Chapter 21
Chapter 21
On the way to Sudo Mountain
"Honey, honey~ So, what were those vegetables you just fed me?"
"They're ones my mom grew."
I pulled a fresh, green Bok Choy from my inventory.
"Try it."
"Ah~"
Well, look at you. Still, you're cute, so...
I fed the Bok Choy to the baby bird hanging off my arm with its mouth open.
Asak~
"Ugh.. I feel a bit dizzy.. Huh?"
It seemed the effect had kicked in.
"Honey, two mysterious buffs appeared here, and it says '5' on the bottom right."
"That's a Rank 5 buff."
Ha-rang was startled and opened her eyes wide.
As expected, this expression is the cutest.
"R-Rank 5?!"
"Yeah, the Bok Choy is Vision Enhancement 5 and Health Regeneration 5."
Ha-rang couldn't receive physical enhancements, but she could receive regeneration, so she got both buffs.
She got super excited and started asking me all sorts of questions, and I explained them one by one.
--
"Was Farming always such an overpowered skill?"
In the days of the Ruined Game, Farming was the favorite skill of users who wanted to retire to the countryside, and it was a national skill that many people raised to Max.
However, it was just a self-satisfaction skill where making money was nearly impossible because too many people did it, let alone having such terrifying buffs.
"Starting from the Herb experience points, it seems like a lot has changed since the Ruined Game incident."
The voice that rang out on the first day had definitely said it. That the last hidden piece had been discovered, and the update for the main story and reality was proceeding...
'The hidden piece is definitely the Blessing of All Things... but "last" means there are other overpowered skills, right?'
I don't know if they're skills or items, but there must be many people with powerful strength besides me.
"Honey!! Are you listening to me!?"
Oops...
"Sorry, I was thinking about something else for a moment."
"Seriously... Anyway! If there are any vegetables with Dominance buffs, let me know!"
Ha-rang's ability is Zombie Control. The higher the Dominance, the higher the zombies' stats.
"Of course."
However, even in the days of the Ruined Game, finding buff items for advanced stats, excluding basic stats, was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Ha-rang was satisfied with my answer.
"Honey! Isn't that Sudo Mountain over there?"
"Oh, I... think... it is?"
We arrived at Sudo Mountain(?).
--
Sudo Mountain in Daegu.
It wasn't that high, and the paths were well-maintained, making it a good place for elderly people to take walks, as well as a nice spot to casually enjoy nature.
It should have been.
What is this jungle, anyway?
In front of our eyes was a jungle filled with giant trees that were as tall as 3 or 4-story apartment buildings.
"Uh... Honey? This is the right place, right...?"
I recalled my past memories and headed toward the entrance of the hiking trail.
[Sudo Mountain Trail ㅡ>]
I found a sign entangled in vines.
"Seems like it. Alright, let's go in."
"Ugh.. I'm not so sure about this..."
Ha-rang clung to me even tighter, and I climbed the mountain, satisfied with the soft breasts I could feel.
--
10 minutes into the hike. I used Exploration on every wildflower I saw.
[Persian Speedwell]
Info 1: Grants fire resistance buff for 15 minutes upon consumption.
[Aconitum]
Info 1: Inflicts poison status upon consumption.
[Trigonotis peduncularis]
Info 1: Inflicts paralysis for 5 minutes upon consumption.
[Anemone raddeana]
Info 1: Grants charm buff for 17 minutes upon consumption.
I collected the ones that seemed useful and stored them in my inventory.
As I kept picking strange plants, Ha-rang sat down next to me.
"What's the mechanism of your skill?"
Mechanism...?
It's just exploring, that's all...
"Hmm.. It's just an Exploration-type. I can get information on beings I touch."
"Hmm~? What's the skill name?"
Should I tell her this... I hesitated for a moment, looking at the beautiful wildflower in front of me.
'Well, the name shouldn't matter, right?'
"It's a skill called Blessing of All Things."
"All Things?"
Ha-rang, who was a high-ranker in the Ruined Game, tilted her head as if she hadn't heard of it before.
"So what's the exact skill effect? Just Information Check?"
Why is she so obsessed...
I manipulated the system to open my skill window.
[A] Blessing of All Things Max: Can analyze all beings, decompose and copy them, and purchase items whose information has been checked.
"Uh.. It says I can decompose beings I touch and view their information."
I only revealed appropriate information.
"Hmm~ Decompose and information..."
Grab!
"Ha-rang-ssi?"
She suddenly hugged me.
"Hehe, then analyze my level and skills right now~"
Ah, is that it?
"I can't use the skill because I'm not touching you..."
At my words, Ha-rang tilted her head and muttered to herself, "Is that true?"
Mushy
She grabbed my hand herself and made me touch her giant breasts.
"Ha.. Ha-rang-ssi?"
"How about now?"
Squish, squish..
Ah.. this addictive texture... I want to touch it forever...
"Honey!!"
"Ah.. yes.."
I checked the information window at her shout.
[Status Window]
Name: An Ha-rang
Level: 14
Free Points: 0
Dominance +3
[A] Zombie Control Max: (6/6) Can control powerful zombies.
[A] Telepathy: Sends telepathy to targets within line of sight.
[A] Summon Enhancement +2: Can strengthen summoned creatures.
[Weakness]
Zombie Control Penalty: Cannot perform physical training or equip gear, and is immune to physical enhancement buffs.
14 just from combat... Is the Zombie Control skill really that OP?
"Hmm... Level 14, and skills are Zombie Control Max, Telepathy, and Summon Enhancement at +2."
"Oh my! You can even know my skills?!"
Oh, should I not have revealed that..?
But the water was already spilled.
"That's right."
"That skill is seriously amazing. So, what effect does the grass you're picking now have?"
She showed interest in the pure white flower held in my hand.
"Hmm, the name is Anemone koraiensis.. and it seems like it gives a regeneration buff if you eat it."
Ha-rang's eyes sparkled.
"Regeneration how much?"
"Unfortunately, it's wild, so it's 1."
She was disappointed at my answer.
"Still, it's better than nothing."
I put the Anemone koraiensis into my herb-only bag, then put it into my inventory and stood up.
"I'm thinking of recommending Alchemy to Mom later too."
Ha-rang stood up following me.
"You... you don't think of your mother as a convenient life NPC, do you..?"
Absolutely not, but...
"Mom doesn't have any combat-type skills. I even thought about making her hunt zombies to adapt, but...."
Because it was easier for me to just do it.
When I cut off my words, Ha-rang laughed.
Chu
She gave me a light kiss on the lips.
"Ha-rang-ssi?"
"Yeah, you're really kind, Honey."
"Wouldn't all sons be like this?"
At my words, Ha-rang suddenly lowered her head.
"...Since you're also quite charming..."
Her voice was too small to hear.
"What? What did you say?"
"Uh-uh, nothing. Come on, let's go back up~"
Seems like there's some story there...
'Maybe I'll find out naturally someday?'
She took my hand and pulled, and we climbed the jungle called Sudo Mountain.
And not long after.
"Honey!! This is huge!! Look over there!!!"
"Wow... We finally found it."
We discovered red-skinned NPCs building houses and living in the forest.
However, we didn't rashly approach the village, but hid our bodies in a nearby tree and talked in low voices.
"Are they friendly friends? Or are they the bribery type?"
"Red skin... Were there NPCs like that in the Ruined Game?"
"Hmm... Not in my memory..."
In the days of the Ruined Game, all villages had different personalities.
Spawned areas were friendly areas and had no prerequisites to enter the village, but all other villages had unique quests or required items upon entry.
If you ignored this and rushed in blindly, you would end up in a state of war with that village forever.
Even after thinking for a long time, no answer came out.
"We don't know what kind of patches the village might have had, so should we try approaching it first?"
"That would be best."
We attempted to dive in headfirst.
As we slowly approached the village,
"Stop!!!"
Ah.. so it's not a friendly village.
At the hostile voice that rang out, we held peanut butter in both hands and raised them in surrender.
"We are not evil people. We want to trade."
At my words, a man with a big nose and red skin who was looking down from a giant tree climbed down.
Rustle..
He landed softly with a noise so quiet you wouldn't hear it unless you listened closely.
"Where are you guys from?"
Just now, and this time too... Is affiliation that important..?
"I don't know what your intention is, but we are not affiliated with any group."
As I spoke, the black pupils of the big-nosed man turned blue.
"It's not a lie... I will guide you to the Chief, follow me."
Are you crazy? A lie detection skill didn't even exist in the Ruined Game days, you know?!
As soon as the man finished speaking, he turned around and entered the village, and Ha-rang and I exchanged glances before hurriedly following behind him.
At that moment, Ha-rang said in a small voice.
"Honey.. the skill to detect lies..."
I nodded.
"It didn't exist in the Ruined Game days."
What kind of patch was made, exactly...
"For now, you take the lead in the conversation."
"Ah... Are you passing the annoying stuff to me?"
"Hehe~ You never know if this tribe prioritizes men, right?"
Sigh...
As I shook my head and followed the man through the village streets, the red-skinned tribesmen who appeared to be residents took up defensive positions.
"This village seems to be a quest type."
"I hope it's an easy one..."
Hostile tendencies and a quest... It feels like hell is about to open up...
The moment I finished my thought, the man stopped in front of a tent larger than our house.
"This is the Chief's tent. Go inside."
With that last word, he returned the way he came, and
"Uh... shall we go in?"
"Let's."
We entered the tent, which was opened by the guard standing next to it.
--
The tent didn't have rooms, as if it were made using a giant tree as a pillar, but there was a space that was just as large.
And in the innermost part,
"New guests? Come in."
A petite, red-skinned woman who didn't match the size of the tent at all was sitting there.
"Hello, Chief, we are..."
As I bowed my head and introduced myself,
"Ah, ah, that's not necessary yet."
She raised her hand and cut off my words.
Aha... so she even has an arrogant personality..
She arrogantly crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.
"So, nameless traveler, what have you come to our village for?"
'Don't lie as much as possible.'
I made a resolution in my head and then opened my mouth.
"If possible, I would like to use this place as a base for trade."
"Trade... What do you want?"
Hmm? Normally, wouldn't they ask what we can give first..?
"Do you have... a Reincarnation Potion?"
I answered honestly, and
"A Reincarnation Potion... It seems you guys also want to reset your skills or whatever, just like the controlled guys who came by last time."
Controlled guys??
"Yes, I don't know who you're referring to, but that's correct."
"Sure, I'll give you a Reincarnation Potion."
After finishing her words, she smiled.
She was clearly smiling, but the moment I saw that smile, I felt a terror that made me feel like I was going to piss myself.
Damn it...
Imparting a sense of fear to the opponent just by existing. This was a systematic effect that came from the difference in levels.
The fact that I felt extreme fear upon seeing her smile meant that her level was at least 5 times higher than mine.
I couldn't even breathe properly due to the fear, and all I could do was tremble in terror.
"Honey? What's wrong?"
However, Ha-rang was worried about my appearance as I was suddenly sweating profusely and trembling.
Shit...
The systematic fear in the Ruined Game days was to impart fear to everyone around. However, Ha-rang, who had a lower level than me, was fine.
'This isn't even the system from the Ruined Game days... It's a unique ability... that woman possesses...'
When I couldn't say anything, Ha-rang noticed something was strange, and
"Hehehe.. Still, seeing as you didn't faint like the bastards who came last time, you've got guts."
Thud
"Haa!! Haa!!"
"Ho.. Honey?!"
Only after she waved her hand as if satisfied did I collapse to the floor and catch my breath, which had been blocked.
Shit... these guys are not beings we can deal with...
I felt the difference in status between her and me to the bone, and realized that even if I covered myself in buffs, I couldn't win.
I grabbed my trembling knees and barely managed to lift my body, then asked the woman who was still sitting arrogantly and smiling.
"Haa... Haa... So... is the... quest... passed...?"
"Quest... Hey! Bring it here!"
When she spoke to the empty air, the tent door opened and two men entered, placed a table in front of her, and left again.
Grin
She smiled and spread her hands.
"This is the quest you guys were talking about."
On the brown table, there were five bowls filled with an unidentified liquid.
"Among these, 4 are deadly poisons, and one is an Elixir."
Elixir!?
In the days of the Ruined Game, only about 10 Elixirs were released on the entire server, and it was the ultimate potion that was said to double the character's performance the moment you drank it.
"Now, man, choose. Die.. or get stronger.. If you survive, the quest you guys are talking about is passed."
She stared straight at my face with an eerie smile, and the fear that had covered my body until just a moment ago disappeared as soon as I confirmed the content of the quest.
Isn't this... super OP?
I first grabbed the bowl on the far left and used [Blessing].