Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Real Beginning (1)
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The most recent legendary artifact to appear sold for 800 million won.
The reason he remembered was because it had been all over the news.
‘"A legendary artifact from the virtual reality game Ares has become a hot topic after being sold for 800 million won."’
The story was on every channel. A world where item trading had been legalized.
It just went to show what a huge impact the virtual reality game called Ares was having on the real world.
‘That was the highest sale price, wasn't it?’
Of course, this was just a recipe. Having the recipe didn't guarantee the item could actually be crafted.
But it did increase the possibility.
Hyun-soo checked it.
(Legendary Bow Recipe)
Grade: Rare~Legendary
Attack Power: 280~604
Crafting Restriction: Level 300+ Artisan
Crafting Materials: World Tree Stem, Elf's Essence, etc. (Substitutable)
Special Abilities:
·Accuracy increased by up to 79%.
·Agility increased by up to 6%.
·Stamina increased by up to 8%.
·Bow Attack Speed increased by up to 39%.
·Active Skill: Arrow Storm.
·Passive Skill: 100% Pierce.
Description: A legendary bow recipe passed down in the Tower of Blacksmiths.
Hyun-soo couldn't help but be amazed. The attack power was so high it defied common sense.
What was especially shocking was this.
‘The stat increases are in percentages...?’
The artifacts Hyun-soo had made so far usually had flat number increases.
‘Like Agility +4 or Stamina +1...’
Hyun-soo's low level was also a factor in this.
Assuming a level 100 user went all-in on Agility, they would have a total of 500 Agility.
In that case, just a 1% increase would raise the stat by '5'.
But according to this, a 6% increase would mean a total of 30 Agility.
And that's based on a level 100 archer. What if the archer was level 300?
‘That's a 90-point increase in stats, isn't it?’
Furthermore, the effect of this percentage meant that as one's level and stats grew, the bonus would also increase.
‘Too bad I don't have the materials.’
Even with the recipe, he couldn't craft it. He didn't have the materials.
‘A World Tree Stem...?’
Hyun-soo had never even heard of a material called a World Tree Stem.
‘Should I sell it?’
He knew that recipes themselves were traded for very high prices.
Of course, it would be about 1/10th the price of the actual artifact, but he could still get at least 80 million won for it.
But Hyun-soo shook his head.
If he considered the possibility that he might craft it himself later, he shouldn't sell it for a quick profit now.
[Your affinity with Colson is MAX.]
"This is the gold I promised."
[You have acquired 5,000 gold.]
He'd just acquired gold worth a whopping 5 million won. Hyun-soo gave a small smile.
Colson stood up. At first, he had intended to somehow place Hyun-soo under his authority.
But now, things were different. He met Daeng's gaze.
‘Have you finally realized?’
That the heir of the God of Blacksmiths is not someone to be placed under another.
That one must watch over him as he grows, step by step.
"Go out into the world. When you have advanced and reached a higher place, please come find me."
Hyun-soo was quick on the uptake. Colson's words meant that once he reached a certain level, Colson would guide him in his pursuit of things related to the gods.
‘So he praises me, but he won't just hand everything over, huh?’
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
The other tower masters, however, did not look pleased. They wore expressions of confusion at Colson's sudden change of heart.
They were still filled with the desire to take Hyun-soo under their wing and command him.
"It will take them a long time to realize as well."
In Colson's case, it was because he had realized Hyun-soo's value by sparring with him directly.
Furthermore, the effect of the 'God of Blacksmiths' title had also helped him understand.
"I will make good use of this recipe."
"...It is a recipe I was unable to complete. I believe you will be able to, Sir Hyun-soo. I hope we meet again."
Finally, Colson gave a slight bow and turned away. The other tower masters followed.
After they left, Daeng spoke.
"If you have any questions, come find me on the top floor anytime."
After Daeng also disappeared, Hyun-soo collected his thoughts.
He had gained quite a lot from the tower.
And Hyun-soo was feeling the urgent need for money. Tomorrow was the day his father's hospital bill was due.
‘I earned 5 million won.’
Still, Hyun-soo couldn't help but feel it was a little short.
Hyun-soo opened his inventory.
(Orc Warrior's Greatsword)
Grade: Rare
Durability: 2,570/4,000
Attack Power: 207
Restriction: None for the creator, Level 10~80.
Special Abilities:
·Strength +6, Stamina +5.
·Movement Speed -10%, Attack Speed -20%.
·Active Skill: Orc Warrior's Warcry.
·Passive Skill: Greatsword Smash.
Description: A decent greatsword once used by an Orc Warrior.
To be honest, it was an artifact Hyun-soo didn't need.
‘I'll sell this on the auction house.’
Next, he contemplated Hyeon's First Custom-Made Sword.
‘I've used it 3 times, so there are only 17 uses left.’
The first custom-made sword that had just split Colson's sword. It was completely consumable.
‘It might come in handy for me, too.’
But it wasn't an artifact he could say he absolutely needed.
He already possessed Gwangmyeong, which was excellent for his level.
And this custom-made sword, aside from its ability to split other swords, was basically a useless piece of junk.
‘I should sell this too.’
If he had the materials, he could probably make an artifact like this again.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy, since it required some pretty good materials.
Hyun-soo listed the two items.
[Orc Warrior's Greatsword]
[Description: A greatsword obtained from hunting an Orc Warrior. It seems like it would be good for warriors with high Strength and Stamina.]
[Hyeon's First Custom-Made Sword]
[Description: A special sword with the effect of splitting other swords. Unfortunately, I've used it 3 times, so it only has 17 uses left.]
[Starting auction at 300 gold.]
The Orc Warrior's Greatsword seemed very standard, so he set it at 300 gold.
Then there was Hyeon's First Custom-Made Sword. Hyun-soo thought about this one for a moment.
‘This one is a consumable...’
Consumables were typically valued at about 1/10th the price of a permanent artifact.
Because they would eventually be used up.
One of the reasons people traded money for artifacts was that they could resell them to others after using them.
But this was literally like a 'potion.' Still, considering its rarity, he listed it at a fairly high price.
[Starting auction at 1,500 gold.]
After listing the two auction items, Hyun-soo logged out. He had to go to his father's hospital tomorrow, so he planned to get some sleep before heading out.
***
The next day.
Dr. Kim Jin-seop sighed as he stood in front of a hospital room.
The name 'Kang Hyun-tae' was written on it.
He peeked through the door, saw the patient, Kang Hyun-tae, on a respirator, then closed the door and walked on.
Jin-seop headed straight for the administration office.
"How much is patient Kang Hyun-tae's hospital bill this month?"
"About 6 million won."
The nurse at the administration desk wore a bitter expression.
"A while ago, he was six months behind. He recently paid it all off."
A hospital isn't a charity. When the bills were overdue, the administration office had to notify Hyun-soo.
‘If you are unable to pay the overdue hospital bills, you may have to transfer to another hospital.’
After receiving that notice, Hyun-soo came up with the money a short while later.
"Did you hear how he got it?"
"Yes. He said he sold his smithy."
"..."
Jin-seop was speechless. The nurse wore a bitter expression as she asked.
"Why?"
"It's nothing."
Kim Jin-seop shook his head with a bitter smile.
He had heard some good news yesterday. A new injection had been developed in the United States that could awaken people from a vegetative state.
Of course, Jin-seop wouldn't recommend it right away just because it had been developed.
There could be side effects.
However, it had been announced that this particular injection had 'no side effects whatsoever'.
After analyzing its components and treatment principles, Jin-seop also concluded that there were no side effects.
But two things gave him pause.
First, while there were many cases of patients waking from their vegetative state thanks to this treatment, there were also cases where it failed.
Second, the treatment came with an astronomical cost, with no 100% guarantee of success.
‘Getting a 10 million won injection every month is hardly easy...’
In such a situation, he wondered if it was right for him, as a doctor, to recommend it to Hyun-soo.
‘I wonder how he'll manage this month's hospital bill...’
Sighing, Jin-seop headed to his office.
***
After finishing all his overdue chores, Hyun-soo headed straight to the hospital where his father was.
He had immediately exchanged the 5,000 gold he received from Colson, so he could just barely manage to pay this month's hospital bill.
Arriving at the administration office, Hyun-soo handed his card to the staff member who always pestered him about the hospital bills.
"This is for this month's bill."
"Ah, yes!"
It was the same nurse who had been talking with Jin-seop earlier.
She figured he must still have a good amount of money left from selling the smithy. She quickly processed the payment and handed him the receipt.
Hyun-soo hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"How much is a VVIP room, by any chance?"
Everyone feels the same way. The desire for one's family to be in a slightly better environment!
Hyun-soo was no different.
‘I'm a God-class player, after all...’
Hyun-soo had heard that the income high-rankers earned was astronomical.
"About 20 million a month."
"Ah, that's expensive..."
But the price for a VVIP room was absurdly high. With a bitter smile, Hyun-soo sighed and left the administration office.
‘Sigh, there's a limit to how expensive things should be.’
Hyun-soo also needed money to remove his own scars.
It wasn't easy to go in the best direction he wanted. He opened the door to his attending physician, Kim Jin-seop's, office.
He went inside and they had their usual conversation.
It was mostly small talk.
What he'd been up to lately.
How much the treatment costs.
That his burns could be fully treated, and so on.
"Ares?"
"Yes."
Jin-seop looked a bit puzzled. He didn't have time to play games.
But to hear that his patient was earning money through a game was quite surprising.
‘Then again, I've heard the number of people doing that has grown recently.’
It made sense, since Ares was another world in itself.
"Thanks to that, I managed to take care of this month's hospital bill somehow."
Jin-seop gave a bitter smile as he looked at Hyun-soo's sheepish expression.
"You must be quite talented."
"...I guess so."
Hyun-soo didn't mention being a God-class. It wasn't in his nature to reveal such things, and he figured it wouldn't be a good idea anyway.
Just then, Jin-seop cautiously brought something up.
"A treatment for vegetative states has been developed."
"What?"
Hyun-soo listened to the details. As he heard the story, his heart began to pound like crazy.
‘My father might be able to wake up...?’
Being in a vegetative state was practically a death sentence. Unless a miracle occurred.
But now there was a treatment?
"Of course, he has to get it! H-how much is it!?"
"It will likely cost about 10 million won a month."
"...?"
But Hyun-soo was struck speechless by the astronomical sum.
‘10 million for the treatment, plus the hospital bill... that's 16 million won...’
Hyun-soo was only 23 years old. It was too much money.
‘I can't afford the treatment just yet...’
Just then.
[The bidding period has ended.]
[Please check the final bid.]
Hyun-soo's phone was linked to the Ares auction house. With a puzzled look, he checked the text message.
First, the Orc Warrior's Greatsword.
[The Orc Warrior's Greatsword has been sold to 'FriedUdon' for 388 gold.]
As expected, the Orc Warrior's Greatsword didn't sell for a very high price.
‘I wonder how much Hyeon's First Custom-Made Sword sold for?’
Hyun-soo quickly checked it.
[Hyeon's First Custom-Made Sword has been sold to 'Lord' for 53,310 gold.]
53,000 gold. In other words, 53 million won.