The Price of Use
Would you like to use the Ancient God's Undead Summoning Secret Book?
Once used, it cannot be reversed.
"Yeah."
You have used the Ancient God's Undead Summoning Secret Book.
Infamy has increased by 500.
Luck has decreased by 100.
Ghh...
He'd braced himself for it, but when the message actually popped up, his stomach still sank.
To think his Luck would drop that fast.
Of course, he still had plenty left. Even so, painful was painful.
Tae-hyun suddenly remembered all the grinding he'd done farming Rabbit Foot.
Your Magic skill has increased.
There are skills you cannot use yet because your current Magic skill is too low.
You have learned Blood Magic.
You have learned Undead Summoning.
You have learned Dark Arrow.
"Status window."
Beginner Magic Lv. 1 (6%)
Beginner Black Magic Lv. 1 (3%)
Blood Magic
A secret art that temporarily uses HP instead of MP, and vitality instead of mana, to strengthen spells. Because of its severe side effects, several schools have banned it.
*Current Skill Level 1.
Undead Summoning
A black magic spell that summons undead of the specter line. Since it is only Beginner Magic, it cannot call forth powerful beings. Still, it serves as a necromancer's basic foundation.
*Current Skill Level 1.
Dark Arrow
A spell that gathers the power of darkness and fires it outward. It's a simple black magic spell, but precisely because it's simple, its power depends heavily on the user's skill.
*Current Skill Level 1.
This really feels like I'm heading down the necromancer route...
Tae-hyun had wanted to learn elemental magic—things like fireballs or pillars of ice.
But somehow, what he'd ended up with were things like Blood Magic and Black Magic.
Even in the skill window, Beginner Black Magic had appeared under Beginner Magic.
More importantly, Dark Arrow... I never thought I'd be learning this of all things.
Dark Arrow.
It was an extremely famous spell—one known not only to necromancers but also to black mages who specialized in curse magic.
Among black mages, it was practically their version of a fireball—the standard spell everybody knew.
A long-range magic attack, moderate MP cost, reasonably short cast time... it was one of the best value-for-money spells around.
Tae-hyun had seen Lee Se-yeon use Dark Arrow before.
"Kraaaagh!"
"Dodge those arrows!"
Their power had been insane—enough to punch straight through the heavy armor of knights blessed by priests.
Just remembering it sent a chill down his spine.
Whatever else, Lee Se-yeon definitely had a grudge against him.
I'd better avoid running into her for a while.
Tae-hyun knew he was getting stronger quickly.
But at his current level, he still couldn't take down a top-tier ranker.
Even so, the Ancient God's Undead Summoning Secret Book had turned out to be a better grimoire than he'd expected.
The fact that there were apparently more skills he still couldn't learn yet meant that raising his Magic and Black Magic skill levels would probably unlock additional ones.
I guess I should level magic a bit too.
After finishing his quick review, Tae-hyun got to his feet.
He was planning to log out and take a short break.
"Ugh, I'm sore."
Yawning, Tae-hyun made his way forward.
It had been a while since he'd worked out that hard, and now his whole body ached.
People often assumed heavy gamers just stayed indoors all day doing nothing but play.
That wasn't Tae-hyun.
The most important thing for gaming was real-life stamina.
If you didn't have the endurance, you couldn't last long.
Working out was one of Tae-hyun's hobbies too. Back when he was younger, he'd even trained in martial arts with his father, Kim Tae-san.
The exercise equipment installed throughout their enormous house was practically gym-level.
"You coming out after gaming?" Kim Tae-san asked when he saw him.
Tae-hyun nodded.
"Yeah. Played some, worked out a bit too."
"Oh really? I feel like you said last time you'd show me something in the game. Maybe I imagined that?"
A clear provocation.
Kim Tae-san looked at him with a mocking smile tugging at his mouth.
He knew his son's personality very well.
Just like him, Tae-hyun was the kind of person who might as well be dead without his pride.
But Tae-hyun didn't bite right away.
Instead, he grinned back.
"You'll see the results soon enough."
"Wow. I'm really looking forward to that. So my son is finally gonna get on broadcasts and all that now? Hm?"
"You don't have to measure results only by broadcasting or popularity, do you? Income counts too."
"Son. You do know I'm rich, right? No matter what you make, it'll probably look like pocket change by my standards."
Second provocation.
But Tae-hyun slipped around that one too with practiced ease.
He dug a finger into his ear and said casually, "Well, Mom's the one judging in the end, so it doesn't really matter. No matter what you say, Mom will assess it objectively."
Urk.
Kim Tae-san flinched inwardly.
Tae-hyun was absolutely right.
If Tae-hyun brought home 100 million won, Kim Tae-san could nitpick and say, What kind of chump change is this?
But his wife, Jeong Yun-hee, would definitely praise him and say he'd done well.
And honestly, she'd be right.
100 million won wasn't exactly pennies.
This little brat...
He wanted to see Tae-hyun tuck his tail between his legs just once.
But Tae-hyun's attack was only beginning.
"By the way, it's been quite a while since you bought your capsule, Father. So you've definitely started the game by now, haven't you? Or not?"
"...!"
Tae-hyun already knew Kim Tae-san had bought a virtual reality gaming capsule.
And knowing his father's personality, there was no way he'd bought it and still been patiently waiting this whole time.
Kim Tae-san answered stiffly, "W-what are you talking about?"
"I mean Fantasy Online 2. It seems like you've started playing it, haven't you?"
"I haven't started yet."
"Really? Doesn't seem that way. Just tell me. I'll be very helpful."
His mouth said, I'll be very helpful.
But his expression and his eyes were saying, If you tell me where you are, I'll hunt you down and PK you immediately.
A chill ran down Kim Tae-san's spine.
T-this punk really...
Tae-hyun was absolutely the kind of guy who'd really come after him in-game and try to PK him.
Kim Tae-san knew his son well.
"I said I haven't started!"
"No, what I'm saying is, when you do start, let me know."
"I don't need your help! Ahem!"
Kim Tae-san hurriedly turned and walked away.
That conversation had left him feeling like he'd only lost ground.
Watching his retreating back, Tae-hyun became certain.
He's already started, and not just recently either!
Tae-hyun cracked his knuckles one by one.
He was already looking forward to it.
The moment he met his father in-game—that moment would be...
"Kahahahahahaha!"
"Quiet down!"
"Yes, ma'am."
Crunch, crunch.
Tae-hyun was eating his sundae-gukbap with deep satisfaction.
The little restaurant he always went to still tasted just as good as ever.
"Oh my, young man. Long time no see."
"Hello."
"Tastes good?"
"It always tastes good. Your cooking is the best, ma'am."
Tae-hyun gave her a thumbs-up.
The owner beamed.
"By the way, remember that thing you mentioned last time?"
"Hm? What thing?"
Tae-hyun played dumb perfectly.
From the sound of it, Kim Tae-san had come by and explained things already.
At moments like this, pretending not to know was the best tactic.
"Fantasy Online 2."
"Ah. That."
"Hm?"
"Nothing. So what about Fantasy Online 2?"
When Tae-hyun had come by last time, the owner had told him, I'm worried because my daughter does nothing but work.
So he'd recommended the virtual reality game Fantasy Online 2.
Of course, he'd also spread some nonsense rumors about his father while he was at it.
"That capsule, you know? I bought one and told my daughter to try it. At first she was like, What kind of game is that? But once she started, it looked like she had fun. Seeing her keep at it, I think she really likes it."
"Really? That's good."
"Right? She still works all the time, but at least she finally has a hobby now. And if she gets closer to the friends she's met in the game, maybe they'll meet up out here too. Then maybe she'll pick up other hobbies as well."
Tae-hyun nodded.
Who knew Fantasy Online 2 could bring about such a good change?
Recommending it had been worth it.
Suddenly curious, he asked, "So what class does she play in Fantasy Online 2?"
"Ah. A chef."
"A chef? Even in-game?"
"Well, there wasn't much I could do about that. Hyeon-yeong has always loved cooking so much..."
"Well, doing what you like is the best thing. That's how I am too."
With that, Tae-hyun slurped down a spoonful of broth.
And in the process, he completely missed one very important fact.
The owner's daughter's name was Ju Hyeon-yeong, and on top of that, she was a chef...
...Huh? Why does it feel like I'm forgetting something important?
Tae-hyun had the sort of detached personality that switched off interest in other people the moment they stopped being directly relevant to him.
He paused for a second, then shrugged and kept eating the rest of his soup.
It's probably nothing.
"Whew. Sharp little bastard."
Left alone in the house, Kim Tae-san glanced around nervously.
What if Tae-hyun was watching somehow?
Tae-hyun had been right.
Kim Tae-san had already been playing for a while.
And the reason he hadn't told him?
Because if I do, he'll come after me and attack me!
Father and son knew each other far too well.
Kim Tae-san trusted his son's skill.
Tae-hyun was always pulling bizarre stunts, but once he set his mind on something, nobody could stop him.
If he decided he was going to PK someone, he'd hound them relentlessly.
How did things between us end up like this...?
Kim Tae-san wasn't exactly weak in Fantasy Online 2 right now.
If anything, you could say he was strong.
Of course, his level wasn't insanely high, nor was his personal skill extraordinary.
He hadn't been playing long enough for his level to be high.
The same went for his mechanics. He was good at martial arts in real life, sure, but he still hadn't fully adjusted to fighting in virtual reality games.
And yet he was still strong for one simple reason.
Cash.
Kim Tae-san climbed into the capsule and logged in.
What appeared was an Orc plastered head to toe in flashy gear.
There wasn't an ounce of aesthetic sense in the entire getup—if it was gaudy, huge, and expensive-looking, he'd strapped it on somewhere.
He looked like some hideous golden peacock.
Except instead of a handsome elf, it was a fierce-looking, huge-bodied Orc.
Kim Tae-san liked Orcs.
That's right. If you're a man, it's gotta be an Orc!
Bold, imposing, huge, virile, strong...
Anyway, Orcs had every trait Kim Tae-san liked.
So when he started, he started as one.
And he hadn't started alone.
"Guild Leader, you've arrived?"
"Guild Leader, you've arrived?"
"Guild Leader, you've arrived?"
"The Guild Leader's here! Show some respect!"
He'd contacted the old guildmates he'd played with since their Lineage days and talked them into joining him in Fantasy Online 2.
Back then they'd all been young, but now those same guild members were all men in their forties and fifties.
Their personalities—and their instincts—hadn't changed one bit.
The instant Kim Tae-san suggested it, they all came running and shouted:
"We're taking this whole place over!"
"Yeah! Just like in Lineage!"
"Let's gather as many forces as we can as fast as possible!"
"And then we seize this region, this region, and this region! After that, we tax the hell out of them!"
"Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Watching his guildmates come up with a full-on villain plan in under five minutes, Kim Tae-san let out a sigh.
But what could he do?
Considering the kind of things he had done in the past.
He'd never tell Tae-hyun because it would be too embarrassing, but back in his younger days Kim Tae-san had been known in Lineage as the lord of a massive guild.
A villain player who ruled a castle and the lands around it with an iron fist, killing rebellious players without mercy.
Of course, looking back on it now, it was the sort of shameful stupidity only possible in youth.
But the men gathered here all wanted to do it again.