Flawless Judgment
The moment Mu-hyuk spotted the deer, he smiled.
This test is a breeze.
Combining his memories from his previous life, he'd spent over ten years immersed in Illusion. For someone like him, this kind of trial was child's play.
Why?
Because he already knew the intel.
Reward-based quests followed fixed patterns. They demanded justice and clarity. If those weren't met, you made them so. Then you'd claim the fitting prize. What about this situation? The deer's wound was obvious. So he just needed to fulfill the justice angle. Naturally, that meant choosing the elixir and healing it.
You have healed the deer.
The trial has ended.
You have passed the trial in the shortest time.
◈ Contains a top-grade weapon.
Tough if you don't know, but a cakewalk if you do.
That's why he set the record for shortest time.
And snagged the special-grade reward.
Hard to check the Weapon Chest (Special Grade) before the space shifted again.
Commencing the second trial.
He tossed the chest into his inventory for now.
"Ugh, aaagh!"
"S-save me!"
He scanned the scene.
Hmm.
People were under monster attack. One kid looked moments from being bisected by a monster's claws.
Easy peasy.
He kicked off the ground hard.
Wind Step
The monsters clearly intended to kill the humans. To be just, he needed to eliminate them. He dashed in, intercepting the lunging monster.
Kagang!
He blocked with his shield, then swung his sword.
Storm, Cross Slash.
He dispatched the one in front, then summoned skeletons.
Command Authority activated.
He set them to handle the monsters while focusing on protecting the kids.
Meanwhile, the Armor Mages melted clusters of rear monsters with magic.
Twitching survivors got finished off by Armor Archers' arrows. Cavalry disrupted the center, Knights clashed fiercely up close. Protecting the people was straightforward.
"Thank you!"
"Whoa!"
A warm feeling welled up naturally.
But no time to savor it.
You have protected the children.
Damage: 0%
The trial has ended.
You have passed the trial in the shortest time.
You have passed the trial with minimal damage.
◈ High-grade gems inside.
No time to inspect that chest either.
The space shifted again.
"Hurry up and return it."
Two groups of humans were quarreling.
"Return someone else's property?"
"Someone else's? How is it someone else's? It was ours to begin with..."
"Yours? That's a joke."
"What's so funny?"
They faced off, weapons drawn.
The left group was composed.
But desperation flickered in their eyes.
"You bastards stole my stuff by force!"
"Stole?"
"You gonna deny it, right now?"
"Of course not."
"Y-you...!"
"Don't get worked up. Heh."
The right group was rough.
Greed burned in their gazes.
"These punks!"
"Kill 'em!"
The left group snapped, drawing weapons and charging the right.
Who to help?
Which side spoke truth?
The left?
Seemed likely. They were calm, desperate. The right were aggressive, greedy-faced. His instincts pulled left.
Yeah, help the left!
An average player would've decided that. But not Mu-hyuk. His face stayed cold as he commanded his skeletons.
"Wipe them out."
He chose neither side.
One thing was clear: Both groups coveted the item. Unable to restrain greed, they sought to kill each other.
Helping one side wouldn't count as just here.
To earn recognition?
Force justice.
How?
Kill both groups.
That made it clear.
All greedy humans dead. That alone remained. The game system would deem it clear and just.
Pababang!
Archers loosed bone arrows on his order.
Pababang!
A rain of arrows fell.
"Kaaagh!"
"Ugh, aa, aaaagh!"
"Mercy!"
Humans dropped instantly.
You have killed all the humans.
The trial has ended.
You have passed the trial in the shortest time.
You are the first to clear all three trials. Special bonus granted.
Quest 'Location of the Mysterious Place' completed.
◈ Optimal special item for your character.
Space shifted once more.
Trials seemed over.
Three chests acquired.
He opened them in order.
Opening Weapon Chest (Special Grade).
Applying special bonus: Analyzing your stats and skills. Granting optimal weapon for your character.
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened.
Whoa, for real?
A weapon tailored to his character.
Acquired Sunset Longsword.
He hurriedly checked the stats.
Physical Attack: 245
Magic Attack: 270
Increased Slashing Power
All Stats +7
Deform Magic Applicable
Durability: 400/400
Requirements: All Stats 60+
Exactly the options he needed.
Phys atk, mag atk, slashing, stat boost, deform.
Each value top-tier among weapons he'd seen.
He loved them all, but the all-stats +7 shone brightest. It boosted his summons by 30%, adding 2 to strength, agility, vitality, knowledge, wisdom each. Power surge obvious.
Then... sell the old Kurkan Longsword.
He listed it at auction fast.
Physical Attack: 145
Magic Attack: 170
Increased Slashing Power
Reaction Speed +2%
Deform Magic Applicable
Durability: 300/300
Requirements: Strength 50, Vitality 50, Wisdom 50
Lacking for him now, but perfect for early 100s. 72 hours would stir buzz, prices rise.
Item registered at auction.
Duration set to 72 hours.
A bit excited, he closed the auction window.
Next, gems.
He opened the gem chest.
Acquired High-grade Topaz.
Acquired High-grade Emerald.
Acquired High-grade Ruby.
Nothing special.
Still pricey.
Sell to nobles for good gold. Satisfied smile as he stowed the gems and opened the last chest.
Opening Special Chest (Special Grade).
Applying special bonus: Analyzing your stats and skills.
Granting optimal special item for your character.
Wonder what this time.
Acquired title Power of Experience.
Not an item—a title.
"Whoa...!"
Titles? Always welcome.
Still, check options.
All Stats +5
All Skill Levels +1
Short but potent.
"Skills...!"
Chills raced up his spine, ecstasy flooding his brain.
Why?
You have mastered the Crafting skill.
Enhancement skill created.
*
Exiting the cave, Sung Min-woo and Yerin waited.
"Oppa, you're back?"
"Hey."
"Yeah. How'd everyone's trials go?"
Sung Min-woo scowled, Yerin smiled softly. Faces told the tale, but he asked anyway.
"How'd it go?"
"Ugh, don't ask. I went in, picked a chest right away, then bam—trial starts and ends. How was I supposed to know?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And I got total junk. Trash, man."
Mu-hyuk chuckled.
"Don't laugh, I'm stressed enough."
"Sorry, sorry."
He turned to Yerin.
"I passed the first trial, got a decent weapon."
"Oh, nice?"
"Yeah, gonna use it myself."
"Sweet."
"Hehe, and you, oppa?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you came out last."
"Three trials."
"Whoa, cleared all three?"
"Yep, three rewards."
Sung Min-woo cut in.
"Three?!"
"Yeah, weapon, gems, title."
"Good stuff?"
Mu-hyuk grinned.
"No joke."
"Damn, jealous. Nah, you deserve it. After helping me? Yeah. Ugh, if I'd known it was trials, I'd been careful. No chain quest either. Sigh."
"I'll enhance your gear instead."
"Huh? What?"
"Learned enhancement."
Silence flowed.
Then chaos.
"Y-you're insane!"
"Oppa, for real?"
"Yeah."
"Jackpot! Do mine first!"
"Oppa, me too..."
"Both of you."
"For real? Real?"
"Yeah."
"Oh yeah! You're my best bro!"
"Oppa, so we heading to the village now?"
"Guess so."
Truth was, "enhancement" crowded Mu-hyuk's mind.
He wanted to check the village quick, then enhance gear.
After selling gems at the Empire, stocking enhancement mats, of course.
That wait made him antsy.
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
He summoned it, mounted up.
"Let's go?"
"Okay!"
Excitement for enhancements lit their eyes.
Maybe why they matched his haste, pushing speed to max.
Meanwhile.
Illusion TV viewers reeled in confusion.
This chaos would linger till facts emerged.