Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Monster Domination_VER.N.DAWN
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Suddenly, a strange proposal popped up in the system.
[Swordsmanship Tutorial NPC Approval]
[Will you allow players to come to you for the swordsmanship job change tutorial?]
"Huh? Of course not."
It was a message that appeared out of nowhere while Dun was lounging at home after serving as Lee Yoo-hyun's day-trip swordsmanship teacher.
[Please recommend suitable NPCs for the swordsmanship tutorial.]
"What the heck are you on about?"
[Please recommend suitable NPCs for the swordsmanship tutorial.]
The game system, which had been operating normally, was suddenly asking him to recommend NPCs.
"Why are you suddenly eyeing me like that? Just do things the way you always have."
[Please recommend suitable NPCs for the swordsmanship tutorial.]
"You're a supercomputer filling up an entire building, but your responses are as bland as a chatbot. So frustrating."
[Please recommend suitable NPCs for the swordsmanship tutorial.]
"No, in Genesis, Willy was always the one handling the swordsmanship job change tutorial!"
[NPC Willy registered. Thank you for the feedback. Swordsmanship job change tutorial will be applied in the next update.]
The moment Dun mentioned Willy, the system returned to normal. Dun, wearing a dumbfounded expression, checked his status window, inventory, skill window, and so on before furrowing his brow.
"What a pain. Why ask me when it's always been like that?"
The thought didn't last long. He recalled how Willy, who originally handled the first warrior job change tutorial in Ninapinta Online, had looked utterly idle lately. Normally, he'd be busy tending to players all the time.
"Is this a dead game signal?"
How crappy does the management have to be for the NPC in charge of a key tutorial to be loafing around in a tavern all day? And now they're trying to designate a side character like me for an important tutorial role.
"......"
Dun shoved his feet under the blanket and tried to ignore the odd sense of unease he'd been feeling since earlier as he drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Dun didn't set a fixed day of the week, but he headed to the hunting grounds three days every week without fail. It was to hunt for useful items. His strength was far greater than his body could handle, so he needed items that would weaken his excessive power.
"Mom, I'm off to hunt."
"Okay. Take out the trash on your way."
"Got it."
Dun took the trash bag from Rihaowel and shuffled out of the house in his slippers.
After dumping the trash at the collection point as she said, he took the back path to the hunting grounds. If any village adults spotted him heading there, they'd surely try to stop him, saying it was dangerous.
Dun followed the tree notches he'd marked long ago, climbing up to his usual hunting spot.
[MISS]
[MISS]
[MISS]
"?
As he climbed without pause, MISS notifications suddenly popped up one after another. Looking around, leeches as thick as human legs were wriggling at his feet.
[lv.17] Happy Leech
[lv.14] Angry Leech
[lv.13] Hungry Leech
Genesis Village was a starting village, so low-level monsters were plentiful. He usually ignored these since they didn't drop good items.
He was wandering around looking for the teleport magic circle that would take him to a high-level hunting ground, and this area happened to be leech monster territory.
"Hey, that tickles."
Sharp teeth gnawed at Dun's bare legs. It wouldn't even scratch his skin, but why bother with those dull teeth when there was nothing to gain.
Kieeeek!
One leech, having scraped his leg in vain, spat out a thick glob of acidic saliva onto it.
[MISS]
Of course, it was a miss.
"If you're that bored, scratch my back for me."
The humid weather today had left an itchy spot on his back. Dun waited for the 'Happy Leech' to find the right spot as he pressed it against his damp back.
The leech slithered around, gnawing at useless areas with its teeth, and Dun frowned.
"Not there. A bit more to the left."
A faint killing intent leaked from Dun's body as he spoke irritably. The leech flinched in surprise and started flailing around.
"Oh, what do you know. That feels good."
Dun chuckled briefly and patted the leech, which trembled as if honored.
[Succeeded in bonding with the monster.]
Hm?
Dun tilted his head at the notification window that popped up again. It wasn't the first time he'd seen it.
Ever since falling into this place, it appeared with a certain probability whenever he came into contact with monsters.
The common trait among monsters when this notification showed was that they became friendly toward Dun, though after a set time, they reverted to hostility. The duration varied by monster.
"Found it."
With the refreshing leech on his back, Dun soon arrived at his destination before he knew it.
A tree with a grinning face carved into the sheath. It was the same face Rihaowel drew every time she squirted ketchup onto fried eggs. Beneath the smiling face tree, leaves were piled thick.
How much time had passed for it to get this messy with leaves? The teleport magic circle was completely hidden.
Dun swept the leaves aside with his foot and stood on the magic circle that led to the high-level hunting ground.
To get useful items, it was best to go where high-level monsters were.
[Where would you like to teleport?]
[Elemental Continent_Fire Nation Yoharaum]
[Elemental Continent_Water Nation Ulr]
[Elemental Continent_Wind Nation Lowrian]
[Elemental Continent_Earth Nation Souil]
...
...
Dun scanned the long list of locations and spoke.
"Take me to the Yoharaum hunting ground."
[ A place filled with hot, dark energy Proceed anyway? Recommending the Wind Nation, home to many strong and beautiful monsters.]
"Teleport to Yoharaum."
[Teleporting to Yoharaum. Please provide proof.]
Dun sighed deeply at the demand for proof.
He thought of the one who had set up this annoying prank.
"......I love you, Tiaryn."
Muttering in a voice as small as an ant's, a voice emanated from the magic circle again.
[Voice volume is 23 ouls. Teleport possible at 50 ouls.]
"I'll kill you if I see you."
[......Proof confirmed! Teleporting. Proof incomplete, so teleport speed reduced.]
This proof thing was always a hassle. Asking that guy to make a proof system to keep villagers from stumbling in had been a big mistake.
If he'd known he'd have to go through this every time he went to the high-level hunting ground Yoharaum, he would've set firm conditions from the start.
The magic circle's light soon enveloped Dun. A strong force pulled at his feet, and everything turned pitch black.
After yawning boredly for about a minute, his vision cleared, and he arrived at a new location.
* * *
Yoharaum was overall red and black.
A crimson sky and trees charred black like coal. With volcanoes nearby, it was sweltering hot.
Before starting his hunt in earnest, Dun checked his stats.
"Status window."
[NPC Dun]
Level: 999
Ability Utilization Rate: 5%
Role: Daughter of Rihaowel's General Store
HP: MAX
MP: MAX
Dun narrowed his eyes as he examined the status window.
"Still only 5% ability utilization rate?"
He sighed looking at his stats.
Ability utilization rate meant the amount of power his body could withstand compared to his total abilities.
Dun possessed tremendous power, but his body wasn't strong enough to handle it all.
That's why there were penalties for using strength.
The first was that he couldn't use strong power for more than a very short time, and the second was that constantly controlling that power left his body perpetually fatigued.
If he relaxed even a little and let his power slip, he could demolish a whole house in an instant.
In short, he had immense strength paired with pathetically low stamina. Even a little running left him panting and collapsing or passing out.
Upon arriving in Yoharaum, Dun lay on the ground for a moment to catch his breath. Climbing to the hunting ground earlier had drained quite a bit of stamina.
[Stamina nearly depleted. Exhaustion state incoming soon.]
"Damn it."
He roughly wiped sweat from his sleeve with his gasping heart, placing a hand on his chest and waiting for it to calm.
Confirming no one was around with a quick glance, Dun rummaged in his inventory and pulled out an item.
[Legendary] Curse Bind
Description: Lowers level by 200.
Dun tied the black cord around his arm.
Curse Bind. An item that lowered his level, which helped save some stamina needed for power control when equipped.
However, if a villager accidentally touched it, they'd die instantly, so he couldn't easily bring it out except in high-level hunting grounds like this.
With the item equipped, Dun hurried along and arrived at Yoharaum's unconquered hunting ground, the 'Lycus Habitat.'
Kiiiiiik......
The scorching heat enveloped his body, and the leech stuck to his back, which had been scratching it, dried up and died.
If even this leech died from the heat, normal people would suffer severe burns.
As expected of a high-level hunting ground. No joke.
Dun cleared the leech corpse and tossed the dropped 'Leech Tooth' into his inventory before venturing deeper into the Lycus Habitat.
Not long after walking, monster cries and footsteps echoed.
[lv. 221] Playful Lycus
[lv. 290] Irritable Lycus
Two Lycus appeared, circling around Dun at the center.
Lycus resembled jaguars. Their sleek bodies covered in thin, dark red flames were incredibly alluring.
Yellow, gleaming eyes scanned Dun.
They were probably dismissing him as a child human. Lycus were said to hide in bushes during hunts and pounce all at once.
The circling was a formation used on weaker prey: tormenting and toying with them cruelly before killing.
Dun watched the Lycus circling him with narrowed eyes.
"Cut it out, you're making me dizzy."
He kicked lightly at the ones spinning close by.
[Rare] Lycus Hide
[Rare] Lycus Tooth
The Lycus that had been circling threateningly around Dun dropped two items.