Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: The Moonstone Pendant
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“By any chance, do you not like it?”
As I stood there with a bewildered expression, Han Se-yeon asked with a worried look on her face.
“This might look a bit crude in terms of design, but it has great effects for wizards.”
Muttering to herself like that, Han Se-yeon said, “Just a moment,” and began rummaging through her bag for something.
“Where did I put the quality certificate...?”
A moment later, as she dug through her bag, Han Se-yeon looked at me with a troubled expression.
“Jinwoo, I'm sorry. I think I left the quality certificate at the company.”
“It's fine. I think I have a rough idea of what effects it has.”
“You think so? How?”
Han Se-yeon asked with eyes full of doubt.
“After living as a wizard for so long, I can kind of tell just by looking at it. Stats increase, recovery speed boost. And presence concealment, right?”
At my words, Han Se-yeon's face lit up in surprise as she looked at me.
“Huh? Yeah, that's right.”
I looked down at the pendant again.
“But... is it okay for me to accept this...? The gift itself is great, of course, but it feels too extravagant.”
At that, Han Se-yeon looked relieved.
“You don't need to worry about that. It's not like I went into debt to buy it or anything.”
Han Se-yeon spoke casually, as if it were no big deal.
Hearing that, I was once again struck by the immense wealth of the Hanseong family.
“...Ahem. Then I won't hold back and will make good use of it.”
I quietly pocketed the pendant.
There's no reason to refuse if she's offering it.
Plus, I couldn't ignore the effort she went through to get it for me. Of course.
“Jinwoo, try putting it on right away.”
“Sure.”
I took out the pendant and hung it around my neck. At the same time, a faint light rippled from the moonstone.
[The 'Moonstone Pendant' detects moonlight.]
[The 'Moonstone Pendant' effect activates!]
['Power of the Moon' effect: All recovery effects increase by 250%.]
As soon as I put on the pendant, vitality surged through my body.
Fatigue began to recover, and my body's mana started flowing more actively.
A 250% increase to all recovery effects.
It was about half of the maximum recovery effect. Since the moon is a half-moon right now, it's probably half of the 500% boost.
It might seem underwhelming at first glance, but the pendant's real cheat-like quality is that it has no fixed duration, unlike 'Mana Elixir' or 'Heart of Great Nature.'
Watching my expression carefully, Han Se-yeon cautiously asked,
“Do you like the gift?”
“Yeah, of course. The effects are exactly what I need, too.”
“Phew, that's a relief. I heard it has a lot of great effects for wizards, so I went out of my way to get it.”
Han Se-yeon said with a small smile.
Her words made my chest tighten.
Meanwhile, the gift I gave her was...
I glanced at the necklace hanging around Han Se-yeon's neck.
A crudely made crystal necklace.
It was the one I personally made last year from the crystal of a crystal golem on the Isle of Mist and gave to her as a gift.
I gave it to her hoping the craftsmanship boost effect would help with her constraints.
For reference, that necklace is C-Rank...
Truth be told, it's a pretty shabby accessory for someone of Han Se-yeon's stature to wear.
Yet she always wears it—probably out of consideration for my sentiment.
Now it just makes me feel bad comparing it to the relic necklace I received.
“Jinwoo?”
Suddenly, Han Se-yeon called my name, sensing the look on my face.
“...No. I just noticed you're always wearing the crystal necklace. You don't have to force yourself to wear it because of me.”
“Oh, this?”
Han Se-yeon touched the crystal necklace around her neck. Then she smiled faintly.
“I'm wearing it because I want to. It's a necklace you made yourself, Jinwoo. If anything, I'm sorry because my gift doesn't seem to have as much sentiment behind it.”
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
To value a person's sentiment more than something worth 5 billion...
Is she just kind-hearted, or does she think differently from me...?
One thing's for sure: I'm more touched by expensive items than sentiment.
After parting ways with Han Se-yeon.
I walked through a narrow alley near the wizard academy, rechecking the effects of the 'Moonstone Pendant.'
［Moonstone Pendant (Relic)］
Description: An amulet made of moonstone. It holds the power of the moon.
［Continuous Effects］
►Power of the Moon
Increases all recovery effects under moonlight. Rises up to a maximum of 500% depending on the moon's brightness.
Increases the wearer's charm under moonlight.
►Blessing of the Moon
On nights of a full moon, one stat randomly increases by 0.5. (All stats can rise up to a maximum of 10.)
［Use Effect］
►Sanctuary of the Moon
Conceals presence under moonlight.
Durability: A
Even looking at it again, the effects were impressive enough to rival any 'trait.'
On full moon nights, a random stat increases by 0.5, and recovery speed goes up too.
Of course, the randomness means useless stats like 'craftsmanship' could rise, which is a drawback.
Still, gaining 6 free stat points a year is cheat-like in itself.
“...Though I'm not sure if I can max them all out.”
10 per stat.
It would take 10 years to fill a total of 60 stat points.
With future events accelerating, would 10 years even matter?
As I examined the Moonstone Pendant's effects, I recalled a trait with similar effects.
“...Come to think of it, pairing it with the 'Blessing of the Moon' trait would be great.”
I immediately accessed the point shop and checked 'Blessing of the Moon.'
[Blessing of the Moon (SS)]
Category: Trait
Description: Blood of a yokai that guards the moon.
［Continuous Effects］
►Embrace of the Moon
On full moon nights, under moonlight, all stats increase 5-fold.
Price: 400,000
The effect itself is outstanding, but the trait has clear strengths and weaknesses.
All stats 5x on full moon nights.
It overlaps with the Moonstone Pendant's activation condition, so using them together would create insane synergy.
I'd probably never lose to most villains in battle.
But the 'full moon' restriction feels like too big a drawback.
Of course, I could mitigate that inconvenience somewhat with the 'Ability Condition Change Ticket' from the dimensional observation reward.
The problem is I don't know the extent to which I can alter it.
“...400,000 points for something else wouldn't be bad either, but...”
When I actually look for what to buy, nothing really catches my eye.
Cheat traits like Counterattack require 600,000 points.
Genius costs 1 million points.
Most other traits are 'growth-type.'
But in a situation where future events are coming sooner, do 'growth-type' traits even matter?
It might be better to go for one with heavy restrictions but guaranteed effects.
...And above all, to face 'that guy,' normal traits won't cut it.
“...Cruz.”
The evil dragon Cruz.
The evil dragon's strength I saw in dimensional observation exceeded my imagination.
No amount of normal growth or traits could match its power.
To defeat it, I think I need traits that burst with power under limited conditions, like 'Blessing of the Moon.'
Of course, even if I got the 'Blessing of the Moon' effect now, facing Cruz would still be impossible.
“...Tch.”
There's still time left, so I'll save points and think it over.
As I checked the Moonstone Pendant's effects again, one caught my eye.
►Sanctuary of the Moon
Conceals presence under moonlight.
“This one's useless to me.”
I already have the trait [Silent Steps] for concealing presence. It's a shame, but I don't need this effect.
“......Wait.”
Then a sudden question popped into my head.
[Silent Steps] has a 'restriction.'
It only activates when moving on foot.
Maybe Sanctuary of the Moon doesn't have that restriction?
“...Should I test it?”
If it works, jackpot.
I immediately channeled mana into the pendant.
[Using 'Sanctuary of the Moon.']
[Under moonlight, presence and existence are concealed.]
“Hmm. It activated, but I don't know if it's working properly.”
I examined my body from all angles.
I couldn't feel any difference myself.
I need to see someone else's reaction.
As I looked around, I tucked the pendant inside my clothes to hide it.
Then I did some light stretches and prepared to run.
“Hup!”
I kicked off the ground and dashed forward.
Using mana would definitely get detected, so I ran purely on physical power.
“Oh.”
No footsteps.
I stomped the ground hard just in case, but still no sound.
After entering the wizard academy grounds, I sprinted across the wide park.
That's when I spotted two familiar backs.
I ran straight toward them.
“Whoa!”
I stopped abruptly in front of them, and a startled voice rang out.
“...Kim Sunwoo?”
Yoo Ah-ra looked at me with wide eyes.
Standing next to her was Yoon Ha-young, who was also staring at me in surprise.
Seeing how startled they were, they hadn't sensed my presence.
“What the heck? You scared me!”
“Sorry. I was just jogging and got excited to see you.”
“Jogging?”
Yoo Ah-ra tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“Yeah. Why?”
“...No, it just felt like I didn't sense any presence or sound at all.”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, I didn't sense you either.”
Yoon Ha-young chimed in from the side.
From their reactions, they really hadn't sensed my presence.
Even while running, it stays concealed.
So this is the Moonstone Pendant's cheat option.
Now I get why Han Se-yeon shelled out 5 billion for this.
No need to go into detail about the 'Moonstone Pendant' story, so I smoothly changed the subject.
It'd just create unnecessary risks of our relationship being exposed.
“Really? I just ran normally.”
“No, even normal running shouldn't make zero sound or presence. It's weird.”
Yoo Ah-ra looked at me with doubtful eyes.
“Maybe because I wasn't using mana? I ran purely on physical strength without any mana.”
“Oh〜 that must be it.”
Yoon Ha-young nodded as if realizing.
But Yoo Ah-ra shook her head.
“Even with mana, you can't hide your presence like that.”
......As expected of Yoo Ah-ra.
She doesn't let things slide easily.
If I kept making excuses, her questions would never end, so I shifted the conversation.
“Anyway. Do I look any different today, by chance?”
According to the Moonstone Pendant's effect, the wearer's charm increases.
Might as well properly test the effect.
“...Any different?”
Yoon Ha-young tilted her head at my question, touching her chin in thought.
“...That's a deep question you'd expect from a lover. Hmm.”
Yoon Ha-young muttered seriously, then stepped closer and started inspecting my face from all angles.
“Did your skin get brighter?”
“No, not that. Don't I seem more attractive today or something?”
Yoo Ah-ra blinked at me. Yoon Ha-young next to her tilted her head.
“More attractive? What's that out of nowhere?”
“Exactly what I said. Aren't I more attractive today?”
[Character 'Yoo Ah-ra' is worried about you.]
[Reward: Acquired 500 points.]
“Are you feeling sick? You okay?”
Yoo Ah-ra asked with worried eyes.
The first 'worry' emotion from Yoo Ah-ra.
A strange sense of self-loathing suddenly washed over me.
It says charm increases, but that reaction means the effect is minimal...
Well, thinking about it, Han Se-yeon's reaction wasn't much different either.
As I thought that, I suddenly noticed something odd about the situation.
......Wait, why is Yoo Ah-ra worried about me?
Normally, she'd narrow her eyes and glare at me with that annoyed look.
Unless...
Because my charm increased?
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