>, I finally gathered all the materials.¡±


    To obtain the Christmas Special Split, one had to bring tokens from defeated monsters to an event NPC.


    <i>The Banshees were a bit tricky.</i>


    Physical attacks didn¡¯t deal much damage, so they were a bit tough to defeat. Although they were only level 130, which made them easy for Kai, they were annoying since they floated in the air.


    ¡°Hey, what costume parts do you still need?¡±


    ¡°I just need the hat now. What about you?¡±


    ¡°I need the shoes and the beard. Got any spare materials?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got all the shoe materials, but I¡¯m short on the beard. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    During the Christmas Event, every city was filled with a festive atmosphere. Even though it was just a game, carols echoed through the streets, and the town squares were lit with bright lights and huge Christmas trees.


    ¡°The day Helik gave her teachings... Funny how they¡¯ve reworked that and Christianity hasn¡¯t raised an eyebrow,¡± Kai chuckled as he made his way to an event NPC.


    In line with the Christmas theme, all the important NPCs were dressed in red and white.


    <i>Christmas events have always been a favorite among game developers.</i>


    That was because they brought a surge in both active yers and content purchases! Of course, <i>MID Online</i> didn¡¯t sell paid content beyond the subscription fee. However, limited-time event costumes were more than enough to trigger the collector instincts of the yers.


    <i>Helik would look pretty good in those...</i>


    But to get them, he would have to hunt more monsters.


    Scratching his head, Kai found an event NPC and approached her.


    ¡°Merry Christmas! What can I do for you today?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to exchange for a Christmas Special Split. Here are the materials.¡±


    ¡°Alright! The materials are confirmed!¡± The cute NPC handed Kai a square box wrapped in green and red. ¡°Here is your Christmas Special Split!¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Just as Kai was about to leave with the Split in hand, a voice behind him hurriedly addressed the NPC. ¡°Uh... W-what materials do I need for a Crystal Heart...?¡±


    ¡°Fifteen Banshee¡¯s Rags, thirty Crystal Golem Shards, and...¡±


    ¡°I-I have more than enough of the other materials, but I just can¡¯t gather enough Banshee¡¯s Rags on my own... Isn¡¯t there any other way?¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh... </i>I¡¯m sorry, Adventurer, but without those materials, I can¡¯t make a Crystal Heart.¡±


    The male yer, disappointed by the NPC¡¯s apology, walked away with heavy steps.


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>.¡±


    Overhearing the conversation, Kai nced at his inventory.


    <i>I¡¯ve still got thirty-two Banshee¡¯s Rags left.</i>


    He had killed dozens of them with Holy Explosion, after all.


    <i>Banshee¡¯s Rags are selling for ridiculous prices right now...</i>


    It was the same in every game¡ªevent materials always spiked in price.


    But with a fat bank ount, Kai decided after seeing the man¡¯s dejected figure.


    ¡°Excuse me!¡±


    Kai hurried over to stop the man, who responded in a weak voice.


    "Yes...? Can I help you...?"


    "Do you need Banshee¡¯s Rags?"


    Hearing Kai¡¯s question, the man¡¯s eyes widened, and he nodded.


    "Yes! I need them! I really do! But..." His face quickly darkened, and he shook his head as he continued, "I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t have enough gold, so... I¡¯ll just be on my way."


    Thinking Kai was a merchant selling materials, the man politely apologized and began to walk away.


    "No, it¡¯s fine. I just happen to have around fifteen extra rags, and..." Kai smiled brightly and opened a trade window. "Didn¡¯t you say earlier that you had plenty of other materials?"


    "Yes... I do."


    "Do you have any materials for the Christmas Santa costume?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, yes! I¡¯ve got enough to make one full set."


    "Then how about we trade fifteen Banshee¡¯s Rags for those materials?"


    It wasn¡¯t a bad deal for the man. Banshees were notoriously difficult for normal warriors to hunt without a Wizard''s help, making Banshee¡¯s Rags one of the most expensive event materials.


    "I-I''d be really grateful if you did that! The other materials are rtively easy to gather, after all."


    With an instantly brightened expression, the man quickly put the materials into the trade window.


    After the sessful trade, the man smiled as if he had just won the lottery. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"


    "It¡¯s nothing. I should be the one apologizing. I¡¯m sure it was tough gathering the other materials."


    "No, no. Based on the value alone, I¡¯m the one who got the better deal, so I should be thanking you!" The man gazed warmly at the Banshee¡¯s Rags he had just received and exined, "I¡¯m nning to confess my feelings to my crush once I get the Crystal Heart."


    "It is the kind of night when couplese together." Kai nced up, feeling the cold touch of snow on his cheek, and smiled. "Even the sky¡¯s setting the mood."


    "A White... Christmas." With a dreamy look, the man nodded confidently. "I¡¯m not a very brave person. I¡¯ve always wanted to confess, but I kept putting it off, telling myself I needed the right moment. I promised myself this time too that if I couldn¡¯t get the Crystal Heart, I wouldn¡¯t confess... but now, I finally can."


    "That¡¯s great news. It might be a bit out of the blue, but would you like to hear some advice that might help with your confession?"


    "I¡¯m all ears."


    It was the same advice Kai''s father had given him when he asked how to win a woman¡¯s heart.


    "A woman won¡¯t entrust her future to a man who doesn¡¯t even have the courage to confess his feelings. So be confident. Make sure she knows how much you love her, how deep and great that love is."


    "<i>Oh</i>...!" The man, having gained a great realization from Kai''s words, repeatedly bowed his head with a deeply moved expression. "Th-thank you! You¡¯re so kind and handsome, I bet you¡¯re really popr with women! I¡¯ll never forget what you said! I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll definitely convey my feelings to her!"


    With renewed courage, the man gave a bright farewell and walked away.


    Han Jung-Woo, twenty-two years old and single his whole life, was a man who had learned about love through books and words alone.


    ***


    "H-How did youe back so soon?!"


    "Gathering materials isn¡¯t that hard."


    Having returned to the Celestial Garden using Shadow Shift, Kai quickly scanned the snacks.


    "<i>Hmm</i>... you only ate three, right?"


    "Of course! I am the Srian God of mercy and truth. Do you think I would lie about something like that?"


    <i>She really looks like she would...</i>


    But she was a god, after all. There was no way she would lie about eating one more candy.


    Kai smiled and handed Helik two boxes.


    Overjoyed, Helik eagerly tore open therger box just as a child would. "<i>Oooo</i>...? What is this?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "It is clothing that humans wear tomemorate the day your teachings were bestowed.¡±


    ¡°<i>Wow! </i>It¡¯s pretty like me!¡± Helik seemed quite pleased with the red and white fur-lined outfit and immediately put it on. ¡°How do I look?¡±


    ¡°You look wonderful.¡±


    Kai smiled warmly, finding the outfit suited her far better than he had imagined. He then moved behind her.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Kai grabbed her long hair that reached the floor, parted it in two, folded each half so it made a loop, and tied it into two pigtails, then nodded in approval. ¡°A Santa girl with twin tails, just like a keychain... It¡¯s perfect.¡±


    After enthusiastically taking a few screenshots, Kai pointed to the remaining gift box. ¡°Open that one too.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Helik quickly tore the remaining box, and her eyes sparkled as brightly as the sun. ¡°Christmas Special Split!¡±


    ¡°Merry Christmas, Helik.¡±


    ¡°Merry Christmas to you as well! May fortune bless your path!¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have received Helik¡¯s Blessing (Luck).]</strong>


    <strong>[Your luck will greatly increase for seven days.]</strong>


    Kai shook his head as he saw the message that appeared. Then, he smiled as he watched Helik deliciously enjoy her Split, happily swinging her legs as they didn¡¯t reach the floor when sitting on the chair.

 Chapter 181: The Rich (1)

    <h4>Chapter 181: The Rich (1)</h4>


    "That¡¯ll be 20,000 won, please."


    "Here you go. Thank you.¡±


    Han Jung-Woo Jung-Woo handed the cash to the chicken delivery man and took the neatly packed chicken box, rushing straight to the living room.


    "Has it not started yet?"


    His heart was pounding just enough to make him feel excited. He nced at the clock on the wall.


    <i>They said the broadcast would start at eight PM, but it hasn''t started yet.</i>


    NET Media''s ambitious project¡ªa monstrous contract worth 4.8 billion won with incentives tied to viewership¡ªwas about to be broadcast across television screens nationwide. It was the footage of the Battle of the Bir ins.


    As Han Jung-Woo opened the chicken box, he checked themunity reactions through his tablet.


    -Why hasn¡¯t it started yet? Wasn¡¯t the broadcast supposed to start at eight PM?


    ©¸ Do you ever see a World Cup match begin right at four PM when scheduled?


    ©¸ Exactly. They y the anthem, have yer entrances, and thementators chat before it starts.


    -Ugh, I¡¯m so curious. I can¡¯t leave the house if something like this broadcasts at the end of the year.


    ©¸ Don¡¯t worry. The world outside is dangerous anyway.


    -But weren¡¯t there quite a few war videos before this? Why are people so hyped?


    ©¸ This is a massive war involving Unknown and six of the top ten guilds. With tens of thousands of enemies, it¡¯s going to be insane¡ªunlike anything seen before.


    ©¸ Might be all hype with no substance.


    ©¸ Do tens of thousands of enemies even make sense? Koreans sure love to exaggerate.


    The higher the expectations, the greater the potential disappointment. Most people were excited, but there was a fair share of skeptics too.


    -Isn¡¯t it still just another war video? I feel like it¡¯ll just be a messy brawl.


    -I''ve watched tons of raid videos... Unknown''s getting way too much special treatment.


    ©¸ Who else deserves special treatment if not the first ranked yer?


    -Everybody quiet. The real point today is whether Unknown¡¯s face will finally be revealed.


    -Standing by as a member of his fan club, waiting to see Unknown¡¯s face on the live broadcast.


    ©¸ 222222


    ©¸ 3333


    Just as Han Jung-Woo took a huge bite of the steaming chicken leg, the program finally began. It was a pilot program, recing the usual show at this time, with new hosts taking their ces.


    ¡ªGood evening, viewers! Bringing you something unlike before, unseen, but highly anticipated¡ªthe first-ever war video from <i>MID Online</i>, I¡¯m Kwon Jun-Hyuk.


    ¡ªAnd I¡¯m Kim Joo-Ri.


    The two hosts smiled warmly as they bowed, both dressed in sharp suits.


    It was clear that NET Media had high hopes for the program, given that both hosts were top-tier <i>MID Online</i> broadcasters. Kown Jun-Hyuk was famous for his clean looks, wittiness and deep voice, while Kim Joo-Ri had a dual image¡ªinnocent yet a hardcore gamer¡ªwhich secured her a loyal fanbase.


    Turning to face Kim Joo-Ri, Kwon Jun-Hyuk continued.


    ¡ªJoo-Ri, are you a fan of <i>MID Online</i> yourself?


    ¡ªOh my, you''re not seriously asking that, are you? You know the answer, right?


    Kim Joo-Ri squinted yfully at Kwon Jun-Hyuk, covering her mouth with her small hand. Kwon Jun-Hyuk thenughed heartily and waved his hand.


    ¡ª<i>Hahaha</i>, of course, I know you¡¯re a gamer. I was just asking out of courtesy to maintain your image.


    ¡ªOh please, I¡¯m already past my marriageable phase. Who would marry a gaming addict like me?


    As they exchanged casual greetings, they smoothly transitioned into the program and Kwon Jun-Hyuk asked another question.


    ¡ªSince you¡¯re familiar with <i>MID Online</i>, could you give us a brief introduction to the video we¡¯ll be showing today?


    ¡ª<i>Hmm,</i> well, first, everyone knows about <i>MID Online</i>''s ranking system, right?


    ¡ªAbsolutely. Top-ranked yers are often called walking corporations. I hear that being a top-ranker even puts you at the top of marriage eligibility lists these days.


    ¡ª<i>Haha</i>, that¡¯s right. The earnings are great, and since it''s remote work, couples can spend a lot of time together, making them the perfect marriage partner.


    ¡ªBut why did you bring up rankings all of a sudden?


    ¡ªBecause today¡¯s video star is none other than Unknown, and I need to exin who that is.


    Standing up like a weather presenter, Kim Joo-Ri picked up a long pointer and quickly summarized Unknown''s stats disyed on the screen.


    ¡ª<i>Wow</i>... First ranked... Just hearing all that, he¡¯s like a monster. A total beast.


    ¡ªExactly. He has leveled up in record time, and his skill development is unmatched. You know how they say some people absorb knowledge like a sponge? Well, Unknown is like a giant sponge that¡¯s fallen into a vast ocean.


    ¡ªThat means he¡¯s truly an incredible person.


    ¡ªThis isn''t all. As I mentioned earlier, everything Unknown has done has been nothing short of unbelievable.


    More video footage quickly appeared on the screen.


    ¡ªFrom the solo fight against the Crimson Fist Guild, to the orc expedition squad in Glendale, the still unbroken record for the fastest dungeon clear, and the legendary Aosa solo raid that heated up the inte for a while... This is the same yer who even took down the stronghold of one of the world''s top ten guilds, something thought to be invincible.


    ¡ªIt feels like I''m listening to an epic saga of a hero.


    ¡ªExactly, and this time, over six-hundred top-tier rankers gathered under his lead.


    ¡ª<i>Ah</i>, yes, I roughly heard about it. It was for the war, right? But wow... With that many rankers, they could beat anyone.


    As Kwon Jun-Hyuk eximed in amazement, Kim Joo-Ri furrowed her brow.


    ¡ªJun-Hyuk, you''re not a gaming noob, are you?


    ¡ªP-pardon?


    ¡ªSomeone who doesn''t really know much about games.


    ¡ªCome on. I''ve been hosting <i>MID Online</i> broadcasts for almost a year now... I know more than most. <i>Ahem.</i> As far as I know, there¡¯s never been a case where so many rankers gathered for amon purpose, right?


    ¡ªThat''s right. It''s the first time, but their opponent is none other than the tens of thousands of dark followers from the Church of Muldine.


    ¡ªThe Church of Muldine?!


    Even though the show followed a script, the two hosts'' acting was top-notch. As Kwon Jun-Hyuk eximed like someone genuinely shocked, Kim Joo-Ri put on a smile.


    ¡ªIt''s an organization that''s been consistently mentioned by top-tier rankers. The ultimate evil in <i>MID Online</i>. It''s an organization that once flourished even more than the Srian Church.


    ¡ªI can¡¯t believe they sent tens of thousands of soldiers from an organization like that... Can a few hundred rankers really win?


    ¡ªWell... Why don¡¯t we watch the video and find out together.


    The image of Kim Joo-Ri and Kwon Jun-Hyuk smiling gradually zoomed out, and the faint footage started to appear.


    At the same time, the onlinemunity exploded with reactions.


    -It''s starting!


    -Damn it! Why are they airing it in the evening in Korean time? This is the kind of thing you need to watch with the lights off, but it''s broad daylight here in the U.S.!


    ©¸ Get ckout curtains or something.


    -Oooo, I know that ce! It''s the Bir ins!


    The video opened with a shot of arge eagle flying across the vast sky. The camera zoomed in closer to the eagle, eventually showing the world from the eagle''s point of view. The massive Suver Canal stretched out, hundreds of meters wide! And on the Bir ins, over a thousand yers and hundreds of elves had gathered.


    -Wait, didn¡¯t they say there were only about five-hundred rankers? There are clearly over a thousand yers there.


    ©¸ True, there are probably a few hundred yers unaffiliated with guilds too.


    -Is this a broadcast mistake?


    -Whatever, it just looks cool to see that many people gathered in order.


    -Wow, the sheer majesty of it. If I were the enemy, I¡¯d just run away.


    Standing at the forefront of that massive army was a yer! d in the Tyrant of the Sea set, Kai exuded an overwhelming presence, as if ready to conquer the world. However, that sense of dominance didn''tst long.


    <i>Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!</i>


    The snow-covered Pivez Mountains began to darken, turning ck as a massive army approached, making the yer forces seem small inparison.


    Viewers at home were so shocked they even put down theirte-night snacks, staring nkly at the screen as they typed on their keyboards.


    -Are you kidding? They''re really going to fight that?


    -Wow, that¡¯s insane. Hearing about tens of thousands and actually seeing it is a whole different level.


    -Can they even win that...? No, can they even call this a fight?


    -Oh no! Some yers are already leaving! They¡¯re logging out!


    -I see. So that¡¯s why there were only a few hundred yers left by the end.


    The army around Kai quickly became smaller. The once orderly lines now had gaping holes, and the number of yers was nearly halved.


    However, even in that dire situation, Unknown didn¡¯t lose hisposure. He quickly reorganized the remaining forces and gave a speech! The apanying morale-boosting buffs helped to slightly close the gap between them and the overwhelming enemy force.


    -He really is something else.


    -It feels like they¡¯re trying to break a rock with an egg... but I¡¯m still rooting for him! I¡¯ve been a fan for a long time.


    -Butrge-scale battles in <i>MID Online</i> aren¡¯t that different from real life. Strategy is important, but when the numbers are six times bigger...


    Despite the viewers'' concerns, Unknown took arge step forward. Wearing his cleric robes simultaneously, he bestowed blessings upon his allies and began issuingmands.


    -Right, if they block the bridge, they can hold off arge force with fewer troops...<i>huh?</i>


    -Wait, is Unknown crazy? Why are they freezing the canal? And why are they going up there?


    -Nooo! It''s over! The enemy¡¯s starting to cross over now!


    -This guy, he''s great at fighting alone, but he¡¯s got no idea how to lead a war!


    The viewers'' criticism grew harsher as the war progressed.


    -I knew it. They¡¯re beingpletely overrun.


    -The Inquisitors are too strong. It takes at least ten yers just to hold one off.


    -I don''t understand why Unknown is pushing this fight. They should have blocked the bridge and worn down the enemy¡¯s numbers slowly...


    -<i>Huh?</i> But Unknown''s going after the Inquisitors?


    -Even if he does, it''s just stalling for time... Wait, what?


    The tide of battle began to shift. The strongest Inquisitor fell at Unknown¡¯s hand, and the morale of both the yers and elves surged.


    -This might actually work...?


    -The Ironblood Knights havepletely pinned down the main force of the Church of Muldine.


    -If Unknown keeps taking out the Inquisitors like this, they might have a chance!


    However, just as everyone started to have hope, Unknown ordered a retreat.


    -You idiot! You should press the attack while you have the advantage!


    -Oh, great, it¡¯s over. They¡¯re doomed.


    -I¡¯m done watching. This is giving me a headache. I¡¯m turning it off.


    -The editing is like something out of a movie, but the actual war content is so weak... What?


    <i>Rumble, rumble.</i>


    At first, it sounded like the trees outside were shaking. It was such a faint noise that only the viewers with sharp hearing noticed it. However, the sound grew louder and louder, amplified by the video focusing on it.


    -Do you hear that? It sounds like rumbling... like an earthquake or something.


    -An earthquake? Idk. My house is fine.


    ©¸ You idiot, not in real life. In the video.


    ©¸ Oh yeah, now that you mention it, it does sound like it¡¯s getting louder...


    <i>Rumble, rumble!</i>


    By the time the rumbling had grown loud enough for everyone to hear, the yers and elves had already retreated from the ice field to drynd.


    And just when the viewers were about to burst with frustration, the army of merfolk crashed onto the ice field, smashing through both the ice and the Church of Muldine forces.


    "This is the climax."


    With a satisfied grin, Han Jung-Woo Jung-Woo continued watching, enjoying every moment of what followed.


    <i>The visuals are incredible. Especially when the yers charge through the bridge and crush the Church of Muldine¡¯s main force.</i>


    It was already bing a popr scene, spreading as a gif in themunity.


    It was a beautiful moment that even films made with hundreds of millions in budget couldn¡¯t replicate because it wasn¡¯t scripted acting by yers pretending to be characters. It was the ferocity and bravery that came from yers genuinely fighting as if their lives depended on it.


    Even after the two hour and thirty minute program ended, the sense of excitement and lingering impact only grew stronger.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>... I should pay and rewatch thister.¡±


    Even though the video featured himself as the protagonist, the editing was done in a way that also gave the other major rankers from different guilds plenty of screen time, making it more enjoyable to watch.


    There were friendships forged in the heat of battle, the desperate faces of the rankers, and heart-wrenching camaraderie as they cried out for their fallenrades¡ªall of it created moments that brought tears to the eyes.


    It was, quite frankly, just a video of endless fighting with no real story, but showing the intense battle in such detail left him with sweaty palms.


    That was when Han Jung-Woo Jung-Woo received a phone call.


    <i>Ring, ring, ring.</i>


    Taking a sip of c to refresh himself, he answered, "Hello, this is Han Jung-Woo."


    ¡ªHello! This is Kim In-Ha, PD from NET Media. Did you happen to catch the program?


    "Yes, I watched it. It was really well done. Thanks to you, two hours and thirty minutes flew by, and I didn¡¯t even get a chance to go to the bathroom."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡ªThat¡¯s the bestpliment. The reason I¡¯m calling is that I have some good news.


    "Good news? What is it?" Han Jung-Woo asked, tilting his head in curiosity.


    Kim In-Ha¡¯s excited voice came through the phone.


    ¡ªThe program pulled in a 63.4% viewership rating, just slightly below the historic 65.8%¡ªthe highest rating in South Korea since 1997. Considering it¡¯s not a drama, but a one-time pilot program, this is an absolutely insane result.


    "... Wait a second. Does that mean...?"


    As Han Jung-Woo¡¯s face went nk, memories of the contract details shed through his mind.


    Sure enough, Kim In-Ha PD spoke in a sneaky tone.


    ¡ªCongrattions on bing a rich man.

 Chapter 182: The Rich (2)

    <h4>Chapter 182: The Rich (2)</h4>


    <i>Beep, beep, beep.</i>


    The bank ATM emitted its usual beeping sound. A momentter, Han Jung-Woo let out augh in disbelief as he looked at the printed bnce on the bankbook[1].


    "I¡¯m rich."


    Of course, he had never been poor before. His family was wealthy. However, Han Jung-Woo''s personal assets had never reached 1 billion won.


    <i>Of course,pared to others my age, I was unbelievably sessful...</i>


    Still, it had been somewhat awkward to call himself rich, but that uncertainty ended today.


    <i>I split the contract fee with the six major guilds and even used some of my own money to give a bit to the regr yers who participated in the war.</i>


    Even after that, just from the contract fee alone, he ended up with over 600 million won. However, the incentives tied to viewership ratings were solely for him.


    "I can¡¯t believe the viewership surpassed 60%..."


    Both NET Media and Han Jung-Woo ended up smiling at the oue. The stock price of NET Media was now soaring because they had achieved what many thought was impossible: a viewership rating above 60%.


    Moreover, with their name now spread across the globe through simultaneous online broadcasts, the rivalworks that failed to secure the contract were undoubtedly not just frustrated, but likely fuming with envy by now.


    "When it exceeded 30% viewership, it was 100 million won per 1%, so..."


    63.4%. Excluding the decimal point, that meant they had achieved an additional 33%.


    <i>Well, that exins the amount I¡¯m seeing here.</i>


    4.2 billion won¡ªit was an amountrge enough that he had to count the zeros shown in his bnce.


    "To think I reached this point within just a year of <i>MID Online</i>''sunch..."


    It had been only about six months since he had transitioned into the role of a Sris Cleric.


    Han Jung-Woo, now one of the biggest stars <i>MID Online</i> had produced, put away his bankbook and left the bank.


    On his way, he stopped by a convenience store, picking out snacks and drinks as he pondered.


    <i>Let¡¯s start by organizing what I need to do. First... there¡¯s the Titan bastards.</i>


    The world¡¯s top ten guilds cared more about their image than anything else. Even notorious groups like ck Bee and Titan put effort into cultivating a good image.


    Han Jung-Woo was no different.


    <i>If I getbeled as a pushover, things will get really tough.</i>


    During the Invasion Event, Titan had taken a jab at him. Of course, he had countered with a knockout punch, but the fact remained that they hadnded the first hit.


    <i>If I just stay quiet, the top guilds will think I¡¯m easy to push around.</i>


    He wasn¡¯t particrly afraid of the Titan guild. Even without rallying the non-human forces, he could easily make their lives difficult alone.


    <i>It might sound petty, but I¡¯ll start with their lower-level members.</i>


    Sure, he might earn himself a messy reputation, but he could still send a clear warning.


    <i>I¡¯ll let them know that wearing the Titan guild¡¯s emblem could make them my prey.</i>


    After all, he was still frustrated about having ced seventh in the Invasion Event because of them.


    <i>And then there¡¯s one more thing I need to keep in mind...</i>


    Now, truly annoying situations could start happening more frequently. Like, for example...


    <i>Beep, beep.</i>


    The clerk ringing up his items kept ncing at his face. As he handed over the cash, the clerk finally couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity and spoke up.


    "Excuse me... Are you by any chance Unknown...?"


    "You¡¯ve got the wrong guy."


    With his hood pulled low over his face, Han Jung-Woo grabbed his bag and hurried out of the convenience store like he was fleeing.


    <i>My face is all over the ce now.</i>


    One of the terms of the NET Media contract had been to reveal Kai¡¯s face. Being the main character, his face being blurred out would have severely decreased the quality of the video.


    <i>At this rate, I might end up with celebrity disease.</i>


    The world outside home was dangerous. Hurrying back to his apartment, Han Jung-Woo spotted a group of men and women waiting in front of his building.


    "Isn¡¯t that...?"


    It was the woman who lived in the penthouse, always surrounded by her bodyguards.


    <i>Why is she...?</i>


    As usual, her fashion was marvelous. She wore a leopard-print fur coat that suited the cold winter weather, paired with a knit sweater underneath and white cks for contrast. And of course, an oversized pair of sunssespleted her look.


    "I never expected we¡¯d live so close."


    <i>Click, ck, click, ck.</i>


    The woman walked directly up to Han Jung-Woo and slowly removed her sunsses.


    At the same time, Han Jung-Woo¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    "<i>Huh?</i> No way..."


    "Nice to see you. Kai... or should I call you Han Jung-Woo?"


    It was Seol Eun-Yeong, the master of the Cheonhwa guild, and she shed a captivating smile which was unlike her character.


    ***


    "Please, have a seat, though it''s not much."


    "It really indeed isn''t much."


    Seol Eun-Yeong carefully took a seat as she nced around Han Jung-Woo¡¯s apartment. Her bodyguards were waiting outside the door, per her instructions after noticing how ufortable Han Jung-Woo was with their presence.


    "Sorry for dropping by so suddenly. I actually held back my urge toe right after watching the broadcast yesterday."


    "<i>Oh</i>, well... Thank you for that, I guess," Han Jung-Woo nodded politely, wondering why she hade to see him.


    <i>My rtionship with Cheonhwa isn¡¯t bad¡ªif anything, it''s good.</i>


    He had helped them rise to the world¡¯s top ten greatest guilds. Of course, they had also made significant contributions that allowed him to achieve victory in the Battle of the Bir ins. In short, they had a mutually beneficial rtionship.


    <i>Is this a recruitment offer?</i>


    If it was, he nned to refuse. In his current position, after all, there was no need to tie himself down to a guild.


    "First of all, I enjoyed the broadcast yesterday. You became a global star overnight."


    "Thank you. Honestly, it hasn¡¯t really sunk in yet."


    "It will soon enough," Seol Eun-Yeong replied while smiling again.


    To that, Han Jung-Woo tilted his head. "How do you know that?"


    "Your face is everywhere, and you¡¯re the hottest character right now. Offers from various shows andmercials will flood in soon."


    "Oh,e on..."


    "You think I¡¯m joking?"


    Seol Eun-Yeong shrugged and took out her phone, making a call.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s me. Did you check on it? Tell me."


    After listening for a moment, Seol Eun-young nodded her head.


    "Got it. That''s enough. Bye."


    She ended the call and naturally exined, "You''re causing quite a stir. Electronicspanies are eager to make you the face of their gship gaming mouse, keyboard, andputer lines. And it¡¯s even crazier with the broadcasting stations. Multiple game shows and entertainment programs centered around you were nned justst night. One of them even involves being stranded on an ind and catching fish."


    "...Is that for real?"


    "I don¡¯t lie about things like this."


    Seol Eun-Yeong, who was known for her pride, crossed her arms and spoke firmly, lending her words credibility.


    <i>I guess Seol Eun-Yeong has nothing to gain by telling such a lie.</i>


    But then again, there was also no immediate benefit for her in revealing this information.


    "So, what are you getting at?"


    "Sign an exclusive contract with Cheonhwa Group. Think of it as a form of management."


    Han Jung-Woo looked taken aback by her sudden proposal. "Sorry, but I¡¯m toozy to¡ª"


    "Please, hear me out first." Seol Eun-Yeong cut him off. "You won¡¯t have to do anything. Cheonhwa Group will handle all the show offers,mercials, and requests thate your way.¡±


    "...And what do I get in return?"


    "Money and time."


    "Let me ask you this¡ªwhat does the Cheonhwa guild get in return?"


    "Just the fact that you¡¯ll be able to focus entirely on the game."


    "<i>Huh</i>..."


    It was practically an unfair deal. Of course, it was an unfair deal overwhelmingly in his favor.


    "You¡¯re going to get busier from now on. Cheonhwa will handle all the bothersome things for you."


    "Why are you going to such lengths? Don¡¯t tell me you expect me to help Cheonhwa in the game?" Han Jung-Woo asked with slightly furrowed brows, suspicious that her goal was to bind him somehow.


    But of course, Seol Eun-Yeong firmly shook her head. "Not at all. You don¡¯t need to feel any pressure. However..."


    "However?"


    Seol Eun-Yeong gave an unusual smirk, lifting one corner of her mouth. "You¡¯re human too. If we treat you this well, wouldn¡¯t you feel inclined to help Cheonhwa if something happens?"


    "...I see. So that¡¯s what this is about."


    Understanding her cute ulterior motive, Han Jung-Woo let out a soft chuckle.


    <i>It¡¯s not a bad deal.</i>


    Even if only half of what she said was true, it was still going to be a hassle. Maybe it would be different when things settled down, but with pursuers constantly on his tail right now, it was especially appealing.


    <i>I like being able to focus entirely on the game the most.</i>


    Having made up his mind, Han Jung-Woo nodded. "Bring the contract with you next time."


    "No need. I¡¯ve already brought it."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As if she had been waiting for this, Seol Eun-Yeong pulled a folder out of her bag.


    Impressed by her thorough preparation, Han Jung-Woo carefully reviewed the contract.


    <i>It¡¯s just as she said. It¡¯s so straightforward it¡¯s almost scary.</i>


    He was particrly stunned by the part where he would receive an exclusivity payment of 5 million won. It almost made him worry it was some kind of new scam.


    As he signed the contract, Seol Eun-Yeong smiled in satisfaction and extended her hand for a handshake. "It was a good deal."


    "Yes, it was a good deal."


    They shook hands, and Seol Eun-Yeong nced at her watch before hastily standing up.


    "<i>Oh</i>, I have to go now."


    "You have an appointment or something?"


    "Yes, I promised to run a newly discovered dungeon with my guild members. I¡¯m going to bete at this rate."


    After seeing Seol Eun-Yeong hastily pack her things and rush off, his phone rang as if on cue as soon as he saw her off.


    [Min-Soo]


    He knew what this was about without even listening.


    "Hello¡ª"


    ¡ªHey! How could you do this to me?!


    "You saw the broadcast?"


    ¡ªOf course, I called because I saw it! How could you hide being Unknown from me when you knew I was such a huge fan all this time?


    "Hey, even my parents and sister don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡ªUgh, well, when you put it like that, I guess I can¡¯t argue...


    "Did you just call toin about that?"


    ¡ª<i>Ahem</i>, no, that¡¯s just a side thing. My friend, you know I¡¯ve always been a huge fan of Unknown, right?


    "As much as I don¡¯t want to know... yeah, I do..."


    Every time they talked, Min-Soo would rave about how he was watching Unknown¡¯s videos, and how many times he had rewatched them. He even texted every day reminding him not to miss the Battle of the Bir ins.


    ¡ªCan you just please set up a fan club signing event once...


    "I¡¯ll think about it."


    ¡ªR-really? You said you¡¯d think about it, okay?


    "Yeah. I¡¯ll seriously think about it, long and hard. I¡¯ll get back to you in about a month."


    ¡ªThanks! Let¡¯s hunt together again sometime! The Rush guild members have been bugging me nonstop about not getting your autograph.


    "Autographs? Geez... I¡¯m hanging up now."


    ¡ªDon¡¯t forget this big bro is always rooting for you.


    "Just go y the game."


    After hanging up, Han Jung-Woo chuckled at his friend¡¯s adorable behavior.


    "My family isn¡¯t really in the loop when ites to games, so they¡¯ll probably reach out in a day or two..."


    That would be perfect timing.


    <i>First, I should check the rewards from the Invasion Event.</i>


    He was curious about what kind of reward awaited him for cing seventh in the contribution rankings.


    1. <u>Korean ATM and bankbook</u> ?

 Chapter 183: A Lucky Day (1)

    <h4>Chapter 183: A Lucky Day (1)</h4>


    "Let''s see..."


    The first thing Kai did after logging into <i>MID Online</i> was sit down and open up an inte window.


    <i>I should at least search what I can get with my contribution points and what would be the most efficient choice.</i>


    With so many participants in the Invasion Event, opinions on the rewards were divided.


    -Is this a joke? I opened five random boxes, and all I got were five Normal grade weapons.


    ©¸ Stopining. I got two duds and two Normal grade armors.


    -I really think getting random boxes as rewards is crazy. Just trade forplete items instead of hoping to strike it rich.


    ©¸ People are only going for the random boxes because they don''t have enough contribution points forplete items...


    -If you want to make money, just buy top-tier random boxes and put them up for auction. The gamblers have jacked up the prices, so you can make a fortune. That¡¯s how I made some good cash.


    ©¸ Thanks for the tip. But you can only open three random boxes per person anyway.


    ©¸ If you''re going to open any, it¡¯s better to go for the top-tier boxes.


    "Random boxes? Complete items?"


    Kai tilted his head in confusion and scrolled through the event reward list.


    "<i>Oh</i>, I see."


    There was a wide variety of items that could be exchanged with contribution points.


    <i>The items can be categorized broadly into equipment, potions, skill books, and so on.</i>


    The interesting part was that each category had random boxes.


    <i>For example, a random box costing 5 contribution points could give equipment with level requirements from 10 to 20.</i>


    That was the gist of it. The more points one spent, the better the chances of getting higher-grade items with a higher level requirement.


    "Of course, as a result... everyone failed."


    There were hundreds of thousands of posts already up, but fewer than a thousand yers had managed to pull Rare grade items. The odds were dreadful!


    <i>But looking at the items, it is pretty tempting.</i>


    Not all Rare items were created equal, and the equipment from the Invasion Event boxes had significant value.


    "<i>Hmm.</i> What should I do..."


    Kai could trade for one level 320 Unique gradeplete item with his contribution points, which would cost him exactly 100,000 points.


    <i>But if I buy random boxes, I can get a lot more.</i>


    As Kai was debating, a rustling sound came from behind him.


    "<i>Mmm</i>..."


    The oversized shirt Helik wore dragged along the ground like a robe. Still drowsy, she rubbed her sleepy eyes with her long sleeves and yawned as she walked toward Kai. She had developed a keen interest in human clothing after observing their world, and sometimes she would recreate outfits she liked.


    <i>She can''t seem to cook, though.</i>


    Yawning and smacking her lips, Helik squinted and stared at Kai. "<i>Ah</i>, it¡¯s a snack."


    "It''s Kai," Kai grumbled, getting up from his seat, annoyed that she now practically referred to him as a snack.


    Since thest ce he had logged out was the Celestial Garden, he was still there when he logged back in.


    "<i>Oh</i>, right. Helik."


    "What is it?"


    "You gave me a blessingst time, right?"


    He nced over and saw that there were still nearly four days remaining on the duration.


    If the luck blessing worked as promised, opening random boxes would not be such a bad idea.


    "<i>Mhmm</i>. A blessing was bestowed upon you by me, the Srian God Helik. Use it wisely."


    "Is the effect guaranteed?"


    Helik''s ears perked up. Though small, she was still female, and she immediately picked up on the slight doubt in Kai''s tone.


    "Are you doubting the power of me, the Srian God Helik?"


    "N-no, it¡¯s not exactly doubt... I¡¯m just curious about how effective it is."


    "<i>Hmph</i>. Enough."


    With her cheeks puffed up, Helik walked in the opposite direction, the bottom of her shirt dragging behind her. Of course, with Kai''s much longer strides, he caught up to her in just three steps.


    "I¡¯m gonna trust you then, okay?"


    "Who else would you trust if not me? Surely you''re not thinking of trusting another god...?"


    "No, no, don¡¯t overanalyze it."


    Sharply cutting off her words, Kai nodded to himself.


    <i>If Helik is this confident, there¡¯s no need to doubt the blessing.</i>


    After all, she was a god...


    "Alright, then. I¡¯ll be back."


    "<i>Oh</i>, bring cake on the way back!"


    Kai slightly bowed to Helik, who was seeing him off, and headed to Glendale.


    As the streets grew more crowded by the day, Kai found an event NPC and immediately approached them.


    "Brave hero who stopped the invasion, wee! Your contribution points are... <i>Gasp!</i> Over 120,000 points!"


    The NPC''s wide-eyed exmation drew the attention of nearby yers.


    "What''s going on?"


    "That guy has over 120,000 contribution points."


    "What? That means he''s ranked in the top ten for contributions, right? Where, where?"


    "Wait, I¡¯ve seen that cleric robe before..."


    "<i>Oh</i>...! K-Kai... It''s Unknown!"


    A crowd of yers swarmed around Kai in an instant. It felt like being an idol at the airport!


    <i>Th-this is too much.</i>


    Kai had never experienced receiving this much attention so directly from so many people.


    Sensing his difort, the event NPC called out to him, "Quickly, please tell me what you''d like."


    "Right, well..."


    Kai had initially nned to browse the rewards a little more leisurely, but there was no time for that now. Eventually, he fired off his request.


    "Three top-tier weapon random boxes, and three top-tier riddle skill books, please."


    "Here you go!"


    As the event NPC hurriedly handed over six boxes, Kai shuddered at the sight of the crowd rushing toward him.


    <i>Maybe I should get a mask or something to wear from now on.</i>


    The next moment, Kai used his Shadow Shift skill and vanished from the street.


    ***


    "<i>Huff, huff.</i>"


    As Kai let out an exhausted sigh, Helik, who had been peeking curiously from the side, asked, ¡°Did you bring back cake?¡±


    "No, I didn''t have time."


    "I told you to bring back cake!"


    "Surely you are the one who oversees mercy and virtue, so you wouldn''t get upset over something like this, right?"


    "O-Of course not. It''s just cake after all..."


    Kaiforted Helik who looked sad, and then immediately ced the boxes he was holding down on the floor.


    <strong><u>[Top-Tier Weapon Random Box]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>When used, acquire one weapon between level 300 and 330.</strong>


    <strong><u>[Top-Tier Riddle Skill Book]</u></strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare</strong>


    <strong>When used, acquire one skill book of Magic grade or higher.</strong>


    "<i>Whew</i>..." Kai rubbed his hands together nervously and nced at Helik. "I''m going to open these now."


    "<i>Huh?</i> What are they?"


    "Well... to put it simply, these are boxes that give better items based on how lucky I am."


    "I see. Then you''ll definitely get something good. After all, you have my blessing." Helik folded her arms adorably and looked arrogantly down at Kai, who was seated. "Go ahead, my servant. Open the boxes and witness the glory of the Srian God once more."


    "Sure... Here I go."


    Kai rolled up to his elbows and gulped as he opened the skill book box first.


    <i>sh!</i>


    With a burst of radiance, a single skill book inside the box revealed itself.


    <strong>[The Top-Tier Riddle Skill Book explodes into a blue splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book-Diamond Punch (Magic).]</strong>


    The name alone made Kai anxious. Very anxious.


    <i>No, it¡¯s fine. Skills like Holy Chains also sound simple at first nce. Maybe this too...</i>


    Clinging to a thread of hope, Kai slowly read through the skill book''s description.


    <strong>[Skill Book-Diamond Punch]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Magic</strong>


    <strong>Transforms your fist into diamond.</strong>


    <strong>+200% attack power.</strong>


    <strong>There is a 1% chance the fist will shatter, dropping a diamond gem. If the fist shatters, the user¡¯s HP decreases by 30%.</strong>


    <strong>(Cooldown: 5 minutes)</strong>


    Now a faded memory from a distant past, Golden Punch suddenly came to mind.


    <i>Anyone can see this is... a dud.</i>


    From a box that guaranteed a skill book of Magic grade or higher, he had received a mere Magic grade skill book, and even its performance was terrible!


    Kai immediately turned his head and looked at Helik.


    Helik, meeting his sharp stare, hupped and quickly averted her eyes.


    "Helik?"


    "<i>Oh</i>... well... gambling is always like that, isn''t it? Even my powers can''t help if your luck is just bad."


    "I only bought these boxes because I trusted you..."


    Helik''s face filled with sorrow as Kai slumped his shoulders with a sullen expression.


    "I-I''m sorry. Just try one more. Maybe this time..."


    With her encouragement, Kai opened another skill book box.


    <i>sh!</i>


    <strong>[The Top-Tier Riddle Skill Book explodes into a blue splendor, revealing its true form.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You acquired Skill Book-Eye Strengthener (Magic).]</strong>


    <i>Ugh, it¡¯s doomed. I swore after the strength elixir that I¡¯d never gamble again...</i>


    With back-to-back bad results, Kai¡¯s shoulders drooped even further. His neck was now stretched forward like a turtle''s!


    Watching his pitiful state, Helik gently patted his back. "I-I''m sorry. Would it be alright if I tried opening thest box?"


    "You want to open it?" Kai looked at her for a moment before handing over the final skill book box. "Sure, go ahead."


    Honestly, he didn''t expect much. Even though she was a god, she governed the sun, virtue, and mercy.


    <i>Now that I think about it, why did I even expect a luck buff from Helik? It makes no sense!</i>


    He had been fooled by her confidence. If he had received a blessing of luck from a god of fortune, it would be one thing, but she was the god of the sun!


    "Do I just open it like this?"


    As if unwrapping a present, Helik carefully opened the box. Then, a light far more intense than anything before burst out.


    <i>aaash!</i>


    "R-Red...!"


    It was a Unique item!


    Before Kai could evenpose himself, Helik tilted her head and asked, "This came out. Is it useful?"


    "<i>Uh</i>... <i>um</i>... could you hand it to me please?"


    Kai took the skill book glowing with an intense red hue from her and carefully appraised it.


    <strong>[<u>Skill Book-Rank Up</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Can be applied to any skill below Advanced Level 1.</strong>


    <strong>Permanently increases the skill¡¯s proficiency level by two, regardless of its current proficiency.</strong>


    "Th-this is amazing!"


    Raising skill proficiency was easy at first. At the Beginner level, just using the skills diligently would make them steadily improve. However, once a skill level rose to the Intermediate level, simple repetitive use was no longer enough to improve it.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>There would already be people who had mastered all their skills by now if repetition alone raised proficiency.</i>


    In this world, there are plenty of relentless people. However, leveling up skills in <i>MID Online</i> was not something that happened easily.


    <i>From the Intermediate level onward, one needs a deeper understanding of the skill itself.</i>


    One had to begin applying the skill in various ways. Even Kai had to fight various monsters and umte lots of experience andbat techniques when his Swordsmanship of the Dawn was stuck at the Intermediate level.


    <i>Thanks to that, I was barely able to reach the Advanced skill level when I entered a state of trance during the Battle of the Bir ins.</i>


    When a skill reached the Advanced level, the yer became an expert in that skill. They knew exactly how to use it and in what situations. At this point, the yer could clearly distinguish what was possible and what was not with the skill.


    From then on, time alone couldn¡¯t solve everything.


    <i>It¡¯s the realm of enlightenment. A series of sudden, unanticipated states of trance.</i>


    To raise the skill level even by one, immense experience and rare opportunities were required.


    For Kai, this skill book was one such opportunity. Without hesitation, he decided to use the skill book.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Would you like to use the Skill Book - Rank Up?]</strong>


    "Use."


    <strong>[Which skill would you like to level up?]</strong>


    ¡°Swordsmanship of the Dawn.¡±


    The moment Kai said those words, something began to change within him.

 Chapter 184: A Lucky Day (2)

    <h4>Chapter 184: A Lucky Day (2)</h4>


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn level has increased to Advanced Level 2.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn level has increased to Advanced Level 3.]</strong>


    Kai¡¯s skill level leaped two stages in an instant.


    At the same time, his body twitched.


    <i>... Huh?</i>


    He nced down at his hands, but nothing seemed to have changed. He looked around at his body, but nothing about his appearance had changed either. Yet, his senses kept telling him that something about him had transformed.


    <i>It reminds me of... when I suddenly raised my Strength stat by arge amount.</i>


    While his appearance remained unchanged, it felt as if something profound had shifted within him. It was a sensation, a feeling that if he held a sword now, he could cut through anything.


    <i>I want to try swinging my sword right now.</i>


    That restless urge naturally led his right hand to grip the hilt of his sword, the extraordinary Ironwill Longsword made by a cksmith yer who was presumed to be a hidden ss.


    He had been wielding this sword for quite some time now.


    <i>But... something feels different.</i>


    The sword, which had felt familiar just moments ago, now felt like a new, living entity.


    <i>Is this enlightenment?</i>


    It wasn''t an understanding achieved through his own efforts. It was as if the system had forcibly elevated his state of awareness. Though it wasn¡¯tplete, he had indeed realized something.


    <i>What is a sword?</i>


    Kai''s expression became serious. The meaning of a sword varied depending on its wielder. It could be a tool to protect loved ones or a weapon to loot the weak. However, themon point was that it was a weapon to face enemies.


    "A weapon should cut down its enemies."


    Kai slowly walked toward the edge of the garden.


    Helik, watching him, warned, "Th-that area is dangerous! If you fall, not even you can survive..."


    As if he couldn¡¯t hear Helik¡¯s words, Kai stood at the edge of the floating ind and let the wind blow past him as he gazed at the clouds below.


    <i>Mastering a skill level signifies thepletion of that area.</i>


    Reaching Advanced level 10 in swordsmanship meant attaining the ultimate essence of swordsmanship.


    <i>It¡¯s the same as the Swordmasters you see in fantasy novels or sci-fi movies.</i>


    Those beings were often described as one-man armies, capable of facing a thousand enemies alone.


    If that were the case, Kai wondered where he was with swordsmanship at Advanced Level 3?


    <i>I¡¯m still far from discussing the sword¡¯s true essence, but...</i>


    The soft rustling of his cleric robes spread gently into the air. Along with it, a sound so faint that only the keen ears of elves would be able to detect it echoed.


    <i>Shing...</i>


    It was the sound of his sword being drawn.


    <i>It¡¯s so quiet. I can barely hear it if I don¡¯t focus.</i>


    This indicated that his skill in handling a sword had advanced to an entirely new level, one that was iparable to before. Realizing this, Kai lightly swung his sword down. What came to his mind as he swung his sword was none other than Yoo Ha-Rin.


    <i>Her sword was soft, fast, and quiet.</i>


    It was so quiet that even the sound of her de cutting through the air could barely be heard.


    <i>Whoom!</i>


    Unfortunately, Kai¡¯s sword had not yet reached that level of silence. However, if his previous strikes had been like firing a shotgun with loud sts, now it was as if he were shooting a silenced pistol.


    <i>Baaaaang!</i>


    However, the fact that the sound had lessened didn''t mean its power had lessened. In fact, his sword disyed such tremendous power that it was hard to believe only two skill levels had increased.


    The clouds split in half and drifted in opposite directions as if they were lovers parting ways, not looking back.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>.¡±


    There were more clouds beneath the one that had been cut, but the current level only allowed him to slice through one. Still, cutting something so far away with just the wind pressure from the sword was an impressive feat.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have gained enlightenment about the sword.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have learned the passive skill, Sword Wind.]</strong>


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°Sword Wind, <i>huh</i>...¡±


    Speaking in a voice filled with lingering emotion, Kai silently sheathed his sword and checked the skill information.


    <strong>[<u>Sword Wind</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>By focusing your mind and swinging your sword, a fierce wind strikes distant enemies.</strong>


    <strong>50% of physical attack damage.</strong>


    <strong>(No cooldown)</strong>


    <i>I won¡¯t be able to use it much with my current mental strength.</i>


    He had used it only once, but his head was slightly throbbing. He would be able to use it, at most, about five times if he pushed his limits. It wasn¡¯t many, but it was enough to create variables in a situation.


    Kai then turned around and approached Helik, bowing deeply as he thanked her, ¡°Helik, thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡± Helik, still unaware of what she had done, blinked in confusion. ¡°Why are you suddenly like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gained great enlightenment thanks to you opening the box. You truly are the Srian God.¡±


    ¡°<i>H-hmph</i>. Didn¡¯t I tell you that everything will be fine if you trust me?¡±


    Upon receiving respect from her snack... no, envoy, Helik began to hum a tune. It was obvious to anyone that her mood had lifted!


    ¡°No, no. Letting this pass with just a few words seems like the mindset of a thief. I¡¯ll buy you five cakes, each with a different vor.¡±


    At Kai¡¯s deration, Helik¡¯s eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.


    Expressing disbelief, she stammered with a voice trembling like a leaf, ¡°F-Five cakes...? And all with different vors? I am a god. You must not lie to a god.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a lie. Five cakes, each with a different vor. I promise.¡±


    As Kai spoke with a smile, Helik¡¯s lips twitched. Though joy sparkled in her eyes, she tried to maintain her dignity in front of Kai.


    ¡°<i>A-ahem</i>. Then go to the mundane world right now and buy the cakes...¡±


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s finish the rest of the tasks quickly since I need to buy cakes.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i> The rest of the tasks? What else is there to do?¡±


    ¡°There are three more boxes left. Helik, please open them.¡± Kai handed her the three top-tier weapon random boxes, smiling.


    ¡°If I open them all...¡±


    ¡°Of course,<i> </i>I''ll go<i> </i>get the cakes right after.¡±


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll open them for you right now!¡±


    Chuckling, Helik quickly opened the three random boxes in an instant.


    Whenever she was happy, her golden hair shimmered brightly, bursting with radiance. And every time she opened a box, a dazzling light shed, making it feel as if they were in a nightclub!


    <i>Two Uniques and one Rare.</i>


    Satisfied, Kai smiled as he received the items from her. There was one longsword, one belt, and thest item was a pair of leather shoes.


    <i>Let¡¯s start with the sword.</i>


    If its performance was good, it would be his new beloved weapon. He checked the details with an excited heart.


    <strong>[<u>Silent Longsword of Frost</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Attack Power: 357-412</strong>


    <strong>+30 Strength</strong>


    <strong>+20 Agility</strong>


    <strong>Has a 3% chance to silence the opponent on hit.</strong>


    <strong>If the same area is hit three times, the speed of that area is reduced by 10% (stacks up to 3 times).</strong>


    <strong>This sword was once famously used by Yulysses, the Ice Emperor who ruled the northern snowfields.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 315+, Strength 1000+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    Kai¡¯s fingers trembled as he raised the sword.


    <i>Now that I think about it, my level has be too high to use the Ironwill Longsword.</i>


    Thanks to his superior Benevolence stats and other overpowered skills, he had simply never paid attention to it. The Ironwill Longsword was a weapon with a level 80 requirement. Of course, its absurd usage requirements gave it performanceparable to most level 150 swords, but it was far below Kai¡¯s current standards, who was almost at level 320.


    <i>It''s cold. And resolute.</i>


    Some might question him since all he had done was merely hold the hilt of the sword, but that was truly what Kai felt.


    <i>It feels like I¡¯m facing a proud woman.</i>


    If he had topare it, the sword reminded him of Seol Eun-Yeong.


    Kai marveled as he looked at the sharp, elegant design of the longsword, which reflected alternating shades of blue and silver depending on the angle.


    <i>Even the hilt design is to my liking.</i>


    The handle was intricately carved with a floral pattern of ice so captivating that his eyes kept returning to it.


    <i>Whoosh, whoosh.</i>


    Kai simply swung the sword to check its bnce, and a smile spread across his face.


    <i>I¡¯ll have to put in some effort to tame it.</i>


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t too worried. He would soon need to swing his sword often to take down a giant, so the opportunity woulde.


    Kai swapped to the new sword and then inspected the other items.


    <strong>[<u>Belt of a Giant</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Rare (Set)</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 1171</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 1052</strong>


    <strong>+50 Strength </strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 300+, Strength 800+, Stamina 450+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    ¡°<i>Wow, </i>is this a Giant set item?¡±


    It was a set item with six parts, each providing a Strength stat boost as its main feature.


    <i>Well, there¡¯s no real need toplete this set since I have the Holy Pauldron Nike...</i>


    Even withoutpleting the full set, the individual Strength stat on each piece was high enough to be useful as standalone gear.


    <i>Now, for the final Unique item.</i>


    Kai picked up the purple shoes with a slightly pointed tip, which looked a bit tacky for somethingbeled as a Unique item.


    <strong>[<u>Clown¡¯s Shoes</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Grade: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Defense: 841</strong>


    <strong>Magic Defense: 841</strong>


    <strong>+25 Agility</strong>


    <strong>+18 Stamina</strong>


    <strong>Once every 30 minutes, you can use the Confusion skill to move to a location within a 5 meter radius.</strong>


    <strong>Requirements: Level 315+, Intelligence 350+, Agility 350+</strong>


    <strong>Durability: 100/100</strong>


    "<i>Hmm</i>...?"


    As Kai read the item¡¯s description, he tilted his head in confusion.


    <i>The effect seems quite simple for a Unique item.</i>


    And it wasn¡¯t just any ordinary Unique item. This was an item drawn with the fortune of the Srian God herself. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t a low-level item either, but a piece of equipment with a level 315 requirement.


    <i>There are plenty of items with dash effects, even if it¡¯s not this one...</i>


    As the saying went, one should strike while the iron is hot.


    Kai first equipped both the Belt of a Giant and the Clown¡¯s Shoes. There was no need to rece his top and bottoms since he was already wearing sacred clothing, but he could easily swap out items like the belt, shoulder guards, shoes, or hat for other gear.


    ¡°<i>Hm.</i> I do look a bit ridiculous...¡±


    The oversized and bulky Belt of a Giant, and the purple Clown¡¯s Shoes made his appearance look quiteical with his pure white cleric robe.


    <i>Well, what matters is the performance.</i>


    Kai turned his head toward Helik, who was watching him.


    ¡°Now, the cake...¡± Helik said.


    ¡°Confusion.¡±


    The moment Kai activated the skill, his body instantly moved behind Helik as if he teleported.


    Kai was stunned. It wasn¡¯t a dash ability¡ªit was teleportation!


    Even though the cooldown was thirty minutes, this was on par with obtaining a high-grade Unique skill.


    <i>Wait a second...</i>


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    At the spot where he had been standing, an afterimage of himself remained as if he hadn''t moved at all.


    <i>One... two... three...</i>


    After exactly three seconds, the afterimage blurred like watercolors and vanished.


    <i>A teleportation skill that even leaves an afterimage to deceive the opponent...</i>


    It was truly top-tier Unique equipment in all of <i>Mid Online!</i>


    Kai immediately ran to Helik and lifted her up into the air. ¡°<i>Oh</i>, dear Helik, why are you so especially admirable today?¡±


    ¡°Wh-What are you doing? Put me down at once! Th-the dignity of the Srian God...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just so filled with admiration that I want to look up at you. Please, just let me admire you a little longer.¡±


    ¡°I-is that what this was?¡±


    After being persuaded by Kai, Helik had to endure being carried like an airne for another ten minutes before finally being set down.

 Chapter 185: Stomp to Death (1)

    <h4>Chapter 185: Stomp to Death (1)</h4>


    <strong>[Kai]</strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 318</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 50,900</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 120,900 </strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 1221 Stamina: 509 </strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 386 Agility: 389 </strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 1209 Dignity: 336</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 203</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance: +30 </strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance: +40% </strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity: +200 </strong>


    <strong>Damage dealt to demons/undead: +50%</strong>


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Humble as ever, Kai only said it wasn¡¯t bad, but calling a status window like this merely not bad was an understatement. He was a monster among monsters, with a total stat count surpassing 4,000, including the Dignity stat!


    ¡°I should get on the move now.¡±


    He left the Celestial Garden and used the teleport gate. He was headed to Sharin City, a ce famous as a beginner¡¯s hunting ground.


    <i>If I start here, I won¡¯t have to go somewhere else until I reach level 100.</i>


    It was a ce with a wide variety of monsters, well-distributed across different levels¡ªone of the dream cities for beginners! However, not all beginners had favorable conditions to start there.


    <i>This ce is tightly controlled by the Titan guild.</i>


    Monopoly over hunting grounds was the privilege of the powerful, something that regr yers despised yet secretly yearned for.


    Based in Sharin City, the Titan guild invested heavily in training new recruits.


    <i>The ones I fought withst time were the guild¡¯s elite. However...</i>


    The fearsome thing about the top ten guilds wasn¡¯t just that they had many rankers.


    <i>The amount of funding they get from global sponsors is on a whole other level.</i>


    And they used that funding to lure in talented yers. The bait typically included straightforward things like equipment or growth support.


    <i>A guild the size of Titan could probably nurture thousands of rookies.</i>


    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t actually train that many. Taking into ount the main quests at the front lines and the rankers¡¯ progress, they would train a few hundred rookies at most.


    <i>A guild the size of ck Dragon could manage thousands, but... not Titan.</i>


    In other words, the number of low-level yers in the Titan guild were a few hundred at most.


    ¡°My chaotic points will probably stack up quite a bit, though...¡±


    Kai nced at his contribution points for the Srian Church.


    <strong>[Srian Church Contribution: 417,758]</strong>


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Kai had a contribution score of over 400,000. He had been steadily helping others and earning rewards since his beginner days to build up that impressive score!


    <i>I¡¯ve heard that contribution points can even buy exoneration, so I should be fine.</i>


    Considering his high affinity with High Priest Albert, there was little to worry about.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go find some Titan guild members.¡±


    Finding them wasn¡¯t difficult for Kai.


    <i>You might as well walk around with a billboard, just advertising yourselves everywhere.</i>


    They were the yers with their shoulders thrown back, necks held high, and fists emzoned on their chests. Moreover, themon trait among them was the disdainful gaze they cast at other yers around them.


    <i>Found them.</i>


    Having spotted his first prey, Kai pulled his hood down low and quietly followed them.


    ***


    ¡°Ma-Master!¡±


    Goliath scowled as the vice-master burst in with enough energy to break the door, making a fuss. ¡°What is it?¡±


    His sharp response carried not only displeasure but also an unusual distance, reflecting his recent state of mind.


    <i>These bastards... None of them are useful.</i>


    Even though he had brought 150 elite guild members to face Kai, they had been defeated. It didn''t matter how many guild members survived a battle, if the guild master dies, then the battle is lost. As he had died, he was now worried that both the guild''s and his reputation would plummet if that fact got out in the news.


    <i>That Kai bastard... What is he nning on doing...</i>


    Since then, Goliath had been obsessively watching the inte every day, unable to sleep, anxiously waiting for when and how Kai would reveal the truth. He had be increasingly sensitive, and that ate away at his mental state.


    ¡°<i>Hmm...</i>¡±


    Senji, the vice-master of the Titan guild and a ranked spear yer, knew this better than anyone. As Goliath, who used to control his subordinates with powerful authority, began to falter, the Titan guild started to waver as well.


    <i>Things can¡¯t go on like this.</i>


    Senji judged that if Goliath remained in this state, it was only a matter of time before they lost their spot in the top ten guilds worldwide.


    <i>Please, let this news bring Master back to his senses.</i>


    With that desperate hope, Senji quickly said, ¡°Our newbies are being massacred.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡± Goliath blinked with widened eyes, repeating the words. ¡°What are you talking about? Who the hell has the guts to mess with our guild?¡±


    Goliath¡¯s fists trembled with rage.


    Watching him calmly, Senji quietly continued, ¡°You know very well, at this point, there''s only one person who would dare to challenge us.¡±


    ¡°Kai!¡±


    <i>Bang! Crumble!</i>


    As Goliath¡¯s fist mmed into the desk, the desk reached its durability limit and broke.


    <i>Of course. There¡¯s no way he would stay quiet.</i>


    Goliath was a beast, but so was the one who sensed him as a threat.


    <i>Right. A predator by nature would never just let it go.</i>


    Always disying his power to ensure no one would dare challenge him was the best way to protect himself, but if he still took the first hit...


    <i>I¡¯ll pay it back several times over.</i>


    He had to crush them thoroughly so that no one would ever dare challenge him again.


    Goliath instantly understood Kai''s intentions.


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to wipe us out.¡±


    ¡°Yes. As you know, our guild members operate in teams of four, including the rookies in training. The idea is to help them work together and build camaraderie from the beginner stages...¡±


    ¡°Shut up. How many teams have been taken out?¡±


    ¡°Seven teams in Sharin City.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-eight people... Well, considering his level, that¡¯s expected. So, where is he?¡±


    ¡°Our intelligence department believes he is still in the hunting grounds near Sharin City.¡±


    ¡°Track his location,¡± Goliathmanded, as he stood up and began equipping his gear from his inventory.


    Senji watched him quietly, then asked cautiously in a worried tone, ¡°<i>Um</i>... Are you nning to go personally? I can lead the men myself, so you can just rest...¡±


    ¡°What, you think I¡¯m going to lose to him? Again?¡±


    Goliath¡¯srge eyes gleamed with murderous intent. <i>MID Online</i> was just a game, but to them, it was no different from their lives.


    <i>How am I supposed to throw it all away and go back to the way things were just because I lost once after everything I¡¯ve done to get this far?</i>


    He had wed his way to his position by crushing the weak again and again underfoot and gnawing at the ankles of the strong.


    <i>It won¡¯t go the way you want it to.</i>


    Last time, he lost because he didn¡¯t know.


    <i>The doppelganger. I just need to watch out for that.</i>


    In fact, he had been pushing Kai back until the doppelganger appeared.


    <i>Considering he doesn¡¯t use the doppelganger right away, it must have strict activation conditions ore with significant risks.</i>


    As Goliath resolved to calmly endure, find the weakness, and crush Kai once and for all this time, a notification sound came from themunity window he had left open.


    ¡°<i>Hm?</i>¡±


    It was the sound that yed whenever someone he followed posted something new. Just as he was about to close themunity window with a scowl, the username of the post caught his eye.


    <i>Wait, it¡¯s... Unknown. That¡¯s Kai¡¯s ID!</i>


    Kai had posted something new! Even Senji, standing in front of him, seemed to have received the same notification and hurriedly opened hismunity window.


    ¡°M-Master.¡±


    ¡°Silence.¡±


    Goliath silenced the stammering Senji and began to slowly read through the post Kai had made. It didn¡¯t take long to read as the post was very short and straightforward, simple enough for even a child to understand.


    ¡ºAs of this moment, I dere a kill order on all Titan guild members.¡»


    After reading the post, Goliath began to chuckle, then burst intoughter.


    ¡°Every time I see him, he reminds me just how arrogant he is.¡±


    Even the most powerful guilds were extremely cautious when issuing a kill order. After all, the culture of issuing kill orders in the game had never been particrly well-received.


    <i>Regr yers can¡¯t help but view kill orders as disgusting.</i>


    A powerful guild using its strength to bully individual yers or weaker guilds was the traditional meaning behind a kill order.


    For the weak, it was nothing short of a death sentence. But this time, the tables had turned.


    -Kai? He¡¯s strong, but he¡¯s just one guy. A kill order against Titan, one of the world¡¯s top ten guilds?


    ©¸ Is he nning to fight alongside elves and merfolk again?


    -Why would he make such a reckless move right after his stock skyrocketed from the Battle of the Bir ins? There must be more to this story.


    -I¡¯m curious too. How will this turn out?


    ©¸ Obviously, Titan will win. How can one person beat a guild?


    It made sense. If anyone else had dered a kill order against a guild, they¡¯d beughed off as crazy. However, the one throwing this reckless challenge was none other than Kai.


    ¡°M-Master, this is clearly a trap. It would be better to dismiss this as nonsense and not engage...¡±


    ¡°You idiot. This is nothing short of a threat,¡± Goliath scolded Senji and closed themunity window. ¡°He¡¯s itching to bring down Titan. That message carries two main intentions.¡±


    ¡°Two intentions?¡±


    ¡°Yes. One is a warning to our guild members. He¡¯s restricted the kill targets to Titan guild members. In other words, anyone who quits the guild would escape the monster¡¯s evil hand.¡±


    ¡°If anyone actually quits, we won¡¯t just sit back.¡±


    ¡°Well, it seems he¡¯s confident about that.¡±


    He was confident enough to shake up Titan so bad that those who quit wouldn¡¯t even have time to worry about it.


    ¡°And what¡¯s his second intention?¡±


    ¡°Why else would he publicly post the kill order in themunity? He wants to escte things. Unlike the secretive warst time, he wants to crush us while all eyes are watching.¡±


    Without needing to ask, it was obvious who Kai was calling out.


    ¡°He wants me.¡±


    ***


    ¡°This is funny.¡±


    Kai smirked after taking down Titan¡¯s eleventh team¡ªforty-four members in total.


    <i>And I¡¯m still not chaotic?</i>


    In <i>MID Online,</i> the conditions for bing chaotic were quite simple. If one attacked another yer in the field first, their chaotic points increased. As the points umted, their name eventually appeared above their head. Considering that usernames were typically hidden in <i>MID Online</i>, that was a severe penalty.


    Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only penalty.


    <i>If you die, you¡¯re guaranteed to drop one of your equipped items or something from your inventory.</i>


    Additionally, the time they were unable to log in increased from three days to nine, and the XP loss also skyrocketed based on their chaotic points. They couldn¡¯t even log out if there was another yer nearby.


    <i>I was fully prepared to bear all those penalties, yet here I am.</i>


    Kai checked his notification log with a curious expression.


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[You defeated Septim.]</strong>


    <strong>[You defeated Roji.]</strong>


    <strong>[Helik is watching the situation with a shocked expression.]</strong>


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <strong>[She recalls that the Titan guild attacked you first in the past.]</strong>


    <strong>[Your attack on Titan guild has been set as self-defense.]</strong>


    ¡°Thank you, my God.¡±


    The beloved goddess had once again shown favoritism toward her devoted follower.

 Chapter 186: Stomp to Death (2)

    <h4>Chapter 186: Stomp to Death (2)</h4>


    Sharin City, where the changes of the four seasons were clear, had clear and pleasant weather year-round. However, on days when it rained, dark clouds gathered heavily, andrge raindrops fell.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The thunder and lightning that chilled the listener to the bone was an added bonus.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. I saw a few clouds when I first arrived, but... how did it turn into this in such a short time?¡±


    Kai looked up at the sky, which was pouring down heavy rain as if a hole had opened in it. The lower-lying areas of the grassy fields were already submerged.


    <i>There probably won¡¯t be anyone hunting in this weather.</i>


    Even in <i>MID Online</i>, characters could feel the temperature. If one didn¡¯t wear the proper protective gear when entering ava zone, they would suffer from a burn debuff that slowly drained their HP. The same applied when entering snowy mountains. They had to wear fur clothes to avoid frostbite and the cold debuff.


    <i>If I¡¯m exposed to too much cold rain, I¡¯ll catch a cold.</i>


    Of course, Kai didn¡¯t have to worry about status effects as a Sris Cleric. Even if he were affected, he could simply use the Sunlight¡¯s Warmth to dispel the debuff.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the Titan guys who are in a hurry, so they¡¯ll manage. Anyway, I feel like my senses have sharpened a bit...¡± Kai murmured as he nced down at the sword hanging from his waist.


    His skill in the Swordsmanship of the Dawn had leaped to level 3, and the improvement was remarkable.


    <i>The sword feels lighter.</i>


    It wasn''t that the sword had ever felt too heavy before, but there had been moments where the sword felt slightly heavy as if he had weights on his wrist.


    <i>Now I think I understand why. I can see everything clearly.</i>


    Just as wood has grain and meat has fibers, the air also has a flow. If one forced their way through where the flow didn¡¯t align, it naturally required more effort than when they would cut through the wind.


    <i>I had only been focusing on where and when to strike the enemy until now.</i>


    That wasn¡¯t unique to Kai¡ªmost yers thought the same. After all, no one paid attention to how their character swung their weapon while ying a game.


    <i>But Yoo Ha-Rin¡¯s skill level is higher than mine.</i>


    It became clear why she was called a genius.


    <i>I¡¯ve never considered how to swing the sword for maximum efficiency and power... but it seems she has.</i>


    That was likely why she possessed the Silent Sword.


    <i>I really have to thank Helik for this.</i>


    If not for her, his skill level might have remained stuck at Advanced level 1 forever.


    <i>I always thought swinging a sword was all about the arms...</i>


    But that wasn¡¯t the case. The power generated from the ankle had to be transferred through the calves, thighs, and hips to reach the sword. If too much energy was lost along the way, the sword would lose its power and speed.


    <i>But if I can preserve all that energy...</i>


    Even a simple downward sh would no longer be the same attack.


    <i>I couldn¡¯t properly test it against beginners.</i>


    After all, Kai wasn¡¯t the type to bully the weak who couldn¡¯t even put up a fight against him. However, unless he fought fiercely, there was no way he could take down Titan, so Kai steeled himself.


    <i>I¡¯ve logged out about fifty of them... So they should have figured out my location by now.</i>


    Kai moved in one direction, leaving traces behind like Hansel and Gretel. He made his trail obvious as if he had no intention of hiding his location.


    ¡°I wonder how many wille this time.¡±


    150 of them hadest time.


    <i>I only managed to win by taking out Goliath first...</i>


    But what if Goliath had been more cautious? What if Titan''s rankers had charged at him, throwing themselves at the duhans¡¯ attacks with their bodies?


    <i>Thinking back at it, it was a dangerous moment.</i>


    Had they made even slightly different choices, the oue could have been reversed.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>But this time, it¡¯s different.</i>


    He was confident. He had swapped out his sword from an average attack power of 163 to one with an average of 384. Just based on simple calctions, his attack power had more than doubled!


    <i>The Unbreakable ability on the Ironwill Longsword was attractive, but... the options on the Silent Longsword of Frost are far morebat-oriented. Not to mention, the attack power is on another level.</i>


    His specs werepletely different from thest time he fought the Titan guild. Of course, they were likely still at the same level as before.


    <i>No matter how skilled a ranker is, there¡¯s no way they could grow as much as I have in such a short time unless they¡¯re blessed with extraordinary luck.</i>


    <i>Tap, tap.</i>


    ¡°<i>Hm, hmmm.</i>¡±


    Humming a tune, he tapped the hilt of his sword in rhythm with his fingers. Kai was easing his loneliness in the empty hunting ground.


    After a brief moment, the friends he had called to y started showing up one by one.


    <i>Is there a bit more of them thanst time?</i>


    There were about two hundred of them.


    <i>Looks like they scraped together everyone, even the top fighters from the frontlines.</i>


    The determination on their faces showed that Titan was putting everything into this battle. Of course, there were also quite a few whose levels seemed a bit low based on their gear.


    <i>Did they think the numbers would intimidate me? How cute.</i>


    It was such a shallow tactic that it was actually cute.


    ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s time to get started.¡±


    Kai casually cracked his neck and opened the interface window.


    <i>Let¡¯s see...</i>


    Kai smiled as he found what he was looking for.


    ***


    Grick Lance was a <i>MID Online</i> yer who lived in Seattle, on the west coast of the U.S. This meant that while it was a sunny afternoon in Korea, his city was awaiting the sunrise.


    ¡°Man, Unknown fighting Titan? This is going to be the biggest event ever...¡±


    The news that Unknown, Kai, had started hunting Titan guild members in Sharin City had spread all over themunity. Because of this, people were lining up to rush to Sharin City.


    <i>Watching Unknown fight live would be an incredible experience.</i>


    Until now, Kai had never broadcast any of his fights in real-time. Plus, as a solo yer by nature, not many people had seen him fight firsthand.


    ¡°Still, I have to work in the morning, so I should go to bed now.¡±


    Grick barely resisted the urge to log into the game and go to Sharin City. He sighed as he shut off hisputer.


    <i>I¡¯ll just watch some videos on MewTube before I sleep.</i>


    He turned off the lights, wrapped himself up in his nket, and lifted his phone. Then, he blinked at the notification that popped up on his screen.


    <strong>[hwj1004 has started a live stream!]</strong>


    ¡°hwj...1004...? Whose ount is that again?¡±


    Grick tilted his head trying to remember.


    <i>There¡¯s no one I¡¯ve favorited who would be doing a live broadcast at this time...</i>


    Out of curiosity, he clicked to watch the stream, and his eyes widened.


    ¡°Oh my God!¡±


    The quiet Seattle dawn suddenly became a bit noisier.


    ***


    -Am I dreaming right now?


    ©¸ Calm down, you¡¯re perfectly sane, and I am too. It¡¯s Unknown who¡¯s the strange one.


    -Why is everyone so surprised? This is just typical Unknown.


    ©¸ I guess he¡¯s always been unpredictable...


    ©¸ Thinking about it that way, I feel much more rxed.


    ©¸ What? So this is just typical Unknown?


    The yers were in shock for a moment, but they quickly regained theirposure, and then erupted with excitement.


    <i>Unknown is doing a live stream!</i>


    <i>He¡¯s never done this before!</i>


    <i>And in this situation?</i>


    <i>It¡¯s not even New Year¡¯s, but this feels like a gift.</i>


    Though it was Unknown¡¯s first ever live stream, the reaction was overwhelming.


    -Hey, is this viewer count for real?


    -52,000 viewers in the first minute of the stream? With more joining, we¡¯re definitely hitting a million.


    -He¡¯s the biggest star in the world right now, so it makes sense... but still, the influence is kind of scary.


    -By the way, what¡¯s with the Titan guys¡¯ numbers? Do they have no pride left?


    -There must be almost two hundred of them.


    -Seriously, the supposed guild master, Goliath, always acts all cool, but now he''s not fighting at the front and just hanging back?


    To regr yers, the scene was impossible to understand.


    Looking at the situation, Kai appeared far more calm than the two hundred tense Titan guild members.


    <i>Looks like the stream is working well.</i>


    After checking the stream, Kai finally cast his gaze forward.


    <i>Goliath must be feeling humiliated.</i>


    By now, Goliath would have realized that Kai had started a live stream. Yet, he still had not stepped forward.


    <i>Was it all too much for him?</i>


    If Goliath fought Kai one-on-one now and lost, it would truly be the end of everything. The 520,000 people watching live would know, and by tomorrow, so would everyone else.


    <i>So you¡¯re sending your subordinates first to act like a boss, huh?</i>


    It wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing for Kai.


    <i>Might as well use this chance to get a feel for things.</i>


    Kai smoothly drew his sword and walked forward as if he were going for a casual stroll.


    ¡°Kill him,¡± Goliath ordered as the stared at the approaching Kai, his face twisted with rage.


    At once, the two hundred Titan guild members gripped their weapons and charged at Kai.


    <i>I thought this thest time, but the most annoying position is the Cleric. </i>


    Second ce was the Wizards, and the Warriors were only third!


    That fact led Kai¡¯s steps toward the Cleric.


    ¡°He¡¯s targeting the Cleric!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make the same mistake again!¡±


    ¡°Tanks, form a wall at the front!¡±


    ¡°Wizards, provide support from behind! Warriors, circle around!¡±


    The Titan guild members, moving in teams of four, sprang into action.


    <i>Looks like they¡¯ve learned their lesson after thest defeat.</i>


    Their movements were far more agile than before. Kai quietly admired the swift movements of the Warriors closing in behind him.


    ¡°Die, you monster!¡±


    ¡°You should say that while looking in a mirror.¡±


    One Warrior, a heavy-built man with bulging muscles, struck down his massive greatsword with all his might.


    Kai observed the Warrior¡¯s movements until the very end and by that time, he had already analyzed everything.


    <i>Your form is sloppy.</i>


    Rather than riding the flow of the air, he swung his sword clumsily with brute force, relying solely on the strength of his arms.


    <i>There¡¯s no way that¡¯s going to hit.</i>


    In the next moment, Kai¡¯s right arm, holding his sword, quickly shot out. His arm moved as if independent of his body, and struck the de of the greatsword.


    <i>ng!</i>


    ¡°<i>A-argh?!</i>¡±


    The Warrior was utterly shocked by Kai''s reaction, which was far beyond what he had experienced in theirst encounter.


    <i>This is the same Unknown we foughtst time? There¡¯s no way!</i>


    It felt like he was facing an entirely different person who just happened to look the same.


    Back then, Kai had been desperate when fighting them, and it wasn¡¯t just an illusion. Kai had indeed been cornered enough to use Ethereal Body.


    <i>But now... What the heck?</i>


    Now, he was observing the movements of the Warriors with calm eyes, like someone who had mastered everything. Then in the next moment, he would execute the perfect move at the best timing. Each time he swung his sword, the Titan Warriors¡¯ attacks were effortlessly deflected.


    ¡°Damn it! What the hell happened in such a short time...?¡±


    ¡°His attack power is crazy! This isn¡¯t the Kai we knew!¡±


    ¡°This guy... Was he hiding his true strengthst time...?¡±


    ¡°A terrifying bastard! A relentless one!¡±


    Kai had no intention of correcting their misunderstanding. In fact, he took a defensive stance and diligently practiced his Advanced level 3 swordsmanship as he fought against them.


    <i>Ride the flow of the air. Don¡¯t fight against it.</i>


    The two had to move as one to unleash their true power, like a couple dancing the tango. The moment Kai realized this, his sword surged forward as if he were moving at double speed.


    <i>ng!</i>


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i>¡±


    One of the approaching Warriors was struck on the head by Kai¡¯s sword, which had shot out unexpectedly.


    <i>What kind of speed is this... No, that¡¯s not all...!</i>


    It wasn¡¯t just the unbelievable speed; the control was excellent. Kai had precisely cut the seam of the warrior¡¯s helmet, and forcibly removed it!


    The nearby Warriors, who had been watching, gulped nervously.


    <i>I-It must have been luck.</i>


    <i>He probably just got lucky once.</i>


    <i>There¡¯s no way someone could have that kind of luck consistently.</i>


    However, contrary to their hopes, Kai''s sword only grew faster and more precise.


    <i>Like this. And like this.</i>


    <i>Whoom, whoom!</i>


    Every time Kai¡¯s body moved nimbly, his sword sliced through raindrops, striking his enemies. With each strike, the opponents'' equipment was destroyed or disabled!


    ¡°<i>Whew</i>...¡±


    After about five minutes of practice, Kai let out a deep breath. He noticed a particr emotion in the eyes of the Warriors who stared at him as if he were a monster.


    <i>Fear?</i>


    Wondering why for a moment, Kai then chuckled to himself when he considered their perspective.


    <i>I think I understand why now.</i>


    In their eyes, he was probably a wielder of a power they couldn¡¯t dare to challenge.


    <i>I can cut through anything right now.</i>


    He felt like a fully-tuned sports car.


    Kai let his sword hang loosely as he slowly surveyed his surroundings. And then, he was certain.


    <i>I won¡¯t need Knight of Nightmare... for now.</i>

 Chapter 187: Stomp to Death (3)

    <h4>Chapter 187: Stomp to Death (3)</h4>


    Kai¡¯s eyes darted quickly.


    <i>The ck Shirvon Set. Its physical defense is insanely high.</i>


    <i>The Blue Prophet¡¯s Robe and the Staff of the Reckless Sage? That guy¡¯s dangerous.</i>


    Perhaps the explosive growth in Kai¡¯s senses after bing a Sris Cleric was his greatest weapon. With just a quick nce, Kai could urately estimate the opponent¡¯s strength. Of course, simply estimating wasn¡¯t enough if that¡¯s all he could do. However, Kai was someone who could provide the right solution for the evaluation he made.


    <i>If physical defense is high, I¡¯ll bypass it with Final Attack.</i>


    <i>Crack!</i>


    ¡°<i>Kugh</i>...!¡±


    ¡°N-Nox!¡±


    ¡°What the hell! That¡¯s the ck Shirvon Set! Each piece costs 7,000 gold...!¡±


    ¡°He just got rid of Nox, who¡¯s known as the nightmare of Warriors, in one hit? What kind of crazy damage is that?!¡±


    <i>So, what if their physical defense is high? My damage ignores defense anyway.</i>


    One hit after another. Kai only had two hands, while his enemies, with simple math, had over four hundred hands. Naturally, for every hit hended, he could expect to be hit two hundred times.


    <i>I can¡¯t afford to waste a single attack.</i>


    The determination not to make a single mistake until the battle was over swept over Kai. That resolve naturally elevated his focus to a higher level.


    <i>In 0.7 seconds, dodge the smash, then turn around for a guard. After that, I should jump and shake things up a bit.</i>


    While his body was moving without a moment¡¯s pause, his mind was racing just as quickly.


    He asked himself question after question.


    <i>What¡¯s the best move here?</i>


    As if he were several people at once, he questioned himself and drew out the optimal, best, and most effective results. That was why he seemed like the reaper of the battlefield.


    ¡°What the...!¡±


    ¡°Over thirty of us have been logged out, but... he¡¯s totally fine?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s more than just fine.¡±


    Senji, the spear master, groaned in a low voice as his brows furrowed. ¡°No hit...¡±


    No Hit meant one hadn¡¯t taken a single direct hit. In other words, Kai had received zero damage while taking down thirty Titan guild members.


    <i>How does he move like that?</i>


    The Titan guild members were disordered by the appearance of a monster they couldn¡¯tprehend with their logic.


    However, the one most shocked was Goliath, who had been watching the battle from a slightly elevated hill. His mouth twitched as he observed every one of Kai¡¯s movements with wide eyes.


    <i>Unknown, Kai, was never this skilled.</i>


    It would have been one thing if he had been a genius from the start, but Unknown was a naive adventurer when he first began.


    <i>He was such an insignificant opponent I could have taken down in five seconds if I wanted to back then.</i>


    That was why Goliath never paid Kai any attention. No, to be honest, Goliath hadn¡¯t even known Unknown existed. But now, his presence was swallowing everything around him, growingrger andrger.


    Most people had limits to how much they could grow.


    <i>But this bastard...</i>


    Kai grew stronger every time they met; it was as if he was showing that he had no limits.


    <i>I hate to admit it... but I must.</i>


    Goliath clenched his teeth and finally epted a truth he didn¡¯t want to acknowledge.


    <i>His power is on par with a top ten guild in the world. Maybe... even beyond that.</i>


    Rumors were already spreading fast. It had been Kai who led the undead army and saved them all when two Gates had opened at Castle Baden.


    <i>He¡¯s fighting on equal terms even without summoning the undead army this time.</i>


    Of course, Kai was also human, so he would eventually get tired. Even though it was a game and the fatigue was less than in reality, stamina still existed.


    <i>However...</i>


    The distance between Goliath and Kai was vast. It was barely enough for them to make out each other¡¯s faces.


    However, for a moment, Goliath felt as if his eyes met Kai¡¯s. At the same time, it felt as though someone had tightly gripped his heart, leaving him breathless.


    <i>I can¡¯t ept this.</i>


    There was a time when Goliath was also behind others. When he started the game a weekter than most, many strong yers were already ahead of him. But one thing was certain¡ªhe had never once felt inferior to them.


    <i>I always knew I would surpass them eventually.</i>


    However, as Goliath looked at this lion ughtering its way through a flock of two hundred sheep, he felt his confidence plummet. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he was ready to give up.


    ¡°Senji. Get ready.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Senji nodded with a hardened expression at Goliath¡¯smand.


    ***


    When Kai started his live stream, themunity erupted into chaos¡ªfrenzy was the only word that fit. But now, it was quieter than ever. The yers who normally roamed the forums were all too busy watching Kai¡¯s stream to post anything.


    Kai¡¯s stream currently ranked number one globally. The viewer count had surpassed an unbelievable number of 3.2 million. As a result, the live stream server administrators were scrambling.


    ¡°Damn it! How¡¯s the server building along?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost done! 97... 98... 99... 100%,pleted!¡±


    ¡°<i>Whew</i>, finally, we can rx a little...¡±


    The server administrator let out a deep sigh and shook his head. He had heard the hype about Unknown, so he knew how incredible Kai was.


    <i>But... I didn¡¯t think he would be this incredible.</i>


    A regr personal streaming server could never handle 3.2 million viewers. Thus, they had to set up a dedicated server just for Kai¡¯s stream.


    "Well, it''s not hard to understand why after seeing this unbelievable footage."


    The administrator was also a huge <i>MID Online</i> fan himself, so he couldn¡¯t help but admire the man putting on a movie-worthy performance in the stream.


    The intements were not much different.


    -What are the admins doing with all the money they¡¯re earning? Aren¡¯t they managing the servers?


    -Ugh. I¡¯d be too annoyed by the buffering to keep watching If this stream weren¡¯t so entertaining.


    -Oooh...? The buffering just stopped all of a sudden.


    -Wait, you¡¯re right! Looks like the admins finally did their job.


    -Dang, watching those moves without anyg is pure art. It¡¯s a masterpiece.


    -Is he on something? How is he seeing those sneak attacks from behind in that chaos?


    -This isn¡¯t a setup with Titan, right? It¡¯s so impressive, it makes you wonder.


    Of course, the Titan guild wouldn¡¯t deliberately tarnish their image just to boost Kai unless they went crazy. In short, what was being disyed on screen was a fair duel with no maniption.


    -Fifty left.


    The battle was nearing its end.


    ***


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff... huff.</i>¡±


    Kai¡¯s once pristine, white robe, which always symbolized his purity, was now stained and a mess. They were the marks of glory from rolling on the wet grass of the battlefield.


    Kai exhaled in short, rapid, but rhythmic breaths. It was a breathing technique favored by marathon runners, designed to significantly enhance cardiovascr endurance.


    <i>There are only a few left now.</i>


    Kai had taken care of all the Clerics, and most of the Warriors and Wizards were down as well. Now, only about ten enemies remained. However, Kai was more nervous than when he had been facing two hundred enemies.


    <i>Not a single one of them looks easy.</i>


    He let out augh of disbelief. After ughtering 190 sheep, now the hunting dogs and wolves guarding them were finally crawling out, so how could he notugh at the irony?


    ¡°Impressive.¡± Senji, the spear master, stepped forward and let out a shortpliment. ¡°You may be our enemy, but I can¡¯t help but acknowledge you. I never thought you¡¯d make it this far against us...¡±


    ¡°You talk as if this is my limit. I n to see this through to the end.¡±


    Senji grimaced at Kai¡¯s words. ¡°In that condition? <i>Oh</i>, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to summon those undead fromst time.¡±


    ¡°You catch on quick.¡±


    Despite his bravado, Kai realized he had truly reached his limit.


    <i>My Stamina recovery is too slow. Even with Ayana¡¯s special potion, this is the best I can manage.</i>


    He could feel his body moving a beat slower when swinging his sword or dodging attacks.


    <i>Knight of Nightmare... I didn¡¯t want to reveal it publicly like this, but I can¡¯t lose here.</i>


    The one who lost here was going to truly lose everything. Of course, some could think it wouldn¡¯t matter if he lost now.


    <i>After all, I¡¯ve fought a one-man war against the Titan guild and killed 190 of them.</i>


    But from another perspective, it would prove that no matter how strong an individual was, they could never surpass a top ten guild.


    <i>If I take just one more step, I can show them.</i>


    That even an individual could defeat a collective. That when a system of society became corrupt, a single person could challenge it head-on and crush it.


    <i>And that if anyone dares mess with me, no matter who they are, they¡¯ll meet the same fate.</i>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He would be able to send that message to the world.


    Just like before, a purple glow shed from the ring, and a cloud-like darkness poured out. However, that was it. The smoke quickly dissipated and vanished.


    Taken aback, Kai attempted to use Knight of Nightmare again.


    <strong>[Cooldown: 23 hours 59 minutes 55 seconds remaining.]</strong>


    <i>The skill was definitely activated, so why...?</i>


    The skeleton knights that should have appeared were nowhere to be seen.


    While Kai stood there bewildered, Senji twirled his spear as he approached.


    ¡°You have every reason to be confident. If I had your skills, I¡¯d feel the same. However, just because you¡¯re skilled doesn¡¯t mean you should treat others like idiots.¡±


    Senji, along with nine other rankers, circled around Kai in a perfect ring.


    ¡°Which means...?¡±


    ¡°If we hadn¡¯t prepared for your duhan army after thest time, we would¡¯ve already lost our spot as a top ten guild.¡±


    ¡°What have you nned?¡±


    ¡°<i>Heh</i>.¡±


    Senji opened the front of his top and pulled out a ne. It was a finely crafted piece made of pure white crystal.


    ¡°This is a ne called the Ancient God''s Tears. No undead can approach within fifty meters of the wearer. That includes summoning as well. Of course, it doesn¡¯t work on named or boss monsters... but unfortunately, your skeleton knights aren¡¯t at that level, are they?¡±


    Kai bit his lip, left speechless, while Senji gripped his spear with both hands and took a stance.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve had your moment of glory. Now it¡¯s time for our guild to shine, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°No words left, <i>huh?</i> Looks like he¡¯s mmed up.¡±


    ¡°This is the fate of a foolish cub who doesn¡¯t understand the fear of the tiger. Rookie.¡±


    The rankers were certain of their victory.


    But the next moment, Kai rubbed his forehead and finally said, ¡°Hey, chat, I¡¯ll turn the stream back onter. See you then.¡±


    With that briefment, Kai abruptly ended the stream.


    It had been random when he started streaming, but the way he turned it off was even more unexpected.


    ¡°What? We wanted our moment too...¡±


    The Titan rankers stood dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open.


    ¡°You idiots, move aside.¡±


    Goliath pushed them out of the way and walked toward Kai.


    He looked down at the seemingly helpless Kai and smirked. ¡°You really are something. Do you not realize that if you can stream, we can do the same?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t rmend it.¡±


    "How could I not? It''s the great Unknown, crushed under my feet."


    ¡°No, seriously, I¡¯m saying this for your own good. You really shouldn¡¯t do it.¡±


    Kai quietly sheathed his sword, and muttered under his breath as he sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to use this unless it was a truest resort because it¡¯s such a waste of stats...¡±


    Knight of Nightmare was blocked, and his Stamina was depleted. Although he had an Undying Will skill that would make him invincible for five seconds, he wasn¡¯t confident he could kill all ten rankers in that short time. Thus, there was only one option left¡ªhis ultimatest resort.


    Kai made the most victimized expression he could and reluctantly said, ¡°Skill activation, Descent.¡±

 Chapter 188: Stomp to Death (4)

    <h4>Chapter 188: Stomp to Death (4)</h4>


    A sound that made Kai¡¯s stomach churn rang in his ears.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have used the Descent skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[20 Benevolence stats have been permanently consumed.] </strong>


    <strong>[You may now select the soul of a former Apostle to descend into your body.]</strong>


    <i>Ugh...! </i>


    Twenty Benevolence stats meant a total of 120 stat points across Strength, Stamina, Agility, Intelligence, Divinity, and Dignity were gone!


    The sickening feeling made Kai think he might need to stick to eating porridge for a while.


    <i>And all of this...</i>


    Kai¡¯s glinting eyes scanned the remaining Titan guild members. This situation was all Titan''s fault!


    As he swore revenge, a new window appeared before him.


    <strong>[First Apostle, Shimizu of Guardianship (Activate)]</strong>


    <strong>[Second Apostle, Cherantia of Rest (Activate)]</strong>


    <strong>[Third Apostle, Patrick of Radiance (Inactive)]</strong>


    <i>So I get to choose from here?</i>


    Unfortunately, Patrick of Radiance was inactive, and Kai had a vague idea why.


    <i>Can I only summon the thoughts of the Apostles which I have sacred relics for?</i>


    That meant until he obtained the Holy Sword Prius, summoning Patrick was impossible.


    Kai paused for a moment to decide whether to summon Shimizu or Cherantia.


    <i>As her title suggests, Shimizu is a defense-specialized Apostle.</i>


    This was evident from the relic she left behind, the Holy Pauldron Nike. The Hymn of Angels skill greatly boosted allies'' defensive capabilities.


    <i>In short, her offensive power is unknown.</i>


    Then what about Cherantia of Rest?


    <i>As for the Holy Ring Petra, left behind by Cherantia...</i>


    It was tricky. Extremely tricky. The skill embedded in Petra, an Eternal Legendary grade ring, was Eternal Rest. It was a skill that could be used when benevolent NPCs gave their lives and died.


    <i>You can gain a portion of the NPC¡¯s experience and talents. Additionally, you can reincarnate their souls as angels and form an Army of Light.</i>


    Unfortunately, he had never had the chance to use it since no benevolent NPCs had died nearby so far.


    <i>Cherantia seems like a better choice than Shimizu, right?</i>


    Just by size alone, Cherantia, with his muscr build, appeared far stronger in terms of attack power than the delicate Shimizu.


    Though he contemted for a while, his decision was quick.


    ¡°Second Apostle, Cherantia of Rest, descend.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[2nd Apostle, Cherantia of Rest, will descend into your body.]</strong>


    At the sound of the notification, a light shot down from the heavens and pierced through Kai¡¯s body.


    ¡°<i>Gah...!</i>¡±


    ¡°W-what the...?¡±


    The overwhelming light forced the Titan guild members to shield their eyes and stumble backward.


    When the blinding light faded, the aura surrounding Kai hadpletely changed.


    <i>What happened?</i>


    <i>It doesn''t seem like a... self-destruct skill.</i>


    <i>His aura has changed a bit.</i>


    As the Titan guild members sensed the unfamiliar energy and hesitated to charge in recklessly, Kai also felt a strange sensation.


    <i>Something feels... off.</i>


    It was as if his entire body was floating in midair, simr to the moment right before falling asleep.


    In that state, a voice echoed inside his head.


    ¡ª<i>Hahaha!</i> You¡¯ve got an eye for things, I see!


    <i>... Cherantia?</i>


    ¡ªThat Shimizu. She¡¯s probably gnawing on her sleeve and cursing you right about now.


    The voice was rough and energetic, and it belonged to Cherantia of Rest.


    <i>Is this all the Descent skill does?</i>


    As Kai swallowed nervously, breaking out in a cold sweat, Cherantia continued speaking.


    ¡ªIf I were to mess with you a second time, you¡¯d probably die of a heart attack. Listen up, hoobae.


    In a surprisingly soft tone, Cherantia began exining,


    ¡ªShimizu hated seeing people get hurt, so she created a powerful protective spell to ensure no harm woulde to them. That¡¯s why she was called the Apostle of Guardianship. Patrick believed that offense was the best defense. He annihted his enemies, leaving no room for them to even think about threatening anyone.


    Shimizu was defense, Patrick was offense. So, what about Cherantia?


    ¡ªI wanted to guide the souls of those weary from their burdensome lives to a peaceful ce. Remember this: I am the one who severs the regrets and burdens of the exhausted and redeems their souls. I am Cherantia, the Apostle of Rest.


    At the same time, a notification window appeared.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Cherantia has descended into the user''s body.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can now use some of his restricted abilities.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have temporarily acquired the skill: Army of Light.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have temporarily acquired the skill: Wave of Purifying Fire.]</strong>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <strong>[You have temporarily acquired the skill: Sword of Oblivion.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have temporarily acquired the passive skill: Cherantia''s Body.]</strong>


    ¡°This is...¡±


    Descriptions of the newly acquired skills surged into his mind! And that wasn¡¯t all.


    <strong>[All stats increase by 300 due to passive skill Cherantia''s Body.]</strong>


    A 300 point increase in all stats! Even though it was only temporary andsted for one hour, it was a shocking ability. Just minutes ago, Kai had been whining about losing 120 stats, but now, all his stats had jumped by 1,800 points.


    <i>Of course, it is temporary... But still, this is amazing. And this is what¡¯s considered restricted power?</i>


    If that was the case, he wondered just how powerful Cherantia had been when he was alive.


    Shivers ran down Kai¡¯s spine as he nced at the enemies before him.


    <i>My Stamina¡¯s in great condition.</i>


    His entire body overflowed with strength, and he wasn¡¯t sure whether it was due to the massive boost in stamina from the increased HP stat or because of Cherantia¡¯s soul.


    <i>But... I am sure of one thing.</i>


    The certainty that he would not lose this fight was etched deeply into his bones.


    Kai extended his left hand forward and said, ¡°Wave of Purifying Fire.¡±


    As soon as the word wave left his lips, a tidal wave of me surged from Kai¡¯s palm.


    ¡°W-what the...!¡±


    ¡°Magic?¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    The sudden attack even startled the rankers. Though their sharp reflexes allowed some of them to dodge the Wave of Purifying Fire, not all were so lucky.


    ¡°<i>Agh!</i> I got hit!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Our magic resistance is high, and we¡¯ve got extra fire resistance. Plus, we¡¯ve got potions... <i>Huh?</i>¡±


    The two rankers hit by the Wave of Purifying Fire gasped in shock.


    ¡°Un-extinguishable mes...?¡±


    ¡°What the hell! This is on par with the Inferno skill?!¡±


    Inferno was a level 350 Unique skill, which was for fire-specialized Wizards. The mere introduction of it online had led to auctions reaching billions for the skill book.


    <i>But Inferno is a single-target skill...</i>


    <i>And we¡¯re witnessing a skill with the same effect as that, but in an area-of-effect?</i>


    <i>Without even casting time? That easily?</i>


    <i>This can¡¯t be dispelled unless it''s done by an Archbishop ss purification.</i>


    It was a situation that left them terrified.


    Two of the rankers were eventually consumed by mes and logged out, while the others gulped nervously.


    <i>A cornered rat will bite the cat.</i>


    <i>And that guy isn¡¯t a rat or a cat¡ªhe¡¯s a lion.</i>


    <i>Move carefully. He still has strength left.</i>


    Just when they thought it was over, it wasn¡¯t exactly. The eight remaining rankers cautiously closed in on Kai, tightening the encirclement.


    <i>...Now!</i>


    Waiting for his moment, Senji spotted a brief opening in Kai¡¯s stance and charged forward. Senji¡¯s spear twisted through the air like a dragon, elegantly darting toward Kai. When he was about five meters away, Senji unleashed his most powerful skill without hesitation.


    ¡°Spear of the Fire Dragon!¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    mes erupted from Senji¡¯s spear and heated the air around it. It was an attack that ignored some of the target¡¯s defense and dealt both physical and magical damage. Not only that, but if it sessfullynded, it inflicted a burning debuff. Truly an amazing skill.


    <i>Not even you¡¯ll be able to dodge this.</i>


    Senji was confident. After all, Kai was still slowly turning to face him, his sword yet unsheathed. However, a sense of unease crept over Senji when Kai extended his right hand toward him. And that unease soon became reality.


    ¡°Sword of Oblivion.¡±


    A purple sword materialized in Kai¡¯s once empty hand. Then Kai swung it without hesitation.


    <i>sh!</i>


    ¡°<i>Argh!</i>¡±


    The de grazed Senji¡¯s shoulder as it passed by. Twisting his body at thest second, Senji had managed to avoid a fatal blow.


    <i>Damn it. I dodged, but the attack was too strong. I¡¯ll use the Backstep skill to retreat and then...</i>


    Just as Senji was considering his next move, a notification appeared before his eyes.


    <strong>[You have been hit by the Sword of Oblivion.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Oblivion status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You are unable to use any skills for 5 minutes.]</strong>


    ¡°W-what?!¡± Senji, who had naturally tried to use his Backstep skill by moving his leg backward, screamed.


    When the Backstep skill failed to activate, his feet stumbled, and he fell backward.


    <i>I didn¡¯t even take a direct hit. It just grazed me for a moment, so how...?</i>


    He wondered how a skill with such effects could even exist. But before he could find an answer to his confusion, the Sword of Oblivion pierced through his throat.


    ¡°<i>Kurgh</i>...<i>!</i>¡±


    ¡°I told you, I n to see this through to the end.¡±


    Senji wanted to argue back, but as his body copsed, he couldn¡¯t form any words.


    Seeing their vice-master fall, the other rankers visibly panicked.


    <i>Senji is the strongest among us, aside from Goliath...</i>


    <i>And he got logged out in just two hits?</i>


    <i>What terrifying attack power...!</i>


    As theirrades¡ªwho were just as strong, if not stronger¡ªcontinued to fall one after another, the remaining rankers became more hesitant in their movements.


    <i>ng, ng!</i>


    This shift in their behavior yed right into Kai¡¯s hands.


    <i>Let¡¯s push forward with this momentum.</i>


    Kai raised his right hand high into the sky.


    ¡°Skill activation, Army of Light!¡±


    At hismand, beams of sunlight descended from the sky and dozens of angels appeared.


    <i>So this is the Army of Light...!</i>


    Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled as he watched them. With the power of the Holy Ring Petra¡¯s skill, he could also summon an army of his own someday.


    ¡ªIn the name of Rest. Annihte our enemies.


    Dressed in white robes and shining armor with radiant wings, the warriors of light instantly charged at the enemies. Their attacks were swift and fierce. Moreover, their numbers far outmatched the remaining rankers.


    As time passed, the Titan rankers¡¯ HP began to plummet.


    ¡°Damn it! Just flying around is annoying enough...!¡±


    ¡°These guys... They¡¯re skilled fighters!¡±


    The angels¡¯bat abilities wereparable to world-ss rankers.


    Kai quietly watched their battle before approaching Goliath. ¡°It seems like this is the end. The fight between you and me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡±


    ¡°No, it is,¡± Kai delivered a sharp remark to Goliath, who was in denial.


    With that one statement, Goliath felt as if the tower of pride he had built hade crashing down.


    ¡°I lived one year like it was ten... Cutting back on sleep, skipping meals, all for this game. And yet... yet, you just took it all away in one day...!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still ying the victim, <i>huh</i>.¡±


    Kai drew his sword. By now, the Army of Light had already finished off the remaining Titan rankers and gathered around him, floating in the air.


    ¡°Anyst words?¡±


    ¡°...Life is, at times, transient.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve lived a transient life. Did you really think the end would be satisfying after stomping on others and stealing what was theirs?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never liked you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something we agree on. I can¡¯t stand you either.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hah</i>, arrogant bastard.¡±


    With those final words, Goliath clenched his teeth and charged at Kai.


    That day, the sight of the Titan guild¡¯s master losing a one-on-one duel to Kai was shown to the entire world through Kai¡¯s live stream.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 189: King’s Order (1)

    <h4>Chapter 189: King¡¯s Order (1)</h4>


    Chapter 189: King¡¯s Order (1)


    ¡ºBreaking News! Unknown, Kai, wins the war against the Titan guild!¡»


    ¡ºDavid shatters the giant¡¯s forehead with a slingshot.¡»


    ¡ºA world top ten guild crumbles to an individual¡ªwhat does the power of factions truly mean?¡»


    Articles flooded the media. This was exactly what Kai had hoped for, even orchestrated.


    <i>If they don¡¯t write articles about this, they might as well quit being journalists.</i>


    Kai had even restarted his stream just to ensure this oue.


    Surrounded by the Army of Light, Unknown confidently defeated Goliath in a one-on-one battle. It was only hard the first time, but not the second.


    After easily dealing with Goliath, Kai had secured victory in the war against the guild, and his achievement was immediately recognized.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have achieved an unbelievable victory in battle.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Reaper of the Battlefield.]</strong>


    <strong>[<u>Reaper of the Battlefield]</u></strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title granted to those who have fought and won against over two hundred yers.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: Recover a certain amount of Stamina with each attack (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).</strong>


    ¡°<i>Wow</i>...¡±


    He acquired the title Reaper of the Battlefield!


    Stamina had been the biggest challenge for Kai during his fight with the Titan guild.


    <i>Experience and skill can cover other weaknesses, but not Stamina.</i>


    When one¡¯s Stamina ran out, their movements slowed down to a crawl. In that state, experience and skill were useless.


    That was why Kai had intended to avoid long battles in the future, but now that he had gained the Reaper of the Battlefield title, things had changed.


    <i>The longer the battle goes, the more it works in my favor now.</i>


    Kai already had a high base Stamina stat, so if he could recover Stamina with every sessful hit...


    <i>I¡¯d be like a zombie.</i>


    He would be like a cockroach or a zombie, something that just wouldn¡¯t die no matter how many times it was stomped on.


    As Kai chuckled, a voice echoed in his mind.


    ¡ªAh, it seems our time is up. I must tell Shimizu all about today¡¯s heroic deeds. Until we meet again.


    As the duration of the Descent skill ended, Cherantia left with a brief farewell. At the same time, the temporary skills from Cherantia vanished like a mirage.


    ¡°The Descent skill...¡±


    It was a ridiculous skill that cost 20 Benevolence stats to use, but it was worth every point, so Kai didn¡¯t regret it too much.


    <i>Even though losing 20 Benevolence stats hurts, it¡¯s not more valuable than my life.</i>


    That was especially true for Kai, who was ranked number one. One death would surely send his rank plummeting out of the top ten.


    ¡°Yoo Ha-Rin and the other rankers have been closing in on me... Do they do nothing but eat and y this game? <i>Sigh</i>.¡±


    Kai (age 22, a gaming addict who did nothing but eat and y) shook his head as he opened his message window.


    <i>I don¡¯t want to do this, but...</i>


    He had driven a dagger straight into the heart of the Titan guild. And it wasn¡¯t a sneaky ambush either¡ªhe had walked up to Goliath face-to-face and plunged the de in while he stared him down.


    <i>They¡¯ll definitely try to get back at me, one way or another.</i>


    Therefore, he needed to make sure they couldn¡¯t even recover their senses. No, the best option was to weaken them to the point where they wouldn¡¯t even dare to attempt revenge.


    With that in mind, Kai summoned Minerva through the chat.


    Her reply came back instantly.


    [Minerva: Hey, you! Do you even realize how absurd the thing you just did is...?]


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [Kai: Of course. Did you watch the stream? I bet I looked good.]


    [Minerva: Is this really the time to be saying that...?]


    Minerva was left speechless by Kai¡¯s nonchnt attitude.


    Enjoying her reaction, Kai revealed his true intentions.


    [Kai: Start taking over Titan''s exclusive hunting grounds right now.]


    [Minerva: What? If you do that, do you know what kind of repercussions...]


    [Kai: Why would there be repercussions? Titan is already beyond recovery. This is just making it certain.]


    [Minerva: ... You¡¯re really a scary person. Sharing the spoils because they¡¯re too big to handle on your own, huh?]


    [Kai: No. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m toozy to deal with it myself. If Pray takes over Titan¡¯s hunting grounds, I¡¯ll give you 60-40 on all profits. Of course, I get the 60.]


    [Minerva: So, we do the work, and you take the money?]


    [Kai: Get it right. I¡¯ve already done the work, and now you just get to collect the money. If Pray attacks now, do you know who Titan will send to defend? A random level 100, maybe a level 120. Oh, and if you¡¯re really unlucky, you might see a level 180. You¡¯re not telling me you¡¯re afraid of them, are you?]


    [Minerva: ...]


    Minerva hesitated for a moment, showing signs of contemtion in response to Kai''s provocation.


    <i>Tsk. Minerva always overthinks things.</i>


    In that case, Kai would just have to cut her thinking short by force.


    Without wasting time, he yed his second card.


    [Kai: By the way, I¡¯m telling Cheonhwa to get on the move as well, so you might want to hurry.]


    [Minerva: What? Why would you tell them?]


    [Kai: If you try to eat too much alone, you¡¯ll choke. You¡¯ll get so full you might burst. And if you had just answered quickly, none of this would¡¯ve gone to Cheonhwa. Maybe next time, be quicker with your decisions. Oh, and I¡¯m sure there are others eyeing Titan¡¯s hunting grounds too. You¡¯ll have to deal with them on your own.]


    [Minerva: ... I¡¯ll contact you again.]


    With Minerva finally showing signs of urgency and disappearing from the conversation, Kai let out a sigh.


    ¡°<i>Whew</i>, I really didn¡¯t want to have to do this.¡±


    What Kai was doing now was utterly destroying the foundation of the Titan guild. It was a fatal attack, leaving no chance for recovery.


    <i>But now the world will certainly know.</i>


    That the cost of messing with him was never light. Even a world¡¯s top ten guild had to be prepared to face catastrophic consequences.


    The world had surely learned that lesson from this incident.


    ***


    Kai thought of Minerva as a model student¨Ctype woman.


    <i>She¡¯s so cautious that it takes her time to act, but once she gets started, her ability is impressive.</i>


    Out of the thirty-five hunting grounds managed by Titan, half had been taken over by Pray within a day. Of course, they targeted only the best locations! It was a testament to the Pray guild¡¯s power that all of it had been aplished in less than half a day.


    <i>Being able to orchestrate something like this however I want is truly a beautiful thing.</i>


    With a rxed heart, Kai was now on his way to Castle Baden.


    <i>I¡¯ve heard the construction is still ongoing over there...</i>


    Apparently, the reward for him was already prepared.


    As he arrived at Castle Baden, the western and northern parts were under heavy construction, as expected. However, the eastern, southern, and central area, where the lord''s residence was located, were functioning so normally that it seemed like they were part of apletely different world.


    Kai headed straight for Count Hind¡¯s castle.


    ¡°Oh, the hero of Castle Baden has arrived!¡± Count Hind embraced Kai tightly, andughed heartily as he invited Kai to sit. "Even after all the help you gave, it¡¯s shameful that I¡¯m only calling you now. Please forgive my rudeness."


    "Not at all. I¡¯m actually touched that, despite your busy schedule, you didn¡¯t forget me and called me here."


    "You have quite a way with words, young man."


    <strong>[Count Hind''s affinity increased.]</strong>


    The conversation naturally flowed in a positive direction. On one side, there was a hero who had saved a city, and on the other, a nobleman about to reward that hero. How could the atmosphere not be positive?


    Sure enough, Count Hind said, "I¡¯ve spent many nights thinking about what reward I should give you."


    "I¡¯m eager to hear it."


    "Money, weapons, or fame... It seems none of these are something you truly need."


    He was right. Kai, whose wallet and bank ount were already overflowing, could easily obtain most things on his own.


    "Have you heard any rumors about me?"


    "By rumors you mean...¡± Kai trailed off and then slowly nodded.


    <i>The king¡¯s left hand and the Archlord. The nobility¡¯swkeeper.</i>


    Not all counts were the same in the kingdom. Some counts owned a single territory, while others held over five.


    <i>Among the counts of the Kingdom of Rashion, the one with the most power is Count Hind, lord of Castle Baden.</i>


    Even Frica Vige and Glendale, where Kai had passed through, were under his rule. He governed over thirty-five cities and viges, making him a great lord.


    Count Hind stroked his beard as he continued, "I spoke with His Majesty the King. I understand that this emerging region called Libertia is now yournd, yes?"


    "Yes... That is correct."


    "I intend to give you the governance of two nearby cities to Libertia. What do you think?"


    "...The governance of cities?" Kai responded with a slightly puzzled expression.


    <i>Ruling isn¡¯t really my thing...</i>


    In fact, Kai had only epted the lordship of Libertia because the non-human races there were close with him and managed well on their own without his intervention.


    <i>But ruling human cities would be a different story.</i>


    It would be a massive headache, and that burden would undoubtedly slow down his growth.


    These thoughts clearly showed on Kai¡¯s face.


    Noticing his expression, Count Hind smiled. "You''re probably thinking it''s a hassle right now, aren¡¯t you?"


    "N-no... Well..." After briefly meeting the count¡¯s gentle gaze, Kai gave up and admitted, "<i>Sigh</i>. You¡¯re right. Honestly, I¡¯m not confident in governance, nor do I have any desire for it."


    "But troubled times create heroes. Lately, you''ve be the most prominent figure in the Kingdom of Rashion. Wherever you go, stories of your feats and praises follow."


    "Does that rte to me needing to rule over a territory?"


    "Of course. The more famous you be, the more people will seek to exploit your reputation. You¡¯ll face countless threats to your safety. But if you hold enough power, few would dare to challenge you."


    These were the words of someone who had risen to the rank of great lord.


    <i>Territory...</i>


    It was true that after crushing Titan guild, very few yers would dare cross him now.


    <i>But NPCs?</i>


    The Church of Muldine, which opposed him, was still alive and well, and ording to Tardal, there were many who secretly colluded with them in both the empire and the kingdom.


    <i>I never know when they might try to cause trouble for me.</i>


    Having the kind of power that would prevent them from looking down on him wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing.


    "<i>Hmm.</i> Count Hind, I understand your pointpletely. However, I am an adventurer. Being tied down to manage territories seems rather difficult for me..."


    "I¡¯ll handle that for you. I¡¯ll assign a professionalnd manager and fill the administration with capable people. All you need to do is carry the title of lord. And of course, you can consider the monthly taxes as a bonus."


    "<i>Oh.</i>.<i>.!</i>"


    This offer was certainly tempting. It was like getting all the benefits without any of the responsibilities!


    Seeing the excitement in Kai''s face, Count Hind smiled. "Then I¡¯ll consider it epted and arrange for the transfer of thends through His Majesty. <i>Oh</i>, and regarding the rmendation letter from Baron Arsen that you broughtst time."


    "Yes?"


    "Normally, those who bring such letters must undergo a test of their abilities... but I see no need to test yours. Instead, I would like to assign you a mission that befits your skills, if that¡¯s alright?"


    "Of course. It¡¯s an adventurer''s duty to take on any mission thates their way."


    As Kai disyed his confidence, a quest window¡ªsomething he hadn''t seen in a long time¡ªpopped up before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>

 Chapter 190: King’s Order (2)

    <h4>Chapter 190: King¡¯s Order (2)</h4>


    <strong>[<u>Territory Inspection</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: B+</strong>


    <strong>Aquaria, known as the City of Water, has recently undergone rapid development. </strong>


    <strong>King Beoruk of the Kingdom of Rashion is considering promoting Baron Bariton, who governs Aquaria. </strong>


    <strong>Your task is to inspect his territory and assess whether he is a suitable candidate to be a Viscount.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +15,000 to Kingdom of Rashion Contribution, Count Hind¡¯s affinity increases.</strong>


    <strong>Failure Penalties: Count Hind¡¯s affinity decreases, Reputation Plummets, Decrease in XP.</strong>


    <i>Aquaria?</i>


    Kai blinked in surprise at the sight of the city''s name, which he hadn''t seen in a long time.


    <i>That¡¯s where Crawford used to live, right?</i>


    If his memory served him right, Baron Bariton was also the one who kidnapped Crawford¡¯s lover, Helene.


    <i>A guy like that getting promoted to viscount? That¡¯s irritating.</i>


    As a faint smirk formed on Kai¡¯s lips, Count Hind continued exining, "The title of Archlord doesn¡¯te with just rights; it carries responsibilities too. I¡¯ve earned the trust of His Majesty, King Beoruk, and it¡¯s my duty to live up to that trust. That¡¯s why I serve as his eyes, ears, and hands when he can¡¯t act himself."


    "So, basically you handle the tasks King Beoruk wishes in his ce."


    "Exactly. That¡¯s the reason he entrusted me with power in the first ce."


    Indeed, it made sense why he was called the left hand of the king. The transformation of this war veteran, who once swept across battlefields, into a skilled politician was a result of such a hidden story.


    "But when you say inspection, what exactly should I be looking for?"


    "It¡¯srgely a formality, so don¡¯t worry too much. Just gather a thorough understanding of the city''s overall condition and report it to His Majesty. Normally, I would send my knights, but as you know, they¡¯re all upied with rebuilding the territory and preparing for potential monster attacks."


    "Of course. You can certainly leave such tasks to me."


    Kai grabbed the inspector¡¯s badge from the desk, his eyes gleaming.


    "Aquaria. I¡¯ll make sure to inspect it thoroughly."


    ***


    "Well, look who it is," Tardal, who Kai hadn¡¯t seen in a while, gave him a sidelong nce and muttered under his breath. "Seems like your busy work has wrapped up."


    "I¡¯m still busy, but I finally have the time to pay my respects," Kai responded with a calm voice as he took a seat.


    Tardal observed him, then smirked. "You¡¯ve grown stronger. That youthful scent of inexperience ispletely gone."


    "<i>Haha</i>, I still have a long way to go. I need to keep improving."


    As Kai sipped his tea, an invisible aura of power radiated from his entire being. It wasn¡¯t just because his Dignity stat had risen. In fact, his Dignity stat had significantly dropped after using the Descent skill.


    <i>It must be my confidence.</i>


    The confidence that came from single-handedly defeating one of the top ten guilds granted Kai theposure of a truly powerful person. Moreover, there was something else that had changed when his swordsmanship skill reached Advanced level 3, something he hadn''t noticed before.


    <i>I didn¡¯t think it would have such an effect...</i>


    Kai pondered deeply why he could cut through things he previously couldn¡¯t. He believed that understanding the level he had reached was crucial to moving on to the next step. After much thought, the conclusion he arrived at was surprisingly simple.


    <i>My body''s bnce has be incredibly precise.</i>


    No human has perfect bnce. As people grow, they naturally develop habits that disturb the bnce of their bodies. Imbnces in the left-right alignment cause the body to tilt slightly, even during simple movements like walking.


    However, Kai''s body was currently bnced as perfectly as a finely tuned piano.


    <i>My spine is straight, and my shoulders and neck have aligned properly.</i>


    It felt as though he had grown a bit taller. His hunched shoulders, which had slumped out of habit, were now straightened, and his neck, once like a turtle¡¯s, now rose tall like a giraffe.


    His appearance instilled great trust and reassurance in those who saw him, just as it did for Tardal now.


    "There happens to be an issue that the hunters are struggling with at the moment, and I think you might be the right person to handle it."


    "Alright. I came just to pay my respects today, but I¡¯ll return afterpleting my current mission. What sort of task is troubling the hunters though?"


    "Well, you''re aware that the northern part of our kingdom borders the Kingdom of Havier, right?"


    "Yes, Havier is well known as the desert kingdom."


    "That''s right. Thanks to the connection, the northern part of our kingdom stays warm, but the northwest is a different story."


    "The northwest is..." Kai nodded after recalling the map of the continent. "The northwestern part of Kingdom of Rashion borders the edge of the Snowy Mountains, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "Yes. And now those mountains are causing trouble."


    "Is it because of the barbarian tribes of the Snowy Mountains?"


    "Those barbarian tribes whoe down to raid for food every winter are a problem... but at least they don''t eat people, even if they do kill them."


    At that remark, Kai''s gaze changed.


    "Has a man-eating monster appeared in the Snowy Mountains?"


    "Yes. And it''s no ordinary beast. Based on thest message from the hunters, it¡¯s believed to be a massive wyvern or drake. If we''re really unlucky... it might even be a hatchling."


    "A hatchling? As in, a dragon?"


    "We call a dragon under five hundred years old a hatchling."


    Even though it was just a hatchling, it was a quest involving a dragon!


    Kai clenched his fist tightly, his face lighting up with excitement.


    <i>Yes! This is it. Of course dragons need to show up in a fantasy game!</i>


    Filled with excitement from a dreame true, Kai nodded.


    "I¡¯ll take that request. You must not give it to anyone else."


    "Well, if the situation worsens and you¡¯rete, I¡¯ll have no choice. You¡¯ve got a week."


    "A week. Understood.¡±


    Determined to finish the inspection quest within a week, Kai left Tardal''s mansion.


    <i>Alright. I¡¯ll have to enter the tiger''s den if I want to catch the tiger.</i>


    Kai slightly turned his head and looked at the mansion perched on the hill that overlooked Aquaria.


    ***


    A fat pig-like man, with his forehead glistening, showered ttery as he spoke, "My, my! I didn¡¯t expect the inspector to be such a young adventurer. <i>Hahaha!</i>"


    <i>So this is Bariton.</i>


    Knowing the story of Crawford and Helene, Kai couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted. However, he masked his true feelings and responded with a bright smile.


    "Yes, I¡¯vee to inspect the city. You know the reason for this inspection, right?"


    "<i>Hehehe</i>, of course. Though it feels a bit forward to say it myself... it¡¯s for my promotion, correct?"


    "That is right. But if any significant ws are found in your territory, that promotion may fall through."


    "Oh dear! You¡¯ll find my domain is filled with nothing but dreams, love, and friendship. Please feel free to look around."


    Following closely behind Kai, Baron Bariton kept chattering and ttering nonstop.


    "Your fame is spreading across the kingdom, Inspector. The tales of heroism from Whitehall have already set the hearts of our young aze. And your recent victory against the Church of Muldine in the Battle of the Bir ins is nothing short of legendary!"


    As Kai appropriately responded to the ttery, he flipped through the documents given to him as the inspector and asked, "Your territory''s revenue has tripled over the past few years. How did that happen?"


    "It¡¯s thanks to adventurers. As you know, our city is famous for its beauty and has be a popr destination for couples. With adventurers visiting frequently and spending money freely, our revenue naturally skyrocketed."


    "<i>Hmm</i>..."


    Since <i>MID Online</i> had been released for about a year, three years was the exact same amount of time in the game¡¯s world.


    <i>Adventurers sure do bring in money.</i>


    Kai nodded as he thought about how much wealth his own territory, Libertia, was generating. As time passed, Libertia¡¯s reputation spread across the inte, and it became one of the top tourist destinations.


    <i>If I bring in the dwarves, it¡¯ll be even crazier.</i>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After skimming through the documents and touring the city with Bariton¡¯s guidance, Kai smiled brightly. ¡°This is truly a wonderful city. Seeing the explosive growth of Aquaria, it''s clear that your abilities as a lord are undeniable.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, those words mean...?¡±


    ¡°I believe the inspection of your territory with this isplete.¡±


    <i>Thud.</i>


    With that, Kai closed the document file, leaving Baron Bariton with a bewildered expression.


    ¡°Pardon...? But I¡¯ve heard that inspections typically take anywhere from a week to even a month and are quite thorough...¡±


    ¡°For adventurers, the motto is quick, quick. Especially where I¡¯m from.¡±


    Land that was limited with a poption densely packed, made everyone around apetitor. If two people had the same product, the one who offered it first had the advantage.


    Of course, Baron Bariton had no way of knowing this, and a hint of unease crept onto his face.


    ¡°Well... are you sure you will end the inspection like this? There won¡¯t be any disadvantages in the report, will there...?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely none. Trust me.¡±


    Kai had no intention of rotting away in this territory for a month.


    <i>If I don¡¯t get back in a week, I¡¯ll miss the dragon quest. And you expect me to sit here and leisurely conduct an inspection?</i>


    Had this been a territory where Kai didn¡¯t know the lord, he would have taken more care. But fortunately, he was quite familiar with this one.


    ¡°I will report back to His Majesty in two days, so please be at the royal pce by morning.¡±


    ¡°<i>O-oh...!</i> Thank you. Thank you!¡±


    Whether it was his cheeks, or simply fat, something on Bariton¡¯s face seemed to rise like it was ascending to heaven.


    Watching him, Kai silently smiled.


    ***


    In the morning, two dayster, Kai smiled at the tension that filled the royal pce, which he hadn¡¯t been to in a while.


    <i>I really like the atmosphere of the royal pce. It feels noble, in a way.</i>


    It was different from the bustling city markets or the uneventful hunting grounds. The royal pce was full of people, and the mesmerizing architecture and countless works of art were breathtaking, yet it remained quiet. That was the true dignity of a king''s residence.


    ¡°Kai, His Majesty King Beoruk has granted you an audience.¡±


    ¡°Let us go in then.¡± Kai gestured with his eyes at Bariton, who looked frozen. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes... but who is that with you?¡±


    ¡°My attendant. Pay no mind and enter the audience chamber.¡±


    Kai patted the shoulder of the robed figure standing beside him as they entered the chamber.


    As always, he bowed deeply and walked forward to kneel.


    ¡°Raise your head.¡± The deep,manding voice of Beoruk echoed in the chamber. His voice rang out again in Kai¡¯s ears, ¡°I ask the inspector, Kai. Did you find any falsehood in Aquaria¡¯s remarkable development?¡±


    The king¡¯s all-seeing eyes gleamed.


    ¡°No. There was no maniption in Aquaria¡¯s growth. Its remarkable progress is real.¡±


    ¡°Did the people¡¯s faces show signs of joy?¡±


    ¡°From what I observed, yes.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    It was merely the matter of promoting a baron to a viscount. King Beoruk had far more significant matters piled up like mountains before him. Thus, the moment he confirmed that Kai''s words were not false, he waved his hand dismissively.


    "From this moment forth, I promote Bariton from the rank of Baron to Viscount."


    It was a swift and sharp decision that matched the king¡¯s character perfectly!


    Bariton''s smile stretched so wide, it seemed like it could reach his ears.


    "Th-thank you, Your Majesty! I, Bariton, swear to devote myself fully to serving Your Majesty...!"


    At the emotional moment when Baron Bariton was promoted to a Viscount, Kai interrupted his speech and said, "However, Your Majesty, there is something I am curious about."


    Intrigued, King Beoruk turned his attention to Kai and asked, "<i>Hm.</i> What is it that you are curious about?"


    "As far as I know, it is illegal to enve demi-humans in the Kingdom of Rashion. Is that correct?"


    "Of course. The demi-humans are our gratefulrades who have helped humanity during times of crisis on the continent. Enving them because of their beauty is a vition of our kingdom¡¯sws. Why do you ask this now?"


    Having received a satisfactory answer from Beoruk, Kai turned his head with a big smile across his face. "Please remove your robe and reveal your face."


    At his words, the figure Kai had brought as his attendant slowly removed their robe. What was revealed beneath the robe was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.


    "I am pleased to meet you, King of the human kingdom."


    Her voice, as smooth as rolling jade, flowed from her lips¡ªit was none other than Helene.

 Chapter 191: Snowy Mountains (1)

    <h4>Chapter 191: Snowy Mountains (1)</h4>


    "King of the human kingdom, you say. You use interesting words. Who are you?" Beoruk stroked his chin with one hand, revealing his curiosity.


    In response, Helene smiled gently and lifted the polymorph. Then, her fresh fish tail was revealed from under her robe!


    "Are you a member of the merfolk?"


    At thepletely unexpected turn of events, both Beoruk and Baron Bariton showed expressions of bewilderment.


    Of course, the thoughts that came to their minds were different.


    <i>Why is a mermaid here...?</i>


    <i>Why is she here...?</i>


    Baron Bariton''s face turned pale as he stared at Helene, whose face he could never forget. Memories of disying her in the square and treating her like his ve came flooding back.


    Seeing Bariton''s face turn as white as a sheet, Beoruk regained hisposure and asked, "Right. May I ask why a protector of the sea has personallye into the royal pce?"


    "Of course. I just... want to talk a bit about this man."


    Helene spoke softly, like a grandmother telling an old story to her grandchild.


    When she finished speaking, Beoruk nodded. "I see. I can tell that there is not a single lie in your words."


    "Y-Your Majesty! Th-that¡¯s not true!"


    "What is not true?"


    Beoruk¡¯s emotionless eyes pierced through Bariton.


    Faced with the eyes of an absolute ruler, Bariton couldn¡¯t even muster a false story and could only stammer.


    "I dislike reversing my decisions, but just this once, I must correct myself. From this moment, all of Baron Bariton¡¯s titles are revoked, and he is to be treated as a criminal for viting nationalw."


    "N-nooo...!"


    As Kai watched Baron Bariton being dragged out by the knights of the audience chamber, a familiar notification sound rang in his ears.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Poetic Justice effect has been activated.] </strong>


    <strong>[You have stripped the title of a lord who vited nationalw and sought selfish gain.] </strong>


    <strong>[The title you stripped is Viscount.]</strong>


    <strong>[+40 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Due to the effect of Witness of the Sun, your Benevolence stat has additionally increased by 20.] </strong>


    <i>Nice!</i>


    Kai clenched his fist in triumph.


    In fact, he could have stopped Baron Bariton from being promoted from the start.


    <i>If Helene¡¯s story reached King Beoruk¡¯s ears, it could have definitely been stopped.</i>


    However, his thoughts changed the moment he arrived in Aquaria.


    <i>Wait,e to think of it, there¡¯s an effect called Poetic Justice, right?</i>


    It was a system that granted Benevolence stats when stripping a corrupt lord of their title! Moreover, it seemed that the amount of Benevolence stats granted varied based on the rank of the title.


    <i>When I revoked a baron¡¯s titlest time in Whitehall, I received 25 Benevolence stats.</i>


    Thus, he wondered how much it would be for a viscount. For a greater reward, Kai put in a few more days of effort, stopped by Libertia, and even brought Helene along. The result was a great sess!


    <i>I gained 60 Benevolence points all at once. This has never happened before.</i>


    Kai trembled with excitement as he recalled using the Descent skillst time. But at the same time, he worried.


    <i>Losing 20 Benevolence points every time I use it... It''s a loss in the long run.</i>


    The Descent skill was akin to sacrificing his ownbat power to unleash a burst of momentary strength. Though it felt like a waste of Benevolence points, it was a skill he had to use in moments of crisis. Thus, Kai had made a resolution.


    <i>Benevolence stats. I need to start collecting them obsessively from now on.</i>


    After all, in the end, it was about dealing with a viin.


    <i>Sometimes, you need to shake hands with the enemy to achieve a more dramatic effect.</i>


    That was why Kaiughed and chatted with Baron Bariton.


    Beoruk quietly observed Kai and then said, "You knew what kind of person he was from the beginning, didn''t you?"


    <i>Oops.</i>


    As expected, Beoruk was a monster who lived among politicians every day.


    Kai didn¡¯t bother to lie. After all, Beoruk possessed the eyes of an absolute ruler, capable of seeing through the truth.


    "Yes, that is correct."


    "Then why?"


    "Well, wouldn¡¯t falling from a higher ce cause more damage?"


    Beoruk let out a soft sigh, at a loss for words in response to Kai''s shameless answer. "It seems like there¡¯s something more hidden behind your reasoning... but in any case, you¡¯ve done well inpleting your mission."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Territory Inspection questpleted.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15,000 contribution to Kingdom of Rashion.]</strong>


    <strong>[Count Hind¡¯s affinity increased.]</strong>


    As Kai sessfully secured his rewards, finished his greetings, and was about to leave, Beoruk''s voice stopped him.


    "Where do you n to go now?"


    "Lord Tardal mentioned there was a mission in Snowy Mountains."


    "I see. Tardal intends to entrust that mission to you, does he...?" Beoruk, with a glint in his eyes, thought for a moment and then nodded. "My people are suffering. It¡¯s not just the mission of a Darkness Hunter. If you sessfully resolve this matter, I too, as the King of Rashion, will express my gratitude to you."


    <strong>[<u>The King¡¯s Order</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: A-</strong>


    <strong>The King of Rashion, Beoruk, is deeply troubled by the recent disappearances and deaths of residents in the Snowy Mountains region. You will receive a reward from him if you solve this issue promptly.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: +20,000 to Kingdom of Rashion Contribution, +20,000 Fame.</strong>


    "As always, I will do my best."


    Kai smiled widely, wearing a rather business-like grin.


    ***


    After sending Helene back to Libertia, Kai encountered a familiar face.


    "Is that you, Kai?"


    It was Bach Den ck, themander of the Ironblood Knights, and a young monster rumored to have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. He seemed slightly surprised at Kai¡¯s changed appearance.


    "Adventurers are fascinating. In such a short time, he¡¯s managed to reach that level..." Muttering to himself, Bach continued speaking, "Are you here to keep the promise you made before?"


    The promise from before was that Kai would spar with him once Kai gained confidence in his swordsmanship.


    <i>A sparring match with Bach would surely bring me great benefits.</i>


    Considering it was a duel with someone called a Swordmaster, that was obvious.


    But Kai shook his head.


    "As much as I¡¯d love to, I¡¯ll hold off a bit longer for the future."


    One only saw as much as they knew. That saying fit perfectly. Even though Kai''s swordsmanship skill was at Advanced level 3, he couldn¡¯t even think of mimicking the miracles Bach had performed with a single sword in the past.


    <i>At least Advanced level 5. I need to reach that before challenging Bach to make the most of it.</i>


    Kai, who knew well the virtue of patience, was in no hurry. After all, he was ahead of anyone else in the world. He had no desire to act like a fool who let impatience get the best of him.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. That¡¯s unexpected. I thought you¡¯d be the type to eat the sweet candy first."


    "Maybe that was true in the past, but not anymore." Kai shed a grin as he continued walking and conversing with Bach. "<i>Oh</i>, by the way, Bach. Have you ever encountered a drake, wyvern, or dragon?"


    "I¡¯ve faced countless drakes and wyverns, but I¡¯ve never met a dragon. Why do you ask?"


    "I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a good chance that the monster appearing in Snowy Mountains is one of those."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "<i>Ah, </i>that¡¯s what you were talking about. Are you heading there to deal with the issue?"


    "Yes."


    Having understood Kai¡¯s answer, Bach slowly nodded and said, "A drake cannot fly, but it¡¯s a monster that runs across the ground with its strong legs. Sometimes, it breathes fire, and its scales are so tough that an average sword can¡¯t even scratch its skin. Its sturdy legs are its strength. On the other hand, a wyvern¡¯s legs are weak, but it has wings. It flies in the sky and keeps spitting fire, making it an extremely annoying opponent. If you face a wyvern, cut its wings first, and if you encounter a drake, attack its legs first."


    "What about if I meet a dragon?"


    Bach suddenly stopped at Kai¡¯s question and furrowed his brows.


    "I¡¯ve never faced a dragon myself... but they are considered the ancestors of drakes and wyverns. They¡¯re known as controllers of magic, and it¡¯s said they have no physical weaknesses. However, rumors suggest that they have a patch on their necks where the scales grow in reverse."


    "Is that the reverse scale?"


    The reverse scale referred to a part of the dragon¡¯s neck where the scale grew the opposite way. ording to Eastern legend, even if someone tamed a dragon, touching this spot would cause the dragon to bite and kill them.


    <i>I guess dragons do have it.</i>


    Learning this interesting fact, Kai bowed to Bach.


    "Well, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be encountering a dragon, but if I do, I¡¯ll make sure to aim for the reverse scale."


    "Good luck," Bach gave a brief word of encouragement.


    ***


    "<i>Huff, huff</i>."


    Each time Kai exhaled, white breaths clouded his vision.


    <i>It¡¯s freezing cold.</i>


    After meeting with Tardal and receiving his mission, Kai wasted no time and headed straight for the Snowy Mountains.


    His current destination was a vige at the foot of the mountain. It was a remote area without a teleport gate, a ce mostly inhabited by NPCs and rarely visited by other yers.


    <i>I¡¯d be in serious trouble if it weren¡¯t for these clothes.</i>


    Kai was currently wearing clothes made from the hide of a Triple-Headed Ogre¡ªa gift from Yoo Ha-Rin. Of course, he had also given a set to Blizzard, who was eagerly awaiting his summoning. He wanted to gift one to Mimic as well, but after some thought, it seemed like too much.


    <i>Mimic¡¯s usual state is a squishy creature.</i>


    How could a slime wear clothes, after all?


    Recalling how happy Blizzard had been after receiving the set of clothes, Kai approached the vige.


    "<i>Phew</i>."


    He finally arrived at the vige entrance where a wooden palisade, barely worthy of being called a fortress, stood alongside a watchtower.


    "<i>Hm?</i> An adventurer?"


    The two sentries standing guard at the watchtower looked at Kai with curiosity and talked to each other.


    "An adventurering to such a harsh ce? Adventurers really are strong, aren¡¯t they?"


    "I¡¯ve heard rumors that they grow stronger at an incredibly fast rate. I guess it could be true."


    Chatting among themselves, they opened the gate without much of a check.


    As Kai entered the vige, he acquired the special title of First Vige Visitor.


    <i>The effect isn¡¯t that great. It just slightly increases my resistance to the cold.</i>


    However, even with just that effect, he felt a sense of warmth spreading through his body.


    Kai brushed off the clumps of snow that had stuck to his clothes and stood still, taking a long look around the vige called Cordo.


    The houses were built from dark and sturdy logs and were huddled together, resembling a vige from a fairy tale, the kind one could find on Christmas cards.


    "Alright, I need to start finding clues from here..."


    Even at a nce, the vige didn¡¯t seemrge. It was a small vige with no more than thirty households at most.


    The vigers walking outside were wary of the adventurer they encountered for the first time.


    <i>I need to unlock the barriers in their hearts first if I want to gather any leads on this case.</i>


    Kai was not necessarily great with humans, but when it came to NPCs, his sociability was exceptional!


    He quickly set up an impromptu medical clinic, something that now felt almost second nature to him.


    <i>People tend to warm up to those who heal them.</i>


    It didn¡¯t take even two hours for Kai to confirm that his thoughts were correct.

 Chapter 192: Snowy Mountains (2)

    <h4>Chapter 192: Snowy Mountains (2)</h4>


    The clinic Kai opened in Cordo wasn''t received too badly.


    "A clinic? <i>Hmm.</i> How well would a wandering adventurer treat people, though..."


    "Well, it¡¯s not bad to have one around. If someone¡¯s sick, they might as well give it a try."


    "Hey, he¡¯s got quite the talent. Is he a Cleric?"


    "<i>Wow.</i> This is pretty refreshing."


    Although the vigers weed Kai¡¯s clinic, their reactions were less enthusiastic than he expected. Their lukewarm response puzzled Kai.


    <i>The responses were explosive every time I set up clinics in ces like Frica or Whitehall...</i>


    Thanks to that, he had earned a substantial amount of Benevolence stats. However, the vigers in the Snowy Mountains vige were healthier than he had anticipated.


    <i>Plus, there aren¡¯t even any seriously injured people.</i>


    Everyone seemed clean and healthy.


    As a result, while his overall affinity increased, there was no rise in his Benevolence stats.


    <i>Well, just because I¡¯m doing something I¡¯m good at and is easy for me doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s automatically a good deed.</i>


    Helping those who truly needed something was the condition for being recognized as a good deed in <i>MID Online</i>.


    <i>Alright then...</i>


    Kai closed the clinic. Although he hadn¡¯t raised his Benevolence stats, he had still aplished his goal.


    <i>Overall affinity has risen, so now there are only a few people left who are wary of me.</i>


    That meant he could start looking for clues!


    Kai actively walked around the vige, trying to engage in conversations with the vigers.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. An incident? Incidents happen every day in the Snowy Mountains."


    "Outsiders? Well... except for the regr merchants who visit the vige, I don¡¯t think any outsiders havee here. You might be the only one in the past six months."


    Kai didn¡¯t gain any clues from his conversations with the vigers. However, there was one question that always triggered the same reaction.


    "A monster that¡¯s been eating peopletely?<i> Umm</i>..."


    "<i>Ahem</i>, I wouldn¡¯t know about that."


    "The sun sets quickly in the Snowy Mountains. If you don¡¯t want to freeze to death, you should at least find a ce to sleep."


    Everyone avoided eye contact with Kai, trailing off as they made excuses and left.


    <i>What¡¯s with their reactions?</i>


    Kai squinted and scanned the small vige. The vige was so small that he could see it all just by standing on a nearby hill.


    <i>A smallmunity like this is trying to hide something... But why?</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, monsters were the enemies of humans. They were a terror to defenseless vigers, creatures that killed and opposed humanity! Therefore, it was only natural for vigers to wee an adventurer who came to hunt them with open arms.


    <i>But there¡¯s an atmosphere of reluctance to even bring it up. This feels like...</i>


    It resembled the behavior of people filled with terror.


    Scratching his head, Kai wandered through the vige as he looked at the sky grow darker. However, there wasn¡¯t a single inn or shelter in the vige, something typically found in every vige.


    "<i>Hmm</i>, I never expected something like this."


    He had assumed that with money, he could just find an inn to stay in. That was why he had spent his time talking to vigers instead of looking around for a ce to sleep.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that the advice to find a ce to sleep would mean this.


    <i>Since bringing up the monster, the vigers have even been avoiding talking to me.</i>


    Whatever they had discussed among themselves, as soon as Kai approached, they scattered.


    <i>At this rate, I won¡¯t even get a clue, and...</i>


    Without a ce to stay, he was at risk of freezing to death in the Snowy Mountains! Even though his Triple-Headed Ogre fur coat was warm, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to fend off the cold and harsh winds of the Snowy Mountains¡¯ early morning.


    <i>Ugh, should I use Shadow Shift and find an inn in another vige?</i>


    As Kai wore a troubled expression, a woman approached him.


    "<i>Um</i>... adventurer, are you by any chance looking for a ce to stay?"


    "<i>Huh? Oh, </i>yes I am..." Kai turned his head in response, and his eyes slightly widened.


    <i>This woman is...</i>


    He remembered her because she had been a patient at his clinic. Her gaunt and frail face made her look sick to anyone who saw her. Perhaps because of that, even the other vigers who hade to the clinic had willingly given up their turn for her.


    <i>But even after treating her with my holy power, no message appeared.</i>


    Sunlight¡¯s Warmth was one of the highest-tier healing skills in <i>MID Online</i>. If she had been sick, she would have been cured the moment he used the skill.


    <i>She must just be a naturally thin person.</i>


    That was the conclusion Kai had reached earlier.


    The woman slightly bowed her head and said, "My younger sibling is currently away from home, so we have a spare room. If you¡¯d like, you can stay at our house for the night."


    "Really? Thank you so much!"


    Relieved to have found a ce to spend the night, Kai sighed in relief and followed her.


    It was a little house, built from dark logs like the other homes. However, the moment Kai stepped inside, he felt a familiar feeling.


    <i>This feeling is...</i>


    It was a cold house, absent of human warmth. It was the same feeling he got whenever he returned to his apartment after going to a convenience store.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    When the woman closed the door, Kai awkwardly smiled and asked, "<i>Um</i>... What about the rest of your family?¡±


    "My parents passed away when I was young, and I live with my younger brother... but he¡¯s away from home at the moment."


    That meant it was just the two of them, a woman in her prime and him!


    After contemting for a moment, Kai cautiously said while gauging her reaction, "<i>Uh</i>, if me being here makes you ufortable, please let me know. I don¡¯t mind leaving."


    "No, not at all. In fact, I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯re here, adventurer." With a sorrowful expression, the woman looked up at Kai. "Adventurer, you¡¯ve been asking about the monster that eats people, haven¡¯t you?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s right."


    "May I ask why you¡¯re asking about it?"


    "Of course, it¡¯s to hunt the monster. Do you know something about it?"


    As Kai responded confidently, the woman gave a faint smile and replied, "<i>Oh</i>, I know about it, alright. Because..."


    Trailing off, the woman began to carefully remove her coat.


    "W-wait! What are you doing...!" Kai hurriedly covered his eyes and shouted.


    But the woman calmly continued saying, "Could you open your eyes and take a look at this?"


    "I-I¡¯m not ready for... such things should be shared between lovers after confirming their feelings!"


    "... What in the world are you imagining right now?" her voice turned cold, as if she were addressing a bug.


    Coming to his senses, Kai slightly opened his eyes and uncovered his face. "<i>Oh</i>...!"


    What he saw was the woman still fully dressed. However, because she was wearing a sleeveless top, both of her arms were fully exposed, and covering one of her arms was a very ck tattoo. The design was of something dark and winding, resembling a snake.


    "What¡¯s that tattoo...?"


    It was a disturbing tattoo, from which ck, menacing smoke seemed to seep constantly.


    When Kai asked with a hardened expression, the woman put her coat back on and exined, "My name is Luna. Your name is Kai, right? I¡¯ve encountered the monster you¡¯re looking for. That¡¯s how... I ended up cursed like this."


    "Cursed?"


    He had only heard one clue¡ªthat the monster was eating people.


    <i>It was said that the Darkness Hunters only had that clue.</i>


    From the traces of the battle, they had deduced that the creature was some kind of reptile, but that was all they knew. However, he hadn¡¯t expected the monster to be capable of casting curses.


    The options of it being a drake or wyvern quickly vanished from Kai¡¯s mind.


    <i>Casting curses isn¡¯t something that can be done without significant intelligence.</i>


    A monster¡¯s intelligence typically increased in proportion to its level. In the Snowy Mountains region, where monsters over level 300 roamed, underestimating them could lead to falling into traps and dying. However, magic was apletely different matter.


    <i>For a monster to use magic, it would either need to be of a Wizard ss...</i>


    Or possess exceptional intelligence as part of its species.


    <i>Even Blizzard, who¡¯s pretty smart for a lizardman, can¡¯t manage magic.</i>


    He was currently teaching Blizzard humannguage, but his learning pace was slower than that of a five-year-old child.


    <i>Could the enemy be a dragon?</i>


    As Kai¡¯s eyes gleamed, Luna continued speaking, "It¡¯s the mark of a curse I received after encountering the shadow of a Death Dragon."


    "The shadow of the Death Dragon?"


    It became clear. The monster he had been chasing was indeed a dragon.


    "It''s said to have roamed the Snowy Mountains for a long time, but it''s kind of a legend... something you''d only hear in old tales."


    "But you¡¯ve encountered it in person, haven¡¯t you?"


    "Yes. ording to what the elders said, it had been asleep for hundreds of years, so there was no need to worry, but..."


    "But it¡¯s woken up."


    "It¡¯s just a feeling, but I think it¡¯s experiencing extreme hunger now that it¡¯s just awakened. Recently, more and more people in other viges have been marked with the curse as well."


    "What happens once someone is marked?"


    "They die. It¡¯s a kind of sign. It signals to all the creatures in the Snowy Mountains that I¡¯m its prey. It¡¯s a direct warning not to touch me."


    "A warning, <i>huh</i>."


    Kai was beginning to understand why he hadn¡¯t been able to heal her with Sunlight¡¯s Warmth.


    <i>Sunlight¡¯s Warmth can heal all diseases and status effects, but...</i>


    The curse of a being as powerful as a Death Dragon was in apletely different league. It would likely require his skill level to be at the Advanced stage before he could even attempt to purify it.


    <i>Sunlight¡¯s Warmth is still only at Intermediate level 7. I¡¯ve got a long way to go before reaching Advanced.</i>


    That exined why he hadn¡¯t been able to remove the curse mark on her.


    After a moment of thought, Kai asked again, "Can you tell me more about the Death Dragon?"


    "The Death Dragon... as its name suggests, has been called the dragon that governs death. It originally didn¡¯t live in the Snowy Mountains, but I¡¯ve heard that it fled here after being gravely wounded in a battle with the legendary pdin, Patrick, hundreds of years ago."


    "<i>Hm?</i>" Hearing a familiar name, Kai tilted his head. "Did you just say Patrick?"


    "Yes. As a Cleric of the Srian Church, you must know of him, don¡¯t you?"


    "Of course, I know him. But this is the first time I¡¯ve heard this particr tale..."


    "There are countless stories of his exploits, so it¡¯s understandable. Anyway, I heard that the Death Dragon, Sineras, fell into a deep sleep to recover from its severe wounds."


    "A Death Dragon..."


    The identity of the monster that devoured people was far more formidable than he had anticipated.


    <i>I wonder what its level is.</i>


    The Death Dragon, Sineras. Just from its name alone, Kai could sense an overwhelming power, easily estimating it to be over level 500.


    <i>In that case, what should I do...?</i>


    One option was to return to the royal pce, report the facts to King Beoruk, and receive reinforcements from the knights.


    The second option was to post a notice in themunity and recruit other yers, just like he had done in the Battle of the Bir ins.


    And the final option was to attempt a solo raid himself for the unprecedented special title.


    <i>Well, I really want to try, but realistically it¡¯s too much on my own.</i>


    Kai leaned toward one of the first two options.


    At that moment, Luna suddenly clutched her arm, breaking into a cold sweat.


    Startled, Kai quickly supported her and asked in a panic, "What¡¯s wrong? Is your arm in a lot of pain? Sunlight¡¯s Warmth! Sunlight¡¯s Warmth!¡±


    ¡°<i>Arghh</i>...¡±


    Luna bit her lip hard at the overwhelming pain in her arm.


    Then, after about five minutes, the pain finally subsided, and tears began to form in her eyes.


    "Adventurer... the pain... It''s unbearable. To the point I would just rather die."


    Kai, speechless, listened as she continued.


    "If I had been alone, I would have ended my life already... But a few days ago, my younger brother grabbed a sword and ax and ran off, saying he would kill the creature that cursed me. I know I¡¯m as good as dead, but... he still has so much life left to live."


    Luna, with her frail, bony arm, clutched the sleeve of Kai¡¯s robe.


    "I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, especially when all I¡¯ve done is offer you a ce to stay for the night. But... please. Please bring my brother back home safely. I don¡¯t expect to survive, but at least save him..."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[<u>The Siblings of the Snowy Mountains</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Difficulty: A-</strong>


    <strong>Luna¡¯s younger brother, determined to break his sister¡¯s curse, has left home to kill the Death Dragon. </strong>


    <strong>He left exactly two days ago. </strong>


    <strong>Though he is the strongest warrior in the vige, he is far too underqualified to face a Death Dragon.</strong>


    <strong>Catch up to Luna¡¯s brother and bring him back safely.</strong>


    <strong>Quest Reward: Unknown.</strong>


    After that, Luna seemed to have lost all her strength, and her head fell as she fainted.


    As Kai quickly caught her head, the warm tears streaming from her eyes dampened his palm.


    "... <i>Sigh</i>."


    Bringing knights and gathering other yers would certainly increase his chances of defeating Sineras, the Death Dragon.


    <i>However...</i>


    There wasn¡¯t enough time. Even while he gathered help, Luna would have to endure this horrendous pain alone with no parents to rely on, and her only sibling gone, seeking the Death Dragon to save her.


    Kai could only faintly empathize with her tragic and painful situation.


    <i>This must be what they mean by omnishambles.</i>


    The only way he could save both Luna and her brother was by killing Sineras as quickly as possible.


    Kai let out a deep sigh and shook his head.


    "...Honestly, no joke, but the price for just one night''s stay has turned out to be ridiculously high."


    <strong>[Quest epted.]</strong>

 Chapter 193: Snowy Mountains (3)

    <h4>Chapter 193: Snowy Mountains (3)</h4>


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡± Luna let out a small groan as she opened her heavy eyelids.


    The sunlight of the Snowy Mountains streaming through the window had awakened her from her deep sleep.


    As she shifted her body, trying to go back to sleep, her eyes suddenly shot open.


    "<i>Oh!</i>"


    She remembered fainting while talking to the adventurer Cleric the previous day. Feeling a mix of warmth and embarrassment toward him forying her in bed, she stepped into the living room.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "...He¡¯s gone."


    The slightly warmer atmosphere than usual hinted that someone had been present, but the living room was quiet.


    <i>Right. Any sane person wouldn¡¯t venture into the harsh Snowy Mountains to look for someone.</i>


    He seemed like such a kind person...


    Luna med herself for being too greedy and was about to return to her room.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡±


    But the sounding from the small open space in front of the house made her stop in her tracks.


    <i>This sound is...</i>


    She had often heard it when her younger brother was around, sparring with local friends or hunters.


    <i>Could it be Sora, that rascal?</i>


    Luna hurriedly opened the front door and checked the open space, but, unfortunately, her brother wasn¡¯t there.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, have you woken up?¡±


    ¡°The adventurer?¡±


    It was only the adventurer she had hostedst night, sparring with a lizardman who seemed to be hispanion.


    ¡°Please wait just a moment. We¡¯re almost finished,¡± Kai called out to her as he stepped back while pointing his sword at Blizzard. ¡°You¡¯re too slow. Your strength lies in relentlessly pressuring your enemies with your twin scimitars, but at this speed, you won¡¯t be able to overwhelm the enemies we¡¯re about to face.¡±


    ¡°<i>Rawr</i>...¡± Blizzard drooped his shoulders, looking dispirited.


    However, that didn¡¯tst long. With the warrior¡¯s blood running through his veins, he grabbed his scimitars again, lowered his stance, and took on his tribe¡¯s uniquebat posture.


    ¡°Come at me.¡±


    As Kai waved the tip of his sword in a taunting gesture, Blizzard¡¯s legs pushed off the ground.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    <i>He¡¯s fast!</i>


    Not only the vigers, who were pretending to go about their business while watching the match, but even Luna was surprised.


    Blizzard, now at level 250, was a warrior whose main stats were focused on Strength and Agility. Of course, an experienced yer at around level 230 would be able to face Blizzard.


    <i>But that¡¯s because they have more skills.</i>


    That was why Kai had started paying attention to Blizzard¡¯s swordsmanship level.


    <i>I¡¯ve never heard of a yer using twin scimitars.</i>


    In other words, yers who faced Blizzard were essentially up against a weapon they weren¡¯t familiar with. That was Blizzard¡¯s advantage.


    <i>A new, unfamiliar weapon, and relentless attacks that leave no time to think!</i>


    It was Blizzard¡¯s greatest strength!


    Kai wanted Blizzard to grow strong enough to handle at least two yers of the same level on his own.


    <i>But staying by my side might not help him with that.</i>


    The level gap between Blizzard and himself was now close to seventy. Moreover, with Kai¡¯s stats boosted by his Benevolence stats, he would now visit much more difficult hunting grounds than his level would suggest going to.


    <i>I¡¯ve already talked to him about solo training.</i>


    Kai had decided that he would send Blizzard off to train and hunt on his own after this sparring session. He would find a hunting ground suitable for his level, and through endless battles there, he would grow stronger.


    <i>Even if Blizzard dies, I can just summon him again.</i>


    Kai had already discussed this with him. Blizzard understood well that if he stayed as he was, he wouldn¡¯t be of much help to Kai. So when the idea of solo training came up, Blizzard was overjoyed.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Amid Blizzard¡¯s fierce scimitar attacks, Kai¡¯s sword found a brief opening and tapped Blizzard¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Too many openings. Fix it.¡±


    Blizzard nodded.


    As Kai sheathed his sword, Blizzard also carefully ced his des into their scabbards.


    Kai suddenly felt as if he understood the feelings of parents sending their child to school for the first time.


    He packed a pouch of gold and some food for Blizzard, and said to him, ¡°If you get really hungry, use this to buy yourself a meal.¡±


    Blizzard nodded.


    ¡°Always check your opponent¡¯s level before you fight.¡±


    Blizzard nodded again.


    ¡°And make sure to studynguage for two hours every day.¡±


    Blizzard didn¡¯t nod this time.


    Kai patted Blizzard¡¯s shoulder firmly. ¡°Come back stronger.¡±


    ¡°<i>Kraaar!</i>¡± Blizzard pounded his chest with his right hand, letting out a short roar of determination.


    ¡°Good boy.¡±


    Kai chuckled as he watched Blizzard walk down the mountain with a bundle on his back.


    <i>Well, he¡¯ll probably die at least once after fighting for a while. I¡¯ll see him again in a week at most.</i>


    He didn¡¯t bother sending Mimic along, because if it came across any unique monsters, it would need to use its Mimic skill.


    After getting his thoughts in order, Kai turned back to Luna. ¡°Luna, I have some more questions about the Death Dragon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll answer everything I can,¡± Luna nodded firmly, showing her determination.


    ***


    <i>Let¡¯s see...</i>


    Having left Cordo behind, Kai ventured deep into the Snowy Mountains. The winter mask, hat, boots, and gloves that Luna had given him as a gift were incredibly helpful in keeping the cold out.


    <i>So this is the Snowy Mountains, huh... I was expecting something like Mount Everest.</i>


    The snowstorm-whipped white world made it impossible to see even a step ahead. As a result, Kai kept his head down and focused on moving his legs while organizing the information he had about the Death Dragon.


    <i>The Death Dragon Sineras¡ªthe dragon that fled after being gravely wounded by Patrick hundreds of years ago.</i>


    Many people had seen Sineras as it fled to the Snowy Mountains after being injured by Patrick¡¯s sword. Of course, those people had long since passed, but the story had been passed down from mouth to mouth, almost like folklore.


    "A dragon with scales whiter than the purest snow."


    Luna said she had recently seen a dragon with pure white scales flying around the distant peaks, and Kai was able to deduce Sineras¡¯s identity from that observation.


    <i>Sineras must be a White Dragon.</i>


    He had gathered various information about the dragons in <i>MID Online</i> by doing research in themunity, and the most basic piece of information was about the color of their scales.


    <i>Red scales mean a Red Dragon, which uses fire. Blue scales mean a Blue Dragon, which uses water. ck scales mean a ck Dragon, which wields the power of darkness... Then, white scales would mean?</i>


    The answer was obvious. Naturally, it would be a White Dragon that governed snow and ice.


    <i>Actually, the color of the scales doesn¡¯t matter much.</i>


    What truly mattered was the dragon¡¯s level.


    <i>I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a fully grown adult.</i>


    Dragons in <i>MID Online</i> were categorized into three stages of growth, hatchlings, adults, and elder dragons.


    A hatchling was small, had limited magical abilities, and was rtively weak. Of course, dragons were an overpowered species that grew stronger with time, even without much effort.


    An adult dragon was powerful enough to be a threat that even nations paid attention to.


    <i>Andstly, the elder dragons.</i>


    They were so powerful that even an empire would fear it.


    <i>ording to themunity, there are no elder dragons left on the continent.</i>


    The game story also stated that there were very few dragons left in the first ce, and he had gathered additional information that adult dragons never left their territories.


    <i>Which means...</i>


    It was highly likely that the Death Dragon Sineras was still a hatchling. After all, it was doubtful whether even Patrick could have defeated it if it was an adult dragon.


    ¡°It¡¯s very likely to be a White Dragon hatchling.¡±


    With his thoughts organized, Kai continued climbing the mountain. Even the monsters of the Snowy Mountains seemed to avoid attacking during the blizzard, as Kai hadn¡¯t encountered any along the way.


    After an entire day¡¯s hike, Kai finally reached the peak and let out a triumphant shout, ¡°<i>Ha</i>...<i>!</i>¡±


    It was a thrilling sight seeing the entire world, including the clouds, spread out beneath his feet! It was a view that only those who had conquered the mountain''s summit could enjoy.


    <i>She said I¡¯d be able to see Sineras¡¯s nest from this peak...</i>


    He took a moment to admire the scenery, but that onlysted momentarily. He then turned around and began searching for Sineras¡¯s nest.


    ¡°Is it over there?¡±


    On the highest peak of the massive snow-covered mountain range far in the distance, he spotted what looked like a huge cave, as if the mountain¡¯s top had been pierced with arge hole.


    At the same time, Kai¡¯s expression turned serious.


    <i>... Just getting there would take at least several days of walking.</i>


    Luna¡¯s brother was said to be the strongest warrior in Cordo. Having lived his entire lie in the Snowy Mountains, he would be much better at climbing than Kai and since he had left two days earlier, he would already be well ahead.


    <i>I won¡¯t be able to catch up like this.</i>


    Kai hadn¡¯t participated in a single walking event since graduating from elementary school. Even though he was in a game, walking toward a single destination for several days was dreadful.


    <i>There must be a way...</i>


    As Kai rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought, an unexpected notification window popped up.


    <strong>[You have gained 7,102 XP from Blizzard¡¯s hunting.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Oh?</i>¡±


    Blizzard, who had gone off for training, had sessfully hunted his first prey.


    <i>Looks like he found a hunting ground suitable for his level. My pets really are impressive.</i>


    Kai smiled with pride like a doting parent, but soon tilted his head.


    ¡°Wait a minute. Could there be...¡±


    Kai turned around and scanned his surroundings once more. After searching for a while, he found what he was looking for between two nearby peaks, in an unknown gorge.


    <i>There it is! A wyvern nest!</i>


    Kai nned to transform Mimic into a wyvern using its Mimic skill and fly straight to Sineras¡¯s nest.


    <i>Mimic could also transform into a King Sandworm to get there, but...</i>


    That method would almost certainly cause andslide. Considering the viges located below the Snowy Mountains, it was something he absolutely couldn¡¯t do.


    So, Kai changed his destination.


    ***


    <i>Squawk, squawk! Screeeech!</i>


    Kai had no idea why the wyverns sounded like seagulls, but as their cries grew louder, a smile spread across his face.


    <i>I just followed the direction I thought was right, and it seems I got it.</i>


    From the peak, he could see that there were only two adult wyverns in the nest.


    <i>I don¡¯t know their levels, but two wyverns shouldn¡¯t be a problem.</i>


    He had already prepared a strategy for dealing with flying monsters.


    ¡°Upgrade, Holy Chains.¡±


    <i>Clink.</i>


    Then, he gripped the thick chain in his hand and stealthily approached the gorge.


    <i>There they are.</i>


    The wyverns¡¯ nest was located on a cliff within the gorge.


    <i>One is flying around on patrol, and the other is guarding the nest.</i>


    Without hesitation, Kai began spinning the chain in the air.


    <i>One, two...</i>


    The moment the patrolling wyvern flew near his marked location, the thick Holy Chain shot out from his left hand like a cannon.


    <i>Screeech!</i>


    The wyvern screamed as the chain wrapped around its neck.


    ¡°<i>Argh!</i>¡±


    Kai nted his feet firmly on the ground and pulled the chain with both hands.


    The wyvern immediately spread its wings and began to resist.


    <i>Its wing strength is stronger than I thought.</i>


    As if ying a game of tug-of-war, the distance between them didn¡¯t close.


    In response, Kai urgently murmured, ¡°Upgrade, Chasing Light Arrows!¡±


    <strong>[The size of the Chasing Light Arrows increases, and their pration and damage are enhanced.]</strong>


    He didn¡¯t need many. Just two¡ªtwo would be enough.


    <i>Ping!</i>


    With a sharp sound cutting through the air, the Light Arrows pierced through the thick wing joints of the wyvern at once.


    <i>Screeeech!</i>


    When the wings of a creature soaring through the air broke, only one fate awaited¡ªplummeting down.


    "<i>Hyaah!</i>"


    As Kai poured every bit of strength he had into pulling the Holy Chain, what had been immovable finally started to budge.


    <i>It¡¯sing!</i>


    Bound by the chain, the wyvern pped its wings desperately, but the pierced wing offered little help. In no time, it was dragged down, and crashed onto the cold floor of the gorge below.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>. That did quite a bit of damage.¡±


    Just from falling out of the sky, the level 310 wyvern had lost half of its HP. And to make matters worse, it had now fainted!


    ¡°I need to get Mimic to imitate this thing, but...¡±


    Mimic¡¯s level was currently much lower than the wyvern¡¯s, meaning there was a high chance the Mimic skill would fail.


    ¡°Well, I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡±


    Having sessfully bound one wyvern, Kai summoned Mimic.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just keep trying until it works.¡±


    Kai gently rubbed the wyvern¡¯s wing with his hand infused with holy power. He had to make sure Mimic didn¡¯t use its skill on the wyvern with a pierced wing, as that would be a disaster.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 194: Snowy Mountains (4)

    <h4>Chapter 194: Snowy Mountains (4)</h4>


    ¡°<i>Woooooh!</i>¡± Kai let out a scream-like cheer.


    The refreshing air filled his chest and belly as it rushed in through his nose, and the cold wind of the Snowy Mountains pped his face in real-time! It was a thrilling sensation that could only be felt from atop a wyvern soaring through the sky.


    <i>The time was dyed quite a bit...</i>


    It had taken Mimic half a day to sessfully imitate the bound wyvern because the skill kept failing due to Mimic¡¯s lower level.


    Of course, Kai didn¡¯t regret the time spent.


    <i>Thanks to that, I can now head straight to Sineras¡¯s nest.</i>


    In fact, it had drastically shortened the time it would take.


    ¡°Mimic, lower the altitude. Let¡¯s fly over that mountain range,¡± Kai said as he patted Mimic, who had transformed into a wyvern, on the head.


    Mimic folded its wings and quickly descended, gliding over the mountain range.


    <i>At this speed, we should reach the nest in about two hours.</i>


    Feeling rxed, Kai sat back on Mimic¡¯s broad back, gazing at the nest that was gradually getting closer.


    <i>A dragon, huh... I wonder just how powerful it will be.</i>


    Fighting a formidable enemy always carried a risk. Losing resulted in losing something, but victory came with great rewards. Kai had learned this unchanging truth through many dangerous battles.


    <i>I¡¯ll definitely get at least one special title.</i>


    If lucky, he could even earn two or three, but that wasn¡¯t all.


    <i>It¡¯ll at least be a raid boss monster, so...</i>


    The value of the dropped materials would also be astronomical. Raids offered far better chances than any lottery with impossible odds, as it wasn¡¯t about leaving everything to luck; it was about earning the rewards through skill.


    After two more hours of flying, Mimic, now close to the nest, suddenly let out a cry,


    ¡°<i>Screech! Screeeech!</i>¡±


    ¡°Even the cry is the same.¡± Sighing softly, Kai turned to meet Mimic¡¯s gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°<i>Screeech!</i>¡± Mimic screeched, staring at something.


    <i>Mimic wouldn¡¯t act like this for no reason. Let¡¯s see...</i>


    Kai looked to where Mimic was looking, and his eyes lit up.


    <i>A person!</i>


    There was a man who looked bulky from wearing severalyers of thick fur clothing, much like an Eskimo. Unfortunately, however, he was surrounded by three yetis and was fiercely fighting them off.


    <i>Is that Luna¡¯s brother?</i>


    Kai quickly urged Mimic to approach the scene.


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff!</i>¡±


    The yetis surrounding the man attacked in a careful, orderly fashion, slowly chipping away at his health.


    <i>They¡¯re really trying to wear him down to death.</i>


    The yetis¡¯ actions showed their determination not to lose the food they had found after so long.


    ¡°Mimic, stay up here.¡±


    Though Mimic had transformed into a wyvern, its level was still too low to have learned any skills. If it descended, it could be unsummoned after just a few attacks from the yetis.


    Knowing this well, Kai pushed off Mimic¡¯s back and jumped to the ground.


    ¡°<i>Krrk?</i>¡±


    The yetis lifted their heads at the strange sounding from the air.


    At the same moment, three powerful beams of light struck their chests in rapid session!


    ¡°<i>Holy Explosion!</i>¡±


    The yetis tumbled through the snow, rolling over several times before getting up and shaking their heads. With furious res, they advanced toward Kai, who had justnded in the snow.


    <i>Aggro secured.</i>


    Ignoring the yetis, Kai walked toward the man.


    Startled by the sudden appearance of another person, the man asked in a bewildered voice, ¡°Wh-who are you...?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just an adventurer passing by. Are you from Cordo vige, by any chance?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°I see. Is your name Sora?¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh</i>?¡± The young man¡¯s eyes widened and he nodded. ¡°How do you know...?¡±


    ¡°Your sister sent me. She asked me to bring her younger brother back.¡±


    ¡°My sister...?¡± Sora, Luna¡¯s brother, bit his lower lip and shook his head. ¡°If my sister sent you, then you must already know everything.¡±


    ¡°You mean the curse of Sineras?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I won¡¯t return until I break that curse.¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>.¡±


    His concern for his sister was admirable. It almost made Kai want to pat him on the head and praise him.


    <i>However...</i>


    There were many things in the world that couldn¡¯t be achieved with just good intentions. The idea that Sora, struggling with three yetis, could face a Death Dragon was absurd.


    ¡°I have an older sister too. We bicker and argue all the time, but she¡¯s a really great sister. Maybe because we have a big age gap, she¡¯s always looked out for me in ways I didn¡¯t even realize when I was young. So, I rely on her a lot. If she were struck by a terrible illness... I might lose my senses, just like you.¡±


    Sora blinked, confused by Kai¡¯s sudden story.


    ¡°But you have to be able to distinguish between what you can and can¡¯t do. Killing a Death Dragon with your strength is impossible. If our intentions alone could save the people we care about, no one would ever lose their life.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t just sit still and...!¡±


    ¡°Did I tell you to sit still?¡±


    Kai, who had been watching the yetis, suddenly turned around and shrugged nonchntly.


    At that moment, Sora shouted with a panicked expression, ¡°H-hey, behind you! The yetis are attacking from behind...!¡±


    ¡°Being by the side of those you love... that¡¯ll be more than enough for them. So...¡± With a grin, Kai tossed his chain aside and drew his sword. ¡°Just like a chef should handle cooking, leave the monsters to adventurers.¡±


    <i>sh!</i>


    Without even looking back, Kai swung his sword and severed one of the yeti¡¯s arms off.


    ¡°<i>Griiii!</i>¡±


    ¡°Grill? What would you grill here? You can¡¯t even light a fire in this ce.¡±


    Kai cracked a joke so bad even a passing stranger wouldn¡¯tugh, then swiftly turned his body and lunged forward. At the same time, he swung his sword once again! His de sliced across the chest of the yeti, which had lost an arm and was now raging wildly.


    <i>Hmm... but it was shallow.</i>


    Kai furrowed his brows. Had he miscalcted the distance? No, that couldn¡¯t be. Kai had spent months swinging his sword¡ªhe was well past making such rookie mistakes.


    <i>If it¡¯s not that, then there must be an external factor... Ah, maybe it¡¯s the snow.</i>


    Kai nced down at his legs. The snow beneath him, which made every step slippery, was one of the external factors heavily affecting the fight.


    <i>Well, it¡¯s fine now that I¡¯ve realized it.</i>


    Quickly recognizing his shorings and correcting them was one of the basic skills of a top-ranking yer. Of course, there were plenty of stubbornly talented rankers who pushed forward without adjusting. But Kai never clung to bad habits when it came to things like this. He was open minded¡ªEastern in appearance, but Western in mentality!


    <i>If I shorten my stride a bit, that should do it.</i>


    With his body now wrapped in buffs, his movements changedpletely. Earlier, he had been sprinting with the long strides of an adult trying to leap far, but now, he moved cautiously like a child taking careful steps as they learned to walk. That simple adjustment instantly stabilized his stance.


    ¡°<i>Graaaaar!</i>¡±


    The main attack patterns of the yetis involved closebat derived from their massive build and throwing snowballs packed tightly together from the surrounding snow.


    <i>Looks like the yetis¡¯ feet don¡¯t slip on the snow.</i>


    As Kai confirmed the yetis¡¯ stable footing, a giant fist flew toward his face.


    ¡°Half a step.¡±


    Just half a step. By pulling his head back that exact distance, the yeti¡¯s punch stopped right in front of his nose. He had calcted the yeti¡¯s leg position and arm length, so he knew he wouldn¡¯t be hit.


    ¡°<i>Grr... gra?</i>¡±


    The yeti wore a bewildered expression as its punch stopped just in front of Kai¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Too bad. If you were a long-armed monkey, that would¡¯vended.¡±


    <i>sh, sh, sh!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sword carved through the yeti¡¯s arm like a spiral-cut potato, and he ducked into its chest.


    ¡°<i>Graaaaah!</i>¡±


    Feeling both pain and fear, the yeti reached down with its other hand, scooping up snow from the ground. In an instant, the snowpressed into a ball the size of a bowling ball! Then, it hurled it straight at Kai.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    <i>Is that a yeti skill? Just from the sound, I can tell it¡¯s no ordinary snowball.</i>


    In a children¡¯s snowball fight, slipping a stone inside would be a huge foul! However, the snowball flying toward him now looked as solid as a rock. It was impressive, of course, but nothing to fear.


    ¡°If it looks as solid as a rock, that just means it¡¯s no harder than a rock.¡±


    Kai lightly swung his sword upward from below and split the snowball in half, sending the pieces burying into the ground.


    ¡°<i>Gr-graaaar...</i>¡±


    He was an impossible enemy! Realizing Kai was the predator, the yetis turned and fled without looking back.


    Of course, Kai wasn¡¯t the kind of person to let captured prey escape.


    ¡°Chasing Light Arrows.¡±


    Hundreds of arrows flew across the glittering snow and swiftly dealt with the yetis. It was a clean victory!


    Kai had perfected a newbat style by wlessly integrating his acquired skills.


    <i>At this rate, I could probably handle two Goliath-like enemies at once.</i>


    Feeling a sense of pride, Kai turned toward Sora, whose expression was frozen in shock.


    ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s always better to leave it to a professional, right?¡±


    In response, Sora silently nodded rapidly.


    ***


    ¡°<i>Hm.</i>¡±


    After sending Sora back to the vige on Mimic¡¯s back, Kai resumed his trip toward the nearly-reached nest.


    ¡°That thing Sora said earlier is still bothering me.¡±


    Before leaving for the vige, Sora had left a mysterious message with Kai.


    <i>I saw hundreds of monsters, lined up like soldiers, entering the nest. Please be careful.</i>


    Based on his words, it didn¡¯t sound much different from the monster groups that attacked cities during Invasion events.


    However, it wasn¡¯t even event-season.


    <i>There¡¯s no way that could be happening. After all, they¡¯re just monsters.</i>


    Even for a dragon, how could it really control hundreds of monsters like that?


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. If there really are hundreds of monsters inside the nest, it¡¯ll be tough to handle alone.¡±


    As Kai scratched his head in frustration while approaching the nest''s entrance, he felt the air around him shift.


    ¡°<i>Wow!</i> My senses are sharp today.¡±


    Thanks to Srian Body, he had developed keen senses. This allowed him to detect the presence of Sineras breathing within its nest. However, it seemed that he was not the only one with those keen senses.


    <i>The dragon can sense my presence from inside the nest?</i>


    Kai could feel the rise of baseless hostility aimed at him from within the nest.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <i>Dragons are said to be highly territorial, so maybe it''s natural to be upset because an adventurer is lurking near itsir.</i>


    Kai nodded with a faint smile.


    <i>Well, judging by the faint sense I¡¯m getting... his level seems to be around 500. It¡¯ll be tough, but it shouldn¡¯t be impossible.</i>


    Feeling a slight release of anxiousness, Kai slowly made his way into Sineras¡¯s nest.


    <i>First, let¡¯s get the dungeon discovery buff...</i>


    Just as he was about to im it, a powerful gust of wind surged from within the nest and forcefully pushed him outside.


    ¡°<i>Argh...!</i>¡±


    He had to nt his legs firmly into the ground and crouch down just to avoid being blown away by the violent whirlwind! To make matters worse, his heightened senses from Srian Body kept sounding rms in his head.


    ¡°W-wait a second... Is this thing...?!¡±


    The faint presence of Sineras he had been sensing began growingrger andrger, which could only mean it was getting closer.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much, even for a dragon?¡±


    No matter how powerful, the idea that a single monster could leave its territory so freely seemed absurd!


    <i>Boom!</i>


    A massive White Dragon burst through the nest''s ceiling, and its bright yellow reptilian eyes red at Kai. Its gaze held deep fury, as though it were looking upon a mortal enemy.

 Chapter 195: Snowy Mountains (5)

    <h4>Chapter 195: Snowy Mountains (5)</h4>


    As chunks of the ceiling shattered and fell through the air, Kai quickly scanned the notification window.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have encountered Sineras, the Ruler of the Snowy Mountains.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been struck by Dragon''s Fear. However, your Mythic ss status grants resistance.]</strong>


    <strong>[The mark of Sineras has been engraved on you. You cannot log out until death or victory over your opponent.]</strong>


    <i>What? I can¡¯t log out until one of us is dead? No, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now.</i>


    Kai read the brief information disyed above his enemy¡¯s head.


    <strong>[Death Dragon Sineras, LV.550]</strong>


    <strong>[A hatchling not yet a thousand years old, known as the Death Dragon due to his cruel nature¡ªhe despises all living creatures except himself and kills any he sees on sight. Since his defeat by Patrick, he harbors a deep hatred for the holy power of the Srian Church.]</strong>


    <i>Level 550...!</i>


    This was by far the most powerful monster Kai had faced since starting the game.


    Despite his attempts to stay calm, the dragon¡¯s immense body, stretching close to thirty meters, prevented him from doing so.


    Sineras had pristine white scales that looked like pure snow painted on, and with each p of his massive wings, he created fierce winds. The creature¡¯s appearance was as beautiful as a master-crafted sculpture, but his enormous eyes held a murderous intent that sent chills down Kai¡¯s spine.


    <i>It might actually be better for me that he came out of his nest.</i>


    Being able to skip past the minion monsters and head straight into the boss fight wasn¡¯t exactly a bad thing. Of course, there was some frustration at not having had time to mentally prepare.


    ¡ªI never thought I¡¯d smell that sickening stench within my own domain... Even tearing you to shreds wouldn¡¯t be enough. Pay with your life!


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Sinerasnded heavily in his wrecked nest, and let out a roar.


    <i>Well, well, even a monster has anguage patch installed?</i>


    Kai wore a surprised expression as he was pushed back by the fierce wind. But only for a moment, as the creature¡¯srge eyes met Kai¡¯s gaze. In that instant, dozens of magic circles appeared around the creature, popping into existence like bubbles bursting in reverse. There were thirty of them!


    "There''s no way all of those are..."


    It was an unbelievable level of multicasting!


    Kai lost his fighting spirit in an instant, and his face twisted in shock as he hurriedly stepped backward.


    <i>Not just one or two, but thirty at once?</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, even sessfully double-casting would earn someone a reputation for talent. And if one were a triple caster, able to process three spells simultaneously, they¡¯d naturally be a top-ranking yer, with world-ss guilds scrambling to recruit them with enticing offers.


    <i>...Thirty.</i>


    If it had been a single type of spell, he could have understood, as he could even create a barrage of Chasing Light Arrows. However, the magic circles surrounding Sineras each unleashed spells of different elements and forms.


    <i>Boom! Crackle!</i>


    The deadly spells repeatedly melted, froze, and scorched the snow on the mountain!


    With these spells aimed at him, Kai¡¯s best option was to keep running and avoid them.


    <i>Huff... huff... I can''t even get close!</i>


    Kai wanted nothing more than to bury his de in the dragon''s face, but the pouring spells, reminding him of a Gatling gun, left him no time to even breathe.


    "<i>Argh...!</i>"


    As Kai was frantically running, he collided with a wall that suddenly rose from the ground and was sent flying backward. At the same time, walls of ice sprang up on either side and behind him!


    <i>Damn it, I let my guard down because he''s a hatchling... Who knew the dragon would be this strong!</i>


    It made him wonder what unbelievable power an adult dragon or an ancient dragon would possess!


    Breaking into a cold sweat, Kai managed to slip out, sliding across the ground just before the icy prison closed in around him.


    ¡ªThat won¡¯t work!


    <i>Thud!</i>


    When Sineras mmed his massive front foot onto the ground, the earth shook, and the previously silent mountain seemed to scream.


    "<i>Ugh</i>..."


    Kai wore a grimace as he looked up at the top of Snowy Mountains.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    The ground beneath his feet began to shake. It was clear what that meant.


    <i>An earthquake of this scale on a mountain covered with snow?</i>


    That indicated an avnche. And as if to confirm his assumptions, the snow, which had built up and solidified over countless years, began to break apart and scatter falling down.


    "No, no way! This kind of attack is basically cheating!"


    It was a battle at a level he had never experienced before. He hadn¡¯t even managed to have a proper fight with Sineras. It was already hard enough to dodge the barrage of magical skills, and now he had to deal with a natural disaster too!


    "Damn it, Holy Chains!"


    In an instant, Kai summoned the Holy Chains and threw them, wrapping them around Sineras¡¯ ankle.


    <i>If I get caught in that, it¡¯s over!</i>


    Facing the oing white wall, crashing down like a furious wave, Kai used every defensive skill he could.


    ¡ª<i>Hmph</i>. Pathetic.


    However, dragons thought on an entirely different levelpared to ordinary monsters. Understanding Kai¡¯s intent in an instant, Sineras cast Wind Cutter and severed the Holy Chains.


    "Darn!"


    A wave of snow rushed down. No matter how powerful a human was, resisting nature¡¯s force was impossible. Kai¡¯s body was buried and swept backward in the avnche.


    Watching him with still furious eyes, Sineras let out a thunderous roar.


    ¡ªBe buried in an icy prison and suffer a painful death. Ice Field!


    <i>Crack!</i>


    The snow engulfing Kai instantly solidified into ice, and transformed into shackles that locked him in ce.


    ¡°<i>Kugh...!</i>¡±


    The ice that had hardened around his chest showed no sign of breaking, no matter how much he pounded on it with his fists. His arms barely had any strength, as everything below his chest waspletely frozen.


    <i>This is bad.</i>


    Notification messages kept popping up in front of Kai¡¯s eyes, who put on a long face.


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Frozen status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Frostbite status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have been afflicted by the Hypothermia status effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 1,305 damage from Frostbite.]</strong>


    <strong>[You¡¯ve received 1,281 damage from Frostbite.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    <strong>.</strong>


    Endless messages flooded in!


    Kai¡¯s eyes darted rapidly, dismissing them as he muttered, ¡°I can¡¯t die like this. Srian Self.¡±


    <strong>[You have used the Srian Self skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[5 Benevolence stats have been permanently consumed.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Srian Doppelganger¡¯s level and stats are set at 70% of the caster''s.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level 216, Kai (Doppelganger) has been summoned.]</strong>


    A figure made of light appeared instantly before his eyes just likest time.


    Of course, the doppelganger wasn¡¯t affected by the Ice Field¡¯s restraints! Although Kai hadn¡¯t given it any specificmand, it quickly assessed the situation and helped him out.


    ¡°<i>Phew,</i> almost froze to death. Thanks.¡±


    Brushing off the ice crystals clinging to his body, Kai gave the doppelganger a nod and looked up. Having been swept up in the avnche even just for a moment, he now saw Sineras¡¯ nest at a considerable distance away.


    <i>I couldn¡¯t even get close.</i>


    The thirty spells continued to rain down. In reality, the damage from the magic itself wasn¡¯t all that much.


    <i>My magic resistance is pretty high. Honestly, it is annoying, but I can endure the damage while healing myself.</i>


    However, the real problem was that the tempo of the attacks was so fast that he had no opportunity to get close.


    <i>As expected, a dragon would be at least a raid level monster. In that case...</i>


    He would need to approach this battle just like a raid.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kai began sayingmands.


    ¡°Knight of Nightmare, use Knighthood skill.¡±


    ¡°Activate Descent skill, Apostle Cerantia¡¯s soul.¡±


    ¡°Activate Army of Light!¡±


    He had used up a whopping 25 Benevolence stats in this battle alone. On any other asion, he would have felt a pang of regret at that number, but not this time.


    <i>Now we¡¯re talking.</i>


    Fifty duhans and as many as thirty warriors of light! They didn¡¯t quite add up to a hundred, but Kai felt more supported than ever.


    ¡°With these guys, it¡¯s possible.¡±


    ording to the description, Sineras had a deep hatred for the holy power of the Srian Church.


    <i>Maybe the reason he''s out here rather than staying in his dungeon is...</i>


    Because Kai wielded the same aura as Patrick, the apostle of the Srian Church who once defeated it.


    ¡°What a sensitive creature. A dragon with the ability to sense holy power, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    Kai couldn¡¯t help but smile. If that were true, it was actually to his advantage.


    ***


    ¡ª<i>Hm?</i>


    As Sineras was resting inside his nest afterpleting his satisfying revenge, his massive eyelids lifted. Then, his eyes zed with fury, and he exuded a rage so intense it seemed to shake the air around him.


    ¡ªDid he escape from the ice prison? He still hasn¡¯t learned his lesson...


    Snorting, he spread his wings again and prepared to fight.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll tear apart those clerics of the Srian Church! I¡¯ll make sure that anyone who dares to wield that disgusting aura will never approach my domain again.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Just as Sineras took off from his nest, he was struck by an unexpected ambush.


    ¡ª<i>Argh</i>, who was that?!


    The skies over the Snowy Mountains were his domain to control! Yet, there were those flying through his realm, waiting for him.


    ¡ªThis disgusting smell is...


    Sniffing, Sineras wrinkled his nose as he sensed dozens of holy powers emanating from the sky and shouted,


    ¡ªYou, too, are connected to the Srian Church!


    With a surge of rage, magic circles once again filled the space around it. As if a god delivered divine judgment, all sorts of spells burst out from the magic circles!


    However, the warriors of light were experienced. Having spent long years alongside Cherantia, the battle-hardened angels all deflected or dodged each iing spell, and continuously harassed Sineras. Unlike Kai, who had to face all thirty spells on his own, each angel only needed to deal with a single spell, allowing them to move rather freely.


    ¡ª<i>Graaaah!</i> You little pests...!


    The dragon¡¯s skin was tough. The scales covering his entire body were so resilient that sword strikes barely left a scratch! Although the umting scratches weren¡¯t particrly painful, they still fiercely grated Sineras¡¯s pride.


    ¡ªThe dragon race, rulers of all creation... how dare you make mee deal with something like you!


    In the next moment, Sineras ignored the warriors of light soaring in the sky and descended directly to the snowy ground.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Several duhans that were waiting for its descent were crushed beneath his massive body and feet, dying instantly.


    ¡ª<i>Hmm?</i>


    <i>Bang! Boom!</i>


    ¡ª<i>Graaah!</i>


    Duhans exploded upon death!


    Sineras cried out in pain as arge wound opened on his unscaled foot.


    ¡ªYou dare make me feel such pain...


    His bright yellow eyes scanned his surroundings and then snapped to one direction.


    ¡ªThere you are!


    The ce emanated an overwhelming stench! It was unmistakably the arrogant adventurer cleric it had been searching for.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s certainly the gear he wore.


    The moment Sineras reached this conclusion, his chest swelled greatly. At the same time, his previously white throat began to flush red.


    ¡ª<i>Krrrr</i>...


    If anyone who studied dragons in the continent¡¯s libraries witnessed this sight, they would have been horrified. Sineras¡¯s current actions were the preparatory steps for a dragon¡¯s ultimate weapon, one they possessed from birth. He was preparing to unleash Breath.


    ¡ª<i>Kuooo!</i>


    His chest fully expanded, ready to release Breath. Sineras unleashed it toward the adventurer cleric without a second thought.


    <i>Fwoooosh!</i>


    The intense mes of Breath obliterated the cold mountain air!


    Struck directly by the st, the duhan group and the adventurer cleric¡¯s figure vanished without a trace. Likewise, a few peaks, once fitting for the name Snowy Mountains, had their snowpletely melted and vaporized from the intense rise in temperature.


    ¡ª<i>Hah</i>, how ridiculous...


    Sineras licked his lips and let out a sound of satisfaction, almost like someone who had just burped. However, that satisfaction didn¡¯tst long as his sharp senses quickly detected something speeding toward him from above.


    ¡ª<i>Hmm?</i>


    The moment he lifted its head, Kai¡¯s sword drove straight into his left eye.


    ¡ª<i>Graaahhhhh!</i>


    ¡°<i>Wow</i>. I thought you were a White Dragon, but it turns out you¡¯re a Red Dragon?¡±


    In <i>MID Online</i>, the Breath skill dragons used was strictly influenced by elemental attributes, making it impossible to alter at will.


    <i>In other words, this guy is definitely a Red Dragon.</i>


    Who would have guessed that Sineras, the Death Dragon ruling over the Snowy Mountains, was actually an albino Red Dragon!


    Kai looked at Sineras¡¯ other eye, which was ring in disbelief, and smirked.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, you¡¯re still not getting it, <i>huh?</i> The one who melted from your breath earlier was my doppelganger. The matching outfit probably threw you off a bit, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    Sora would have already reached the vige by this time, so Kai had unsummoned and resummoned Mimic, hiding himself high up in the sky.


    <i>It¡¯s a good thing the warriors of light carry holy power. When hiding a tree, you should hide it in a forest.</i>


    Thus, Kai had intentionally ced the warriors of light in the sky and his doppelganger among the undead. From Sineras¡¯ perspective, it would have been easier to identify the shining holy power of the doppelganger among the undead than to locate Kai himself among the numerous divine presences in the sky.


    ¡°How unfortunate for you. But remember this. The moment you seize an easy and convenient choice right in front of you...¡±


    It could lead to an irreversible, fatal mistake.


    ¡°Flood of des.¡±


    <i>Whirr!</i>


    The longsword lodged in Sineras¡¯ eye began to spin violently.


    Even the immense mentality Sineras had built up over hundreds of years as a dragon couldn¡¯t withstand this new and excruciating pain.


    ¡ª<i>Krrr... Krrrrrrk!</i>


    Sineras¡¯ entire body convulsed and trembled!


    It was said that fortune favored the fortunate, no matter the situation.


    <strong>[Sineras has been inflicted with Silence for 5 minutes due to the effect of the longsword.]</strong>


    <i>Finally!</i>


    Kai clenched his fist in triumph as he read the notification that popped up before him.


    When inflicted with the status effect Silence, one couldn¡¯t use any skills. It was truly a nightmare status effect for a dragon capable of wielding all kinds of magic!


    ¡°Which means...¡±


    Kai would have the chance to thoroughly pummel this little lizard beneath him for the next five minutes.

 Chapter 196: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (1)

    <h4>Chapter 196: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (1)</h4>


    Anyone who had the experience of visiting a buffet with a time limit would understand.


    <i>Fill up with one more te of only the best food!</i>


    That was exactly how Kai felt now. He had a limited time of five minutes. During that time, he had to deal maximum damage to Sineras.


    <i>First, Sineras¡¯s weak points are the ces not covered by scales.</i>


    Sinera''s weak spots that could be attacked directly included the bottoms of his paws and his eyes. Moreover, Sineras couldn¡¯t even use any skills at the moment.


    Knowing this better than anyone, Kai roughly yanked the sword lodged in Sineras¡¯s eye.


    <i>Splurt!</i>


    Blood sprayed out like a fountain! No matter how virtual the game was, having dark red blood cover him was a disturbing experience.


    But ignoring it, Kai shoved his left hand into the split in Sineras¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Upgrade.¡±


    Upgrade was a skill that could enhance other skills!


    Using a Unique grade skill that others couldn¡¯t even imagine, Kai said, without hesitation, ¡°Blue gue!¡±


    The moment Kai activated the skill, an explosive sound burst from Sineras¡¯s eye as if setting off fireworks. The enhanced Blue gue skill had erupted fiercely from within its eye.


    The gue¡¯s energy was already maxed out at 100 since Kai killed enough monsters during the Invasion Event.


    Sineras¡¯s mouth gaped open, but no scream, word, or even a single syble escaped. It felt an overwhelming pain that felt like every cell in its body was dying!


    It was painful enough to have pepper or salt sprinkled into an eye, and it was no different when applied to a wound.


    <i>And if you add the Blue gue into an injured eye...</i>


    The Blue gue was a deadly toxin that made pepper or salt seem like child¡¯s y.


    ¡°They say the optic nerve in a human eye connects to the brain and the entire body... I wonder how it works for a dragon?¡±


    The Blue gue exploding from Sineras¡¯s eye soon shot down its optic nerve and blood vessels.


    ¡ª<i>Kraaahhhhh!</i>


    An overwhelming scream erupted several secondster!


    Sineras shook his massive body in agony.


    ¡°Oops.¡± Kai quickly stepped back,nding on the ground as he observed Sineras.


    ¡ªIt hurts! It hurts! I¡¯m in pain! <i>Aaagh</i>... It hurts so much! <i>Kraaaah!!</i>


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With tears of blood streaming down, Sineras copsed to the ground. His body fell on the peaks, which were melted clean by his own Breath skill, and rolled on the ground in pain.


    ¡°I bet it hurts. Even just imagining it is painful, so actually going through it must be agony.¡± Kai shivered, despite having inflicted the pain himself. ¡°Wow, its HP is draining very well.¡±


    Sineras''s health began to decrease at a very rapid pace. Thebined damage from the Army of Light and the duhans'' explosions had only brought it down by about 2%, but Kai¡¯s attack alone had already dealt over 15% damage.


    <i>On top of that, the status effects have reallynded perfectly.</i>


    The Bleeding and Poison status effects,bined and produced a synergy effect!


    ¡°At this rate, it¡¯ll just die if I leave it alone for five minutes.¡±


    Sineras wasn¡¯t able to use any skills until the five minutes were up anyway, which meant it couldn¡¯t use any magic to cleanse the Blue gue.


    ¡°For a hatchling, his name value was pretty low as a dragon.¡±


    Confident of his victory, Kai watched Sineras¡¯s final moments with a rxed heart.


    <i>¡ªKraaah!</i>


    <i>Fwoosh, fwoooosh!</i>


    As if in ast desperate struggle, Sineras¡¯s chest puffed up, and let out his Breath attack.


    <i>Pointless. I don¡¯t have the slightest intention of taking that hit.</i>


    Of course, this was limited to Kai¡¯s perspective. With each desperate Breath attack from Sineras, two or three of the warriors of light were inevitably hit and vanished.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see its health draining steadily. Now, shall we get started?¡±


    The main character always showed up at the end! Waiting until Sineras¡¯s health dropped to half, Kai decided not to just watch any longer.


    <i>Even if he''s a hatchling, he''s still a dragon. I¡¯ll end it here to eliminate any further risks.</i>


    <i>Fwoooosh!</i>


    ¡°<i>Oof</i>.¡±


    Kai quickly ducked to dodge the iing Breath attack aimed at him. Unfortunately, a few of the warriors of light behind Kai melted away on the spot.


    ¡°A surprise attack, <i>huh?</i> Nice try, but it¡¯s useless if it doesn¡¯t hit.¡±


    Giving a short evaluation of Sineras¡¯s attempt, Kai heavily swung his sword. The first target Kai aimed for was none other than Sineras¡¯s wings. His concern was that Sineras would fly away if he adapted to the pain.


    <i>sh!</i>


    A pair of wings was easily cut off as if they were made of paper.


    Kai was one to give his all, even against prey he already had cornered.


    In an instant, Sineras, who had lost the will to fight, turned to a ragged state under Kai¡¯s relentless attack.


    ¡°Anyst words?¡±


    Sineras blinked weakly with one eye.


    Watching him silently, Kai¡¯s gaze was as cold as ever. ¡°So, you¡¯re determined to keep your pride until the end, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    In that case, Kai could only honor that resolve.


    ***


    The Death Dragon Sineras reigned as the legendary dragon that instilled terror in the inhabitants of this world for hundreds of years.


    <i>sh! Thud!</i>


    The thick neck of Sineras, burdened with the grudges of countless people, fell to the ground in vain.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>...¡±


    Kai won by sheer luck. If the creature had been an adult dragon rather than a hatchling, he would have already died a hundred times over. Moreover, channeling the Blue gue through Sineras¡¯s entire body was the key to his victory.


    As Kai had a tired expression, countless notification windows appeared before him.


    <strong>[You defeated the Nightmare of Snowy Mountains, Death Dragon Sineras.]</strong>


    <strong>[You sessfullypleted the quest: The Siblings of the Snowy Mountains.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Hatchling yer.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: First Dragonyer.] </strong>


    <strong>[Level increased!]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased!]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased!]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased!]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    He leveled up¡ªa lot.


    Kai stared at the notification windows with an exhausted look, then copsed to the ground.


    ¡°<i>Whew</i>. If hitting it from behind with my doppelganger had failed...¡±


    If Sineras had been a bit more cautious, it might have been Kai lying dead instead.


    Closing his eyes, he quickly reviewed the battle.


    <i>I¡¯m still far from being strong.</i>


    It had been a clumsy battle, one that clearly revealed his shorings.


    <i>I¡¯ve been reliant on Holy Chains againstrge monsters...</i>


    A monster with intelligence like Sineras would naturally try to remove Holy Chains.


    Realizing the bitter truth that hisbat approach was not perfect, Kai stood up.


    ¡°Well... as unsettling as it is, I might as well enjoy the victory for now.¡±


    There was still a long list of system logs he hadn¡¯t yet read.


    <strong>[By defeating Death Dragon Sineras, you have gained ownership of the dungeon - Nest of the Death Dragon.]</strong>


    <strong>[Sineras was an outcast, even among dragons. However, other dragons feel extreme resentment toward you for hunting a member of their kind.]</strong>


    <strong>[Affinity with the dragon n has significantly decreased.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Curse of the Death Dragon has been lifted.]</strong>


    <strong>[The 129 humans who bore the mark of the curse have begun to praise you.]</strong>


    <strong>[Sometimes, good deeds are done openly, but other times they are done in secret without the recipient¡¯s knowledge. Helik sheds tears as she sees the people of this world you¡¯ve saved.]</strong>


    <strong>[+50 Benevolence stats.]</strong>


    <strong>[With the effect of Witness of the Sun, you have gained an additional +5 Benevolence.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>...¡±


    Kai felt a wave of exhaustion, but he immediately checked the effects of the special titles.


    <strong>[<u>Hatchling yer</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to those who have in a hatchling.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +30% additional damage when attacking dragons. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    <strong>[<u>First Dragonyer</u>]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title given to the first person to y a member of the dragon n.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +30 to all stats, user always emits Dragon Fear. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. Not bad.¡±


    If he had taken down an adult dragon, he would have received the Dragon yer title rather than Hatchling yer.


    <i>Then the effects of the special title would have probably been even better.</i>


    Though Kai felt a bit of regret, it was only that¡ªa small regret.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±


    Moreover, the First Dragonyer title looked good even at a nce.


    <i>+30 to all stats, and Dragon Fear, huh.</i>


    Dragon Fear was an ability that made opponents stiff and reduced their stats... At least, that was what he understood.


    <i>Though, thanks to my Mythic grade ss, I was immune to Dragon Fear...</i>


    This meant other adventurers would never be free from it!


    Kai quickly opened his status window to distribute his points.


    <strong>[Kai] </strong>


    <strong>ss: Sris Cleric</strong>


    <strong>Level: 343</strong>


    <strong>Title: Envoy of God</strong>


    <strong>HP: 67,400</strong>


    <strong>Holy Power: 137,400</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 1396 Stamina: 674</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 551 Agility: 554</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 1374 Dignity: 501</strong>


    <strong>Benevolence: 338</strong>


    <strong>Remaining Stat Points: 115</strong>


    <strong>Poison Resistance +30</strong>


    <strong>Magic Resistance +40%</strong>


    <strong>Nature Affinity +200</strong>


    <strong>Damage dealt to demons/undead +50%</strong>


    ¡°... <i>Wow</i>.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t known how many times he had leveled up from defeating Sineras, but seeing the status window made it clear.


    <i>Up by twenty-three levels?</i>


    He felt a bit of disbelief at first. Sineras had been rtively easy to defeat for his level. In terms of difficulty, his fight with Aosa had far moreplex patterns and required much more attention.


    <i>Though, most of that was because Sineras was so steeped in dragon superiority that he severely underestimated me.</i>


    And when he thought about it carefully a level 320 yer had taken down a level 550 raid monster alone, yet he¡¯d only gained twenty-three levels.


    ¡°Looks like leveling up is really getting tough now.¡±


    It was clear that the leveling speed of the celestial rankers chasing after him had significantly slowed down recently. But of course, the gap had widened considerably with his own massive level gain this time.


    <i>I have a feeling I could probably take a break from hunting for a good two months and still keep my top rank.</i>


    Kai invested all the stat points he had gained from leveling up into Stamina.


    "The monsters I''m up against now are much higher level, and their attack power has be too strong, so boosting my Stamina isn¡¯t a bad idea."


    After distributing his stat points, Kai led the few remaining warriors of light over to Sineras¡¯s corpse.


    ¡°Even if it was just a hatchling, he was still a dragon, so he shouldn¡¯t be broke, right?¡±


    High expectations often lead to disappointment, but this time, Kai couldn¡¯t help but feel hopeful.


    ¡°Loot items.¡±


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    As he said those words, a long loot list so extensive he couldn¡¯t even take it all in at a nce appeared in front of him.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 199: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (4)

    <h4>Chapter 199: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (4)</h4>


    <i>Thud.</i>


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Having finished reading Karundal¡¯s journal, Kai nodded.


    As he did so, Shimizu, who had been reading over his shoulder, also nodded.


    ¡ªSo, the dwarves of Ingart were initially brought to the dragon¡¯s nest.


    ¡°That¡¯s what it seems. And the dwarf king, Karundal...¡±


    <i>Tap, tap.</i>


    Kai tapped on the entrance to the hidden room as he continued, ¡°Managed to secretly create a room like this when modifying Sineras¡¯sir.¡±


    To avoid a dragon¡¯s detection, not even a hint of mana could be used.


    <i>If it had been powered by mana, a skilled Wizard like a dragon would have sensed it immediately.</i>


    In desperation, Karundal had left his journal here, clinging to a sliver of hope that one day, a powerful adventurer who defeated Sineras would find it.


    ¡ªBut, in a way, perhaps it¡¯s a relief. It seems not all dwarves were captured.


    ¡°Yes... ording to the journal, they managed to help arge number of dwarves escape.¡±


    Still, over three-hundred dwarves were captured and became Sineras¡¯s ves.


    <i>That army of monsters Sora saw near the nest... That mystery has been solved now too.</i>


    They were guards, meant to keep the dwarves from escaping.


    A sigh of regret escaped him. ¡°It¡¯s really a shame. If I hade just a little sooner, I could have saved the dwarves, too...¡±


    By now, both the dwarves and the monsters watching them had gone somewhere else. ording to the journal, their destination was one of the bases of the Church of Muldine.


    <i>And the journal wasst written in only a week ago. They can¡¯t have gone too far yet...</i>


    Just a week. If he had defeated Sineras then, things could have turned out very differently.


    <i>Well, I would have had to face hundreds of monsters then, so I could have ended up losing.</i>


    After all, the main scenario destined the merfolk, elves, and dwarves to face ruin. Trying to change that fate inevitably brought challenges like this.


    ¡°Besides, at this point, no force could have handled level 550 Sineras...¡±


    Letting out a frustrated sigh, Kai suddenly stood up.


    ¡ªAre you heading out right away?


    ¡°I should. The journal includes the location of where the dwarves that escaped are at. It would be best to go there and gather any surviving dwarves first.¡±


    Dusting off his clothes, Kai immediately left Sineras¡¯sir.


    <i>As Patrick had mentioned during the Trial of Hanox, the dwarves move their kingdom of Ingart roughly every few hundred years.</i>


    Because of this, whenever an abandoned dwarven kingdom was discovered, other nations became greedy. The dwarven architecture, still beyond the reach of human technology, held immense historical and technical value.


    <i>And the Ingart that was invaded this time...</i>


    <i>Thud, thud.</i>


    Kai stomped his foot firmly on the mountain ground.


    ¡°Was in this ce, the Snowy Mountains.¡±


    Ingart, newly built just two-hundred years ago, had been located right here in the Snowy Mountains.


    <i>I don¡¯t know how Sineras found that out, but it¡¯s likely the Church of Muldine had a hand in it.</i>


    They would have extended their dark influence toward the dwarves as well, just as they had done with the merfolk and elves.


    <i>The key figures of the dwarven kingdom have all been kidnapped.</i>


    They would most likely be forced into very, building structures for the Church of Muldine.


    <i>Tracking them down alone would be impossible, but...</i>


    Kai spread out the map tucked between the pages of Karundal¡¯s journal and looked down at the Snowy Mountains with a shine in his eyes.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°In a crisis threatening the survival of the race... all scattered dwarves are meant to gather here.¡±


    The scattered dwarves wouldn¡¯t be able to travel far, especially in harsh conditions. As the saying went, some things were found just under their nose. As such, the dwarves¡¯ shelter was also located in Snowy Mountains.


    ***


    <strong>[You have gained 10,752 XP from Blizzard¡¯s hunting.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have gained 11,039 XP from Blizzard¡¯s hunting.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. Blizzard¡¯s doing much better than I expected.¡±


    Of course, even with his boosted XP from defeating Sineras, it wasn¡¯t enough to fill his XP bar quickly.


    <i>Good boy. I¡¯ll have to treat him to something tastyter.</i>


    With a proud grin, Kai patted the head of Mimic, who was in wyvern form.


    ¡°Let¡¯s descend further from here.¡±


    ¡°<i>Screech! Screech!</i>¡±


    Kai and Mimic dove between massive ice walls as if being sucked in. It was a giant crevasse, formed by the splitting ciers.


    ¡°<i>Brrr</i>, it¡¯s freezing.¡±


    Despite wearing winter gear, the chills running through his body proved that this was no ce for an ordinary human to be.


    <i>There¡¯s a dwarf shelter in a ce like this?</i>


    Kai tilted his head, but no matter how many times he checked the map, this was the right ce.


    ¡°Good work, Mimic. Take some rest.¡±


    ¡°<i>Screech!</i>¡±


    After petting Mimic¡¯s head and unsummoning it, Kai began slowly walking slowly across the icy ground.


    He walked on for a bit, relying on the single, glowing Sacred re above him. But just as he was about to turn the corner, a familiar sound caught his ear.


    <i>Drip!</i>


    It was the sound of water dripping,mon in humid caves or dungeons. However, Kai¡¯s face hardened, and he immediately drew his sword.


    <i>Water shouldn¡¯t be dripping under normal circumstances at this temperature.</i>


    Standing behind the massive ice wall at the corner, Kai gulped.


    <i>Someone is on the other side of this corner.</i>


    No ordinary person would be here.


    <i>This is the dwarves¡¯ shelter. If the person on the other side is a dwarf, it would be a relief, but...</i>


    If it wasn¡¯t...


    <i>It¡¯s an intruder.</i>


    Kai¡¯s gaze turned as cold as the icy walls surrounding him.


    The next moment, as Kai rounded the corner in one swift movement, a greatsword came crashing down toward his head.


    <i>Water?</i>


    There was definitely water on the de. Without even having time to wonder how it wasn¡¯t frozen in this temperature, his body instinctively reacted.


    ¡°<i>Heup!</i>¡±


    In an instant, Kai angled his longsword, diverting the greatsword¡¯s trajectory elsewhere, then spun around like the wind and delivered a powerful sh across the opponent¡¯s chest with his longsword.


    ¡°<i>Ahhh!</i>¡±


    With a single blow, his opponent¡¯s HP dropped drastically, and she slid across the smooth ice as she fell. Then, Kai quickly bound the opponent, who was twisting and groaning in pain with Holy Chains, and examined her gear.


    <i>There are items I¡¯ve never seen in the auction house.</i>


    Yet, they carried the distinct aura of well-designed, high-quality items.


    <i>Which means this isn¡¯t a priest from the Church of Muldine who stole dwarven weapons... right?</i>


    Kai looked above his opponent¡¯s head and blinked. If this were an NPC or monster, a red name would have appeared the moment they turned hostile. However, there was nothing above her head.


    In Kai¡¯s experience and within the <i>MID Online</i> system, there was only one possible exnation for this!


    ¡°Are you... a yer?¡±


    At his question, the opponent looked equally surprised, slightly raising herself to sit on the ice and replied, ¡°...What are you?¡±


    ¡°I asked first. <i>Oh,</i> and take off your helmet first if you don¡¯t want to get logged out.¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>. Fine, helmet off.¡±


    Unable to use her hands, his opponent activated amand, and the helmet instantly disappeared. Revealed beneath the thick helmet was the face of a woman with strong features. Unsuited of this icy ce, her short, dark-red hair was cut almost like a man¡¯s, and herrge eyes were framed by deep double eyelids, giving her a look of intense stubbornness.


    <i>A woman?</i>


    But that didn¡¯t matter. Kai (twenty-two years old and single from birth) kept his longsword pointed at her and asked again, ¡°I asked if you¡¯re a yer.¡±


    ¡°<i>Tsk</i>, fine! I¡¯ll tell you, just put that damn sword away... <i>Huh?</i>¡±


    Noticing the Silent Longsword of Frost emitting a frosty aura as it hovered near her neck, her annoyance faded, and she just blinked as she looked at the sword.


    ¡°<i>Huh? </i>Wait, hold on. The chilling off this de... It¡¯s an ice-attribute sword! And it even has a silence option?!¡±


    Her eyes sparkled as she stared intently at Kai¡¯s longsword, seemingly forgetting she was a captive.


    ¡°<i>Wooow</i>... It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with you all of a sudden?¡±


    Kai furrowed his brows and tried to withdraw his sword, but she quickly shouted, ¡°W-wait! I just want to look at it for a moment! I¡¯ll repay youter, so...¡±


    ¡°Forget that, just answer my questions first.¡±


    Crossing her legs, the woman slightly pouted and asked, ¡°Geez, so strict. Alright. What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    ¡°First, your name.¡±


    ¡°Cami.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then what¡¯s your reason for being here?¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmph</i>, didn¡¯t you learn in elementary etiquette ss that when someone tells you their name, you¡¯re supposed to tell yours as well... <i>Huh...?</i>¡±


    Cami, who had been staring at Kai¡¯s longsword without taking her eyes off it, clicked her tongue disdainfully and nced at his face.


    Then, as if she¡¯d seen something shocking, her eyes widened, and she stammered, ¡°W-wait. Are you... could you be... Unknown?¡±


    Kai shrugged and gave her a look as if asking if she was just realizing that now.


    Then, Cami¡¯s face lit up as if she had met a friend of ten years, and shouted, ¡°<i>Woow!</i> You¡¯re really Unknown! Kai! I¡¯ve been dying to meet you!¡±


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re pretending to be a fan, I won¡¯t let you off just because of that.¡±


    Thinking it was a cheap act, Kai replied coldly, but Cami onlyughed mockingly at him.


    ¡°<i>Hah! </i>Fan, my butt. Did you get the celebrity disease or something? It¡¯s not even funny.¡±


    Embarrassed by her blunt remark, Kai shook the chains he was holding. ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject. I asked why you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>.¡± With a sly smile, Cami gestured with her chin and said, ¡°Judging by the quality of the sword you¡¯re using... I guess you¡¯re done with the Ironwill Longsword?¡±


    ¡°...How do you know about that?¡± Kai furrowed his brows as he responded.


    The Ironwill Longsword was a weapon given to him by Solid, the cksmith of Glendale. Of course, Solid had mentioned that he wasn¡¯t the one who made it, but rather another adventurer¡ªa yer. In other words, only three people in the world knew about that sword.


    <i>Solid, myself, and... the adventurer cksmith who supposedly has a hidden ss.</i>


    Yet just moments ago, Cami had mentioned the Ironwill Longsword.


    ¡°That means...?¡±


    As Kai looked at her with a doubtful expression, she burst intoughter and readily admitted it.


    ¡°Are things starting to piece together? That¡¯s right. I¡¯m the one who made that sword. Cami.¡±

 Chapter 200: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (5)

    <h4>Chapter 200: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (5)</h4>


    Kai''s gaze shifted as he looked at Cami.


    <i>So this was the cksmith who made my sword?</i>


    If that was the case, then she would be the adventurer cksmith who surpassed even Solid, who was an intermediate cksmith.


    Kai had wanted to meet her someday, though he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this sudden.


    ¡°Alright, so even if you¡¯re the one who made the Ironwill Longsword, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°First of all, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, how about letting me go? I¡¯m not your enemy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not an ally either.¡±


    Kai firmly rejected Cami¡¯s request, who nced down at the Holy Chains with a sad expression.


    Sensing the strong stubbornness in Kai¡¯s gaze, Cami shook her head and said, ¡°You¡¯ve got a stubborn look on your face. I¡¯m on a quest rted to my ss. Surely you¡¯re not going to dig more into that, are you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°W-what? Hey, don¡¯t you know about social rules? It¡¯s not good manners to ask such things to a hidden ss yer!¡±


    ¡°Manners aside, I need to know why you¡¯re here. If you¡¯re an obstacle to my n, I¡¯ll have to take you out.¡±


    To take her out was a subtle way of saying he would just kill her. It could have sounded harsh, but there was no w in his reasoning.


    <i>I don¡¯t have the luxury to consider someone else¡¯s situation if it jeopardizes saving the dwarves.</i>


    Cami stared at Kai¡¯s stern expression with a shocked face, then sighed. ¡°<i>Wow! </i>I knew you were a bit crazy from the videos, but... I never thought it would be this bad. <i>Hmph!</i> Fine, but I¡¯m not just going to spill my information. For every answer I give, you have to give one too.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a question I can answer.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>...¡±


    Though Kai hadn¡¯t made any absolute promises, Cami had no other option.


    <i>This guy might actually kill me if he thinks I¡¯m in his way.</i>


    Through all the videos and broadcasts until now, the image of Unknown had been one of pure cold-bloodedness. Anyone who bothered him or got in his way would be thoroughly crushed by this king of destruction, even members of the top ten guilds.


    <i>I guess with a sword like that... There''s no reason he would feel obligated to be nice just because I once made that Ironwill Longsword.</i>


    In any case, the man before her was currently ranked number one in <i>MID Online.</i>


    Quickly grasping her position, Cami recognized who held the upper hand and said in a resigned tone, ¡°That cksmith in Glendale... Solid, was it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I assume you know the gist. You received the sword, so there¡¯s no way you didn¡¯t hear its story.¡±


    ¡°I heard you go around challenging cksmiths. Is it like some sort of daily challenge?¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>. Where do I even start... <i>Ugh</i>, I want to scratch my head.¡± Cami looked down at her bound hands and sighed, realizing she couldn¡¯t reach her head to scratch it. ¡°I know from watching your streams. You¡¯re a hidden ss, right? A Radiance Pdin.¡±


    ¡°So what if I am?¡±


    ¡°I am, too. I was lucky enough to ress into a production-based hidden ss, the Challenger cksmith.¡±


    ¡°Challenger cksmith?¡±


    As Kai tilted his head at the unfamiliar name, Cami smirked.


    ¡°The name might make a passing dogugh, but the ss itself ranks pretty high among hidden sses. When I challenge and beat other cksmiths, my stats like Craftsmanship go up, and my skill proficiency improves too. Plus, if I meet specific conditions, I get ess to the dwarven kingdom. It¡¯s practically a tinum-ss job.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>.¡±


    Kai furrowed his brows as he looked into Cami¡¯s pure gaze.


    <i>Judging by her expression, she doesn¡¯t seem to be lying... but why is she revealing all this info so easily?</i>


    Not that it would ever happen, but if he were captured, would he easily share details about his role as a Sris Cleric or his Benevolence stats?


    <i>I¡¯d rather die than ever reveal anything.</i>


    A hidden ss was called hidden because all information about it was strictly concealed. If the traits and skills of a hidden ss were revealed for all to see...


    <i>It wouldn¡¯t be a hidden ss anymore. It¡¯d just be an easy target.</i>


    In <i>MID Online</i>, there was no easier prey than an enemy with a clear set of tactics, so it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that information was everything for hidden sses. With regr sses, even the same job could have different end-game builds due to the wide range of skill tree options.


    <i>And if my main skills get revealed, I could quickly learn and master different skills to present an entirely new fighting style.</i>


    However, hidden sses couldn¡¯t do that. Unless it was a rare exception, like the Sric Cleric, a hidden ss was bound to its unique abilities. In other words, it became challenging to continue thriving if his abilities were exposed.


    <i>I¡¯ve already had some of my cards exposed in the war with the Titan guild, but... </i>


    With such an overwhelming stat difference, he wasn¡¯t too worried.


    But for Cami?


    <i>What on earth does she trust about me to share this kind of information?</i>


    As Kai gave her a strange look, she shrugged.


    ¡°What? If you¡¯re that skeptical, I could take a screenshot of my ss traits and email it to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah? Send it, then. My email is...¡±


    At Kai¡¯s open disy of distrust, Cami made a face of annoyance and slightly twisted her lips.


    Then a notification chimed, indicating an email arrived.


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>...¡±


    Kai checked the file she sent and nodded.


    <i>The Challenger cksmith and its traits are real, but...</i>


    That made it even harder to understand.


    ¡°Why, exactly?¡±


    At Kai¡¯s question, Cami put on a serious expression and replied, ¡°I need your help, Unknown.¡±


    ¡°My help? What does that mean all of a sudden...?¡±


    ¡°A yer of your level wouldn¡¯t be wandering this wilderness for no reason, right?¡±


    Kai stayed silent and listened to what she had to say.


    "The dwarves'' shelter. That¡¯s what you¡¯re searching for, isn¡¯t it?"


    "<i>Hmm</i>. Go on."


    Intrigued by her words, Kai nodded and urged her to continue.


    "I saw the Battle of the Bir ins on TV. The elves and merfolk were with you, and what that means is simple. You¡¯re somehow on friendly terms with the demi-human races."


    "So?"


    "The dwarves are also considered one of the representative demi-human races, along with elves and merfolk. If I¡¯m right, you have no reason to harm them."


    "And if you¡¯re wrong?"


    Cami lifted the ends of her lips into a wide grin. "Then I¡¯m doomed, I guess."


    "... You really have no backup n, do you?"


    Kai let out augh in disbelief and swung his sword.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The easily severed Holy Chain ttered against the ice, and Cami rotated her freed arms and shoulders while getting up.


    Kai looked at her intently and asked, "Congrattions. You managed to pique my interest. Now exin. What¡¯s the current situation with the dwarves?"


    "They are..." Cami let out a faint sigh, and gestured with her chin as she turned around. "Follow me. It¡¯ll be quicker to see for yourself."


    ***


    After following Cami across the ice, they soon encountered a maze. She naturally navigated through the path with ease, as if it were the familiar alleyways near her home.


    "Here we are."


    After about ten minutes of walking through the maze, a door made of ice awaited them. Cami gestured for him to follow and pushed the door open with all her might.


    "Wee. Though it might be too modest to call it the kingdom of the dwarves... for now, this is Ingart."


    As Kai followed her inside, his jaw dropped as he took in the scene. "This... is just a shelter?"


    Countless structures and facilities carved from ice stood in rows. Each building possessed a level of elegance rarely seen even in the real world. Lamps hung in thin air, illuminating the shelter so brightly that it was hard to believe it was located at the bottom of a crevasse.


    <i>I have heard of the dwarves¡¯ craftsmanship, but who knew that even a mere shelter would rival the stunning architecture of world-famous capitals...</i>


    Stunned by the grandeur, Kai turned his gaze to the dwarves, who were beginning to gather one by one near the stairs.


    <i>I can see why dwarves are called masters, creators of masterpieces. With skills like theirs, they would surely have...!</i>


    A dignified mustache and deep gaze.


    However, it didn¡¯t take long for Kai¡¯s expectations to be shattered.


    ¡°Cami noona?¡±


    ¡°Unnie!¡±


    ¡°<i>Whoo!</i> Cami noona is back!¡±


    A group of children gathered at the foot of the stairs, chattering like baby birds and calling out to Cami again and again.


    ¡°<i>Whoa, whoa</i>, everyone calm down a bit. Can¡¯t you see I brought a guest?¡±


    ¡°A guest?¡±


    ¡°Visitor?¡±


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t a guesthouse!¡±


    ¡°This is our shelter!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t ept guests!¡±


    <i>Chatter, chatter.</i>


    In an instant, the image of dwarves as stern, serious workers of iron and fire waspletely shattered!


    Kai then pointed at the children, who were barely tall enough to reach his thigh, with a puzzled expression. ¡°Cami, who are these little ones?¡±


    ¡°Why ask such an obvious thing? They¡¯re dwarf children.¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah</i>, children... I see.¡±


    Children were cute and innocent, no matter the race.


    Kai looked around at the baby dwarves, who were staring at him with wide, curious eyes.


    ¡°But... Howe there don¡¯t seem to be any adults around?¡±


    ¡°The adult dwarves... aren¡¯t here.¡±


    Cami showed a bitter smile and shook her head.


    ¡°When the Death Dragon attacked Ingart, the adult dwarves took up weapons. They had barely anybat power, but after fierce resistance, they managed to send the children through the hidden passage, and I became the one responsible for leading them.¡±


    ¡°What about the women dwarves?¡±


    ¡°In dwarf society, there isn¡¯t much distinction between men and women. Both wield hammers and work as master craftsmen. So while there¡¯s the idea of mothers and fathers, their roles are practically the same.¡±


    ¡°So, in other words, the women took up weapons too. That¡¯s impressive.¡±


    ¡°And then they were all captured by the Death Dragon together. Damn, that cursed dragon.¡±


    Hearing her grumbling, Kai suddenly realized something and said, ¡°<i>Oh</i>, right. Did I not tell you? The Death Dragon is dead.¡±


    ¡°What?! Why? Wait, how?!¡±


    Cami whipped her head around, shocked, and Kai casually poked his chest with his index finger.


    ¡°No way... He died? In your hands? You killed the Death Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. I killed the dragon. Please be careful so the other yers don¡¯t find out.¡±


    ¡°O-of course. But how... the Death Dragon was level 550 when it attacked Ingart... Or was it 55...? Did I read it wrong?¡±


    As Cami babbled in confusion, Kai shook her shoulders and said in a serious tone, ¡°Enough. Now, tell me.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°How I can help you bring the dwarves back. You asked for help because you had a n in mind, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s funny to say this after asking for your help, but... can we really bring them back?¡±


    ¡°We can because now I¡¯m here.¡±


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    Cami¡¯s throat bobbed nervously.


    Kai¡¯s serious gaze and arrogant words flowed through the air. Moreover, knowing he was powerful enough to have defeated the Death Dragon added a feeling of intense pressure. This realization passed through her mind once more, filling her with a thrill of exhration.


    <i>So, this is... the presence of the one at the top.</i>


    The intense confidence of the one in a billion man who held the top rank in <i>MID Online</i> made Cami serious as well.


    ¡°You really seem... serious. In that case, there is a way, but we¡¯ll have to face the Church of Muldine¡¯s elite. Are you up for it?¡±


    ¡°A fight?¡± Kai smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth as if he had just heard something amusing. ¡°That¡¯s my specialty.¡±


    Even if he was just a Cleric, that is.

 Chapter 201: Holy Blood Order (1)

    <h4>Chapter 201: Holy Blood Order (1)</h4>


    ¡°Finding the location of dwarves isn¡¯t actually that big of a problem,¡± Cami said in a calm voice as she watched the dwarven children gathered together, eating their meal. ¡°Do you happen to know of the existence of the earth god, Horn?¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh,</i> the god that the dwarves supposedly worship?¡±


    "So you do know. Most people wouldn¡¯t... But then again, you¡¯re not an ordinary yer. Anyway, this will be easy to exin since you¡¯re already aware. Even if it''s just a game, you worship a god too, so you know what a god needs most."


    "Followers."


    Cami nodded at Kai¡¯s answer. "Right. Followers. Without those who believe in them, a god would eventually be forgotten. In that sense, Horn is a blessed god."


    "Because he has followers who resolutely believe in him?"


    "Yes. The dwarf tribe as a whole reveres Horn. Of course, not all walk the path of priesthood, but asionally, there are dwarves who don¡¯t want to take up a hammer. Their path is the path of the priesthood."


    "Dwarf priests, <i>huh</i>. Are there any among those children?"


    "Fortunately for us." Cami pointed to a girl crouched in a small corner between the buildings. "But you know, finding their location doesn¡¯t mean the problem is solved."


    "You said there were elite members of the Church of Muldine... and from other intel, there¡¯s also an army of monsters."


    "Even monsters...? That¡¯s news to me. But in my opinion, they shouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to you."


    "Of course."


    Kai shed a confident smile, but Cami shook her head.


    "The one you truly need to be cautious of is the man of darkness."


    "The man of darkness?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "The dwarves built the new Ingart on Snowy Mountains over two hundred years ago. Do you really think Sineras, the Death Dragon, suddenly discovered Ingart by itself after all that time?"


    "Was it a helper from the Church of Muldine?"


    "That I can¡¯t be sure of. But the important thing is that the manmanded Sineras without difficulty, and Sineras didn¡¯t defy his orders."


    "Are you certain about that?"


    "I saw it clearly with my own eyes, so yes."


    The Death Dragon Sineras was a powerful entity within the world of <i>MID Online</i>.


    <i>It was merely a hatchling, though, which just makes it weakerpared to adult dragons.</i>


    A Death Dragon was a powerful entity, with few NPCs able to match its strength. However, there was someone who couldmand such a creature without issue.


    "What was their name? If he was an enemy, his name should have appeared above his head."


    At Kai¡¯s question, Cami shook her head with a confused expression. "Yes, that would be normal... but there wasn¡¯t. Even as he cast binding spells on the dwarves, only a question mark appeared above his head."


    "A question mark...?" Kai furrowed his brow, feeling a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    <i>If there¡¯s an overwhelming difference in level or stats, a question mark can appear.</i>


    Kai himself had experienced this only once while ying the game.


    <i>The Dark Wizard Zirukan.</i>


    In a way, Zirukan was someone who had changed his life. Regardless of how it happened, it was thanks to him that Kai could change sses to Sric Cleric.


    <i>However, Zirukan has no connection to the Church of Muldine.</i>


    They were both shady and wicked. However, Zirukan was part of the Demon King¡¯s army, working toward the Demon King¡¯s resurrection, while the Church of Muldine was a cult that worshiped an evil god.


    <i>Could there be a chance they would join forces?</i>


    Kai left open the possibility of that slim chance.


    <i>The Church of Muldine is so cunning that it would even encourage dragons if it could bring chaos to the world.</i>


    Thus, Kai wondered if a Demon King would be any different. The Demon King¡¯s army was one of the forces that could bring the most chaos to this world of the NPCs.


    "The possibility isn¡¯t entirely out of the question.¡±


    There came a moment for each person when something called intuition arrived. Even with a trivial, seemingly meaningless clue, they could deduce something close to the truth. Kai thought this was one of those moments now.


    <i>Unfortunately, my ominous hunches often turn out to be urate.</i>


    If his ominous assumption was correct, then there was really no way out.


    <i>My affinity with the Church of Muldine is, no, do they even have anything that could be called affinity toward me?</i>


    As if proving that a basement was beneath the floor, his rtionship with the Church of Muldine had already plunged past zero into the negative.


    <i>An enemy¡¯s enemy might be a friend, but if it¡¯s an ally''s enemy...</i>


    It was needless to say they would also see them as an enemy!


    "<i>Ugh</i>."


    While Kai massaged his throbbing temple, Cami, who had been staring at him intently, slowly asked, "But since you captured Sineras, you must have gotten some material items, right?"


    "I did."


    "C-can you show me just once? I¡¯ll only look, I promise!"


    "Looking is fine."


    As he showed her the loot Sineras had coughed up, Cami gasped with excitement and cheered repeatedly. "<i>Ahh, ahhh!</i> Look at these scales! What would it feel like if I hammered this with a mallet...? <i>Oh!</i> And what about this bone? It makes a solid, full sound whenever I tap on it. I-is this heaven?!"


    "If you consider the location, it''s closer to hell." After replying in a nonchnt tone, Kai nced at her and seemed to realize something. "<i>Oh, </ie to think of it..."


    The dwarves of Ingart had been safeguarding thest holy item of the apostles, the Holy Sword Prius, but Ingart had recently fallen.


    <i>Then where is Prius now?</i>


    To make matters worse, if the relic had fallen into the hands of the Church of Muldine...


    Kai quickly stood up and approached the dwarf children.


    <i>These kids probably wouldn¡¯t know about Prius...</i>


    The oldest-looking girl was the one Cami had pointed out earlier.


    Kai approached her.


    "Hello."


    The girl silently looked up at Kai, then lowered her head again.


    "<i>Ahem</i>. First of all, I offer my sincere condolences for the tragedy that fell upon Ingart. But don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll save all the adults of the dwarf tribe, including your parents."


    "Liar."


    "I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯m much stronger than I look."


    "My mom and dad told me not to deal with men full of bluff."


    "I-I¡¯m not bluffing..."


    The girl was surprisingly mature.


    After a moment of thought, Kai wore a resolute expression and made a gesture with his hand.


    "<i>Tada</i>. This is a cake from a world-famous bakery in the capital. It even has preservation magic, so it¡¯s as soft and sweet as if freshly baked."


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Helik is watching this situation with very interested eyes.]</strong>


    "Anyway, don¡¯t you want to eat this cake?"


    Kai felt like he heard some sort of notification but ignored it and waved the cake enticingly.


    "I''m not a child. No, thanks."


    This bait was significantly insufficient to tempt the calm little girl!


    "<i>Hmm</i>."


    ncing over, Kai saw Cami still drooling over Sineras'' bones, scales, and leather.


    Then he said in a quiet voice, "So, I heard you¡¯re a priestess of the dwarf tribe?"


    "By the looks of your attire, you seem like a priest too, ahjusshi.[1]"


    "Ahjusshi..." Hurt by the unexpected remark, Kai quickly regained hisposure and continued, "Yes, <i>oppa</i> is also a priest. I, <i>oppa,</i> am a priest. I said it twice because it¡¯s important. However, I¡¯m a bit more special."


    "Are you the kind who believes they''re the only special one in the world?"


    Kai wondered who on earth had made a child, who should be innocent, turn out this way. For a moment, he thought he would like to meet her parents, but then shook his head.


    "No, I¡¯m not delusional. I¡¯m actually an Apostle."


    At this, the girl paused and slowly turned her head toward him. ¡°Apostle...?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am indeed an Apostle.¡±


    When Kai nodded with a serious expression, the girl asked in a trembling voice, ¡°What is that?¡±


    This was a setback. Then again, even if she was a priestess, she wasn¡¯t the only one in her tribe. It was possible she didn¡¯t know about the Apostles, being so young.


    <i>Oof. Then the whereabouts of Prius are...</i>


    He would have to sessfully rescue the adult dwarves to find out.


    Kai let out a small sigh, letting go of his expectations, and said in a more rxed voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t know, that¡¯s fine. Come to think of it, we haven¡¯t introduced ourselves yet. My name is Kai.¡±


    ¡°Sydney.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, that¡¯s a pretty name.¡±


    ¡°Do you say things like that to any woman?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be polite to ask if there <i>are</i> any women around first? Besides, you¡¯re a child, not a woman.¡±


    Looking at Kai¡¯s lonesome expression with pity, Sydney then murmured as she hugged her knees, ¡°Ahjusshi, do you have a lot of friends?¡±


    ¡°Why do you ask about friends?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, the bad guys who attacked our kingdom have a lot of friends. It would be impossible for you to deal with them by yourself.¡±


    ¡°While I may not have many friends... don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Kai gave a soft smile at Sydney¡¯s concern, then turned his head to look at the children with gloomy expressions.


    <i>All those kids over there are at the age where they should be running around and ying...</i>


    Perhaps because of the situation, the children didn¡¯t smile easily other than when Cami returned.


    <i>It¡¯s the duty of adults to bring smiles back to children¡¯s faces.</i>


    And right now, he was the only adult who could do that.


    Having made up his mind, Kai rose to his feet without hesitation.


    Sydney nced up slightly and asked, ¡°Ahjusshi, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To have a good fight with some bad guys.¡±


    ¡°But you said you didn¡¯t have friends.¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, wouldn¡¯t things work out somehow?¡±


    As Kai ruffled Sydney¡¯s hair and began to leave, Shimizu, who had been quietly following him, said,


    ¡ªKai, always remember where your roots began, wherever and whenever.


    ¡°My roots?¡± Kai tilted his head and asked back, ¡°Are you referring to the main church of the Church of Sris? But that ce was controlled by the Church of Muldine until recently. It¡¯s a bit hard to trust...¡±


    ¡ªShouldn¡¯t it be even more trustworthy now precisely because of that past?


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡ªThe Srian Church¡¯s main church has beenpletely reformed under the current High Priest Albert.


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true...¡±


    It had been some time since the Srian Church had been turned upside down.


    <i>Come to think of it, I wonder if it¡¯splete by now.</i>


    High Priest Albert had created a new military group, the Holy Blood Order, solely for Kai. He didn¡¯t know how capable they were, but right now, he was in a situation where he would take any help he could get, even from a cat.


    Of course, if he went to Beoruk, the king of Rashion, he would likely receive support from the Ironblood Knights, however...


    <i>If I receive something, I also need to give something in return.</i>


    If he saved the dwarves, he intended to ept them as new residents of Libertia. If that happened, Beoruk probably wouldn¡¯t feel very good about that because he would have provided support, but nothing would be left for him.


    <i>But if it¡¯s the Srian Church, I could easily smooth over any issues through my status.</i>


    Besides, he felt uneasy about continually exposing the mermaids and elves to danger.


    <i>If it¡¯s the Holy Blood Order, it would probably include members from the Pray guild, meaning a high proportion of yers. Their skills would be reliable, wouldn¡¯t they?</i>


    Taking Shimizu¡¯s advice into ount, Kai confidently nodded.


    Watching him, she gave a soft smile.


    ¡ªHave you made your decision?


    "Yes. Let¡¯s go check it out."


    Regardless of whether it was possible or not, facing the army of monsters, the elite forces of the Church of Muldine, and the mysterious man of darkness all alone would be excessive arrogance.


    <i>If I could take them down without worrying about anything, I would even resort to guerri warfare to fight them...</i>


    But they were holding hundreds of dwarves as hostages. From Kai''s perspective, this meant he needed to protect their safety whilepletely eliminating the enemies! In short, what Kai needed right now were reliablerades on the battlefield¡ªor perhaps, subordinates.


    ¡°Shadow Shift.¡±


    Kai instantly vanished on the spot.


    1. <i>Ah</i><i>jussi</i> is usually used to address an older man, usually middle-aged. ?

 Chapter 202: Holy Blood Order (2)

    <h4>Chapter 202: Holy Blood Order (2)</h4>


    When Kai arrived at the main church of the Srian Church, High Priest Albert ran out to greet him.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, Kai! What brings you here without notice?¡±


    ¡°As I already said, you may drop the honorifics.¡±


    ¡°<i>Haha,</i> this is morefortable for me. It puts my heart at ease.¡±


    After exchanging brief greetings with smiling Albert, Kai exined the purpose of his visit.


    ¡°Y-you defeated the Dark Dragon Sineras? That is truly remarkable!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret for now.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s your wish, I¡¯ll keep it that way. <i>Hmm</i>. But the fact that the dwarf tribe was captured by the Church of Muldine is a serious matter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s also one of the reasons I came.¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh?</i>¡±


    ¡°I need support. So... is the Holy Blood Order that you mentionedst time, fully prepared?¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah</i>, the Holy Blood Order. Well, about that...¡± High Priest Albert nced cautiously at Kai, then continued with a troubled expression, ¡°The organization of pdins assigned to the Holy Blood Order has already beenpleted. They are all individuals born and raised in the holy kingdom, with deep faith and outstanding abilities. However...¡±


    ¡°Wait, hold on. So, are you saying that most of the members of the Holy Blood Order are residents of this world? What about adventurers?¡±


    ¡°<i>Oh!</i> Of course, we included the adventurers affiliated with the Pray faction, including Saintess Minerva, as you mentioned before. They are the only ones, though.¡±


    That meant that, except for the Pray guild, all members were NPCs.


    <i>Was I being too optimistic?</i>


    Come to think of it, it was obvious that the Holy Blood Order wouldn¡¯t beposed primarily of yers.


    <i>yers all have different login times. It would be challenging for an NPC to organize such individuals into a single group.</i>


    Of course, there was no doubt about the Holy Blood Order¡¯s capabilities.


    <i>Deeply faithful pdins, huh.</i>


    In other words, they were the elite of the elite selected from the main church, so Kai wondered what kind of problem could they possibly have.


    At Kai¡¯s question, High Priest Albert spoke reluctantly, looking apologetic, ¡°The thing is, I poured my heart and soul into forming this force to support the Sris Cleric. That¡¯s where the problem lies. Since only the best, most outstanding individuals were gathered, they have extremely strong pride.¡±


    ¡°Pride? They¡¯re pdins affiliated with the church, yet they still hold onto their pride?¡±


    ¡°Pdins are still knights. They value pride and dignity very highly. Of course, their faith in Helik is sincere. Sometimes, their belief is too intense, which causes problems as well. They would barely listen even if a higher-up priestmanded them. In my case, they follow me well because I¡¯m older and hold the position of high priest, but...¡±


    Albert nced at Kai¡¯s youthful face and sighed. ¡°I honestly worry about whether they¡¯ll follow your words.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. Even at this moment, the dwarves are being taken away. Time is of the essence.¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. Then perhaps, would you like support from the recently reorganized Srian Knights instead of the Holy Blood Order?¡±


    ¡°The Srian Knights...¡±


    He remembered seeing them when he saved Albert from the evil hands of the Church of Muldinest time. Of course, what Kai had seen was only their corpses.


    ¡°In terms ofbat strength, which one of the two is superior?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, the Srian Knights are still far superior in terms of skill. However, the members of the Holy Blood Order possess remarkable potential. Some of them are talented enough to lead an entire order in the future.¡±


    ¡°<i>Sigh</i>. To bepletely honest, I don¡¯t really like this situation, but... In that case, I¡¯ll try to manage the members of the Holy Blood Order.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s the best time to do that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have to do it eventually. Perhaps it¡¯s better to train them through a battle against the church¡¯s main enemy, the Church of Muldine.¡±


    Even with new shoes, they had to be broken in. So, what about people?


    <i>It¡¯s even more so with them.</i>


    Just as a superior constantly assessed the abilities of their subordinates, subordinates, too, questioned the level of their superior.


    <i>In that case, I¡¯ll start by firmly establishing authority.</i>


    At the thought that the dwarf tribe could possibly be suffering even at this moment, Kai¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination.


    ***


    ¡°What¡¯s this all about all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°No idea. We were just told to gather bymand...¡±


    ¡°Interesting. I¡¯ve only ever received assignment letters. This is the first time I¡¯ve been summoned like this.¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it, this is also the first time we¡¯re all seeing each other¡¯s faces.¡±


    Around three hundred male and female pdins, all with powerful physiques, were gathered in the fourteenth training hall of the main church.


    They all had an average level of 350. In terms of level alone, most of them were higher than Kai, who was ranked number one!


    Naturally, they were skilled individuals whom ordinary yers could only look up to with awe. Perhaps because of this, an undeniable pride radiated from their faces.


    <i>I am the best.</i>


    These were individuals who held the grand dream of inheriting the name of Patrick, once called a legend.


    The pdins selected for the new force named the Holy Blood Order looked around at the other members and were surprised.


    <i>What? I thought I¡¯d been demoted because of my mistakest time...</i>


    <i>Where have these people been all along?</i>


    <i>It''s not just one or two, they¡¯re all quite impressive.</i>


    The strong could recognize the strong. Realizing that the abilities of those gathered here were extraordinary, the pdins grew even more motivated.


    <i>Could we have been gathered here to select amander?</i>


    <i>If that¡¯s the case, themander should obviously be me.</i>


    <i>This is the perfect opportunity to showcase my swordsmanship, once called Holy Laterre.</i>


    The elite pdins of the Srian Church were gathered here by direct order from His Holiness the High Priest, but there were also those who seemed out of ce, shoved into a corner.


    ¡°Master. Those people don¡¯t seem like ordinary pdins, do they?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even when wandering around the main church, it¡¯s rare to see pdins of that level.¡±


    Minerva, the master of the Pray guild, gulped as she gauged the skill level of those gathered.


    <i>I knew that the Radiant Pdin Patrick was a legendary figure in the Srian Church, but merely inheriting his role warrants this level of support?</i>


    They were a formidable force capable of demolishing an average-sized castle with ease! Minerva was certain that if she couldmand them, she could take Castle Baden within half a day.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Kai is themander of such a force...¡±


    ¡°<i>Ugh</i>. I know he¡¯s strong. He¡¯s ranked number one, after all. But dealing with pdins of this caliber... <i>Hmm</i>. There will be issues.¡±


    ¡°If he can silence those issues, he¡¯ll gain immense power.¡±


    Of course, if he couldn¡¯t, this opportunity would fade like a midsummer night¡¯s dream.


    Watching the scene with her fifty guild members, Minerva suddenly looked toward the entrance. ¡°There he is.¡±


    ¡°A fitting entrance for the star of the gathering.¡±


    The Pray guild members, who now had a bit of familiarity with Kai, smirked as they weed his arrival. After all, they were excited to see what would unfold as the man, destined to bring turbulence to this ce, appeared.


    A silence, like the moment before a movie began after the advertisements ended, filled the training hall.


    ¡°Good day, everyone.¡± As High Priest Albert, who had apanied Kai, greeted them, everyone present knelt on one knee in respect. ¡°<i>Haha,</i> please rise, everyone.¡±


    At the High Priest¡¯s permission, the pdins slowly stood up, their eyes gleaming as they awaited his next words. Of course, their interest in the adventurer he had brought was sustained.


    <i>Who is that man?</i>


    <i>He looks weak and scrawny for a man. A single punch would make him cry out in pain and copse.</i>


    <i>I saw some other adventurers over in that corner. They must be hisrades.</i>


    <i>Hmph. I can¡¯t believe I share an affiliation with low-level adventurers... Disgusting.</i>


    Naturally, the pdins, who had given Kai a quick once-over, quickly lost interest in him. He was lower in level than them, and he was wearing a Cleric¡¯s robe. They probably assumed he was here just to recite a prayer inmemoration of the new order. However, their assumption shattered in an instant.


    ¡°Everyone, please greet him. From this moment, he will lead you as the Commander of the Holy Blood Order, Kai.¡±


    With a benevolent smile, Albert tapped Kai on the shoulder and then stepped back. This was all a staged gesture. It was a clear disy of his support for Kai.


    Stepping forward after the introduction, Kai looked down at the hundreds of pdins staring at him.


    <i>They¡¯re more like hot-blooded youths than I expected.</i>


    The ages of the pdins in the Holy Blood Order varied widely, ranging from sixteen-year-old youth to those in their mid-thirties. Though each was unique in their own way, they currently all shared the same mind and purpose.


    <i>He wants us to follow this scrawny guy?</i>


    <i>Dang it. I got excited when I heard about the restructuring of the main church, but it¡¯s just like before. Is this guy another parachute from above?</i>


    <i>Of course. A stagnant swamp can¡¯t purify itself.</i>


    The pdins who were skilled but demoted due tock of political influence quickly showed disinterest. The moment that slender thread of hope people slightly clung to disappeared, they tended to let everything go. Of course, among them were also those who openly disyed strong resistance.


    Around 140 pdins raised their hands high. ring at Kai with zing eyes, they waited for Albert to call on them, like students eager to make a presentation.


    ¡°<i>Hmm</i>. Do you all have aint about my decision to appoint him asmander...?¡±


    Kai politely stopped High Priest Albert from stepping forward and shook his head.


    ¡°Your Holiness, please leave this to me.¡±


    <i>Even if His Holiness resolves this peacefully today, the same thing will happen again.</i>


    What they needed right now was trust. They needed to know if the person holding the reins above them was trustworthy, and a chance to believe that he was someone capable enough to follow.


    <i>In this situation, there¡¯s no need forplicated strategies.</i>


    A simple, straightforward approach would resonate best with them. And the moment he won their hearts, he would have the Srian Church¡¯s most powerful force in his hands.


    Kai took bold steps forward and looked down at the closest pdin with his hand raised. It was a young man who still had a boyish face.


    The flushed expression of anger on his face clearly showed what he was thinking.


    ¡°You. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Teferen, once called the Holy Laterre.¡±


    ¡°You look extremely dissatisfied with me being appointed asmander, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I am very dissatisfied.¡±


    ¡°Alright. If you have aint, you should let it out.¡±


    <i>Crack, crack.</i>


    Slowly rotating his neck, Kai gestured to the other pdins with a flick of his fingers, andmanded, ¡°Set up a stage. Today, I¡¯ll give those dissatisfied with mymand of the Holy Blood Order the chance to challenge me. To anyone who defeats me, I¡¯ll hand over themander¡¯s position. Think of this as your first andst opportunity. Come at me.¡±


    At Kai¡¯s sudden provocative remark, everyone¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    <i>Is he crazy?</i>


    <i>I¡¯ve only heard of Holy Laterre by name. He¡¯s not someone to underestimate just because he¡¯s young.</i>


    <i>Even if he manages to beat a few of us...</i>


    <i>Does he really think he can handle all of us?</i>


    <i>Reckless.</i>


    <i>He¡¯s either insane or a lunatic. It has to be one of the two.</i>


    As the pdins stepped back to create a sparring arena, all of them felt sorry for Kai¡¯s decision¡ªexcept for Minerva, who smiled.


    Then, one of the guild members asked, ¡°Razley, want to make a bet on who¡¯ll win?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯ll put 100 gold on Kai.¡±


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And others began to join as well.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet 50 gold on Kai.¡±


    "<i>Oh,</i> I¡¯ve been spending on new geartely, so my wallet has thinned out. I¡¯ll just bet 20 gold on Kai."


    ¡°What? Just forget the whole thing then. At this rate, the bet can¡¯t even be established."


    The Pray guild members¡¯ bets were all one-sided in favor of Kai!


    Minerva eventually shook her head with a gentle smile.


    <i>Unfortunate.</i>


    Of course, if she were to bet, she would have ced her wager on Kai as well.

 Chapter 203: Holy Blood Order (3)

    <h4>Chapter 203: Holy Blood Order (3)</h4>


    The main church of the Church of Sris had a total of fourteen training grounds. Core forces like the Srian Knights, who yed a central role in the church, as well as priests who dealt with holy spells, or figures like inquisitors, used the first to third training grounds.


    In other words, using the fourteenth training ground among the fourteen avable meant that the organization¡¯s position within the church was low.


    Because of this, most members of the Holy Blood Order had given up hope the moment they received their orders. But what was this? Upon arriving at the training ground, they found that the other members were far beyond their expectations.


    <i>A newly established force of this caliber was assigned to the fourteenth training ground?</i>


    <i>Even just among the people I recognize here, we should at least be using the eighth training ground!</i>


    <i>What on earth is going on here?</i>


    Before they could even make sense of the situation, High Priest Albert arrived with the man introduced as themander of the Holy Blood Order. At the same time, the members nodded in understanding.


    <i>I see.</i>


    <i>Now I understand why a force of this caliber was assigned to the fourteenth training ground.</i>


    <i>It¡¯s because the man appointed asmander is some adventurer from who knows where.</i>


    <i>Which bishop¡¯s line is he from? It¡¯s surprising that such a young adventurer was given themander position.</i>


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This realization led to resignation, and they couldn¡¯t muster much interest in the sudden challenge.


    <i>This naive brother trying to assert himself is just going to get thoroughly beaten.</i>


    <i>He probably picked the Holy Laterre because he looks young and easy to handle.</i>


    <i>He¡¯ll regret it soon enough.</i>


    <i>I¡¯m curious how many seconds it¡¯ll take to end this.</i>


    Teferen, the Holy Laterre, was one of the orphans raised by the Srian Church branch in the city-kingdom of Laterre.


    Thanks to his deep faith and exceptional swordsmanship, his name quickly reached the main church. However, in the previously corrupt main church, it was incredibly difficult to gain recognition on skill alone.


    Unable to bear the injustice, Teferen refused to conform to the system, and the result was ultimately a demotion. The oue of the pdin choosing his pride was terrible.


    <i>I was stuck organizing paperwork and cleaning up trash all day.</i>


    But he had no regrets about his choice. He took pride in having made an honorable choice as a pdin.


    Therefore, he had high expectations when he heard rumors that the corrupt bishops and priests were being removed and the main church was being restructured.


    <i>High Priest Albert is the only person in this main church whom I respect. He finally drew the sword he had kept hidden.</i>


    No one knew who this ¡°sword¡± was. They only assumed that this sword was sharp and ruthless enough to cleanse the main church of corrupt bishops.


    <i>And yet, this is the result...</i>


    Teferen wondered if everyone became the same once they gained power. He briefly cast a resentful nce at High Priest Albert, then ced his hand on his sword hilt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a warning first. This is your chance to withdraw now. Someone may get injured.¡±


    Of course, everyone understood that the one he was referring to was Kai, and that he wasn¡¯t bluffing. It was a sincere warning from the young prodigy once called the New Star of the Srian Church.


    ¡°No one will be injured. I¡¯ll go easy on you.¡±


    When Kai spoke in a calm voice, everyone shook their heads.


    <i>This guy needs a dose of reality.</i>


    <i>Well, I¡¯m in a bad mood anyway, so this isn¡¯t bad.</i>


    <i>He could use a bit of a lesson.</i>


    Teferen, who usually repeated the word patience three times in his head before acting, looked at Kai with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your choice, so don¡¯t regret itter.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    As Teferen drew his sword, Kai lightly ced his hand on the hilt of his own and thought, <i>I sure am disliked.</i>


    Kai nced indifferently at the Holy Blood Order members gathered in the training hall. All he received were hostile gazes. The only friendly looks were from the Pray guild members in the corner.


    <i>I never thought I¡¯d get these kinds of looks at the main church of the Church of Sris.</i>


    Still, he could understand their attitude. The Holy Blood Order members here were all individuals with limited backgrounds and no powerful connections, relying solely on their skills.


    When Albert had told him about the kind of people who made up the Holy Blood Order, it was actually Kai who made a request.


    ¡°Please assign us to the fourteenth training ground.¡±


    ¡°Pardon? We¡¯ve cleared out the first training ground for you. Why insist on the fourteenth...?¡±


    ¡°The main church has changed too suddenly.¡±


    It had been restructured to regain its characteristic purity and rity, but what about the people¡¯s perceptions? Did this restructuring wash away the suspicions of the believers?


    <i>No way.</i>


    People were always filled with suspicion and doubt. Even if one whispered the truth a hundred times, the moment they whispered a single lie, others would begin to doubt everything that person said.


    <i>So I need to show them.</i>


    Kai wanted to imprint the new face of the Srian Church onto their eyes, ears, skin, and bones. That was why he chose the fourteenth training ground for the Holy Blood Order and why he initiated this sparring.


    Waving his sword, Teferen asked mockingly, ¡°Shall I start? Since you¡¯re themander, you¡¯ll ept at least three of my attacks, won¡¯t you?¡±


    The Holy Blood Order members watching from outside the stage lowered their heads, trying to hold in theirughter.


    <i>Teferen is nasty.</i>


    <i>Of course, it is customary for a higher-ranked person to let a weaker opponent have three attacks in sparring...</i>


    <i>But that guy is only amander in title; he looks weaker than me.</i>


    In other words, Teferen was mocking Kai using the typical sparring rule.


    To that, Kai nodded nonchntly.


    In fact, he took it a step further and replied cheerfully, ¡°I¡¯ll give you five chances to go first.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Teferen asked with a hardened expression, his smilepletely gone.


    He didn¡¯t mind organizing documents or cleaning trash. But as a knight, it was humiliating for someone to insult his sword when he held it.


    Taking a severe hit to his pride, Teferen¡¯s gaze grew sharper.


    <i>I like that look.</i>


    Kai slightly smirked and made a small beckoning gesture with his fingers. That signal caused Teferen to lunge forward like a sh of light.


    <i>I was going to go easy on him out of respect for High Priest Albert...!</i>


    However, he couldn¡¯t forgive someone who mocked and disregarded his sword and effort.


    Teferen aimed to smash Kai¡¯s side with the t of his de.


    <i>This should put him in recovery for two months. Then again, he¡¯s an adventurer, so maybe not.</i>


    He had no doubt that his strike would send Kai flying across the training hall. However, as his world flipped upside down, his mind was filled with questions.


    ¡°<i>Huh...?</i>¡±


    Before he could say more, an overwhelming pain surged through his body, and he let out a scream.


    ¡°<i>Gah!</i>¡±


    He couldn''t even recall how long it had been since he had felt pain like this.


    With shocked eyes, Teferen slowly raised his aching body and looked at Kai.


    ¡°Now, four more.¡±


    Kai gestured toe at him.


    Teferen could no longer disregard Kai, who spoke in the same calm tone as before.


    ***


    A deep, haunting silence¡ªthere was no better word to describe this situation.


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i>¡±


    As the massive man, Deck, fell backward with his eyes rolling up, Kai repeated the same phrase he had uttered sixty-four times before in a calm voice.


    ¡°Next.¡±


    <i>Gulp.</i>


    Only the sound of swallowing and eyes darting around filled the training hall. The Holy Blood Order members, their eyes wide with disbelief, held their dizzy heads.


    <i>What on earth...</i>


    <i>Is this even possible?</i>


    The sixty-four pdins, including Holy Laterre, had failed to even brush Kai¡¯s cor. Instead, Kai, who had looked weak and scrawny, radiated an aura like a god of battle the moment the sparring started.


    <i>It¡¯s already shocking that he took on sixty-four people...</i>


    <i>And he did it straight through without a break! How monstrous is his Stamina?</i>


    <i>It¡¯s not that this man¡¯s level was poor...</i>


    <i>It was our sight! Our eyes were rotten and worthless!</i>


    No more challengers came forward. Kai had already proven his overwhelming charisma andbat skill, establishing his right to lead this group.


    <i>Not bad.</i>


    Letting out an even breath without a hint of strain, Kai nodded.


    <i>So this is the effect of all those special titles I¡¯ve gradually collected.</i>


    Kai subtly looked down and checked the effects of the special titles aiding him.


    <strong>[Courageous Knight: +10 to all stats when fighting an enemy at a higher level than you.]</strong>


    <strong>[Reaper of the Battlefield: Recover a certain amount of Stamina with each attack.]</strong>


    <strong>[First Dragonyer: +30 to all stats, user always emits Dragon Fear.]</strong>


    All the NPCs in the Holy Blood Order had levels higher than Kai¡¯s.


    <i>Though the average level is a bit lower thanks to the Pray guild members.</i>


    In other words, once they entered a sparring match and became hostile, the Courageous Knight title activated without fail. And that wasn¡¯t all. The title he had earned by taking down the Titan Guild alone, the Reaper of the Battlefield, disyed effects that were nothing short of perfect for battles like these against multiple opponents.


    <i>Each sessful attack restores Stamina. However...</i>


    The Reaper of the Battlefield also had a hidden effect that wasn¡¯t listed.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have won a duel against Holy Laterre, Teferen.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15% of your total Stamina has been restored due to the Reaper of the Battlefield effect.]</strong>


    Each time he emerged victorious in battle, a significant portion of his total Stamina was restored.


    <i>This would probably apply to killing enemies too.</i>


    With the Reaper of the Battlefield effect, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about exhaustion during hunting, raids, or wars.


    <i>Is this what those scientists once called perpetual motion?</i>


    He was like an unstoppable war machine that never got tired!


    Kai silently looked around the training hall. Even his every move carried a power akin to Dragon Fear.


    ¡°<i>Uhm</i>...¡±


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>.¡±


    The members of the Holy Blood Order naturally averted their gazes! Though they were all strong and capable of resisting Dragon Fear to some extent, the sight of Kai¡¯s overwhelming strength had already left them mentally shaken. Thus, even if they didn¡¯t feel fear, they saw in Kai the presence of an absolute authority.


    <i>Despite having such incredible skill...</i>


    <i>He doesn¡¯t show off, nor is he arrogant.</i>


    <i>He didn¡¯t try to smooth things over with empty words but instead quietly proved his skills as a leader.</i>


    <i>He even shows benevolent nature by not ming us for ourck of insight.</i>


    Once someone was captivated, even ws could start to seem endearing! The members of the Holy Blood Order began to see qualities in Kai that made them want to follow him as their leader.


    ¡°Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge me?¡±


    At Kai¡¯s question, the Holy Blood Order members remained silent. After a moment, Teferen, who had been resting and gathering himself at the back, returned to the training ground.


    ¡°<i>Oh</i>, a rematch?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± Shaking his head, Teferen knelt down on one knee forcefully. ¡°Please me myck of insight for failing to recognize themander¡¯s level and recklessly challenging you! From now on, I will follow without furtherints!¡±


    Following Teferen¡¯s lead, the three hundred members of the Holy Blood Order each knelt on one knee and pressed their fists to their chests in a sign of respect.


    The pledge of three hundred Holy Blood Order members surrounded Kai in a circle!


    Smiling at the sight that made his heart full, Kai quietly began to say, ¡°You must have felt sorrow and frustration. You likely wanted to fight against the injustice butcked the strength, and when you wanted to vent, you had no one willing to listen.¡±


    Kai¡¯s words struck a deep part of emotions buried within the members of the Holy Blood Order.


    Speaking gently and touching on their emotions was, after all, the best way to connect with people!


    <i>When I volunteered at the orphanage, I learned that understanding and empathizing with the kids was the key to connecting with them.</i>


    Understanding why they were struggling and sincerely empathizing with their feelings was Kai¡¯s favorite method when approaching people.


    ¡°But from now on, everything will change.¡±


    Kai¡¯s calm voice suddenly turned fierce, like that of an enraged bull.


    ¡°The restructured Srian Church will distance itself from corruption and be a pure and transparent organization where only individual skill and faith determine one¡¯s position. The Holy Blood Order will carry forward this new beginning of the Srian Church, which has cut away its rotten parts.¡±


    ¡°<i>Whoo...!</i>¡±


    ¡°The Holy Blood Order will be the sword and shield for the weak, a cold dagger at the throats of the corrupt, and will operate throughout the continent. Those who wish to be part of the Holy Blood Order and spread the teachings of the Srian God Helik on thisnd may stay. Those who do not may leave.¡±


    Kai turned and met the gaze of each member of the Holy Blood Order one by one.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Teferen¡¯s affinity has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Deck¡¯s affinity has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Sdin¡¯s affinity has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Dutaros¡¯s affinity has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    A flood of notifications popped up at a speed too fast to follow!


    With a satisfied expression, Kai sheathed his sword.


    ¡°Then, I hereby assign the first mission to the Holy Blood Order.¡±


    The mission was simple, of course.


    <i>The Dwarf Rescue Operation.</i>


    With the sharp sword of the Holy Blood Order now in his hands, Kai wore a charming smile on his face.

 Chapter 204: Holy Blood Order (4)

    <h4>Chapter 204: Holy Blood Order (4)</h4>


    The moment Kai secured his position within the Holy Blood Order, a notification appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Congrattions! You have been recognized as the true Commander of the Holy Blood Order by its 300 members.]</strong>


    <strong>[Special title acquired: Commander of the Holy Blood Order.]</strong>


    <strong>[You can now manage the stats and conditions of the Holy Blood Order members in real time through the faction interface window.]</strong>


    "<i>Hmm.</i>"


    This was a title he hadn¡¯t even received when high priest Albert appointed him as Commander of the Holy Blood Order, but by sincerely confronting the members, Kai was able to obtain this special title.


    "Open title book."


    <strong>[<u>Commander of the Holy Blood Order</u>] </strong>


    <strong>Rank: Special</strong>


    <strong>Description: A title granted to amander recognized by their members.</strong>


    <strong>Effect: +15% to all members¡¯ stats when fighting alongside the Holy Blood Order members. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)</strong>


    Kai¡¯s eyes shone the moment he checked the title¡¯s effect.


    <i>Even among special titles, there are different grades. With an effect like this, it must be at least high-grade, right?</i>


    A 15% increase to all stats. Though it could seem like it wasn¡¯t very significant at first nce, it created an immense advantage in a game where even a small stat difference could determine superiority.


    <i>And while I hold the position of Commander, I¡¯m also considered a member of the Holy Blood Order.</i>


    In other words, when fighting alongside them, his own stats would be boosted by 15% as well. However, this wasn¡¯t the only gain from this sparring session.


    <strong>[You delivered a speech that resonated deeply with the listeners.]</strong>


    <strong>[The members of the Holy Blood Order, who listened intently to your words, have rekindled the spark of justice within their hearts. They will now be loyal supporters who lead the cause of justice across the continent.]</strong>


    <strong>[The morale of the Holy Blood Order members has greatly increased. +10% to all their stats for one week.]</strong>


    <strong>[Words spoken from the heart resonate deeply and have asting impact. The Srian God Helik, who has been watching you, also smiles gently.]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 Benevolence stats.]</strong>


    <strong>[With the effect of Witness of the Sun, you have gained an additional +5 Benevolence.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill proficiency greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[Charisma skill reached Intermediate Lv. 1.]</strong>


    His Benevolence stat, which had been difficult to raisetely, had gone up significantly just by speaking a few words to the pdins.


    <i>This should make up for using the Descent skill during the battle with the Death Dragon.</i>


    Although he felt a slight unease, sensing he might need to use it again soon, he shook his head to dispel the ominous thought, and checked the greatest gain from this sparring session.


    <strong>[<u>Advanced Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.3 Passive</u>.]</strong>


    <strong>Rank: Unique</strong>


    <strong>Does 300% damage when attacking enemies with a de.</strong>


    <strong>Attacks do additional holy damage based on Holy Power stat.</strong>


    <strong>Regenerates a certain amount of Holy Power with each attack.</strong>


    <strong>Proficiency: 97/100</strong>


    <i>Almost there. I feel like just one small realization could level it up...</i>


    The battle with the Death Dragon Sineras had contributed, but the main reason his proficiency suddenly increased so much was, of course, the sparring.


    <i>Come to think of it, I remember reading a post about how swordsmanship yers train by sparring with different opponents.</i>


    They didn¡¯t train simply because they had nothing better to do. Facing swordsmanship techniques they had never seen before increased their understanding of the sword, and the higher the level of the opponent, the greater the insights they could gain.


    <i>Indeed...</i>


    Kai scanned the members of the Holy Blood Order with a curious gaze. The talents before him were geniuses gathered from across the continent. Naturally, each of them used a unique style of swordsmanship. Under normal circumstances, sparring with pdins of this caliber would be nearly impossible.


    <i>One would at least need a close connection with an archbishop to arrange a sparring session with the Holy Blood Order.</i>


    Among the current yers, aside from Kai, Minerva was the one closest to the church. Even she, however, was treated with a hint of disdain as an adventurer in the main church. In other words, no one but Kai could spar with them in this way.


    <i>Well, if the Pray guild members are sharp, they might convince one or two of them to spar.</i>


    However, they wouldn¡¯t be able to manage it like Kai did. Their current level made it challenging for them to face even one pdin.


    <i>A total of sixty-four.</i>


    That was the number of pdins Kai had crossed swords with today. Moreover, he had granted each of them not three, but five initial attacks for the purpose of increasing his skill proficiency. Thus, it was only natural that his swordsmanship proficiency had risen at an impressive rate.


    The insights he gained from this experience were priceless, things one couldn¡¯t obtain with money.


    <i>They¡¯re revealing so much.</i>


    <i>Interesting. A stance that allows both offense and defense at once... It may not excel in one area, but it¡¯s well-bnced.</i>


    Using his overwhelming stats, Kai casually deflected his opponents¡¯ attacks, and absorbed their strengths and unique techniques. The Holy Blood Order members would have felt as if they had been robbed if they knew about this.


    <i>Well, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Anyway, my skill proficiency is at 97 already... That¡¯s absurdly fast.</i>


    He hadn¡¯t spent much time wielding his sword, only about two hours. With this, Kai confirmed his belief once more


    <i>As I suspected, frequency of use bes irrelevant once a skill reaches the Advanced level.</i>


    Kai closed his eyes briefly and entered the realm of insight, reying the insights he had gained while sparring with the Holy Blood Order members.


    Sensing that Kai was experiencing some extraordinary revtion, the members of the Holy Blood Order quietly waited for his meditation to end.


    <i>A sword is a weapon meant to harm enemies.</i>


    <i>But is it really something that¡¯s only used against foes?</i>


    <i>As shown today, it can also be used for friendly sparring with allies.</i>


    <i>In that process, one can exchange sincerity and forge connections.</i>


    <i>It can even make those who doubted me choose to follow me sincerely.</i>


    Another purpose for the sword. The realization of using a sword not merely as a weapon, but as a tool formunication! Like a tangled pair of earphone cords being unraveled, his thoughts began toe together. Finally, he reached a simple revtion.


    <i>Even a stone lying on the ground can be a weapon if wielded with intent, and a shield meant to protect someone can be a weapon if used with the will to attack. In the end, it all depends on the mindset of the person wielding it.</i>


    It was a simple truth that anyone could understand upon reflection. But in a game like <i>MID Online</i>, where yers wielded swords and constantly fought monsters, how many would truly reach such a thought?


    A burst of light burst above Kai¡¯s head, and the sound of a fanfare followed.


    <strong>[Congrattions! Your deep insight into the sword has elevated your swordsmanship skills to the next level.]</strong>


    <strong>[Proficiency of the Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill has greatly increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill has leveled up.]</strong>


    <strong>[Swordsmanship of the Dawn level has increased to Advanced Level 4.]</strong>


    <strong>[The effect of Sword Wind has been enhanced.]</strong>


    ¡°<i>Wow</i>.¡±


    Sword Wind was a Unique-grade skill that he acquired when his Swordsmanship of the Dawn reached Advanced Level 3.


    <i>I¡¯ve only used it once, and that was to cut through clouds.</i>


    Despite its grand name, the physical destructive power wasn¡¯t very high, but now that it had been enhanced with Swordsmanship of the Dawn reaching Advanced Level 4, Kai tilted his head.


    <i>Even if the wind pressure created by the sword is strong...</i>


    After all, it was just wind. As Kai stood there with a nk expression, the members of the Holy Blood Order approached one by one to offer their congrattions.


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    ¡°Commander, congrattions.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve broken down another wall.¡±


    ¡°It seems certain that the Srian God watches over you, Commander.¡±


    ¡°You were born to be loved...¡±


    As he epted their congrattions with a slight nod, Kai dismissed them.


    <i>I should test it at least once since the skill has been enhanced.</i>


    The Sword Wind skill didn¡¯t have a cooldown. However, each use consumed an extreme amount of mental energy, limiting its repeated use.


    Kai looked at the massive wall surrounding the fourteenth training ground and lightly swung his sword.


    <i>Whoom.</i>


    Kai¡¯s sword now emitted a faint sound, barely audible unless one had exceptionally sharp hearing. However, the noise created by Sword Wind was about twice as loud. Of course, its power was even greater than that.


    <i>Crumble!</i>


    Previously, Sword Wind could only stir up a brisk, chilly wind like that of early spring. But now, the force was so intense it could be felt on the skin.


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i>¡±


    ¡°Wh-what just happened?¡±


    Caught off guard, the members of the Holy Blood Order were forcefully pushed a step or two back from the sheer strength of the force. They were only near the source of Sword Wind, not directly hit by it.


    The outer wall of the training ground, struck directly by Sword Wind, was already reduced to rubble.


    <i>I see. The true power of Sword Wind only begins now that my Swordsmanship of the Dawn has reached Advanced Level 4.</i>


    Previously, it hadn¡¯t been very practical as an offensive skill, but it had solidified as a perfect attack skill now.


    Of course, the slight ache in his head reminded him that it wasn¡¯t an easy skill to handle.


    <i>But I¡¯ll have to master it.</i>


    Whether it was a skill, an item, or a person that came into his hands, Kai always sought to fully understand and maximize its efficiency. That was the method that had allowed him to survive tenaciously until now.


    ¡°<i>Phew</i>.¡±


    As Kai lightly sheathed his sword, the scabbard didn¡¯t make even the slightest sound.


    The members of the Holy Blood Order got a hint of Kai''s mastery from this action, watching in awe with their mouths agape.


    Kai, with a smile, said, ¡°Then, wait here for a bit.¡±


    Leading the Holy Blood Order to rescue the dwarves was a good n. But the problem was, he didn¡¯t know where they were being held.


    <i>I need to bring the radar.</i>


    In the next moment, Kai vanished with the wind.


    ***


    When Kai appeared suddenly out of thin air, the dwarf children looked at him in surprise.


    ¡°<i>Oh!</i> It¡¯s the adventurer Cami noona brought!¡±


    ¡°He disappeared in an instant before, and now he appeared just as quickly.¡±


    ¡°Is he a magician?¡±


    ¡°What? A thirty-year-old virgin?¡±


    Who on earth was responsible for educating these dwarf kids?


    Kai hoped he would get to see this person¡¯s face as he asked the children, ¡°Kids, do you know where Cami is?¡±


    ¡°Just like that?¡±


    Without hesitation, Kai pulled out a handful of candies and handed it to them.


    ¡°Cami noona is in that open area around the corner, drooling over scales and bones and stuff.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Guided by the kids¡¯ directions, Kai approached the open area where Cami was still entranced.


    ¡°<i>Hehe</i>, Sineras¡¯s bones, Sineras¡¯s scales, Sineras¡¯s sharp ws... Wha¡ª?!¡±


    When the materials in front of her suddenly vanished, her eyes shook with the despair of someone who had lost everything.


    ¡°Alright, the free trial is over. From here on, you¡¯ll need to pay for the premium service, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Cami looked like she was about to hand over her entire inventory as she asked, ¡°P-premium service? How much?¡±


    ¡°Well, I have plenty of money, so I don¡¯t need gold. Anyway, where¡¯s Sydney...¡±


    ¡°Then how am I supposed to subscribe? <i>Huh? </i>What do you want me to do? Just tell me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I don¡¯t want anything. <i>Oh</i>, but when we get the dwarves back, could you connect me with them? I n to entrust these materials to them.¡±


    ¡°<i>Huh?</i> Why would you give those to the dwarves?¡±


    When she responded with a puzzled expression, it was Kai who tilted his head in confusion.


    ¡°Why ask? Dwarves are masters in crafting. They¡¯ll make top-tier items from dragon materials.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean, why give them to the dwarves specifically? Leave them to me.¡±


    Stunned by her confident tone, Kai shook his head. ¡°I know you have a hidden ss, and I know you¡¯re probably skilled, but...¡±


    Kai wondered if she could really be on par with the dwarves.


    However, she looked at him seriously and said, ¡°I don¡¯t joke about things like this. If you give them to me, I¡¯ll make you the best equipment in the world.¡±


    ¡°Why would I do that with the dwarves around?¡±


    ¡°Well, that is...¡±


    Cami raised a finger to the air and tapped her interface.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[Cami wants to share her information with you. Do you ept?]</strong>


    ¡°ept.¡±


    With a reluctant expression, Kai epted her information, and his face quickly turned serious as he read through it.


    <strong>[Cami] </strong>


    <strong>ss: Challenger cksmith</strong>


    <strong>Level: 304</strong>


    <strong>Title: Meister</strong>


    <strong>HP: 45,100</strong>


    <strong>Mana: 31,500</strong>


    <strong>Stats</strong>


    <strong>Strength: 529 Stamina: 451</strong>


    <strong>Intelligence: 315 Agility: 37</strong>


    <strong>Holiness: 10 Dexterity: 621</strong>


    <strong><Skill List></strong>


    <strong>Advanced Material Fabrication LV.4</strong>


    <strong>Advanced Equipment Crafting LV.7</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Cami mmed the wall behind Kai with a forceful hand and jauntily said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry and leave it to this noona. I¡¯ll create the finest equipment for you.¡±

 Chapter 205: The Man of Darkness (1)

    <h4>Chapter 205: The Man of Darkness (1)</h4>


    Cami''s stat window was far better than Kai anticipated.


    <i>Her stats aren¡¯t as high as mine, but they¡¯re still better than the average yer perhaps because she has a hidden ss.</i>


    She likely also held numerous special titles rted to crafting, so her stats alone easily reached a level equivalent to someone of 350 or higher.


    <i>However...</i>


    There was a saying that a true artisan didn¡¯t me their tools, but higher stats certainly enhanced an artisan¡¯s abilities. Of course, high stats alone don¡¯t guarantee good equipment.


    <i>Equipment crafting relies more on experience and skills than just high stats.</i>


    And Kai saw evidence of her experience in Cami¡¯s skill list and title list.


    <strong><Skill List> </strong>


    <strong>Beauty of Challenge - Equipment crafted by the Challenger cksmith has three additional options.</strong>


    <strong>Infinite Challenge - If the Challenger cksmith fails in crafting, they can retry as many times as they wish.</strong>


    ¡°This is crazy...¡±


    Just from these two job-exclusive skills, he could already feel the sheer potential of the Challenger cksmith!


    <i>And not just one or two extra options, but three?</i>


    The additional attributes referred to bonus options attached to equipment. For example, a Clown¡¯s Shoes coulde with Agility and Stamina stats along with a Confusion skill, but the Challenger cksmith could add three extra options on top of that.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Which means, even if the quality of the equipment isn¡¯t perfect...</i>


    It could still surpass the performance of gear crafted by dwarves.


    Kai was already slightly wavering by her stats, but his decision was made the moment he saw some of the titles she had revealed.


    <strong><Title List></strong>


    <strong>One Who Stands with the Dwarves.</strong>


    <strong>Recognized by the Dwarves.</strong>


    <strong>Apprentice of the Dwarves.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <i>These titles mean that Cami¡¯s skills are better than any ordinary dwarf¡¯s.</i>


    Of course, there were probably some dwarf NPCs whose crafting skill levels reached Master level. But Kai kept it simple.


    <i>I have plenty of materials, anyway.</i>


    The Death Dragon Sineras was huge. Consequently, the amount of materials it yielded upon death was enormous. The scales alone, the primary material for crafting, numbered 350, while the bones totaled 500.


    It wouldn¡¯t hurt to let Cami take a test run with some of the materials.


    <i>Of course, I¡¯ll need to y hard to get a little.</i>


    He didn¡¯t want to make it seem like he was asking her for a favor. Besides, it was true¡ªhe didn¡¯t urgently need new gear, as his current gear items were more than sufficient.


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. Not bad,¡± Kai said.


    As those nonchnt words left Kai¡¯s mouth, Cami just blinked. ¡°Not bad...? That¡¯s weird. Did my information note through clearly?¡±


    ¡°No, it came through exactly, and I reviewed it. Your stats are definitely decent.¡±


    ¡°All you can say after seeing my stats is that it¡¯s <i>not bad?</i>¡±


    Slightly shocked, Cami looked into Kai¡¯s eyes, trying to discern if he was serious. But his gaze was as clear as a calmke and as rxed as clouds hanging over a mountain.


    <i>Well, I don¡¯t have any reason to give her excessive praise.</i>


    Because his own stats were far superior. In fact, he only thought it was fairly good after seeing her stat window.


    ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t even need new equipment right away.¡±


    ¡°What...? You¡¯re a closebat ss, aren¡¯t you? I could make you a fantastic armor set to rece those priest robes...¡±


    ¡°Can you make it Legendary?¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m asking if you can craft Legendary-grade gear.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with that out of the blue... Wait, no way.¡± Cami stopped mid-sentence, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Kai¡¯s priest robe, Nike. ¡°<i>Um</i>, can I just have a little peek at its info...¡±


    "Absolutely not."


    At Kai''s firm refusal, Cami bit her lower lip with a disappointed expression. "B-but I¡¯m confident I can make truly amazing equipment. Of course, a cksmith master might produce higher-grade items, but with my current skill, I could make somethingparable, or maybe even better with some luck."


    "<i>Hmm</i>. So, you really want to work on these materials, <i>huh?</i>"


    Kai casually took out some of Sineras''s materials from his inventory, hinting at his intentions.


    Cami nodded vigorously, eagerly agreeing. "Yes, yes! I¡¯ll make them into the best equipment. Just leave it to me."


    "Well, if you want it that badly, it wouldn¡¯t be too hard to let them to you. But what are you going to give me in return?"


    "<i>Huh?</i> Give you? I¡¯m making you equipment, aren¡¯t I?"


    "Strictly speaking, it¡¯s equipment I don¡¯t really need. Meanwhile, these dragon materials are the best items in the world, obtainable only by me. If I¡¯m entrusting them to you without any benefit to myself, don¡¯t you think you should give me something in return?"


    "N-now that you mention it, I guess that makes sense..." Convinced by his seemingly reasonable argument, Cami hit her chest in frustration. "<i>Argh! </i>I hate this kind of frustration, so just tell me already. What do you want?"


    "When your crafting skill reaches Master level in the future, make equipment for me first, before anyone else."


    Cami¡¯s eyes, filled with a desire to start working on the dragon materials immediately, now showed a hint of conflict.


    Kai didn¡¯t mind her hesitation in the slightest. In fact, her serious expression reassured him.


    <i>Is she actually giving it some real thought?</i>


    It had been a year since <i>MID Online</i> hadunched. So far, not a single yer reached the Master level in any skill, so its potential value was significant. Moreover, Cami would stand out even among cksmiths with her crafting skills, hidden ss aside.


    <i>If my prediction is correct, Cami will be the first to reach Master level in crafting skills.</i>


    If that came true, her value would skyrocket beyond imagination.


    <i>Where would other yers possibly find a Master-level cksmith?</i>


    The one absolute rule in any marketce was the Invisible Hand theory Adam Smith proposed. Supply and demand dictated price¡ªa straightforward principle.


    <i>So, what would equipment crafted by a master cksmith go for?</i>


    Every strike of her hammer would be worth tens of millions, at least. Even now, the best Unique-grade items were being traded for millions.


    <i>I wouldn¡¯t lose anything by trusting Cami now. But in the long run...</i>


    It was a massive gain. Even in the short term, it was more of a gain than a loss, and looking toward the future, it was an incredible investment!


    "<i>Hmm</i>..." After contemting for a while, Cami finally asked with a conflicted expression, "How many materials will you provide?"


    "I¡¯ll give you enough to make a full set."


    "Deal."


    It wouldn¡¯t be much of a loss for her either.


    <i>Among adventurers, she¡¯ll be the first to craft equipment using Red Dragon materials.</i>


    She would likely earn at least one special title from this, and if her skill proved impressive, she could even gain additional titles.


    Kai handed her a reasonable amount of scales, bones, and blood and said, "Do you know what equipment Blizzard¡¯s wearing?"


    "Blizzard? Who¡¯s that?"


    "<i>Oh</i>, the lizardman who travels with me."


    "<i>Ohh!</i> The one that briefly appeared in that Aoaa video? Yeah, I remember. Actually, wasn¡¯t that what you used to wear?"


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s called the Armor of the Undead Set, and its primary material was bone. There¡¯s also the set I wore during the battle with Aosa¡ªTyrant of the Sea.¡±


    The reason Kai mentioned this was simple. Each of those sets was crafted using bones and scales respectively.


    ¡°I see.¡± Cami instantly understood Kai¡¯s point, and smiled. "So, you prefer designs that have that kind of sleek, flowing look?"


    ¡°It¡¯s better than something that looks unsophisticated.¡±


    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ve never worked with dragon materials before, so I can¡¯t be sure what kind of options mighte with them. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a Challenger cksmith. As long as I have the mental stamina, I can reforge the equipment as many times as needed.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± After a light handshake with her, Kai looked around. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Sydney?¡±


    ¡°You see that building over there? It¡¯s the temple dedicated to Horn, the God of Earth. She¡¯s probably in there.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll be off, then.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Kai!¡± As Kai turned his head, Cami spoke with a mature expression, ¡°Those bad guys... Please defeat them and rescue the dwarves. I know they¡¯re NPCs, but they¡¯re neighbors I¡¯ve lived with for months. I¡¯ll do my best on your equipment, so please... Please bring them back.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    The sincerity in Cami¡¯s voice resonated deeply with Kai, so he didn¡¯t let her continue with words that would only make her more emotional and embarrassed.


    "Just do your best on your own battlefield. Then I¡¯ll bring the best oue from mine."


    With a smile that seemed to brighten the surroundings, Kai gently patted her head.


    In response, Cami made a startled face and shoved Kai¡¯s chest. ¡°<i>Oh</i>, s-sorry. Anyway, you should get going! Bye!¡±


    After being sent away by Cami, Kai headed straight for the temple where Sydney was. As he walked through the hallway, he heard a voiceing from a candle-lit chapel.


    ¡°Oh, god who watches over our people, please ensure that the future of our kin is not dark, and may the adults who were taken face no harm and return safely...¡±


    Waiting for her prayer to end, Kai looked up at the statue of Horn with its thick beard and said, ¡°Sydney.¡±


    ¡°Great wizard <i>ahjussi</i>, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You came to get me, didn¡¯t you? To find the location of my people.¡±


    This kid was really sharp.


    Kai nodded with a grin, extending his hand. ¡°The way might be tough. Given the circumstances, I won¡¯t be able to match the pace of a young girl.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll receive that care from my parents when they return along with the others,¡± Sydney spoke firmly, cing her small, delicate hand in Kai¡¯s.


    ¡°Well then, sorry to drag you along at such a young age, but let¡¯s get going.¡±


    With a smile, Kai used Shadow Shift to bring her back to the Holy Blood Order members.


    ¡°So, where are the dwarves right now?¡±


    When he asked Sydney the Radar, she tightly closed her eyes and began to slowly say, ¡°... I see a desert with strong northeastern winds, twin peaks in the distance... <i>Oh!</i> It¡¯s a sinister ce filled with a strong scent of death.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re in the desert already? ¡°Did they cut straight through Snowy Mountains to reach the Kingdom of Havier...?¡±


    As Kai was about to unfold a map, one of the Holy Blood Order members raised a hand and said, ¡°<i>Huh?</i> Commander! I¡¯m from the Kingdom of Havier, so I know the area a bit, and I recognize the ce she described.¡±


    ¡°Really? Where is it?¡±


    Kai asked excitedly, but the Holy Blood Order member swallowed nervously, a horrified expression on his face, and replied, ¡°It¡¯s one of the four great cursednds of the continent called the Land of Death, the Tuhara Desert.¡±


    The moment they heard the name of the ce, the expressions of Kai and all the Holy Blood Order members subtly shifted.

 Chapter 207: The Man of Darkness (3)

    <h4>Chapter 207: The Man of Darkness (3)</h4>


    At the twin peaks in the Tuhara Desert, a man standing on the right peak muttered quietly, "Impressive."


    The man emitted a dark aura as if his entire body was enveloped in darkness. He was looking right through the desert sandstorms at the Holy Blood Order battling several kilometers away. His eyesight was truly unbelievable.


    "<i>Hmm</i>. Judging by the holy power they''re using, they must be some dregs from the Srian Church," the priest on the left peak responded.


    He looked reluctant to deal with the man of darkness.


    <i>Why would the Church send me to assist such an uncontroble piece of trash...?</i>


    This priest was a first-rank priest of the Church of Muldine. Even though he had been thoroughly indoctrinated since he was young, he couldn¡¯t help but question the Church¡¯s decision this time.


    <i>He¡¯s a scoundrel who doesn¡¯t even believe in Muldine. And I have no idea what he¡¯s even thinking.</i>


    However, the Church had ordered him to support the manpletely. While his promotion to first-rank priest at a young age promised further advancement, at this moment, he had no choice but to obey orders.


    As the priest suppressed his annoyance and groaned, the dark man asked again, "But those holy pdins'' skills are quite impressive. Did the Srian Church always have a force like that?"


    "I don¡¯t know."


    "Didn¡¯t you say just recently that the main branch of the Srian Church was under the Church of Muldine''s influence?"


    "Well, there was a minor issue. We n to reim it soon, so don¡¯t concern yourself with it."


    "Well, that¡¯s your business, so I won¡¯t say anything more. Just make sure nothing interferes with the n."


    "You don¡¯t need to remind me. Even the Church is quite interested in the revival of the Demon King."


    "<i>Hmm</i>." The dark man slowly turned his head and stared at the priest.


    Noticing his gaze, the priest furrowed his brows, and asked, "What are you looking at?"


    "Nothing. Nothing important..."


    The dark man raised his left arm, casually waving his hand. Suddenly, a ck hand emerged from the peak where the priest was standing, and grabbed him.


    Startled, the priest struggled, and said with rage, "W-what are you doing?! The Church of Muldine and the Demon King¡¯s followers are supposed to be in an alliance¡ª"


    "As you said, we¡¯re in an alliance, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m part of the Church of Muldine."


    "If my tone was unpleasant, I apologize."


    Barely concealing his irritation, the priest offered an apology, and the dark man gave a sly grin.


    "Since it¡¯s the first time and you apologized, I¡¯ll forgive you. But be more careful from now on."


    <i>Snap!</i>


    As the dark man snapped his fingers, the ck hand extended and brought the priest directly in front of him.


    "W-what the..."


    "<i>Hm?</i> I¡¯m just gonna take one of your fingers since it¡¯s the first time."


    At the dark man¡¯s nonchnt response, the priest said in anger, "Don¡¯t be ridiculous! If the higher-ups in the Church hear about this¡ª"


    "Oh, will that be a problem? Well, I guess there¡¯s no other choice then." The dark man showed deep regret in his expression, and slowly waved his right hand. "Goodbye."


    "What do you mean by...?! <i>Aaargh!</i>"


    <i>Crunch! Crunch!</i>


    In an instant, the ck hand transformed into the shape of a mouth and devoured the priest, leaving no trace behind. On the left peak, not a single drop of blood or scrap of flesh remained.


    The ck hand, having finished its meal, licked its lips before slowly vanishing.


    "<i>Hm</i>. Much quieter now."


    The dark man showed no reaction as he killed the priest.


    Instead, he muttered to himself, feeling refreshed, ¡°Contact the Church. Tell them to send someone new. <i>Oh!</i> And it would be nice if they could send someone with a bit more manners this time.¡±


    At his words, an eagle hovering in mid-air pped its wings and disappeared.


    ¡°Now then...¡±


    After one hour, two hours, and finally four hours of watching the Holy Blood Order, the dark man put on an alluring smile.


    ¡°<i>Hm</i>. So, I¡¯ve gauged their strength. That¡¯s about the extent of it.¡±


    With a look that suggested he had figured everything out, he slowly raised both hands.


    ¡°If that¡¯s all they¡¯ve got, they won¡¯t withstand this attack.¡±


    Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, his hands moved in intricate motions.


    <i>Snap! Snap!</i>


    The sound of two snaps pierced through the howling of the desert sandstorm. At the same time, a fierce sandstorm began to rise from below the twin peaks.


    <i>Rumble.</i>


    Like musical notes emerging at the conductor¡¯smand, over five hundred monsters sprang out, charging toward the Holy Blood Order.


    ¡°When you crush a sprout, you need to know the size of the sprout and the depth of its roots precisely.¡±


    Only then would there be no loose ends. The man of darkness had no doubt that the monsters would secure victory.


    ***


    <i>sh!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sharp de made a clean cut through a desert scorpion corrupted by dark energy from head to tail.


    <strong>[You have defeated the Demonically Corrupted Desert Scorpion.]</strong>


    <strong>[+307,413 XP.]</strong>


    Kai brushed his sweat-drenched hair back and let out a sigh. He didn¡¯t feel tired thanks to his Reaper of the Battlefield title, but sweat still poured down like rain. Of course, he was the only one with such monstrous stamina on the battlefield.


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff!</i>¡±


    ¡°Are there normally this many monsters in the Tuhara Desert?¡±


    ¡°They just keeping!¡±


    ¡°How many hours has it been?!¡±


    The Holy Blood Order had been in the Tuhara Desert for four hours, fighting continuously without rest. Since they were highly skilled individuals, they had already defeated over a hundred monsters. Thanks to this, Kai, who was leading them, even leveled up once.


    <i>For now, things are manageable thanks to everyone¡¯s stats being boosted by the Commander of the Holy Blood Order title effect, but...</i>


    Kai nced frustratedly at the dust cloud rising once again in the distance. That dust cloud, which they had already seen several times, signaled the approach of yet another wave of monsters.


    ¡°Here theye again.¡±


    ¡°Commander, something about this doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Jafa, the member of the Holy Blood Order from Havier, approached Kai and said with a serious expression. ¡°The Tuhara Desert is indeed a dangerous ce. Its terrain is treacherous, its climate strange, and it¡¯s highly susceptible to dark energy.¡±


    "Right. I can tell it''s a dangerous ce after facing it."


    ¡°However, I¡¯ve never heard of monsters swarming like this.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    When Kai turned to look at him, Jafa swallowed and replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange to you? Monsters typically act on instinct. When they¡¯re hungry, they attack prey; when they¡¯re tired, they sleep. And corrupted by dark energy, the monsters in the Tuhara Desert should be even more instinct-driven than usual.¡±


    ¡°Get to the point.¡±


    ¡°If we were simply unlucky enough to have this many monsters nearby, they would have all attacked us at once.¡±


    Kai furrowed his brows at Jafa¡¯s words.


    <i>All at once?</i>


    As he took a moment to slowly retrace his thoughts, his expression instantly hardened.


    <i>Indeed. If these creatures were just ordinary field monsters, this wouldn¡¯t make any sense.</i>


    Fundamentally, monsters knew the concept of territory. As a result, they didn¡¯t hesitate to fight other groups of monsters that invaded their habitat. However, the monsters that had attacked the Holy Blood Order so far had never once attacked each other.


    <i>I just assumed they happened toe from different directions by coincidence, so I hadn¡¯t really thought about it...</i>


    But after hearing Jafa¡¯s words, the situation seemed very suspicious.


    <i>Rather than assuming only the Tuhara Desert has some sort of bug...</i>


    It made more sense to consider that someone could be controlling the monsters.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>In fact, those we¡¯re pursuing are the kind who treat monsters as their own army.</i>


    Kai urgently looked back at Jafa and asked, ¡°Jafa, is there any way to control monsters corrupted by dark energy?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure... <i>Oh!</i> Come to think of it...¡± Jafa, who had been watching the approaching cloud of sand, swallowed hard and said, ¡°Commander, do you know why there¡¯s so much dark energy in the Tuhara Desert?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the ce where the Demon King was resurrected.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. This ce has always been a treacherousnd, feared by even a nation¡¯s army and powerful mercenaries. For that reason, the Demon King¡¯s followers hid here and carried out the resurrection. As a result, this desert became cursed, with dark energy flowing through it all year long. But there have been strange rumors circting for some time now.¡±


    ¡°Strange rumors?¡±


    ¡°Most Demon Kings possessed powerful abilities to control monsters. It¡¯s why the world would tremble in fear of destruction the moment a Demon King appeared. There were rumors that some of the Demon King¡¯s followers awakened simr powers to control monsters, though it¡¯s never been proven.¡±


    ¡°Followers controlling monsters?¡±


    "It¡¯s not something we can dismiss so easily. There are many notorious dark wizards among those who follow the Demon King.¡±


    A Demon King who controlled monsters, followers of such a king, and now, a mysterious force that controlled monsters.


    <i>It all connects somehow.</i>


    Kai believed Jafa''s theory, even if it might just be a mere hypothesis. After all, it aligned with the events currently unfolding, and as always, his unique intuition warned him.


    <i>Always assume the worst-case scenario. If the monsters we¡¯ve been facing were all controlled by someone...</i>


    Kai questioned why the enemy sent the monsters in waves instead of all at once.


    <i>If it were me, I¡¯d never do it this way.</i>


    Sending all the monsters at once would have been far more effective, but the enemy had sent them in small, spaced-out waves.


    Then Jafa added, "Moreover, the members are mentally exhausted. Being from the desert, I can hold out fairly well, but... damn it. It feels like some kind of training exercise¡ªwhy are they sending the monsters in this way?"


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s almost like... wait, training?¡±


    Kai¡¯s eyes sparkled as he muttered the word training repeatedly.


    <i>Training, training... Right. If the opponent was poking at us like this, using repeated trials to gauge our capabilities...?</i>


    Kai instinctively realized his thoughts were correct. The fact that the monsters sent at them had been of different types every time meant something simple.


    <i>They¡¯re trying to find out our weaknesses, to see what situations wear us down the most.</i>


    What a terrifyingly meticulous enemy!


    Kai broke into a cold sweat as he gazed at the approaching cloud of sand, sensing the wicked intent of his opponent.


    <i>If I were them...</i>


    If evaluating the capabilities of the Holy Blood Order was the purpose, then the past four hours would have provided more than enough samples. Meaning, the enemy had only one option left to choose at this moment.


    ¡°W-wait a minute. What is that?!¡±


    ¡°Commander! The monsters... The monsters!¡±


    ¡°Dang it, there''s no end in sight!¡±


    ¡°There must be at least five hundred of them!¡±


    It was a fierce offensive meant to cut the lifeline of the Holy Blood Order.

 Chapter 208: The Man of Darkness (4)

    <h4>Chapter 208: The Man of Darkness (4)</h4>


    "Are they the ones Sora mentioned seeing?"


    It was a horde of monsters arranged almost like an army. Kai could feel it for sure as he watched the approaching monsters.


    <i>They¡¯re really like an army.</i>


    Even during the Invasion Event, the monsters attacked cities and viges like an army. However, calling them a well-organized army would have been an exaggeration.


    <i>It was just dozens of different monsters mixed together, charging forward, and that was it.</i>


    However, the monsters approaching the Holy Blood Order now were different. They were divided into flying monsters and ground monsters, for starters. On top of that, they were astonishingly arranged ording to their respective attack ranges.


    <i>It¡¯s as if someone ssified the monsters by unit... Who is it?</i>


    Could it perhaps be the doing of the man of darkness Cami had mentioned?


    Kai nced at the Holy Blood Order, who appeared anxious, and pondered for a moment.


    <i>We could run away if we needed to right now.</i>


    Since entering the Tuhara Desert, the Holy Blood Order had been forced back by the monsters'' assault and couldn''t advance even a single step. That meant that the dark red veil was directly behind them.


    If he turned around and sprinted, he was confident he could escape the Tuhara Desert within ten seconds.


    <i>But if I did that, I¡¯d never find the dwarves.</i>


    Even if he returnedter, he would have to confront these monsters at some point. Moreover, it was hard to believe the dwarves would be safe by then.


    <i>This difficulty level is seriously messed up.</i>


    Holding his throbbing forehead, Kai let out a sigh rising from deep within his chest.


    The holy items he had already obtained, like the Holy Pauldron and Holy Ring, were the same kind of holy relic, but the difficulty level for obtaining them had been much lower.


    <i>No, originally, even those would have been tough.</i>


    What if he hadn''t acquired the Sris Cleric ss through an absurd method? What if he hadn¡¯t had the chance to meet the mermaids or elves?


    <i>I would have had to wander the sea looking for a single ring and break through the armies of the Church of Muldine and the dark elves just to find the Holy Pauldron.</i>


    But life was all about timing! Kai had visited the two ns faster than anyone else, brilliantly destroying the Church of Muldine¡¯s shallow schemes. Thanks to that, he was able to obtain two holy items so easily that it could be called a free gift.


    However, that resulted in the current situation.


    ¡°They¡¯re really determined this time.¡±


    It seemed his opponent was dead set on ensuring he wouldn''t be able to rescue the dwarves.


    <i>The fact that they targeted the dwarves suggests that the Church of Muldine is behind this. However, while the Church of Muldine might be able to corrupt monsters, they don¡¯t have the power to control such a vast number.</i>


    In that case, it was highly likely that the Church of Muldine had joined forces with the Demon King''s followers. He had expected this. Having faced repeated failures, the Church of Muldine had evidently made a substantial gamble this time.


    ¡°What a hassle for a single sword.¡±


    <i>Crack, crack.</i>


    Kai loosened his neck as he stepped forward to the front of the Holy Blood Order, looking at the approaching monsters.


    ¡°Well, well. Looks like they only sent the small fry earlier, <i>huh?</i>¡±


    Kai let out a smallugh as he looked at the lineup of monsters. Usually, no matter how smart animal-type monsters were, they were less intelligent than humanoid monsters.


    <i>From poison mummies to desert ogres and the desert ghosts... It''s aplete set.</i>


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Each one was a difficult, high-level monster to deal with, and even flying around were desert bats with their annoying ultrasonic attacks!


    ¡°I guess there¡¯s no other choice.¡±


    Kai looked back at the Holy Blood Order members and asked, ¡°What are your opinions on the undead?¡±


    To that question, the Holy Blood Order members red at the approaching monsters and replied in voices filled with conviction.


    ¡°Poor souls wandering in the world even after death!¡±


    ¡°We must grant them death and send them to the ce they should have gone to.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re monsters that we must all tear apart. That remains unchanged.¡±


    ¡°The undead are vile beings used only by evil people. We must sh every one we see.¡±


    The Holy Blood Order members disyed a far stronger rejection than he expected! But thinking about it, it was natural. For the Order¡¯s holy pdins who used holy power, the undead were their top priority to eliminate.


    <i>This is not good...</i>


    His army of duhans was needed to somehow raise the odds of winning this battle. However, summoning them without any prior exnation would likely lead to significant bacsh. If the situation grew more dire, the Holy Blood Order members could even end up attacking the duhans.


    <i>Then should I try using that?</i>


    Kai discreetly checked the additional effect he gained as his Charisma skill leveled up to Intermediate.


    <strong>[Sophistry: Confuses the listener with absurd words. However, there¡¯s a very high chance of failure.]</strong>


    Without relying on a skill like this, it would be extremely difficult to sway the minds of these faithful people.


    ¡°<i>Ahem</i>. Honestly speaking, the undead aren¡¯t inherently evil. They are merely pitiful beings who couldn¡¯t cross over after death. The ones who use them as tools of ughter are the bad ones. Just as one cannotpare a sword held by a knight to one held by a petty thief.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You used the additional effect, Sophistry, of the Intermediate Charisma skill.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Holy Blood Order members feel slight confusion, but their dislike of the undead remains unchanged.]</strong>


    ¡°Fight fire with fire. Heat with heat. Poison with poison.¡±


    Kai slowly walked forward as he continued his speech. Before he knew it, the Silent Longsword of Frost was in his right hand.


    ¡°The Patrick whom you all respect so deeply was a realist. He even left behind this famous saying.¡±


    Kai clenched the hilt with both hands and slowly swung his sword toward the approaching hundreds of monsters.


    "Victory can protect everything. However, there is nothing that can be protected from defeat."


    <i>sh!</i>


    The massive sword wind created by Kai¡¯s de flew straight toward the monster army, hitting them head-on.


    ¡°<i>Kyaaaah!</i>¡±


    ¡°<i>Grrroooar!</i>¡±


    Of course, the damage inflicted wasn¡¯t significant. However, their formation was slightly disrupted.


    <i>A tightly interlocked set of gears has no reason to break.</i>


    But the moment even oneponent failed, all the gears came to a halt.


    Kai shouted loudly to the three hundred or so Holy Blood Order members who were looking at him, "Now, make your choice! Will you trust me, who has inherited Patrick''s will and mastered the Swordsmanship of the Dawn, to win this battle? Or will you choose defeat?"


    ¡°H-he¡¯s the sessor of Patrick?¡±


    ¡°Then his incredible strength does make sense...¡±


    ¡°<i>Ah! </i>Now that I think about it, every time we got close to the Commander, the air grew hotter. That must be a trace of the unique skill Supernova, which Patrick used frequently!¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The Sophistry skill sessfully took effect.]</strong>


    <strong>[The Holy Blood Order members still despise the undead, but they trust you, the sessor of Patrick, even more.]</strong>


    To Kai, the notification sounded like this: <i>Now it¡¯s time for my undead to run wild freely.</i>


    The Knight of Nightmare on his left hand began to emit a purple glow.


    ***


    The start of a sh between armies was always important. Even in one-on-one battles, morale yed a crucial role. Especially whenrades were dying in real-time beside them, the army''s morale would inevitably plummet.


    For that reason, Kai took the lead, facing the enemy vanguard head-on.


    ¡°Swordsmanship of the Dawn!¡±


    As Kai¡¯s sword reflected the sunlight, one of the poison mummy¡¯s arms shed and floated into the air. It was like the starting gun of a marathon, setting everyone into motion. Of course, his allies moved forward, while the enemy retreated, which was the difference.


    <i>Good start.</i>


    Satisfied with the opening, Kai carefully withdrew to the rear of the army to observe the situation.


    <i>The situation is manageable. But with the duhans at level 344, they won¡¯t be much help.</i>


    Considering the enemy monsters¡¯ levels were close to 400, the duhans were little more than cannon fodder, but Kai soon thought of a way to use them very effectively.


    <i>Their attack power won¡¯t work against those monsters...</i>


    But the explosion when they died would be exceptional! Thus, Kai gathered the duhan army around him and summoned Mimic.


    ¡°Mimic, imitate the King Sand Worm, then put each of these guys in your mouth and spit them out over there. Got it?¡±


    ¡°<i>Kyuu</i>,¡± Mimic, disguised as a King Sand Worm, nodded in understanding.


    Then it began spitting out the duhans one by one into the enemy lines!


    <i>This isn¡¯t exactly a catapult, so what should I even call this?</i>


    Once dropped into enemy territory, the duhans, due to their low health, didn¡¯tst more than two seconds before dying. Of course, the area damage they inflicted upon death was a given!


    ¡°<i>Ptooey!</i>¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    ¡°<i>Ptooey!</i>¡±


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Even though the monsters were under control, seeing their formation breaking and their allies dying in real-time left them disoriented.


    <i>No matter how intelligent they may be, monsters are still monsters. They¡¯re probably taken aback by now.</i>


    Not that the opponent had any particr action they could take. Well, it wasn¡¯t as if they had no options at all.


    ¡°So, they¡¯reing after all.¡±


    ¡°<i>Kieeeek!</i>¡±


    Flying past the Holy Blood Order members, the desert bats soared directly at Mimic, targeting it with their attacks.


    ¡°No way am I letting my Mimic get hurt. I protect my pets.¡±


    ¡°<i>Kyuu, kyuoo</i>...¡±


    With a voice that sounded touched, Mimic stayed behind Kai as he lowered his sword and muttered, ¡°Wrath of the Sun.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[The sunlight is especially strong in this area. +50% attack power to Wrath of the Sun.]</strong>


    ¡°Dang.¡±


    With unexpected support, the sunlight streaming down scorched the wings of the desert bats.


    ¡°<i>Kieek?!</i>¡±


    ¡°<i>Kieeeeek!</i>¡±


    <i>Thud, thud!</i>


    The desert bats¡¯ wings fell to the ground!


    Kai gathered the fallen materials and then approached the desert bats crawling on the ground.


    ¡°<i>Kieeek!</i>¡±


    Laying t on the ground, the desert batsunched ultrasonic attacks.


    <i>Troublesome attack.</i>


    The ultrasonic attacks dealt substantial damage, but the scariest part was that the skill¡¯s range wasn¡¯t visible. Moreover, it was too fast to even react, making it impossible to avoid.


    The moment Kai¡¯s ankle sank into the desert sand, an unknown force brushed past his body.


    <i>It¡¯s ultrasonic.</i>


    As soon as that thought crossed his mind, all the desert bats simultaneously turned their heads andunched ultrasonic attacks at him.


    Hit by dozens of ultrasonic waves, Kai knelt down, blood dripping from his nose.


    ¡°<i>Kihehehe</i>.¡±


    ¡°<i>Kieeeng!</i>¡±


    The desert batsughed, mocking the foolish adventurer who dared approach them and met his end. With their vision deteriorated, the bats located their prey by the resonance of the ultrasonic waves.


    ¡°But they won¡¯t realize it¡¯s fake.¡±


    Clown¡¯s Shoes was a Unique-grade item with the special skill Confusion!


    Kai¡¯s form, kneeling in the sand and bleeding, faded away like a mirage in the desert.


    ¡°<i>Kieng?</i>¡±


    The desert bats instinctively sensed something was wrong.


    Positioned right in the middle of them, Kai looked around at them with a nonchnt gaze and snapped his fingers.


    ¡°Wrath of the Sun.¡±


    It was the attack they couldn¡¯t avoid even when they were flying freely in the sky. Now, with their wings torn and crawling on the ground, their chances of avoiding this attack were practically zero.


    ¡°<i>Kieeeeek!</i>¡±


    ¡°<i>Kirararak!</i>¡±


    The desert bats screamed, but Kai calmly prepared his next skill.


    ¡°Chasing Light Arrow.¡±


    <i>Vwooom.</i>


    The particles of light that were spread out delicately, formed sharp arrows. And the moment Kai snapped his fingers, the hundreds of arrows formed pierced through the bodies of the desert bats.


    <strong>[+374,116 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+352,871 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[+...]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.]</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 10 stat points.]</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    The result of instantly taking down over fifty desert bats close to level 400 was indeed sweet. Kai smirked as he watched the duhan bombs sessfully hit their mark.


    ¡°Assessing your opponent and nning a slow strategy ismendable, but four hours isn¡¯t enough to figure me out.¡±


    It was a small warning directed at the mastermind who would be watching this scene from somewhere.


    ¡°You messed with the wrong person.¡±

 Chapter 209: Corrupted Angel’s Cradle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 209: Corrupted Angel¡¯s Cradle (1)</h4>


    The man of darkness observing the battle let out a tone as if amused, "<i>Oh?</i>"


    After four hours of observation, he thought he had grasped their skills entirely. But he was mistaken.


    <i>Is that guy their leader?</i>


    The man of darkness kept a close eye on the man who had charged ahead of everyone else, opened the battle, and single-handedly took down fifty desert bats.


    <i>Judging by his attire, he looks more like a priest than a pdin... Just who are you?</i>


    He was someone who could never suppress his curiosity once it was piqued.


    As he was about to leave the twin gorge, a voice stopped him.


    ¡ªStop right there. Are you nning to ruin the grand n?


    "This voice is... Is it you, Cardinal Atroc?"


    The man of darkness looked around with a curious expression. However, there was no trace of the speaker, nor any other creature nearby.


    <i>Impressive. An old eagle is better than a young crow, huh? I never thought he would transmit just a voice across such a distance...</i>


    Despite its decline, the Church of Muldine was once a force that struck terror across the continent. Atroc, the Cardinal of the church, was someone even the man of darkness couldn¡¯t treat lightly.


    Eventually, he took a step back and smiled, saying, "<i>Oh</i>, you could¡¯ve at least shown your face if you''vee. Only letting me hear your voice every time is making me feel sad."


    ¡ªI spoke only because I was concerned you¡¯d act on impulse and ruin things. Remember, I am always watching.


    "I¡¯m not exactly an exhibitionist, so that¡¯s a bit embarrassing. But you saw everything earlier, didn¡¯t you?"


    ¡ªA mere high-ranking priest is no concern. Having irked someone powerful, death is only to be expected.


    "This is why I respect you, Cardinal." The man of darkness chuckled as ck smoke began to spread over his body like spilled paint. "Since you issued a warning yourself, Cardinal, I¡¯ll go and just greet them briefly. That much should be fine, yes?"


    ¡ªAs long as you don¡¯t overdo it.


    ¡°I should lure them into the cradle.¡±


    ¡ªWhat... The dwarves are constructing an altar there. That¡¯s a dangerous approach.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Given their level, they wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat the guardian of the cradle even if they tried.¡±


    ¡ªAre you certain?


    ¡°Yes. The cradle¡¯s guardian possesses the Demon King¡¯s bloodline, and isn''t vulnerable to ordinary attacks.¡±


    As the man of darkness gestured, a majestic white sword appeared in midair.


    "Without a holy sword, it¡¯s impossible to evennd a blow. However, the holy sword is in my possession, isn¡¯t it?"


    ¡ªVery well. I¡¯ll trust your judgment.


    With those words, Cardinal Atroc¡¯s presence vanished.


    A momentter, the man of darkness also faded away like paint washing off a canvas.


    ***


    ¡°Good! Just a little more!¡±


    ¡°Victory is within reach!¡±


    The Holy Blood Order members were in a state of high excitement, anticipating their imminent victory. The horde of monsters that had attacked them had been powerful, but in the end, they had proven stronger.


    <i>No, to be precise...</i>


    <i>It was the Commander. He was stronger.</i>


    Covered in the red and blue blood of monsters, Kai showed no signs of exhaustion as he plunged into the battlefield, cutting down any monster in his path. He was, quite literally, a death reaper¡ªa relentless demon on the battlefield!


    ¡°<i>Huff, huff</i>.¡±


    As the battle progressed, his mental exhaustion grew, but paradoxically, his de became sharper. It was a strange sensation; it was as if every nerve was focused on the front of his head.


    The moment Kai took in the scene before him, he instantly read the trajectory of the enemies¡¯ attacks and moved. His lower body moved first, followed by his upper body, slicing through enemies as he went.


    <i>sh!</i>


    The term one-man army didn¡¯t do justice to the disy of divine power! That sight alone was more than enough to gain the overwhelming faith and trust of the Holy Blood Order members.


    ¡°The Commander is fighting with us!¡±


    ¡°Follow the legend of the Church, the Pdin of Radiance!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no defeat on the battlefield with him by our side!¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have demonstrated overwhelming strength, greatly boosting the morale of your allies.]</strong>


    <strong>[+5% to allies¡¯ health and mental strength.]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 Dignity points.]</strong>


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <i>Crunch!</i>


    Kai broke the neck of a desert ogre, then took a moment to steady his heavy breathing as he looked around.


    <i>This should be enough.</i>


    Even with the Reaper of the Battlefield effect that kept him from tiring, he could still feel fatigue setting in¡ªa sign of his mental exhaustion. But thanks to his relentless effort, only a few dozen monsters remained.


    Kai nced at the battlefield that was nearly finished and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°<i>Whew</i>. Holy Blood Order status window.¡±


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>Faction: Holy Blood Order</strong>


    <strong>Rank: S-</strong>


    <strong>Members: 300 </strong>


    <strong><Member Status></strong>


    <strong>Karakal LV 410. Status: Stable.</strong>


    <strong>Sirdo LV 408. Status: Stable.</strong>


    <strong>Dek LV 402. Status: Stable.</strong>


    <strong>Teferen LV 394. Status: Critical.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    Through the status screen, Kai could check the current state of the Holy Blood Order members. By tapping on a member he wanted more detailed information about, an additional status window would disy.


    Through the faction window, Kai identified those who seemed to need assistance and provided focused support.


    <i>Defeating a lot of monsters is important, but not losing any members of the Holy Blood Order is way more important.</i>


    The Holy Blood Order, now fully under hismand, was an S-rank group. This meant each member was as strong as, if not stronger than, a typical field boss monster.


    <i>And tounch a full-scale siege, the Holy Blood Order is my instant source of power.</i>


    Of course, mobilizing such elite forces for a siege would require a valid cause. But Kai wasn¡¯t overly concerned about that.


    <i>Those big guilds are increasing taxes like crazy.</i>


    After the Invasion Event ended, <i>MID Online</i> entered an era of territorial battles. There were currently 299 territories across the continent controlled by yers, but fewer than 10% of these territories were collecting regr taxes.


    <i>As a result, NPCs are facing all sorts of hardships.</i>


    In the end, it was the NPCs¡ªresidents of these cities¡ªwho suffered under the burden of skyrocketing taxes. Kai nned to use this fact as the justification for his siege.


    The reason he, who usually acted quietly, was so intent on a siege was simple.


    <i>I need to take the eastern region of the Kingdom of Rashion.</i>


    It was all for his city, Libertia.


    <i>Libertia will soon be the goose thatys golden eggs¡ªor rather, diamonds.</i>


    Even now, the city was gaining attention as a must-visit destination due to its specialty products crafted by elves and mermaids and its beautiful urbanndscape.


    <i>And if I can safely rescue the dwarves and bring them there...</i>


    Normally, one plus one equals two, but sometimes it produces an effect of three or even four. And this was one of those cases.


    <i>The dwarves will continuously mine minerals from the mines belonging to Libertia, and they¡¯ll beautify the city, which is still somewhatcking.</i>


    The visit to the dwarves¡¯ shelter had only solidified these thoughts. With their artistic craftsmanship, Libertia¡¯s growth would triple or quadruple. However, that wasn¡¯t all Kai aimed for.


    <i>Production-ss yers from all over the world will visit Libertia.</i>


    For yers in production sses, dwarves were considered the best of the best¡ªespecially for architects and cksmiths. They would visit the city, even for a chance at the smallest bit of guidance.


    <i>Since they won¡¯t just be doing nothing, high-quality gear will be produced in the city every day.</i>


    Kai had already spoken with Karius and Queen nia to secure space for building workshops! He nned to rent out buildings, designed and marketed like real-world studio apartments, to them at a high price.


    <i>The monthly revenue will be at least a few hundred million.</i>


    Considering Libertia wasn¡¯t even the size of a metropolis, it was a huge profit. A prime piece ofnd that anyone would want! Kai knew he needed a way to protect Libertia because of this, and that was how he came to the conclusion of securing the eastern region of Rashion.


    <i>There are currently two ways to gain a noble title.</i>


    One was to develop a city owned by him into a metropolis with a poption of over 100,000. However, Kai had already given up on that option.


    <i>Libertia will be a city strictly for non-human races. Even if I ept NPCs, they¡¯ll have to be carefully selected. So realistically, reaching a poption of 100,000 will be difficult.</i>


    Additionally, to amodate 100,000 residents, the city would need significant development. It would require massive funds and manpower. In the end, the first option was a path for giant guilds like the top ten.


    <i>I only take what I can manage myself.</i>


    Kai shifted his focus to the other option.


    <i>Owning three or more territories.</i>


    In other words, it was more about quantity than quality! Kai nned to acquire two additional territories to obtain a noble title.


    <i>Once I have a noble title, regr yers won¡¯t even be able to dere sieges on Libertia.</i>


    It would serve as an excellent temporary measure to protect Libertia.


    With his thoughts organized, Kai opened the map and smiled.


    <i>Once this mission isplete, it¡¯s straight to siege battles.</i>


    He always nned at least two steps ahead.


    As he wore a satisfied expression, a notification window appeared before him.


    <i>Ding!</i>


    <strong>[You have defeated the entire army corrupted by demonic magic.]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! Not a single ally has died.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have gained extra XP for achieving a major victory.]</strong>


    <strong>[+4,817,546 XP.]</strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.] </strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.] </strong>


    <strong>[Level increased.] </strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>.</strong>


    <strong>[Acquired 25 stat points.]</strong>


    The names of the Holy Blood Order members began to shine even on the faction status screen.


    ¡°<i>Wow!</i> I feel as though the power of Helik is filling me!¡±


    ¡°<i>Hm.</i> Earlier, I struggled with that desert ogre, but somehow, I feel like I could defeat it with ease now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gained new enlightenment!¡±


    Just like yers who leveled up by gaining XP from defeating monsters, the same applied to NPCs.


    <i>The Holy Blood Order members already had high levels, so the one who gained the most only leveled up twice.</i>


    Members of the Pray guild also saw great benefits, but their XP gain was far less than that of theirmander, Kai.


    ¡°Jafa, everyone looks exhausted. We need to find a ce to rest.¡±


    ¡°If we walk just a few more kilometers, we¡¯ll reach the twin gorge. There¡¯s an oasis there, so it should be a good spot to rest.¡±


    ¡°Good. Lead the way... <i>Hm?</i>¡±


    As Kai was speaking, he felt an unpleasant, hair-raising sensation that made him shudder, and he turned to look behind him.


    ¡°<i>Wow</i>, I wasn¡¯t expecting it, but you actually won.¡± The man of darknessnded softly on the red sand, ncing around and pping. ¡°I have to say, I¡¯m genuinely impressed. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually win. By all ounts, our side had the advantage, but <i>hmm</i>. I might need to analyze this further.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?!¡± Teferen, the Holy Laterre, drew his sword and threatened.


    He instinctively judged that someone exuding such an evil aura could not possibly be an ally.


    ¡°<i>Haha</i>, I didn¡¯te to fight. I just came to say hello.¡±


    ¡°Teferen, get back,¡± Kai issued a warning.


    Though the opponent acted casually, as if on a mere stroll, an unexinable sense of danger washed over Kai.


    <i>This feeling...</i>


    At some point, somewhere, he had experienced this feeling before.


    As Kai felt an inexplicable familiarity that left him confused, Teferen charged forward boldly, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll subdue him quickly and make himpliant!¡±


    ¡°Come on now. I told you I didn¡¯te here to fight.¡±


    As the man of darkness¡¯s voice grew slightly colder, a ck hand shot out from thin air, striking Teferen in the abdomen.


    ¡°<i>Kugh!</i>¡± After rolling several times across the sand, Teferen coughed and spat out sand.


    However, as if unsatisfied, the ck hand shot toward Teferen once more.


    ¡°Supernova.¡±


    As the desert heat intensified, Kai¡¯s figure cut through the wind and burst forward.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Kai¡¯s sword shed with the dark hand, making it slightly recoil. At the same time, his eyes moved swiftly.


    <i>We exchanged attacks. Now I¡¯m in a hostile state with him.</i>


    This meant he could now see the opponent¡¯s name and level. But the moment he checked the information that appeared above the man¡¯s head, Kai¡¯s expression hardened.


    <strong>[Zirukan LV.742]</strong>


    <i>Why are you here...?</i>


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