by Park Saenal
“I should’ve left it…”
As you could see, I currently had 0 stat points. Why? I invested 70 points into strength.
“It couldn’t be helped, since it made hunting the canyon spiders easier.”
The canyon spiders had excellent defense. I increased strength in order to do a little bit more damage. But now I regretted it.
“I should’ve collected the stat points until I got Pagma’s Swordsmanship…”
My maximum mana increased by three points every time I gained one point in intelligence. If I still had the 70 stat points from yesterday, I could increase my intelligence and gain a certain amount of mana. It was too bad.
“…I need to raise intelligence.”
I was very annoyed at the thought of not being able to use the skills I learned because of a lack of mana. Who wouldn’t be nervous at not being able to use some skills? So I made an unusual choice.
“Hunting! Level up! Increase intelligence by raising my level! At the minimum, I need enough mana to use Kill!”
Kill was a skill that deal 1500% of my attack power to a target. But 1,200 mana was required to use Kill. In other words, I needed at least 400 points in intelligence.
“Obtain 400 intelligence through levelling up!”
… It was my rough estimate.
“Hah, this sucks.”
I started hunting for the first time since becoming Pagma’s Descendant in order to obtain Pagma’s Swordsmanship. I faced the frostlight orcs in the northern snowfields and then the monsters in Kesan Canyon…
It was the fun taste of hunting after a long time.
‘That’s right. I became addicted to Satisfy through this taste.’
I could feel myself getting stronger through my level increase, and I was proud to see the gold and loot piled up in my inventory. For the moment, I should stay in Kesan Canyon and keep hunting.
But what was the reality? For me, hunting was a luxury. My family was sitting on a pile of debt. My parents and Sehee still couldn’t shake off their anxiety. I needed to make items instead of hunting so that my family could sleep more easily.
“Yes, I should return to Khan’s smithy quickly. Then I can obtain Dainsleif. Isn’t that good?”
I barely suppressed by desire to hunt and left the cave behind the waterfall. I was soothing my sorrow while admiring the stars in the night sky when-
“Kuwaaah!”
A roaring sound was heard from the bottom of the waterfall. There was a huge spray of water and I was surrounded by six mermen.
“… The fish are shaking.”
Mermen were male mermaids. But unlike the mermaids in fairy tales, Satisfy’s mermen were very ugly. I frowned as I saw the gills on the mermen.
“Are you going to dry out on land and choke to death?”
A merman in the front waved his trident and shouted threateningly. “Don’t worry about that and give me your heart!”
Mermen wanted human hearts for nutrition. They were as terrible as their appearance.
‘Six mermen…’
The mermen adjusted to the natural environment without much difficulty. Therefore, they were distributed throughout the continent. But the mermen living in Kesan Canyon were the most notorious. The mermen of Kesan Canyon had a level of 175, known to be one of the highest levels among the mermen on the continent.
‘The mermen are especially strong in the water. There are six of them…’
Before I learned Pagma’s Swordsmanship, I would be trying to run away from this place. But things were different now. I raised the +8 Ideal Dagger which shone a darker blue in the darkness. I wasn’t going to give the mermen my heart.
“You want to take my heart? Or should I just eat all of you?”
A merman snorted. “Bah! This human is bluffing.”
Swaaah.
The mermen moved on the water at a tremendous speed, like a surfboard meeting a wave. I waited for them to get close to me. Just before a trident was going to hit my body, “Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Restraint!”
At the moment, my body started dancing. The blue light radiating from the Ideal Dagger shone in the moonlight as my body moved quietly. Then!
“…!!”
The mermen’s rush stopped, like it was originally a lie. The mermen acted restless and struggled to get away from me. I hurriedly linked some skills before they could escape from the influence of Restraint.
“Blacksmith’s Rage!”
[Blacksmith’s Rage has been activated. Your attack power and attack speed will increase significantly for 20 seconds.]
“Wind Blast!”
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
“Kyaak!”
The blade of wind scraped against the mermen’s upper bodies.
[You have dealt 3,750 damage to the target.]
[You have dealt 3,802 damage to the target.]
Mermen had excellent defense on their lower bodies which were covered in scales, but their human upper bodies were weaker. Therefore, attacks on the upper body were very painful. I attacked in rapid succession before stopping.
‘Shit, I ran out of mana.’
I quickly opened my inventory and took out an inferior mana recovery potion. After confirming that my mana had fully recovered, I deactivated Pagma’s Swordsmanship. Then I used the skill I developed.
“Wind of Justice!”
Pepeng! Pepepepeng!
Wind of Justice exerted a powerful destructive blast that couldn’t be compare to Wind Blast. By deactivating Pagma’s Swordsmanship, my attack power and chances of a critical hit increased, making the destructive power more enormous.
Wind of Justice swept over the mermen from side to side, and those struck in the upper body couldn’t even scream.
“Quick Movements!”
[Quick Movements has been activated. Your agility and evasion rate will increase significantly for 1 minute.]
Splash splash!
I suddenly plunged into the mermen. Then I started to slash at their upper bodies with the +8 Ideal Dagger.
Chapter 80
Chapter 80
“Kiyaaaaak!”
‘Okay! Good!’
I felt bliss as I watched the mermen suffering every time I wielded my sword. It was because I felt stronger.
[The Best Gauntlets option effect is activated, causing you to attack the target twice.]
[The Ideal Dagger’s option effect is activated, instantaneously killing the target.]
One of the six mermen was killed due to the Ideal Dagger’s option activating. I was immediately attacked by the remaining five mermen. However, I was using a dagger as a weapon, while their weapons were 2m long tridents. They needed a certain distance to attack me properly.
“Grrr!”
In the end, the mermen gave up on the immediate counterattack. They moved a certain distance away and glared at me wildly. I followed and attacked one of them relentlessly.
Bam bam bam!
“Kiik!”
The merman were monsters famous for having a strong camaraderie. The mermen didn’t know what to do as I stuck to their companion like a leech and stabbed. They wanted to help, but were afraid they would end up being stabbed. Indeed, they were stupid bastards.
‘Mermen… these damn guys!’
As a warrior, I fought mermen at Lake Fabian. The mermen at Lake Fabian were very low level, unlike the mermen here, but they were very strong opponents at the same time. In the end, I was killed by them.
‘Revenge for back then!’
Puok!
“Kkuk!”
The merman received my dagger with no mercy and eventually died. The watching mermen shed tears of blood and started a violent onslaught.
[You have suffered 2,900 damage.]
[You have suffered 2,830 damage.]
Indeed, the mermen had powerful attacks. I lost more than half my health just from two of their attacks.
‘A fearsome strength! I am armed with the Frostlight Orc Chief’s Helmet and Khan’s Mast
erpiece, but I still received this much damage!’
But there was no need to be afraid. The cooldown time of my mana potion was up.
“Gulp.”
I used a new skill straight away after verifying my mana gauge.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Wave!”
My body was like Loran Falls behind me, but the calm stream started to move. Then waves of energy shot in every direction.
Pepepepeng!
“Kiyaaaaak!”
The four mermen were hit simultaneously and screamed in pain. They tried to counterattack but due to the influence of Wave, their movement speed and attack speed were slowed by almost two times. It wasn’t difficult to deal the final blow.
“Wind Blast!”
“Kyaaak!”
In the end, all six mermen died and I confirmed the money, japtem and experience that dropped.
[Your level has risen.]
“Invest 10 points in intelligence.”
[You have invested 10 points in intelligence. Is this correct?]
“Yes.”
After 10 points in intelligence, my mana rose to exactly 600. There was still a long way to go, but I was very proud.
‘If I make an item, my stats will rise. Someday, I will have enough mana to use Pagma’s swordsmanship freely. But I don’t know when that will be…’
By the time I paid back the debt, would I have thousands of mana? As I imagined it and prepared to leave, a man appeared before me. It was a man with a scraggly beard. He was also wearing odd clothing. At a glance…
‘A beggar.’
What? This beggar?
‘Don’t tell me he wants money?’
I was concerned that he would beg me for money, so I hurriedly tried to leave this place. But then the beggar called out to me. “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“… Ah, damn.”
Of course this beggar would be asking me for money.
‘He found the wrong person.’
I wasn’t proud of it, but I never once put 10 won in the Salvation Army donation box during my 26 years of living. Therefore, I had no intention of helping a beggar in the game.
‘How can I help when I am trying to stay alive in the first place?’
I turned around calmly as the beggar placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Can’t you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Then why aren’t you answering?”
“Why would I reply to a beggar?”
The man’s face distorted. “What? Beggar? I am a beggar?”
“You aren’t? You look exactly like a beggar.”
“Kuk! Kuhahahaha!”
Was this beggar insane? Why was he laughing all of a sudden?
“Hey Mister, would you mind being quiet? This place smells of mermen blood and other merman might appear, so it will be dangerous to make loud noises.”
Gurgle gurgle!
As we were talking, a huge foam started to rise from the bottom of the waterfall. In the end, new mermen emerged. I guessed that more than six would appear, so I had wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible.
‘I don’t think I could fight more than seven.’
“Hey.”
I was hurrying away when the beggar called out to me again. But I responded without stopping.
“Hey beggar, if you don’t want to die, then just leave. Well, I don’t care if you die or not. Then I’m going…”
Peeng! Peeng! Peeng!
… Damn. I was too delayed because of the beggar. 11 mermen popped out of the water, surrounding me and the beggar.
“Who…? Someone murdered our kin!”
“I will kill you… Kill him and chew up his heart!”
I screamed towards the mermen. “I witnessed with my own eyes that this man killed your brethren!”
My finger pointed towards the beggar. This wasn’t an intentional act, it was instinctive. It was my nature to sacrifice other people for myself!
“You…! It was you!”
The mermen believed my words immediately and turned their eyes towards the beggar. Then I hurried to escape. However…
Chaeng!
‘…Sword?’
It was clearly the sound of a sword. I reflexively looked back and saw the beggar holding a longsword that would’ve been used in the past.
‘That’s clearly a sword! How does a beggar have such a thing?’
Perhaps he wasn’t a beggar? Yes, it was common sense to think that no ordinary beggar would be in Kesan Canyon. An ordinary beggar wouldn’t survive a day here!
‘Then this person…!’
I belatedly focused my attention above the beggar’s head. Then I confirmed the name.
‘Piaro.’
I didn’t know who he was, but he was clearly an NPC. The fact that the NPC approached me first must be related to a quest! The beggar, no Piaro spoke.
“I don’t like fish.”
Sasak! Sasasasak!
He was on a completely different dimension from me. I relied on my skills when dealing with the mermen. However, Piaro didn’t use any skills. He just fought the 11 mermen with his sword skills.
Clink.
His sword flashed a few times before Piaro placed his longsword back in his sheath. Then the mermen coughed up blood simultaneously and disappeared into grey light. I was stunned as I witnessed Piaro’s ridiculous display of strength. Then he said with a frown.
“You are the type of person who will sacrifice innocents to survive… You are the type of person I hate most in the world.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
I was afraid that he might be killed, so I apologized. Then he shook his head. “There is no need for any pretenses. I don’t want to talk to you for too long, so I will cut to the chase. Help me.”
Ttiring~
There was a familiar sound and the quest notification window popped up.
[The True Traitor of the Red Knights]
Difficulty: S
The Red Knights were once the strongest knight division on the continent. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Saharan Empire could now exist because of the Red Knights.
Asmophel, the vice captain of the Red Knights, had a secret rendezvous with the Empress. Then he framed Piaro, who knew the truth.
Due to Asmophel skillfully borrowing the power of the Empress, Piaro and his men were framed as traitors to the Emperor and were forced to flee.
Piaro couldn’t forgive Asmophel or the imperial family, who drove the lives of his comrades to the brink of ruin.
But it was impossible for Piaro to move directly due to the trackers scattered throughout the continent, who were released by Asmophel.
In the end, Piaro was forced to give up on revenge himself and needed to entrust it to an agent.
Quest Clear Conditions: Punish Asmophel.
Quest Clear Reward: Title ‘Agent of Revenge.’
* Agent of Revenge: The ‘Cruelty’ stat will be opened.
Attack Power +100. Skill ‘Murderous Impulse’ will be generated.
Quest Failure: Level -4.
The Saharan Empire was adjacent to the Eternal Kingdom. However, it was natural to take a long time to go there and back. Furthermore, I needed to punish the vice captain of a knight’s division. Even Leo, who was called the Northern Nova, was just a chick in front of Asmophel.
‘I like the reward, but there is no guarantee of success and the distance is too far. It is wiser to create items at the smithy rather than doing this quest.’
I made a decision and firmly declined. “I don’t have the time or ability to help you.”
[The quest was refused.]
Piaro clicked his tongue.
“You don’t like the reward?”
“No, I don ‘t have the time or ability.”
“I am familiar with people like you. You must be hoping for a bigger reward by taking advantage of my desperate situation.”
“No, that isn’t it. It isn’t about the reward. I rea
lly don’t have the time or ability to help you.”
“Bah, I will add my sword as a reward.”
[Piaro has changed the quest reward.]
Quest Clear Reward: Title ‘Agent of Revenge’ Piaro’s longsword.
* Agent of Revenge: The ‘Cruelty’ stat will be opened.
Attack Power +100.
Skill ‘Murderous Impulse’ will be generated.
* Piaro’s longsword.
Rating: Unique
Durability: 110/213 Attack Power: 387 Accuracy: +10%
The skill ‘Hatred’ will be generated.
* Stamina -100.
It is somewhat damaged, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a great sword. But it is cursed because it contains Piaro’s strong grudge. There is some risk involved in using it.
User Restriction: Level 190 or higher. More than 900 strength.
More than 300 agility. Advanced Sword Mastery.
It was difficult to talk about the options since I didn’t know what skill ‘Hatred’ was. But the attack power was great.
‘It is a one-handed sword, but the attack power exceeded the legendary rated Sword of Self-transcendence… Of course, the level limit was 30 levels higher than the Sword of Self-transcendence. But considering the difference in rating, this attack power was really amazing. It is definitely an item that can be sold at an expensive price.’
I was greedy. Why did I want to make items? To make money. But even if I made dozens or hundreds of items, there was no guarantee that items with a unique or higher rating would be produced. Perhaps I could obtain bigger rewards from this quest than from making items, since the item could be sold for a high price.
‘But I truly don’t have the capabilities.’
I was strong. However, it wasn’t enough to face the vice captain of the once strongest knight division on the continent. I needed to calm down. I closed my eyes tightly and turned away from Piaro’s longsword.
“I truly don’t have the ability to carry out your request.”
[The quest was refused.]
Piaro bit his lip. He seemed angry.
“You truly are a greedy person. Don’t you know that excessive greed can be a poison?”
Words didn’t work. This vaguely familiar situation made me recall someone I had forgotten. Yes, Doran. No matter how much I rejected the quest, I somehow ended up doing Doran’s quest. Piaro resembled Doran.