by Park Saenal
I felt assured and nodded.
“Okay, I understand how you will pay off your debt. Then are you done? We’ve arrived at the destination, so let’s separate. Please don’t appear in front of me again since it isn’t good for my heart.”
Yura was a woman who destroyed the Yatan Temple while trying to kill me. Having a connection with her, it was no different from torture. I wanted to quickly separate from her, but she had different thoughts.
“It is over. I want to pay off the debt in another form.”
“What else?”
“Excuse me, but I have been researching your past. Over the years, you have suffered humiliation because of your high school alumni.”
“What?”
No, why was she talking about a man’s shameful past? Didn’t she know about privacy?
‘Is she a stalker?’
I wanted to snap out, but I was so afraid that I couldn’t open my mouth. She suggested to me, “Aren’t you going to attend the reunion right now? I’ll come as well. Let me pretend to be your lover in front of your fellow alumni.”
What nonsense was she saying?
“Why?”
Yura kindly explained to me, “Once they find out that a famous, intelligent and beautiful woman like me is your lover, they will no longer make fun of you. You will be able to silence the alumni. How is it? Pretend to be lovers. Isn’t this a great way to pay off my debt to you?”
“…”
I was fairly certain that Yura had a princess disease. It didn’t make sense for a famous, intelligent and beautiful woman like her to make this suggestion.
“Isn’t this a scene common in dramas and movies? The gender roles have reversed but…”
I vetoed Yura’s words.
“That’s okay. There is no need for that. I am able to change my position with my own abilities.”
Yes, I refused Yura’s suggestion.
But as a result, the alumni witnessed Yura getting down from my car and misunderstood that she was my lover. Then they envied me enormously. It wouldn’t have been possible to elicit such a response with just the 13 series.
“… The more I think about it, the stranger she is. What type of person developed such a misunderstanding, did a background check and tried to repay her debt in this manner? Wasn’t it preposterous? Paying off a one-sided debt… She is insane.”
Based on common sense, Yura seemed to have a narrower sense of human relationships than me.
‘She seems to have become strange after becoming successful at an early age and living apart from others.’
In no time, I arrived home. I went straight to the capsule and connected to Satisfy.
***
Winston had lost troops several times in the battle against the Yatan Church, the knight captain was wounded and the lady was kidnapped. The city was becoming one of the best in the north and the population was growing rapidly, but there was a limit to the guard troops.
Earl Steim became aware of the situation and led support troops to Winston.
“Father!”
“Ohh! My lovely daughter! You have become even more beautiful since last I saw you!”
Earl Steim was one of the most influential nobles in the Eternal Kingdom and the ruler of the north. But he was just a doting dad in front of his daughter, Irene. Despite the numerous soldiers and knights watching, Earl Steim embraced his daughter and shed tears.
“You must’ve suffered! I’m sorry that I burdened you so much! Thank you for being safe! Thank you!”
Irene was Earl Steim’s only child. Rather than keeping her safe by his side, he appointed her as ruler of a territory and let her experience being kidnapped again, so he couldn’t forgive himself.
Irene suggested to him. “Father, he didn’t do anything wrong. The whole thing was my fault. Father, that’s why… I wish I had a strong person taking care of me.”
Earl Steim glared at Phoenix.
“That’s right… You need a strong person… Someone much better than the incompetent Captain Phoenix…”
“Please kill me!”
Phoenix’s guilt was unimaginable after losing in the war and not being able to protect his master. Earl Steim ignored him and spoke to Irene, “But sweetheart, Doran is dead and there is, unfortunately, no one stronger than Phoenix in the north. Leave Winston to Phoenix and return with me.”
“No, there is someone here who I can depend on. He is stronger and more courageous than anyone else.”
“Hoh?”
Irene was the daughter of a warrior. While she wasn’t trained, her ability to recognize strength was excellent. She was complimenting someone so confidently that Earl Steim was filled with expectations.
“Then who is this person?”
“He is a blacksmith.”
“Eh?”
The answer coming from his daughter’s smiling mouth was so unexpected that Earl Steim thought he heard wrongly for a moment. Earl Steim regained his spirit and asked, “Sweetheart, the strong and brave person you can rely on is a blacksmith? Did I hear it properly just now?”
Irene unabashedly nodded.
“That’s right. He is the great blacksmith who made the sword that became a family treasure not long ago, and also the one who saved me from Malacus. Not just that. He is the hero who saved Winston from the Mero Company.”
“Ha! That rumored person…”
He was clearly a great person just based on the achievements. But Earl Steim became frantic after seeing Irene’s face.
‘My daughter has the face of a woman in love…!’
He knew about the one who helped save Winston from the evils of the Mero Company. It was also reported that he had the power of a legendary blacksmith. But a blacksmith was strong enough to kill one of Yatan’s servants?
Earl Steim couldn’t believe it.
“Sweetheart, no matter how I think about it, I don’t think such a perfect person exists in this world… Is he handsome? It seems like you have been deceived by a scammer…”
Irene proclaimed, “I’m not deceived! Do you think I am a pathetic woman who will be enticed by looks? In the first place, he isn’t really handsome!”
Phoenix and the knights nodded in unison.
“That’s correct. He is good but his appearance…”
Earl Steim didn’t like that either.
“An ugly man dares lure my daughter? Disgraceful person! I want to see what type of person he is! Drag him in front of me right now!”
“Earl, he is Winston’s hero and Irene’s savior. Shouldn’t we bring him respectfully?”
“…Yes, bring him respectfully.”
Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Satisfy implemented a system of complete freedom. It had more than two billion users. The two billion people could freely select or pioneer more than 10,000 classes, and there were 10,000 common classes.
Each common class had a top 10 rankings. It seemed like the same IDs every time. This meant that the top 10 of each class was widening the gap with those ranked below 11th, and it was virtually impossible for new figures to enter the top 10 rankings.
But approximately six months ago. There was a major upheaval in the rankings of 16 major classes. The Tzedakah Guild moved from L.T.S to Satisfy and entered the top 10 of each ranking in just four months. It had a large impact on users and the Tzedakah Guild made a spectacular debut in Satisfy, gaining the media’s attention.
Then after that…
The rankings became stuck again for a while. After the Tzedakah Guild appeared, the top rankers stayed the same for more than half a year.
It was around a month ago. Just like when the Tzedakah Guild appeared in the past, a major upheaval once again appeared in the rankings. 10 new figures appeared in the rankings of 10 major classes like comets. Those 10 people were called the ‘10 Rookies’ and received people’s praise and expectations.
“Cursed Bloodline!”
[The blood imprinted in the Thorn of Deep Grievance h
as resonated with your blood and makes you run wild.]
[Skill damage has increased by 150%. Movement speed has increased by 80%.]
[Health is continuously consumed while the skill is activated.]
“Ohhhhhh!”
[You have suffered 34,030 damage.]
[You have suffered 25,111 damage.]
[You have suffered 29,600 damage.]
The flamberge, which seemed like the thorny stem of a rose, slashed at the monsters in its orbit. The bleeding didn’t stop as Ibellin flew among the monsters. Then he grabbed a monster’s neck and used a skill.
“Laceration!”
[You have dealt 505,900 damage.]
“Kieeeek!”
Ibellin had been succeeding since receiving the Thorn of Deep Grievance from Grid. He cleared difficult dungeons that had frustrated him a few times and earned a great number of rewards from hunting monsters at least 30 levels higher than him.
[Your level has risen.]
“Good!”
After entering the 200th level zone, Ibellin had only been able to raise his level once every five days. But now he could gain one level in just one day.
It was a feat that could be achieved thanks to moving hunting grounds. And he was able to move hunting grounds thanks to the Thorn of Deep Grievance, so the power of items was really amazing.
‘It was worth investing 2.5 million gold. This is a completely new world!’
The number one spot in the swordsman rankings was guarded by Zirkan. Zirkan was an overwhelming presence so it was hard to take first place, but Ibellin would soon be able to take second place if he kept growing like this.
“Just wait, Lauel!”
Ibellin started Satisfy two months later than his other guild members due to finishing his studies. So he wasn’t included when the Tzedakah Guild debuted and instead became one of the 10 Rookies.
Until then, Ibellin had been confident that he was the best among the 10 Rookies. He never doubted it as one of the Tzedakah Guild. But what was this?
Lauel debuted in the top 10 of the qigong master’s rankings when Ibellin was 9th place in the swordsman rankings. Now Lauel was 1st in the qigong master rankings and 178th on the unified rankings. On the other hand, Ibellin was 3rd on the swordsman rankings and 199th on the unified rankings.
Ibellin saw Lauel on a TV interview and realized that they were the same age. This was a very shocking event for Ibellin, who had the strongest self-esteem among his peers.
Since then, Ibellin recognized Lauel as a rival and strived to surpass him. But this wasn’t an easy task. If he took one step closer, the opponent would take two steps. Thus, Ibellin could feel his limitations. He couldn’t deny that Lauel was superior to himself.
However, then he got his hands on the Thorn of Deep Grievance.
‘Items are also part of our abilities…! Lauel, this time I will be ahead of you!’
***
{Grid! You came ~^0^~}
{I’ve missed you so much!}
{A half day without you is like 10 years… I was desperately waiting for you to come!}
The guild chat window went crazy as soon as Grid connected to the game.
The guild members welcomed Grid like they were reuniting with a separated lover after a long time.
It was all for one reason.
{Make my items quickly!}
{I’m dizzy because I want a legendary rated item ㅠㅠ}
{Me first! Grid, if you make a legendary item for me, I will shoot up to the top 20 right away!}
‘Please make my items!’
That’s what the guild members really longed for. Right now, Grid was a very important and irreplaceable figure.
“Huhuhut… They are prisoners of my items.”
As Grid was laughing and feeling pleased, Ibellin appeared in the guild chat window.
{Brothers, Sisters. Do you think it is so easy for Grid to make a legendary item? ^^ Don’t bother Grid. ^^}
{What? Ibellin, you raised your level again? Hasn’t it only been one day?}
{Yup! ^^ I moved my hunting grounds. ^^ My experience is rising quickly ~ ^^ Previously I worked hard and only gained 1 level in 5 days ~ ^^ This is the true power of items ^^ ㅋ It is all thanks to Grid. ^^}
{Hey… No matter how excited you are, stop using ^^
{I’m really envious ㅡ ㅡ I was envious when Pon got a unique item, but Ibellin’s is even better. Sooner or later, won’t you reach the second ranking?}
{A legendary item is really… I want to have one as well ㅠㅠ}
After joining the guild, Grid had only produced Pon’s spear and Ibellin’s Thorn. Both of them were finished with a unique and legendary rating, so the expectations of the guild members were too high.
Grid couldn’t unconditionally make unique or legendary items, but the guild members were hoping for at least unique items. Grid was worried about making a normal or rare item, so he told them in advance.
{I don’t think I can make unique or legendary items often. In fact, two out of three Gale Spears were completed with an epic rating and one of Ibellin’s Thorns had a rare rating. I also often make normal or rare items. So keep in mind that your items might be completed as a rare or epic rating.}
{Yes, that’s right. Let’s calm down. Didn’t we want epic items from Grid in the first place? Let’s not lose sight of things. In addition, items made by Grid are unconditionally better than other items of the same level, regardless of their rating. It is enough, even if a rare rating appears.}
{Yes… If we are lucky, one day we will receive unique or legendary items.}
As the excitement of the guild members settled down, Jishuka decided who the next item would be produced for.
{Grid, this time I want you to make armor for Vantner.}
Vantner vetoed it.
{Armor? Why armor? Stop! I don’t need armor! I want a weapon! Make a weapon! A weapon allows me to hunt faster and I can level up!}
{Shut up Vantner. Isn’t your current weapon good enough thanks to Grid? It is a good weapon, even if it can’t be compared with Pon’s or Ibellin’s. And you are a tanker. Right now, you are useless in raids. ^^}
{ㅠㅠ Master…}
{What? Do you have something to say?}
{No… I don’t…}
Not just Vantner, but all members regardless of age and gender, submitted to Jishuka. They normally acted as family and friends, but once an order dropped, they would follow it unconditionally. It showed how much the guild members trusted Jishuka.
{I already have an armor production method. But I haven’t yet obtained all the necessary materials. It will take up to half a day. Until then, feel free to do whatever you want.}
“Half a day…”
It was ambiguous to make one item in half a day.
“Should I hunt for the first time in a while? The place I wanted to see…”
***
There were hunting grounds of various levels in Winston, ranging from those for beginners and those for rankers.
The hunting ground most popular among users above level 150 was the Golem’s Labyrinth. The golems in the labyrinth were designed by a magician to protect his hidden treasures, so it was suitable to make money due to all the magic stones and minerals dropping. The experience was also worth it.
But there was a fundamental problem. Golems had a strong defense and were almost immune to physical attacks. So the Golem’s Labyrinth was nothing more than a private hunting ground for magicians.
Most parties consisted of either magicians and healers or a paladin, magician, and healer. No physical attackers could be found at all. In this place, there was one person who came alone and was holding a greatsword.
People laughed at him.
“Hey Mister, did you come here to hunt?”
“Yes.”
“Ha? Really? Without a party?”
“I like solo play…”
“Pfff!”
“Kilkil! A beginner!”
People star
ted laughing at the greatsword wielding man. A warrior who came to hunt golems alone seemed to be lacking common sense. On the one hand, the greatsword wielding man didn’t care about the people laughing at him.
Dozens of people watched as he approached the golem with loud footsteps. Then he stabbed with his greatsword without delay.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Kill!”
Peeeeeong!
“…!”
It was an incredible sight. The giant iron golem, which couldn’t be damaged even by dozens of swords, went flying towards one side of the wall from one blow of the greatsword? The crowd was stunned. Someone shouted,
“W-Wait a minute…! That helmet and black greatsword…! Isn’t he the human butcher who smashed the Giant Guild on his own, instantly boosting himself into fame?”
“T-That’s right! I see it now! The Cruel Butcher!”
“Kyaaak! He actually looks scarier!”
“Wow… Really dirty… He really did shatter the Giant Guild alone.”
Meanwhile, the helmet-wearing Grid was confused as he held the greatsword.
‘Its health only decreased by half, even though I used Kill? This is really hard.’
Kill was a deadly blow. In addition, Dainsleif dealt more damage the higher the opponent’s defense was. So Grid thought he could easily hunt the golems. But he was wrong. The golems of the labyrinth were much harder than Grid expected.
‘However, I have a method.’
Grid put away Dainsleif and pulled out a pickaxe from his inventory. It was the finest pickaxe made directly by him. He had 100% understanding of the pickaxe, so red dots started appearing all over the golem’s body.
Grid aimed his pickaxe at the red dots. Then…
Kaaang! Kaaang!
[Iron ore has been acquired.]
[Deluxe Iron ore has been acquired.]
[Three damaged orichalcum has been acquired.]
Except for the magic stones that served the role of an engine, the golem was made up of only minerals! He was a legendary blacksmith and had 100% understanding of the pickaxe, so the golems were just a mine in front of Grid who was an excellent miner.
“…What the hell is this?”
Every time the golem was hit by the pickaxe, minerals would drop, causing the users to become amazed at the sight. They could barely hunt the golems when pouring out magic, so Grid hunting them with a pickaxe was an unreasonable sight.