Chapter 181: News
Chapter 181: News
Congratulations. You have discovered a Rare Class. By accepting the power of the jewel, you can evolve into a Twilight Medium.
The Twilight Medium can be considered a high-tier Archer class. Twilight is the power of the middle path, existing between the fading white light of the setting sun and the encroaching darkness. It is recommended for a User proficient in ranged combat, particularly with a bow or crossbow, to inherit this class.
The Twilight Medium originates from an ancient priestess tribe of the Hall Plain. Preferring seclusion over worldly affairs, they prayed for the peace and protection of their tribe under their unique folk beliefs. Their power can be divided into three types: tattoos using engravings, secret arts using incantations, and spirit possession using divine speech. These powers were separated and lay dormant. The jewel before you contains the power to use the secret arts of incantation.
User Kim Soohyun’s current class is Sword Specialist, a top-tier Secret Class of the Swordsman line. You can acquire the pearl, but based on an assessment of your unique, special, and latent abilities, your overall efficiency will be reduced to 80% or less. However, with 98 points in Agility and 96 points in Magic Power, you can recover 40% of that reduction. The status of your special and latent ability slots has been checked. There are no slots remaining. Acquiring the Twilight Medium class is not recommended.
After reading the full explanation, I raised a hand and gently pressed it against my heart. Within my heart lay one of the three powers of the ancient priestesses—the power of tattoos using engravings. It had the function of preventing my magic power from running rampant and stabilizing its flow, as well as guiding it more efficiently.
The jewel before me contained only the secret arts of incantation. This suggested that there might be other priestess classes out there, ones that held the powers of engraved tattoos and spirit possession through divine speech. I finally understood why a class related to such a powerful ancient priestess was only a Rare Class. It should have been a Secret Class, but its power had likely been dispersed by being split into three, downgrading it to Rare. In other words, if I could find and acquire the items containing the other powers, there was a chance it could evolve into a Secret Class.
After reading the descriptions for a while longer, I retied the pouch and put it back in the drawer. Then, I closed my eyes, mentally running through a list of archer-type Users who might be worth recruiting. Seon Yuun came to mind for a moment, but I quickly dismissed the thought.
*
The atmosphere in Mule was strange. It wasn't gloomy, but a quiet stillness had settled over the place. Other Users might have found it peaceful, but to me, it felt like the calm before the storm.
We had no further exploration goals here. Of course, that didn't mean our daily routine was disrupted, but we inevitably had more free time than before. The one silver lining was that the others now trained on their own without me having to say anything. The packed schedule I had enforced since we first arrived in Mule seemed to have been effective, as they never missed a training session. But what pleased me most was that they had finally started to take the initiative to improve themselves.
As an example, Ahn Hyun had asked me if he could try using the Legend of Hoplon. I’d actually had an inkling this was coming. When I sometimes watched him train in the lobby, I noticed he was often no longer wearing the Gloves of Reduction on his right hand. His Strength wasn't yet high enough to wield his spear one-handed, so I figured he must have had something else in mind.
“My defense increased dramatically after I received the Helm of Courage and Mighty Sun. If I equip a shield on top of that, I think I can solidify my position as a tanker.”
“Hmm. A spear and shield. It’s not a bad idea, but wouldn’t that diminish the purpose of an Aura Spearman? It’s a class that focuses heavily on physical arts. And the Legend of Hoplon is extremely heavy.”
“That’s true. But I have this.”
Ahn Hyun met my gaze and raised his left hand. On it were the Gloves of Reduction.
“These gloves reduce an object’s weight. It was nice having a lighter spear, but it also meant I couldn’t deliver heavy blows. My only option was to aim for vital spots using extreme physical arts and overwhelming strength. But things will be different if I can hold a shield. Since it has a reflection effect, I think I can get better-than-expected results if I use it well. Plus, the records mention a way to wield a spear with one hand.”
“Increase the spear’s destructive power and use the shield to boost your defense. It’s a good idea, but you know it’s beyond your current capabilities, right? You’ll need at least 75 Strength and Stamina to even attempt what you’re describing.”
“I’ll work hard, Hyung. Please, just trust me this once. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll return it. I don’t want to be satisfied with just being an Aura Spearman. I want to try anything and everything if it means I can get stronger.”
His earnest plea moved me. He wanted to return the spear to its original weight to increase its destructive power, while using the Gloves of Reduction to lighten the Legend of Hoplon. Of course, there were more than a few potential problems. If he had asked for a normal shield, I would have told him to stop talking nonsense, but the Legend of Hoplon had a reflection effect. That certainly made the proposition less clear-cut.
However, setting aside the feasibility for a moment, I liked his attitude of wanting to try something new. The worries I’d had when he was strutting around after getting his Rare Class completely vanished. Since he promised to return it if it didn’t work out, I thought it would be fine to let him try.
“If you’re that determined… alright. But don’t forget you have to train your Strength, Stamina, and Magic Power consistently. And on top of your physical arts and spearmanship, you’ll now have to learn how to use a shield. It’s going to be tough from here on out, but don’t even think about giving up on any of them. If you’re not prepared to catch all three rabbits, then quit right now.”
“Hyung! Thank you! I’ll be sure to remember that!”
At my conditional approval, Ahn Hyun shouted and bowed deeply. Seeing him so happy made me feel satisfied as well. I immediately went to my office and retrieved the round shield from my stored equipment, handing it to him. Thanks to the effect of the Gloves of Reduction, Ahn Hyun lifted it with just his left hand without any trouble.
With this, his role as a tanker, if not a dealer, was now much more secure. And if I could rely on Ahn Hyun as the main tanker, it would broaden my own range of action, which was a good thing for me too.
*
Conrad Douglas, who was handling my clan’s establishment, did not disappoint. He had sent a messenger the previous evening with the news that the review had passed unanimously and that I should stop by around noon the next day. He also added that the status change requests for the other Users had all been processed, which was truly delightful news.
My companions all cheered at the news that we were finally establishing a clan. That meant I would have to lead everyone to the clan registration office tomorrow, but there was something essential we had to decide before we went.
The document the messenger had delivered required several pieces of information. Setting aside the more complicated details, it asked for the clan name, clan type, and information on the initial members. The moment the Residents saw this paper tomorrow, they were bound to be shocked once again. After all, more than half of the clan members had Secret or Rare Classes.
I decided to save that part for tomorrow’s entertainment, but the problem was the clan name. My companions gathered in small groups around the paper, each suggesting names they thought were good, but most of them were absolutely ridiculous.
“Hyung. How about ‘Gathering of Giants’ for the clan name? It was my guild’s name in an online game I used to play. Isn’t it cool?”
“Ehh. That sounds too arrogant. How about LoveLove instead? It means love, so I think it’s definitely a good choice.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Gathering of Giants? LoveLove? Oh my god, that’s so cringey it hurts. Why not something more on your level, like the Super-Duper Giant Clan or the Wah-Wah Baby Clan? Ahahaha!”
“Hmph.”
“Everyone, quiet.”
Ko Yeonju and Jung Hayeon were clutching their stomachs, dying of laughter as they listened to the others. Even Shin Sangyong let out a sound like he was desperately trying to hold it in, “Pfft. Keke. Pffft.” For the record, while I could let Ahn Sol’s suggestion slide, Ahn Hyun’s naming sense was a shock even to me.
My face flushed red as I lightly slammed my hand on the table. The group fell silent in an instant. The problem was that they got carried away the moment I gave them any leeway. I was about to say something when I felt a strange emptiness and turned my head. One person who was always chiming in with the others was unusually quiet today. And where I looked, one of the Residents was slumped over with her head on the table.
“Vivian.”
“Yeah.”
She didn’t lift her head, but I heard her reply. Wondering if she was sick, I was about to force her head up when she slowly straightened herself.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you sick… huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah, never mind. Just go back to sleep.”
“Yeah. No, it’s not that. I was listening. Yaaawn… My head just hurts. I’ll stay like this a little longer.”
The moment I saw Vivian’s haggard face, I gasped in spite of myself. Her usual bright and cheerful expression was gone. I’d heard that alchemists lose all track of time the moment they get fixated on their research, and it seemed this was because of her work on the elixir. While I was grateful, I had no idea what kind of wish she was planning to make that would drive her this hard.
After letting her rest her head again, I turned back to the silent group. They were all watching me, their faces full of anticipation to see what clan name I would choose. Of course, I would never choose names like Gathering of Giants, Super-Duper Giant Clan, LoveLove, or Wah-Wah Baby Clan.
“The clan name is important, but what ultimately matters is the clan’s reputation. And to raise and maintain that reputation, the members who make up the clan must be skilled. Remember this. We are a free mercenary-type clan. Whatever name we choose, its value will rise as long as you and I perform well. So well that no one can ignore us. However, I honestly cannot accept the names you’ve suggested. There’s a limit. Let’s be reasonable, okay?”
“““Yes.”””
The group answered in unison, their faces crestfallen. I sighed, then slowly picked up the quill pen and wrote down the clan name I had been thinking of for a while. Personally, I thought it was a fitting name that revealed our identity as a Mercenary Clan without being too flashy.
After filling in all the information, I passed the completed document to the others, meaning for them to correct any mistakes. One by one, they checked their own information and saw the clan name I had written. I was curious how they would react, but thankfully, most of them seemed to find it acceptable, nodding their heads.
“Hmm. It’s simple. I think this is pretty good.”
“I agree. It’s a simple word, but it reveals the clan’s nature and isn’t too conspicuous. Soohyun, do you have a clan emblem in mind?”
“I’m thinking of using the entire clan name as the emblem. The first letter will be slightly larger than the others, and the color will be red.”
“Ah. L-Leader. Just a moment.”
As I was talking with Ko Yeonju and Jung Hayeon, I heard Shin Sangyong’s flustered voice from the side. I turned to see him blinking as he pointed to where his information was written. Taking the document back, I saw that at the bottom it read, Shin Sangyong (Year 2 User): Chimera Alchemist. I asked in a calm voice.
“Yes? Is there something written incorrectly?”
Even as I spoke, I felt something was off. Considering Shin Sangyong’s personality, there was no way he would have stayed quiet after obtaining a Rare Class. He would have come to thank me at least a hundred times. Did that mean Vivian hadn’t told him yet?
“Y-Yes. I’m not a Chimera Alchemist. Perhaps you were confused for a moment while writing down Master’s information.”
“……”
“Eh? W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
As I narrowed my eyes, I saw Shin Sangyong’s face fill with confusion. Finally grasping the situation, I quietly stared at Vivian. She must have heard our conversation, because she had lifted her head and was scratching it with a look that said, ‘Oops, I forgot.’
“Vivian.”
“S-Sorry. I completely forgot.”
“Phew. I appreciate you dedicating yourself to that, but you still need to take care of your responsibilities.”
“Hehe. Sorry. And I get it. I’ll do it right now. You’ve seen my info, so there’s nothing else to check, right?”
When I nodded, Vivian staggered to her feet. At the same time, she grabbed Shin Sangyong’s arm and pulled. He looked back and forth between me and Vivian with a completely bewildered expression, but he had no choice but to get up at her urging.
As the two of them walked up the stairs, murmurs of excitement broke out here and there. The others knew we had another Chimera Alchemist book, so they weren’t particularly bothered. They just whispered amongst themselves, their faces alight with the fact that another member of their group was about to get a Rare Class.
“Oppa. So you decided to give that to Shin Sangyong-ssi?”
“That’s right. I’ve spoken with Vivian a lot about it, and it seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t a sudden decision. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I first met him and Jung Hayeon-ssi.”
“Aha. I see. That’s great~.”
Hearing my conversation with Yoojung, Hayeon turned to Ko Yeonju with a look of confusion. But Ko Yeonju had no idea either. All she could do was shrug her shoulders.