Village Foundations and the +7 Breakthrough
While the major guilds were sending players to recruit Mu-hyuk, the mining development in Column Village wrapped up perfectly.
Thanks to that, the villagers found employment in the mining operations and received advance payments.
It was a small amount, but the economy was starting to pick up. With money in hand, people sought out food, and merchants who sold it needed more ingredients to keep up with demand.
The women moved to gather foodstuffs, and even some headed to neighboring villages for trade runs when that wasn't enough.
Column Village was far more prosperous than before.
Of course, the development level was still at the bottom.
But public order had improved by one step.
And territory fame had risen. That was the biggest gain. NPCs only came and settled when fame increased.
Let's take a closer look.
He tapped on development.
Village funds had come in.
15 gold?
He wondered where it came from but moved on and tapped construction level.
Level 1 (85%)
Possible constructions: Inn, Restaurant, General Store, Butchery
It was still the most basic level.
85 percent.
Buildings needed to be constructed to gain experience, so a few more were required.
Mu-hyuk pondered and decided to add one restaurant and one inn.
Inn construction plan established.
Restaurant construction plan established.
Soon after, Rakak came by and spoke to Mu-hyuk.
"Village chief?"
"Ah, yes."
"Lately, with more visitors, we're short on places to stay. I think we need to build an inn, and maybe another restaurant to match the growing population."
It flowed just like that.
"Sounds good."
"I'll get started right away."
Mu-hyuk tilted his head for a moment.
"Do we have the funds?"
"Yes, we have startup capital. The young folks got advance pay from the mining jobs."
"Ah, from there..."
He'd wondered where the 21 gold came from—it was taxes skimmed from those advances.
He hadn't thought of that.
"I've set aside the taxes for now. We can cover interim construction costs from future taxes, so no major issues."
"How many villagers got hired?"
"A total of 250."
10 silver advance per person.
6 silver taxed from that.
Total 15 gold.
It matched the system figures exactly.
"Tax is at 60% now, right?"
"Yes."
Mu-hyuk gestured to lower it.
"Drop it to 50%."
"Pardon? That'll reduce revenue and slow development."
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
"But money will circulate more freely."
"Ah..."
He actually wanted to drop it to 20%, but slashing too much at once would lead to initial cheers followed by complaints later. So, gradual reductions were the plan.
Not entirely his idea, though.
Back when he was paralyzed, countless players running territories had trial-and-errored their way to this standard method.
"Any objections?"
"None."
"Then start work immediately."
"Understood, village chief."
"Handle the rest."
"Off again, I see."
"Yes."
"Take care."
Mu-hyuk nodded and approached the two waiting.
"Done?"
"Yeah."
"Oppa, ready to head out?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
He rode out south with Sung Min-woo and Yerin on skeleton warhorses.
No complaints even after over an hour.
Enhancements had powered them up, making old hunting grounds boring.
A bit far, but worth it for real fights—this distance was nothing.
Target monsters entered Mu-hyuk's view.
"Those guys."
"Where?"
"There, the big ones."
"Ah...!"
The vast plain teemed with level 155 Troll Kings.
*
The Armor Cavalry's charge tore its skin.
Kraaaargh!
The Troll King staggered up, wounds already healing.
Even follow-up charges barely fazed it—damage was negated by insane regen.
Meanwhile, Armor Cavalry surrounded it, and elite Armor Cavalry 1 with command authority ordered the charge.
Charge!
In their skeletal tongue, inaudible to humans.
Kuwaaaang!
Weapons filled the air.
Slicing deep into flesh again.
Puuk, puk!
Very deep.
The Troll King roared, whipping branches like lashes. Armor Knights flew back; pursuing Armor Cavalry and Bone Swords swung shields and blades.
Mighty strikes!
Torrents of slashes.
Kwang, kwagwang!
Yet the Troll King held.
Level 155 lived up to it, but skeletons took minimal damage.
Armor Archers' Power Shots and Armor Mages' spells waited.
Fire bone arrows!
Armor Archer 1's command from behind.
Power Shot!
Bone arrows painted the sky.
Potent enough the Troll King couldn't ignore.
Branches thrashed, batting arrows rapidly. As they scattered, waiting mages unleashed.
--------!
The Troll King's body glowed red—a skill boosting defense and regen.
Spells crashed down.
Kwaang, kwagwagwang!
Brief silence.
Then explosive wind and tremors engulfed the area.
The aftermath.
Ku, kruk.
Half its body melted away.
Bubbling flesh hinted at regen, but follow-up charges and arrow barrages overwhelmed it. It collapsed.
"Oh, impressive as always."
Sung Min-woo muttered, watching.
He glanced back.
Mu-hyuk enhanced items safely away from the fray.
"Must be nice."
He shook his head and scanned around.
Another Troll King in the distance.
"That's mine!"
Dashing parallel with 12 spirits, closing in. He unleashed skills amid flashy maneuvers.
"This is the stuff!"
+5 weapon power unleashed.
Peuk!
He took hits, but +5 armor, shoes, gloves, helmet—defense and HP were monstrous. No real threat.
"That tickles, you bastard!"
Dodge, hit, strike.
Repeat a few times, and the Troll King dropped.
Enhancement's might.
"What, it's easy!"
Exp was juicy too.
"This is an exp farm!"
Shouting triumphantly, Sung Min-woo tackled another. Slower than Mu-hyuk's skeletons, of course.
*
Multiple exp gains and enhancement sessions later.
"Hoo."
Tired, he set the hammer down briefly.
Check the auction house maybe.
He reviewed his listings—all +5s, some +6. Bids already exceeded expectations.
"Whoa..."
If all sold, the gold haul was unimaginable.
Then a weapon caught his eye.
Kurkan's Longsword.
Listed before learning enhancement—still +0.
Bids low as a result.
Come to think of it...
No need to sell at that price.
Just enhance it.
Mu-hyuk canceled the auction and started enhancing Kurkan's Longsword.
+1, +2, +3.
Up to +5.
◈ Physical Attack: 145 +100
◈ Magic Attack: 170 +115
◈ Increased Cutting Power
◈ Reaction Speed +2%
◈ Deformation Magic Applied
◈ Durability: 300/300
◈ Req: Strength 50, Stamina 50, Wisdom 50
Greed surged again.
Deformation skill, dual phys/mag—prime for +6!
Irresistible urge to push further. He swung the hammer.
Enhancement Failed
Heart-wrenching at the message.
+4 maybe.
Stubborn fire ignited.
To +6!
Failures, success, failure, failure, success.
Finally.
First +6.
"Kuh...!"
Euphoric rush. That triumphant high—like owning the world. Addictive cocktail of emotions. Savoring it, Mu-hyuk checked enhancement skill exp.
Enhancement Lv 3 (96%)
Enhance equipment for superior stats.
4% left.
"Hmm."
+7 success would spike exp hugely.
Maybe straight to Lv4?
Worlds apart from +1/+2.
But failure odds were sky-high—another try might just hit +5 again.
Still, that slim chance nagged.
To reference others, he opened chat in the corner.
Oh, hesitating? Going for +7?
Honestly, rarely tried +7, so let's go for it this time.
Yeah, fail and we'll cry about it lol
Fail? Make another. Materials are infinite anyway...
Agreed.
Go for it—that's the way.
Strike while materials are unlimited.
No chance like this lol
Sound logic.
Materials unlimited.
Keep trying on fails—eventual success guaranteed.
Hmm.
Perfect setup for reckless attempts.
Yet he'd shied from +7, fearing failure.
Subconsciously waited for Lv4/Lv5 higher odds.
But with infinite mats, irrelevant. Only mattered when limited.
Yeah, do it!
Gripped hammer tight, raised high.
Enhance.
Red dots appeared—tinier than pinky nails, maybe quarter size. But oddly clear now.
Seemed magnified.
Illusion? No, felt real.
Good feeling.
Held breath, hammered down.
Kang!
Dead center on red dot.
Kang, kaaang!
Repeat.
Enhancement Progress: 98%
Progress near end.
Kang!
One strike hit 100%.
Result...?
Mu-hyuk squeezed eyes shut instinctively.
Then peeked.
The first +7 success.