Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Take the New Recruits! (1)
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[Would you like to change the Mechanical Engineering skill to the Gnome Mechanical Engineering skill?]
[You have acquired the Gnome Mechanical Engineering skill.]
[You have acquired numerous Gnome Mechanical Engineering recipes.]
No need to even say it—yes, of course. After completing this job change that wasn't quite a job change, the gnome-specific mechanical engineering blueprints flooded into his mind. Ingenious and practical ones, at that.
"That's enough for now."
Rokan had been receiving intensive training to get familiar with the Gnome Mechanical Engineering skill, but when his proficiency hit 75% and stalled, he finally stopped.
If he kept going, they probably would've force-fed him up to around 80%, but time was the issue. While he'd spent days pouring everything into Mechanical Engineering, everyone else had been diligently leveling up and racking up achievements.
Of course, they still weren't anywhere close to him, but complacency was off the table.
'Time to put in the super effort.'
He'd made it this far despite his lacking talent—pure luck. He'd slowly build the rest through mastery and repetition. For now, he headed out of Nokorokon.
Once his proficiency hit 80%, he'd be able to craft all those outlandish items he wanted.
'Accessories... regrettable, but I'll have to make do with decent ones for now.'
Having boosted his combat power through engravings and sub-job proficiencies, Rokan finally turned his attention to accessories.
He had no plans to change his necklace or bracelet, but the rings were worth reconsidering.
He could equip a total of five rings.
The Scout Ring and the Cowardly Mage's Ring were still plenty useful, but he hadn't gotten much mileage out of the Cowardly Mage's Defense Ring or Escape Ring.
In that case, it was clearly better in the short term to swap them out and fill all the remaining ring slots with something else.
He could just keep the Cowardly Mage's Escape Ring in his inventory and swap it in when needed.
"Way too expensive for no good reason."
Even for Rokan, who was raking in absurd amounts of money, it felt like a waste to splurge on accessories with no extra effects.
At least the items he was after weren't your standard stat-boosting accessories—that was a small mercy.
What Rokan picked up from the integrated auction house was one ring with crit chance and crit damage increase options, and another that boosted the Blood Engraving with a health absorption effect on hit.
With his setup complete, he finally felt like he had the basics covered.
Basics that were ridiculously overpowered, but he'd done everything he could for now, so it wasn't wrong.
"Need some practice."
Taking a moment for self-reflection, Rokan nodded. Transcendent Ritual Engraving. He'd need practice to wield it properly.
But Rokan's practice was different from others'. Slashing up scarecrows was pointless. He needed a target that could truly draw out his full power.
"Time to pick up a quest."
Conveniently, perfect opponents were crawling around. Fallen monsters.
The magic map let him pinpoint their locations roughly, and he wouldn't have to deal with entire packs—ideal targets.
But first, he'd squeeze out every easy gain.
Heading to the Scout Division building to grab the fallen monster quest, Rokan was hit with something absurd right away.
"Hey, Senior Scout Rokan!"
"......"
Turning around, it was the guy who'd given him the quest for the Scout Bracelet before.
Flashing a cheeky grin, the guy chucked something at Rokan.
"Take the new recruits!"
"......!"
It was a recruit's gear bundle. Empty inside, but thanks to the Korean game devs, it looked just like a duffel bag.
'This is...'
Senior Scouts could have assistants. The Scout Bracelet was for recruiting those who wanted in, but this time, he'd been half-forced into taking two.
[Take the New Recruits!][Quest]
As a Senior Scout, set an example and train your juniors.
-Completion Condition: New recruits achieve a certain level of merit points.
-Completion Reward: Scout Division Insignia.
He could've refused. That's what the Scout Bracelet was for. But the Scout Division Insignia as a completion reward made that impossible.
It was a carryable item that boosted stats and effects just by having it in your inventory.
The options weren't overwhelming, but carryables stacked, so you grabbed them whenever you could.
'Damn it. No choice.'
Rokan accepted reality. Whatever—he'd just drag them by the collar and carry them to fill those merit points.
Lifting his head with that thought, he saw a scrawny half-elf standing awkwardly and a gnome so tiny he looked like he might vanish, both staring at him.
"Khk."
The moment he saw them, Rokan couldn't help but chuckle. He remembered their faces perfectly.
He'd thought the Scout Division had no normal people, but he never imagined these two would be his new recruits.
Even in his past life, they were infamous weirdos. Of course, their skills backed it up, letting them make names for themselves.
Click Resistance Mitty.
Prayer Wheel Hamel.
Those were the nicknames they went by.
'Destiny's a funny thing.'
He'd crossed paths with them in his past life too. Most ended badly for Rokan, but he had a soft spot for unique playstyles like theirs, so they'd chatted a few times.
"S-Sir, we admire you, Sir Rokan!"
And among them, Prayer Wheel Hamel was a huge fanboy. Annoying at times, but he knew Rokan's temperament, so he never got clingy. Just enthusiastic fan stuff.
"Hehehehe, please take care of us, Sir Rokan!"
Mitty, meanwhile, was a total salesman, bowing to the strong.
That made things simple. They were strong enough not to need hand-holding, and they knew how to act without being a nuisance, so he could throw them straight into combat.
He didn't know how polished they were at this point, but guys who'd earned Scout Rings while dominating the central continent weren't dying easily.
'Three people... perfect coincidence.'
Including himself, a trio. With this firepower, he could've taken down plenty of easy fallen monsters, but Rokan had a fun idea.
Something he'd wanted to try but couldn't alone. Not a skill issue—lack of reliable manpower. He'd finally do it.
"Follow me."
He formed the party, checked their levels right away, and led them off somewhere.
Naturally, his own level and info were set to private.
"Uh, Sir Rokan, where are we headed?"
"......"
"Whoa, ignore this guy's chatter! Don't mind us!"
With no response from Rokan, Mitty bowed apologetically. They had a comedy duo vibe, but Rokan guided them to his destination.
"Hunting corruption."
"Ah! Fallen monsters. Makes sense—Scout Division. Knew it!"
They knew fallen monsters well too. They'd probably hunted some to join the Scouts.
But what Rokan had in mind wasn't their idea of simple fallen monster hunting.
"No. We're hunting the 'mastermind' that creates fallen monsters."
The mastermind behind fallen monsters. The one making Corruption Orbs and corrupting monsters and NPCs through all sorts of means.
"The mastermind...?"
Their eyes wavered at that.
They'd hunted plenty of fallen monsters but had no clue about the cause or culprit—shocking news.
The other players were probably the same, which was a shame, but unavoidable. The route he knew required at least three people.
Better these two than some half-baked guildies. Weirdos, sure, but their skills were trustworthy.
"Just follow."
Steel in his resolve, Rokan didn't hesitate. No time for prep—he used the teleport magic circle right away.
The duo gawked at the steep price, but whatever. He had cash to burn, and the gains from this would make it pocket change.
Paying their teleport fees too, Rokan dragged them along like collars on leashes.
"Where's this...?"
"Get ready. Combat starts soon."
Rokan shared little info. No need.
Sharing might make it easier, but ironically, he trusted them enough to shove them into the deep end.
"Ehh?"
"Combat?"
They'd arrived in a normal village. Only oddity: a mountain nearby swarming with high-level monsters.
Heading up the mountain, then?
Half-right. They were climbing, but really hunting a hidden secret dungeon inside.
"Ahh, Sir Rokan, wait up!"
Following silently as he left the village for the mountain, they saw 230-level monsters getting shredded mercilessly.
Monsters no current player could confidently face—treated like trash mobs, torn apart.
"Whoa......"
"As expected of Sir Rokan!"
Mitty looked shell-shocked; Hamel, lovestruck. They trailed after.
[You have entered the secret dungeon: Fallen Alchemist's Dungeon.]
[First-entry bonus: Acquired EXP +30% for 3 days.]
[First-entry bonus: Drop rate +30% for 3 days.]
[Title 'Pioneer' effect: First-entry bonuses increased by 10%.]
Mid-mountain, after sacrificing monster corpses from the climb, the secret dungeon entrance appeared.
Stepping in triggered the usual first-entry bonuses.
"40%."
The Pioneer title effect applied to party members too. Not something he wanted public, but not bad—he pretended not to notice and pressed on.
"Bombardment."
BOOM!
Rokan's strike turned their stunned faces to tension. Or rather, the enemy staggering back up through the horrific explosion.
[Painless Glutini][Lv 253]
"Gasp!"
A monster over 250. An unheard-of, doughy freak. They gasped, swallowing air. Could even they have tanked that hit?
Its unbelievable durability sparked awe turning to fear.
"Just shock absorption."
Slash!
Rokan moved impassively. He cleaved the hotteok-dough-like thing horizontally as it splatted and reformed.
Unclear if he'd sliced or burst it, but this hit landed. The bisected body shuddered, then slumped.
"Your turn."
Like a simple demo, Rokan stepped back, eyeing Mitty and Hamel like lab rats.
Then, he eyed the two approaching Glutinis beyond them.