Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Kuwaaaah Hell Yeah!
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I equipped the Gloves of Balance and opened my stats.
Heart-pounding stat reveal time. What had gone up for Wolfram, I wondered.
My eyes gleaming, I scanned the status window and soon confirmed what had increased.
Whoa, Wolfram's turned into a total dexterity monster!
"......"
I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a few deep breaths.
Yeah. It's fine. It's still better than Will going up. Will affects stuff like 'resistance' and 'critical' effects.
Even if Strength hits 7, with low Stamina, there's nothing I can do. Magic Power at 6? No way. Aila was born with 19, and Eve has 22—what am I gonna do with 6?
So, Dexterity hitting 9 instead of Stamina at 5 is a huge help at this point. That's how I have to think about it. Plus, with the Mix Beans effect, I can invest +1 more, and Dexterity 10 is a whole different ballgame from 9.
But deep down, I couldn't help wailing.
So I wailed.
"Ha. Fuck."
This isn't popping.
Come on, give me some Stamina!
"I've gathered a ton."
Nefti pulled the cart back, loaded with leaves, and Rudika cheered at the sight.
"Wolfram! Is this the spicy grass Nefti brought?"
"Yep."
"Hm? Why does my lord look so glum?"
"No idea. He found it with Rudika's help, put on the gloves, and got depressed."
"?"
Nefti tilted her head at Rudika's otherworldly speech pattern, and I explained what happened.
After hearing me out, Nefti gave me a pitiful look full of sympathy.
"A real person with stats under 10."
"......"
You too?
"Anyway, so what went up for you, my lord?"
"Dexterity."
"Oh, Dexterity! Rudika has high Dexterity too! At least 22!"
"Dexterity... I don't think mine's that low either. Around 14, I believe. But as expected of you, Senior Rudika."
"At least? Believe? Can't you check right away?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes. You need an appraisal scroll from the temple. We get appraised about twice a year. Priests handle all the stats and skills."
I nodded at Nefti's explanation. So that's how it works.
One more piece of info gained.
"So, what're you doing with this mapdi-spicy grass? More to gather?"
"Nah, that's all."
"Heading down, then?"
"Yeah, let's prep."
"Wolfram. Wolfram. Rudika asks."
"What."
"So when can Rudika eat something spicy?"
I pondered Rudika's question.
"Next Wednesday should be free. Come then."
"......Oh, today. No. Tomorrow?"
"Ha. Looks like even this Wolfram von Loengrin got underestimated."
"......?"
"Tomorrow's muscle soreness. Don't come."
"Ah."
Nefti, don't 'ah' like that for real. You're gonna get scolded.
And Rudika, don't look at me with those lost-puppy eyes.
I guarantee tomorrow's gonna be full-on muscle pain, so I won't be doing jack.
"......Wolfram barely did anything, and he's getting sore?"
Rudika's pure violence strikes Wolfram without reason!
"Ah, then my lord, how about making it today?"
"Today?"
"Yes. Muscle pain always hits after sleep. If we make it now, it'll be fine, right?"
"......"
Logical. Genius.
"If we head back to the convenience store and start now, it'll take a while. I'll prep the recipe on the way. Nefti, pull."
"I-In that case...... Wolfram!"
"Hmph. I'll make it."
I nodded, and Rudika's eyes lit up while Nefti's expression darkened slightly.
"Dragging me back at night to the store, returning the cart, heading to the Knight Division... how much time will that eat up......"
"Night surcharge. Two thousand lin extra."
"Swift. Safe. Precise. Certain. My creed and motto."
Aren't you the Sword of Conviction?
On the way back to the convenience store, I tested the flavor of the gathered grass.
One bite, and spicy heat exploded across my mouth.
Individual plants varied, but Scoville-wise, the hottest matched or exceeded cheongyang peppers.
Flavor was similar too. Good thing. Weird spicy would've pissed me off.
Grilled meat wraps would be killer. Gotta try later.
Nefti dropped me at the store swift, safe, precise, and certain, as promised. We sat inside and chatted.
"Good work today, Nefti."
"No problem, my lord."
"Still calling me 'my lord' after hours?"
"Oh, right. No problem, Wolfram."
"......"
Lightning-fast switch-up.
Anyway, I paid Nefti. She hauled me and the cart over mountains, tanked, gathered materials, and got us back safe. Worth the daily wage.
"Time to cook. Rudika, any requests?"
"Spicy!"
Knew it.
"Got it. Roughly an hour, give or take."
"Fine!"
I chuckled and got to work. Grabbed a handful of grass first.
"That's the stuff I painstakingly harvested without damaging the roots."
"Yeah."
"......?"
"Next time you need someone reliable, just call Nepthelian anytime."
"Got it."
"Bypassing the Knight Division ensures even surer results."
Where'd the Sword of Conviction go?
Whatever, ignoring Nefti's self-promo.
This red grass before me. Hongcho's a sleep resistance herb.
If the Sleeping Mountains inflict sleep status, native plants should counter it. Balanced, right?
"Before we cook, mind helping out?"
"......Hm. Helping this late... when to head back."
As Nefti pondered while eyeing the ingredients.
"Got it! Rudika eats. Rudika helps Wolfram."
Rudika answered crisply, and Nefti's pupils dilated.
"Nefti, head out. Rudika stays. Two's ideal for help, but one's enough."
"Ugh, ugh...... No. I'll help. After-service. Knightly spirit."
Very straightforward knightly spirit.
"Assigning tasks."
Nefti kneaded flour dough and stashed it in the fridge. Rudika started chopping hongcho.
Smooth sailing, so naturally chit-chat flowed when hands were free.
"Come to think of it, Senior Rudika."
"Rudika called? Nefti."
"Yes. Mind a question?"
"Good. What."
"Why's your speech like that?"
Whoa, straight fastball to the core.
But yeah, I was curious too. Why does Rudika talk like that?
"Rudika from southern Hassan Shadow house. Central tongue not familiar yet."
"Aha. Makes sense. South has totally different language. I'm from eastern countryside."
"Right."
"One more question?"
"Permitted."
"Why the obsession with spicy? You're one of two who've eaten that cafeteria hellfire soup—Wolfram and you."
That garbage is spicy? For real?
But Rudika's next words wiped away my gripe and hardened my face.
"Ah, no big. Rudika's taste gone from extreme training."
"Pardon?"
"Whole nerves dead. Pain faint too. Why Rudika best at assassination. Hassan Shadow's strongest heir."
The air froze at her casual bombshell.
Rudika's Dexterity and Will are absurdly high. Meaning she's always 'agile' and 'precise,' never 'sluggish' in any situation.
Thinking back, it's weird. Combat here isn't like the game. Humans should freeze from blood and fear pain, but Rudika fights unchanged.
"So Rudika tastes via faint pain, not tongue."
"R-Right."
"Get stronger, this fades too. So Rudika enjoys now."
That's the reason.
"I see. Gotta give it my all, then."
"Wolfram?"
"Pause cooking. Got something to do."
"Huh? Got it."
I halted them, opened status, and manipulated tabs.
Planned to anyway, but better now while body's normal? Nah, trusting myself.
No combat skills first. Useless. Dead before fighting.
Weapon/Armor crafting? Can I even hold a hammer?
Magia Craft. Materials too pricey. All have higher skills later.
For dexterity build, low other stats, non-combat ending: Potion Brewing essential.
But Accessory and Cooking tempting too.
And I'm Wolfram. Game vet.
Even rolling back, I'd kick mobs and snag legendaries to stand.
"Hoo. Hooo......"
"Prince Wolfram? Need the bathroom?"
"Shh. Looks super focused."
Noise around, but mind calm.
This is key.
Can I nail an action I've done 500+ times in-game naturally here?
Will this world accept me?
Tap first skill to learn.
Cancel.
Repeat: loosen body, time it. Under 0.1 sec per my calc. Must nail it.
Cancel, select, cancel, select, cancel.
Now touch both skills at once!
"......Done."
My body shuddered.
Yes, this. Acquisition cancel. Acqui-can for short.
Infinite cancels, then time two simultaneous taps for dual learn—bug play.
And I'm a vet.
Meaning...
One more—triple acqui-can.
Even IRL, fails one in three. Rotten play.
This world accepted my vet play.
Right after, I took charge of cooking.
Dexterity 10 skills are basic Lv.1—no big effects, but definitely different.
'Seeing,' 'feeling,' 'doing' all changed.
"Nefti, if you're eating, make a separate mild dough with one hongcho."
"Yes, sir."
"Rudika, when broth boils, skim hongcho, shake dry, mince fine, mix with that seasoning."
"Ah, got it!"
"Rip flour dough roughly, boil together. Serve in bowls, portion hongcho salad individually."
Decided the dish on descent.
Rudika's spicy craving. My past dishes. Fuse for perfect harmony now.
Like...
Post-hike, body beat, stamina low.
Cool midnight.
Korean'd crave hot, throat-scorching soup.
Hand-pulled noodle soup with anchovy broth, loaded cheongyang peppers.
Topped with spicy-sour pepper pickles.
One bowl: sweat pouring, heat surging from depths— that flavor.
"This. This taste. The one I craved......"
Rudika started crying.
"Kuwaaaah. Hell yeah!"
Nefti, hard-labor foreman vibes, dropped one exclamation.
Mountain hike ender: one bowl spicy knife noodles.
Can't resist this.