Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Trait Shop Level 4
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"Everyone, you've all worked hard."
"Oh, come on. Hunter Jeong-hyeon did everything."
It was a heartwarmingly harmonious scene.
Anyone would mistake this party for one that had just finished a company dinner rather than a hunt.
The Anvil Guild party members clutched their full bellies and expressed their gratitude to Jeong-hyeon one by one.
'Did I overdo it? But what could I do?'
Jeong-hyeon momentarily wondered if he'd shown off too much, but in truth, he couldn't have held back.
Hiding one's abilities had its limits too—especially when the Valen Taurro were dropping dead with just a touch, give or take.
Standing idly by with folded arms didn't suit his temperament either.
In that case, wasn't it better to show just the right amount of skill?
For example, this was what Jeong-hyeon was aiming for:
- An unregistered hunter one-shot kills Valen Taurro with a dagger and wields a mace like a pro?
- ······? Have you been drinking?
Pulling off something so absurd would undermine the witnesses' credibility.
'Well, they're guild members anyway, so they probably won't blab outside.'
Besides, they were all Anvil Guild members.
At worst, they'd try to recruit him into Anvil Guild, but they had little reason to leak his info externally.
Meanwhile, even as Jo Hun-il smiled, greeted, and thanked Jeong-hyeon, doubts swirled in his mind.
'Is this a dream?'
This was a guild event, so he had to report to his superiors.
But how was he supposed to explain this situation?
Four guild members with specs plenty strong enough for a Level 4 gate get fully carried by one unregistered hunter?
And they even enjoyed a full course of Valen Taurro sirloin that was ridiculously delicious?
Putting that in a report would have him job-hunting at other guilds by day's end.
- R r r
Then Jo Hun-il's phone rang.
The caller was the raid department head, perfectly timed.
"Yes, hello. This is Jo Hun-il."
- Hey, Team Leader Jo. How'd the hunt go? Wrap up okay?
"Yes, it wrapped up fine, but... well..."
The department head usually ignored experiential events, yet here he was calling right after the hunt ended.
Jo Hun-il even spotted a few missed calls.
Suddenly, the department head's earlier insistence to "take good care of Jeong-hyeon" came to mind.
Was it more than just the usual warnings about unregistered hunters and safety?
- But? What happened?
"It's not nothing, but I can't say it's something either..."
The more Jo Hun-il's mind tangled, the more his words twisted.
From the boss's perspective, it was the perfect tone to test one's patience.
- Ugh, you're killing me here. Spit it out—what happened?
"Uh... well, you see..."
Under the department head's prodding, Jo Hun-il squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and began his tale.
He himself, having lived through it, couldn't even organize the events properly, but what choice did he have?
That was life as a company man before being a hunter.
Surprisingly, though, the department head didn't seem all that shocked after hearing the absurd story.
- Hm. I see. Got it. Good work—head home straight from there today.
"Pardon? Oh, thank you!"
'What the hell is going on today?'
The day felt downright magical.
Jeong-hyeon's feats aside, early dismissal after one hunt?
As Jo Hun-il secured early leave and his team members rejoiced upon hearing,
Anvil Guild saw a chain of phone calls.
The final one switched languages.
"...That's what happened. I'll send a detailed written report later."
- Such talent still freelancing? Korea really undervalues unregistered hunters—personally, I think it's a problem. Well, cultures differ from HQ. Anyway, the Korean branch finally has a win.
"Thank you."
- HQ will discuss properly soon. Good work.
And so, the Jeong-hyeon who heated up an international guild's hotline was, at this moment,
"Heh heh heh, finally Level 4!"
Simply sprinting home at full C-rank movement speed.
***
[Coins needed to next level: 3
Current coins: 11]
"Kuh huh huh huh..."
The sight alone brought uncontrollable laughter.
It was the thrilling moment when the 「Trait Shop」 proficiency level finally hit 4.
He'd earned a whopping 9 coins from the Valen Taurro, but once the goal was met, it didn't matter if it was 50 or 5.
'Wonder what the Level 4 rates are like... Hopefully S-rank at 3% or something?'
Humming with hopeful delusions, Jeong-hyeon refreshed the list to spend coins.
Of course, this was just a running start for the level-up, so he quickly confirmed nothing useful and refreshed again.
[The 「Trait Shop」(EX) proficiency level has risen from 3 to 4.]
The flashy effects and pleasant message never got old.
"Rates, rates—let's see!"
But effects were just skin-deep.
Jeong-hyeon promptly opened the Trait Shop description.
[「Trait Shop」(EX, Lv.4)
Coins needed to next level: 199
Equippable Traits / Stored Traits: 0 / 7]
"Huh? Did I see that wrong?"
The first number he saw made Jeong-hyeon squint, rub his eyes, and double-check.
But the number stayed firm.
"200?"
Coins needed for Level 5.
A whopping 200.
In short, about twice the total he'd gathered so far.
"W-Well, totally within expectations."
Levels always seemed impossible to reach, yet he'd pulled it off every time.
With that mindset, he glanced further.
Ecstatic rates greeted him.
[Trait Rates: F 20%, E 30%, D 25%, C 14%, B 7%, A 3%, S 1%]
"Jackpot..."
F-rank, previously 40%, plummeted to 20%.
The shaved 20% redistributed fully to D-rank and above.
Result: Massive jumps in B, A, and S rates.
Sure, he'd rationalized "huge improvements" before, but A and S had been sub-1%.
Now they proudly hit single digits.
Even mainstays D and C surged.
C-rank doubled to 14%.
Level 4 truly laid the foundation for high-grades.
After admiring the numbers, Jeong-hyeon hurriedly pulled up the trait list.
From experience, post-level refresh lists matched the new rates.
With B-rank now realistically at 7%, why not shoot for one?
And the Trait Shop,
"Jackpotttt!"
Delivered without fail.
[「Equippable Slot Expansion Ticket」(B), 5C]
"Slot expansions are always welcome!"
It'd cost all 5 current coins, but no big deal.
[You have purchased the 「Equippable Slot Expansion Ticket」(B).
Equippable slots expanded from 6 to 7.]
Now he could wield 7 traits at once.
When buying his first expansion, he'd worried about mismatches, but slot expansions seemed to have favorable rate adjustments.
Either way, Jeong-hyeon welcomed it with open arms.
"That's why I saved one trait for a time like this."
He was prepping a new tech tree as Throwing Skill hit its limits.
And he'd stocked one beforehand for it.
[Would you like to equip 「Useful Mana Sensitivity」(C, Lv.1)?]
The most basic magic trait: Mana Sensitivity.
No synergies yet, but it fit Jeong-hyeon perfectly now.
His strengths were wide detection and agility-based combat.
Added mana detection meant utility without direct spell combat.
But before equipping, Jeong-hyeon hesitated.
"Sigh, the shop desperately needs adaptation pain waivers."
The thought of another C-rank adaptation pain soured his mood.
Why sell everything but adaptation pain relief?
It was most crucial for him, using more traits than one-awakening hunters.
But idle slots weren't an option.
Jeong-hyeon prepped to endure.
First, a towel gag tied behind his head.
Then, painkillers from the pharmacy—maybe helpful.
Finally, lying on bare floor to spare the blanket further disaster.
Still terrified, he deep-breathed, squeezed his eyes shut, and equipped.
[Equipping 「Useful Mana Sensitivity」(C, Lv.1).]
'No need to narrate that!'
Even with eyes closed, the status window intruded, displaying his state.
And,
"Guuuuhhh..."
The gut-wrenching agony hit, never getting familiar no matter how many times.
He thought C-rank would be tolerable after movement speed,
But no.
Adaptation pain came from rapid body reshaping to the trait.
Overlooking that basic principle cost dearly.
Prior traits were all physical, agility-focused.
Built from F-rank up, granting advantages—like skipping pain in adapted areas.
But this was pure magic lineage.
Raw C-rank adaptation pain.
Pain tiers differed inevitably.
If described: like red-hot needles piercing, searing, and ripping every cell.
Not stopping: slowly dismantling and rewiring neural networks.
'This damn Trait Shop...!'
Adaptation pains always felt fresh and shocking, but this was excessive.
He aimed to stay conscious this time, but it far exceeded expectations.
Soon, tingling from fingertips and toes climbed the spine to a head-splitting peak.
'Crossing the line...'
Ultimately, his mind couldn't breach the headache wall, drifting into oblivion.
'Ah, Dad, Mom. You're not supposed to appear yet...'