Combat Class Selection

Materials for setting up a forge outside the gate were arriving one after another, but it wasn't quite enough to build one yet, so I just brought the materials and equipment inside.

My Hoya, ever the strict master, kicked at Baekya the moment I entered the gate to take a short break. Without me even ordering it, Baekya headed into the forest and dragged back two minotaurs.

"Hey! Come on!"

The strict Master Hoya, utterly indifferent to my circumstances, intimidated the minotaurs and shoved them toward me. And so, I swung my mana wood practice sword at them like a madman. Hellish training had begun.

The notification popped up, and I collapsed flat on the ground. It was announcing that I'd reached level 30.

Levels were coming slower and slower. Minotaurs topped out at level 29, and I'd realized that killing mobs at your own level didn't give much experience.

How long had it been? Three days and nights since I'd entered the gate and started this forced combat grind. That meant at least 72 hours of straight fighting.

Thanks to that, not only did I distribute my stat points, but several other things had gone up too. Even a high-level hunter probably couldn't overwhelm me easily now.

Compared to when I was level 1, my stats had shot up insanely. And one more thing.

It was similar to the level 20 notification, but back then it was just "class," while this said "combat class." A subtle difference, but a huge one.

If I'd chosen at level 20, could I have become a lord? Maybe not. That temptation back then was no joke—Elite Archer and Elite Hunter. Both elite. Not like Seon-woo's basic archer. I did waver a bit.

But this time, it was fresh.

No "elite" nonsense. But it was obvious these were higher-tier jobs.

I pondered. "If I skip this, will something else pop up at 40?"

At a crossroads. In a game, holding out might unlock ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a legendary class. But right now, I had to choose.

Looking at the options, they screamed archer, swordsman, mage, priest. Mage made sense with Fire Control, but why Bearer of Light? It screamed priest.

"Maybe because I'm a lord?"

Combat classes might be a lord's privilege. Otherwise, why separate them?

"My choice... Seeker of Truth."

"Whoa, damn! I got tricked."

Nyaang, tsk. Hoya clicked her tongue. A total "stepped in it" face.

"Hey! What if Dad starts slinging spells later?"

Pfft! Definitely that. I'd seen it online—a dog covering its mouth with a paw, mocking. Probably photoshopped, but this was real. Hoya was pawing her mouth, laughing at me. Could pass for grooming cotton candy off her paw, but no, pure mockery. "You, casting magic?"

"Just watch. I'll become a mage for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sure."

I'd picked it thinking mage, but no magic skills—just mage stats. Intelligence and Spirit up 50 each. Magic power and MP must've skyrocketed.

"But I need something to use it with!"

I'd expected "1st Circle Magic Activated!" or something cool. Nada. Lucky yet unlucky.

"Fine, at least Fire Manipulation evolved to Fire Control! Gotta be OP. Fire Control!"

I shouted, burning mana. Nothing. Pfft!

"Shut it!" Hoya's mockery alone set my lonely heart ablaze.

Fire Control wasn't a total bust. I could amplify tiny sparks into infernos or compress big flames. Prerequisite: fire must exist. Lame without it, but by my standards, this was magic.

"Fireball!" The charging minotaur was engulfed in flames.

Where'd the fire come from? Karak held a bonfire next to me.

Wish I had a lighter. No such luck. Weirdly, complex machines don't work, but fishing rods do—simple stuff gets a pass, maybe. No guarantee on lighters. I'd started fires with flint anyway.

If not, I'd make one. No lighter? Lighting matches mid-fight would suck. Lighter's still embarrassing? Yeah. But better than matches.

Anyway, Fire Control was powerful—enough to roast a minotaur alive. Downside: it burned slowly, not insta-kill, so it screamed in agony meantime.

"I get it. Even watching hurts."

They say burning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pain's the worst. How bad for it? But monsters—no mercy needed. Higher skill level might mercifully speed it up.

Minotaur died as I thought that. Still far from 31.

Karak beside me stiffened more politely. Minotaur dead, but Karak scared. Not bad.

"Search it."

My hope: minotaur skill stone. Magic from that.

But Karak soon gave a hesitant look. Bust.

"That's it for today. Karak, check fields and chicken coops."

"Krak!" Karak hurried off. At least Fire Control understanding upped it to level 2.

"Hoya, bed time."

Nyaang! Hoya nodded approval, glanced at Baekya—who, exhausted from mob pulling, transformed her obsidian into a bed. I flopped onto Baekya's fluffy belly.

Hoya settled beside me, licked my nose bridge. "Good job." Sorta.

"Sleep!" And I passed out.

Woke up with six hours till work. Time for backlog: making the Gakgung.

I'd stockpiled minotaur horns, prepped for composite bow. I directed, Karak did most work. His Dexterity stat appeared, hit 10. For him—back to tribe someday, he'd be beloved. Not releasing before I die, though.

Gakgung: soul of the Korean people, someone said. Fits non-aggressor traits? Great for defending against invaders. Running and shooting works, but stationary's better for arrow spam. Don't buy the propaganda, just noting it.

Anyway, Joseon's top weapon. Superior to world's bows.

I poured my soul into it. High Intelligence sharpened focus; doubled MP made mana use effortless.

Mage making a bow? Mage without spells still mage? Point: arm myself fully. Best ranged: Gakgung.

"Whoa..." System-approved true Gakgung. I used Observation on it.

"Whoa." Only word fitting. Wind power lets it fire wind arrows. More magic than my magic. Whatever—my weapon.

"Wind arrows, huh."

I drew the string, channeling mana. A transparent arrow appeared on it. I loosed at a practice target.

Boom! Target shattered.

Nyang! Hoya's eyes widened at me. Impressive enough to shock her.

"We're unstoppable now."

Time for real hunting.