Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Enchant Scroll
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1.
[Purple Eggplant(3)]
Yoon Young stared for a long time at the eggplant that had been looted from below.
"Is this really something I did?"
Even he doubted it himself, but the culprit and the murder weapon were crystal clear.
Lee Yoon Young had swung his sword and murdered the purple eggplant.
It was the undeniable truth.
"Still, I never imagined it'd only take two hits."
Of course, the raw power boost played a part too.
Level 3.
Destructive Power stat total level 3.
Swordsmanship proficiency level 3 as well.
Ever since hitting level 3, he could openly say that hunting fruits and wild herbs had become easy.
"Even so, with a wooden sword, it'd have taken dozens of swings..."
Sure, swinging once felt way harder and more tense with a real sword.
But when it came to stamina drain, two swings crushed dozens.
"Swoosh, slash—done and dusted."
Yoon Young could now secure food with a fraction of his previous effort.
"I did this! I've grown!"
It was so astonishing that only after picking it apart from every angle could he finally embrace it fully.
The thrill of achievement. His newfound strength.
"Can't believe how fresh the memory is of flailing like an idiot, unable to snag even one fruit..."
Face beet red, arms screaming like they might snap, lungs burning fit to burst—yet maniacally swinging that wooden sword. It felt like yesterday.
Back then, every day was hell, stress at an all-time high. Now? Somehow, it felt livable.
"Still just as lonely, though."
In his current spot, searching for answers while living in this world seemed smarter than chasing a way home.
Surely he wasn't the only one dragged into this absurdity.
Head to bigger places, and there might be gatherings of folks pulled into the NPCs' world—prime spots for intel.
"Or maybe not."
For now, he needed more monster hunts.
Yoon Young scooped up the eggplant, shoved it into his Inventory, and scanned for his next target.
Right now, his sword thirsted for sweet juice.
2.
"Hup!"
Slaaash!
"Squeeeal!"
One down.
"Huuup!"
Slaaaash!
"Gurrrk..."
Two down.
Fruit monsters were now insta-kills within ten seconds of approach.
The vine-wrigglers were a minor pain sometimes, but they usually dropped in two or three hits max.
"Phew."
They say human dignity springs from leisure.
Yoon Young used to lace his battle cries with curses when hunting monsters.
But lately, he swung clean.
"Eight kills already, and I'm not even winded. Now this is hunting."
Finding prey was starting to wear him out more than killing them.
Perfect timing to switch hunting grounds.
"Mushroom bastards—time to carve you all up."
Yoon Young turned his steps.
Toward the mushroom patch, naturally.
[Mushroom Field]
"Phew... back here again."
The hour of quivering revenge drew near.
He'd grown stronger, sure—but the intimidation from that first King Oyster Mushroom encounter, the metallic clash of blade on flesh, the gut-wrenching certainty of defeat? Those lingered deep in his mind.
Overcome them, or stay stuck.
Yoon Young harbored grand dreams: escape this backwater village and forest, hit the city.
Bowing to mushrooms? Not an option.
He gripped his sword tight and prowled for targets.
Then—a pale red-capped mushroom waddled past, its body bloated fat.
"Looks tanky... but no pickiness allowed."
First prey: that one.
Yoon Young crept closer.
Close enough—lunged, deep breath, sword swing.
"Ugh!"
Worlds apart from fruit. This needed real muscle.
Blade biting unyielding wood.
Stuckkk!
The sword lodged in its trunk, refusing to budge.
But he had to.
He could.
Yoon Young strained with everything he had to rip it free.
"Huuuup!"
Slaaaash!
Finally, the blade cleaved through.
"Squeak!"
[Mesh Mushroom]
The Mesh Mushroom spasmed wildly from the massive gash in its trunk.
"Kiek!"
A huge sword scar marred its netted body. Its eyes bulged, bloodshot, tears welling.
"Pain for a mushroom, huh?"
Next instant—pure venom toward Yoon Young.
"Kik!"
No time to gawk.
It crouched low, prepping something.
Yoon Young tensed, watching close.
Whoosh!
Jump attack.
Leap and body-slam.
A man-sized fatty mushroom smash.
Get caught flat-footed, and it'd hurt bad. He spun away fast.
"Whoa!"
Looked sluggish—way quicker than expected. Rattled him.
Thud!
Dodged it, barely.
Now—counter.
Reset stance. Wind up big and brutal.
Jump recoil left it stalled. No dodge possible!
"Huuuk...!"
He knew the grit needed from the first slash.
Deep breath.
Left foot forward.
"Hup!"
Foot slammed ground—slaaaaash!
Massive diagonal cleaver from low right!
"Kiiiiik...!!"
Eyes rolled back.
No mercy till it vanished.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Hacked the trunk to bits.
Tenth swing—body flickered out.
[Mesh Mushroom(5)]
"Hah... hah... hah...!"
Short scrap, but gasping, drenched in sweat.
Arms quaking, grip aching.
Practice helped, but real steel guzzled stamina like crazy.
"Just one field over, and the gap's this wide."
Undoubtedly the toughest he'd faced.
Three fruits rushing him? Might not top this solo.
Next field up already.
"But I pulled it off."
Grind till mushrooms are routine.
He stashed the Mesh Mushroom loot in his Inventory.
"Five from one... average that, means at least six for Ria's request."
Ten-plus of three mushroom types.
Quest done, plus sample Ria's mushroom hotpot.
"Real cooking, right?"
Anticipation rising, he took a breather.
Stamina back—hunt on.
3.
"Guek."
The Enoki Mushroom toppled with a final croak.
This matchup? Cakewalk.
Flesh not too tough, clustered wanderers—slash once, they crumbled off like dead leaves. Zero fight back. Sword fodder.
"Enokis inherently weak, or this runt extra frail...?"
Yoon Young's gut said same species had individual variance.
Plain World original backed it: monster stats randomized in ranges.
[Enoki Mushroom(4)]
Fewer than the Mesh Mushroom earlier. Probably both factors.
"Alright... one more, then head back?"
Fatigue creeping in, but victory high stoked his fire.
Final kill.
Trudged the Mushroom Field, grass crunching underfoot.
Then—a familiar sight.
Brown cap.
Not bouncy. Sluggish crawler.
[King Oyster Mushroom]
"That bastard..."
The King Oyster Mushroom that had etched defeat into his bones.
Couldn't prove it was the one.
But plenty to fan his revenge.
He craved proof: goodbye to the Yoon Young who fled mushrooms.
That urge launched him.
"Kik?"
Slaaaash!
"Kiiiik!"
Battle joined.
"Hah... hah... piece of cake."
Victor: Yoon Young.
Far from tough.
The first Mesh Mushroom had been meatier.
"Haa."
An enemy once pure impossibility—now toppled by sweat and gains.
Massive rush for Yoon Young.
"Nerve of a mushroom challenging a human. Always ends like this."
Checking drops mid-smugness.
[King Oyster Mushroom(5)]
[Weapon Enchant Scroll (Destructive Power)]
"Whoa!"
Not just the mushroom icon—rolled parchment too.
Snatched it quick, Inventory in, pulled out, scanned.
[Weapon Enchant Scroll]
Scroll inscribed with runes to enchant a weapon, granting the "Destructive Power stat +1 level" option.
Due to scroll damage and faded runes, failure risks weapon destruction.
65% success rate
35% failure rate
Failure: 3% chance of weapon destruction
"Whoa..."
Mystical. Jaw-dropping.
"Drops like this exist, huh."
Fruit massacre marathons yielded zilch. Mushrooms? Jackpot quick.
Higher-tier grounds paying off?
"Yeah, kept spellbooks out of starter zones back in the day."
Plain World had analogs—called spellbooks there.
Monster kills or quests.
Same deal, different label.
"Tempting... but sketchy vibe."
High success, low fail? Solid.
That failure 3% nuke though?
"These always pop the 3%."
3% ain't trivial.
Old AOS game: freeze-line chars had 3% freeze on autos.
Enemies iced constantly—top-tier CC, nuking skills and ults alike.
Rage central. Got axed after complaints.
Point is, 3% stings.
"Sword blows now? Game over. Merchant's ETA unknown. +1 Destructive Power's juicy, but safer to bail..."
[Would you like to use the Weapon Enchant Scroll (Destructive Power) on the Scrap Iron Sword?]
[Confirm]
"Pretend to mull it over, then smash confirm."
Pure braindead.
Blending with the NPC zombies.
Ziiing—!
His weapon bathed in light.
[Enchantment successful!]
[Scrap Iron Sword granted "Destructive Power stat +1 level" option.]
"Yes!"
Yoon Young whooped aloud.
These? No-think yeet.
65% odds!
Sky-high.
Dodging +1 stats over a post-fail 3%? Coward move.
"Shatter? In your dreams. Monkey-click confirm, and boom—stats juiced."
Hindsight bias, sure. But success felt great.
65%? Meant to land.
Yoon Young claimed his due.
"Stats tasting sweet. More shrooms for more goodies?"
Still, calling it here today.
No pushing luck.
Life's a slip away when hot.
Even here, Yoon Young aimed long haul.