Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Pello's Diary
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The monsters from Yoharaum were a bit quiet and arrogant, but the ones from Ullr were noisy and weirdly creative.
Dun needed a moment to think, so he told the monsters to stay put here and slipped into another quiet hole.
"Oh, by the way, you said you brought monsters from the land of fire, Yoharaum, right?"
"Yeah."
"Where are those monsters now?"
"I left them on the land Prim lent me for a bit."
"Ah, Prima Vera... That's the princess, right?"
Prim was one of the hot NPCs among players lately. She occasionally gave high-level users quests with big rewards, and there was a lot of talk that those would lead into massive quests later.
Birds of a feather flock together, huh? Strong, unusual beings kept gathering around Dun.
"How'd you all meet?"
"No idea. Just, somehow, yeah."
"You met by chance and naturally became friends?"
"Uh, yeah? Kinda..."
Dun nodded awkwardly.
"You planning to bring these guys to that land too? With the fire-attribute monsters, that might be tricky."
"Yeah, it is. They turn water into magma when they drink it. Been thinking about what to do. But I'll figure something out and bring them along."
Dun considered having the Lycus dig deep tunnels to create a massive artificial lake.
"You're not thinking of just leaving them behind, at least."
"They're my shit, after all."
Plus, dominated monsters didn't attack humans. The effect sometimes wore off, but it only held as long as he stayed with them.
It was a hassle to manage, but keeping them around should reduce collateral damage.
For now, reducing the number of monsters attacking humans seemed like the best move.
"Let's do the job change first. You might be able to make something helpful."
"Oh, great!"
Lee Yoo-hyun pulled out 'Pello's Diary' from his inventory and opened it.
[Would you like to read Pello's Diary? Only the first person to open it can inherit the technique. Upon full reading, the diary loses its power.]
"Yes."
[Starting Pello's First Job Change.]
[Preface
Before we begin, this diary was written with purpose.
May the one always watching over me, Illithea, be pleased.
May the first reader of this diary be wise as a serpent and pure as a dove...]
[Dwarf Pello, 7 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 1.
The most basic mindset to become a Pello.
Altruism: placing the happiness of others above your own.
In a world where diverse beings gather, help each other, and live together.
Only when someone who sees others' happiness as their own leads can the group truly prosper.]
[Would you like to learn Altruism?]
"Yes."
[Acquired Passive Skill: Altruism! Understanding of humans increases, allowing you to grasp others' needs.]
"What'd you get?"
"Not sure...? It says I understand others better and can grasp their needs more easily."
"Really? What do I need right now?"
"Probably a space to raise monsters?"
"But you could've figured that out without a skill."
"Exactly. Hmm, what then?"
She'd learned something, but it didn't feel any different. Her head just felt a bit clearer, that was all.
Lee Yoo-hyun turned to the next page.
[Dwarf Pello, 6 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 2.
Being altruistic doesn't mean always yielding to others—that's not inherently just or good.
Parents who give candy every time a child wants it breed unfilial brats; pitying a beggar with gold bars brings greater misfortune. Vague goodwill is worse than none.
Only wisdom combined with goodwill creates true good. Only the wise who minimize harm are true paragons.
But even paragons are villains to enemies. Perfect good doesn't exist.
Good and evil are just selective biases.]
"Calls himself a craftsman but just lectures on boring philosophy. Why not just teach the techniques cleanly."
Dun, peeking over Lee Yoo-hyun's shoulder, grumbled. She laughed at his complaint.
"But he put it first because he thought it was most important."
"Maybe."
[Dwarf Pello, 5 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 3.
Powerless before death.
The Bluehorn Knight threatens for techniques, but I won't yield.
No option to reform them—can't teach those whose goal is slaughter and tyranny.
My old self might have, but at the end, I want to live like a paragon.
Today's lesson: chewing water bugs tastes awful.
Suffered stomach pains all day.]
[Dwarf Pello, 4 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 4.
Remember the husband I used for more gold, then discarded.
The children I pushed for the 'Legendary Craftsman' title.
But it doesn't matter. More dwarves respect and admire me.
Joy in gaining recognition from many.
Four days left, but maybe they'll come save me.
Dwarves need me, after all.]
"Now he's whining."
"Haha, he pretends not, but he seems full of regrets."
"Why? He says people's recognition matters more than family."
"He's recalling them to avoid admitting regret, then justifying his choices with other thoughts."
"What a loser."
Dun muttered under his breath at Pello's thought process, which felt like something he'd write himself someday. Cursing Pello, but it was no different from cursing himself.
"So when does he teach the techniques? Diary or lectures—pick one."
[Dwarf Pello, 3 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 5.
This technique is nothing special. It's just talent.
Receive the gods' choice.
That's talent, technique.
Add diligence on top—perfection.
Finding this diary means you already have enough talent.
Hoped the finder would be a dwarf coming to save me, but gave up.
No reason for dwarves to come to Ullr.
Then the Bluehorn Knight discovered I hid traces with Yenz and Gray.
He'll use it to frame and kill someone—hope whoever it is survives.]
[Would you like to inherit the title: The Small One Chosen by Illithea?]
"Yes? Sure."
[Illithea blesses your path. Luck stat increases.]
"Thank you."
Lee Yoo-hyun checked the info window, confirming the new title. Thanks to it, her Luck stat was up.
"Huh, there's a weird envelope stuck here."
Having gotten the title, she tried turning the page and noticed something that hadn't been visible before.
"You just noticed that?"
"Yeah, weird. Wasn't there earlier."
[Unique] Pello's Powder
Putting it in inventory made the item glow.
[Can create Pello Fragment. Proceed?]
Lee Yoo-hyun used her skill to craft something from Pello's powder.
[Legendary] Pello Fragment
Description: Collect 3 to obtain Pello's technique.
"Oh, seems like gathering this powder makes fragments, and 3 fragments give the technique."
[Dwarf Pello, 2 Days Before Death
Final Lecture, Day 6.
Heard shocking truth from Bluehorn Knight.
What's the point of great skill?
Of vast wealth?
In the end, death leaves nothing.
What was my fulfillment?
Thought happiness lay at the end of what all desired.
Thought I desired it too.
Was what I chased truly right? Only endless thirst remains.
Small comfort: dwarves will remember me as 'Legendary Craftsman Pello' even after death.
They'll forget selling me to Bluehorn out of fear of my talent, and remember my achievements.
Fact that those remembering me betrayed me makes me tremble, but it's fine.
My life as craftsman is complete.]
"More powder attached."
Lee Yoo-hyun peeled off the powder and made another fragment.
[Dwarf Pello, 1 Day Before Death
Final Lecture
Everything I taught was what I failed to live by in life.
Had plenty of recognition, but scorned dwarves exploited and used by others as foolish.
Conversely, vowed to live selfishly, taught apprentices the same.
How many dwarves will weep at my grave? Only rivals laughing at fewer competitors come to mind. Abandoned those who'd cry for me.
Why do beings strive so hard from birth? Even legendary deaths are this pathetic.]
"Last powder, I guess."
Lee Yoo-hyun peeled the powder from the final page and made the third fragment.
[Inherit Pello's technique with 3 fragments?]
Holding all three triggered the alert.
Lee Yoo-hyun approved, and the fragments fused, absorbing into her body.
[Successfully completed Pello's First Job Change!]
[Acquired title: Legendary Craftsman.]
[Acquired title: One Who Serves Others.]
[Customizing job skills for user.]
"How's the job change feel? Any new abilities?"
"Uh... Yeah, got a bunch of skills. Let me check."
[Package Crafting lv. null]
Description: Create the most needed package for the target.
[Recommended Recipes lv.1]
Description: Recommends items craftable with current materials. Think of a desired item to filter the list.
Higher levels unlock more high-rank recipes.
-Materials must be in inventory or nearby.
"Recommended Recipes."
[Loading recipes.]
-Dagger Recipe
-Wooden Sword Recipe
-Low-Grade HP Potion Recipe
-...
Checking her updated stats and skills, Lee Yoo-hyun's eyes widened.
Countless recipes flooded the window instantly.
Lee Yoo-hyun filtered for recipes she could make thinking of Dun and packages.
-Dun Package Recipe
Oh, she could make a Dun package from nearby stuff. Excited to make something for him, she tapped it.
Dun Package Recipe
One strand of Dun's hair
One drop of Dun's blood
"I could make something for you right now. But the materials are kinda weird."
"What?"
"Your hair and a drop of blood."
"Hair's fine, but blood's tricky."
Dun pulled a sharp diamond dagger from inventory, aimed at his hand, and slammed down hard.
Kwaaaang!
"Gyaaah!! What are you doing!!"
"Like this, to get even a little."
She thought his hand would pierce through, but barely a drop came out.
Dun collected it in a small glass vial and handed it over.
"How much hair?"
"One strand should do."
Dun grabbed a strand and yanked.
Pwaaak!
"What's that sound?"
"Plucking hair."
"That noise from one strand?"
"Yeah. Scalp's tough."
"You're... never going bald, huh."
Lee Yoo-hyun used her new skill with Dun's hair and blood.
"Package Crafting."
[Analyzing target: 'Dun.']
[Gathering info on Dun's needs.]
Dun's package took a long time to craft.
Hours passed.
[Completed 'Dun Package'!]
[Time to next package: 7 days]
"Whew. Dun, it's done."
Lee Yoo-hyun woke the sleeping Dun and handed it over.
It was a syringe.
"What's this...?"
"No idea."
"You made it but don't know?"
"You saw—it's instinct when using the skill."
Dun took the package and checked the info window.
[Legendary+] Dun Package 1.0
Description:
[Inject liquid to use.]
"Goddamn it, thought I'd never deal with this again."
"Huh?"
He felt a twinge of aversion but picked up the syringe familiarly.
"Wait, you know how to use this?"
"More or less."
As he went to inject, nausea hit.
"Hang on. Gonna puke. Let's go outside first."
Dun stowed the package and left Ullr's core, sitting on solid ground.
He extended his arm to Lee Yoo-hyun.
"You do it. Don't really know how."
"It's fine, I know how. But your face looks bad—are you okay? We don't even know what it is; maybe skip it."
It was odd seeing a kid who could smash her hand with a sharp object trembling at a harmless syringe.
She'd given herself shots alone at the Hunter Association a few times, so injecting Dun wasn't hard.
But his shaky arm tugged at her heartstrings; she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Dun turned, puzzled why she wasn't injecting, and met her gaze.
It was Rihowel's expression. Suddenly, he felt safe.
"Damn. Why am I shaking?"
Old news. Dun snatched the syringe and injected himself smoothly. Legendary item—needle slid in easy.
Just stung like a flu shot, no chills or nausea.
"So how'd you inject like a pro?"
"Instinct."
"But it's safe, right?"
"Probably?"
Dun opened the info window to see what changed.
[Legendary+] Dun Package 1.0
-Create New World (1 use)
-Bridge of Two Worlds (usable after update)
"What the hell...?"