Skeleton Master - Episode 49

Sung Min-woo's synergy with him grew smoother with each passing day.

"Hooah."

Today, they had plans to meet offline for the first time in a while.

As he stepped out the door in high spirits, thinking of pork belly and a shot of soju, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Bzzzzt.

Min-woo?

It was a text message.

A transaction history?

He checked the details carefully.

It was a deposit from Illusion.

Ah, the info fee.

A whopping 14 million won.

"Whoa."

Mu-hyuk, who received 40 percent, did some quick math—around 350,000 people had accessed the info.

Incredible.

Honestly, with that many views, the info had spread as far as it could.

If just one guild master accessed it, dozens of executives below them would share it. Those execs would pass it to their buddies, and so on.

350,000 people.

Each one could've told anywhere from a handful to hundreds of others, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say most Illusion players already knew.

14 million.

That was a full year's living expenses.

If he exchanged his current gold too...

He had about 3,500 gold on hand.

No urgent expenses, so he could exchange around 3,000.

What if he used that to buy Illusion stock?

A plan he'd mulled over before was starting to feel viable.

Excitement bubbled up.

First, list the gold for sale and head out.

He hurried into the capsule, logged into Illusion, and consigned 3,000 gold at the auction house.

Sale proceeds minus 1 percent fee would hit his registered account instantly.

Perfect.

He logged out right away and left the house.

Bzzzzt.

A text came as soon as he stepped out.

100 gold had sold already.

"Holy..."

A grin spread across his face.

By the time he caught a cab to the meetup spot, five more texts had pinged in.

1,000 gold gone in a flash.

"Over here! You're late?"

"Sorry. Had to list some gold at the auction house."

"Gold? Selling?"

"Yeah."

"Oho, how much?"

"3,000 gold."

"Eek? 3,000? Not 300?"

"Yeah."

"Dude, where'd you get that much gold?"

"Dungeon drops, job change rewards, stuff I crafted. Sold 'em bit by bit, and it piled up."

"You crafted?"

"Oh, didn't I mention? I'm a blacksmith too. And a chef."

"Damn, you're ruthless."

"Ruthless? Nah."

"More than that—you're loaded, aren't you?"

Mu-hyuk chuckled.

"Loaded? Come on."

"Your treat today."

"Sure, why not."

"Sweet! Aunt! Pork belly here!"

"Coming right up! How many servings?"

"Three servings' worth for five!"

"Uh... sure..."

The server walked off with a strained smile.

"Heh, see that face?"

Sung Min-woo shot his eyes left. Left.

What's that about?

Mu-hyuk glanced left without thinking. Two stunning women sat there, knocking back shots. Their intent was obvious.

"Should big bro here ask to join 'em?"

"Don't."

"Why? Think I can't?"

"Yeah."

"Wha— you little..."

Sung Min-woo feigned offense.

"Fine, I'll show you!"

He stood and sauntered over, slapping a hand on one woman's shoulder.

"Min-ah!"

"Huh? Who're you?"

"Oh, sorry. Thought you were a friend."

"Ah, okay."

"But hey."

"Yes?"

"You look just like my friend..."

"No, I don't."

"C'mon, you are Min-ah. Plastic surgery? When'd you get it?"

"I said I'm not!"

"You totally are. Playing shy?"

"I'm not!"

The woman yelled.

Sung Min-woo finally backed off.

"Oh... sorry."

"Hoo, it's fine."

"Lemme buy you a drink as apology..."

"No thanks."

"Just one..."

"No!"

After more rejections, he slunk back.

"Hmph, not my type anyway."

"Heh, drink up, idiot."

"Yeah, pour me one."

He downed a shot.

"Kaaah, bitter like life."

Several rounds in...

"Haa, got worries lately."

He started venting.

"What's up?"

"Prepping for a new job, y'know."

Re-employment. Brutal stuff.

"Yeah."

"Not easy."

Suddenly, Mu-hyuk wondered—why not go all-in on Illusion?

Could work.

Sung Min-woo could grind harder, which would benefit Mu-hyuk too.

Their spirit-and-skeleton combo was killer.

"What's your stats like?"

"Illusion?"

"Yeah."

"Strength 31, stamina 20. Agility 11, I think."

"Strength's high."

"Melee class."

"Hmm..."

"Why?"

"What if you went all-in on Illusion?"

"Illusion?"

"Yeah. Makes good money."

Sung Min-woo pondered.

Mu-hyuk's 3,000-gold sale had shocked him—way more than he'd let on.

Just three months in, and that haul? Impressive.

But could he do it?

"Think I could?"

"I'll help."

That hit hard.

"Life's short. You live alone anyway."

"Yeah."

"Parents won't notice. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Try three months full throttle."

Three months.

Sung Min-woo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tallied his savings mentally.

Could scrape by...

But failure meant begging parents.

"Worry about fallout later. Deal?"

"Screw it! Yeah! Three months!"

Who wouldn't want to game and earn?

Sung Min-woo had craved it but lacked confidence.

Now, a success story sat before him—his best friend, offering direct help.

Viable.

His leveling speed proved it. Insane pace.

Higher levels meant better loot chances.

"Multiclass blacksmith too."

"Blacksmith?"

"Yeah. Profitable as hell."

"For real?"

"Yup. Head to Arsen Kingdom and..."

Detailed path too.

He nodded vigorously.

*

Mu-hyuk woke with a pounding gut, chugging cold water.

"Khaa."

Finally, some clarity.

Ah, last night...

Drank till 2 a.m. with Sung Min-woo.

Blackout wasted.

Remembered arm-in-arm hollering on the street.

Damn, embarrassing.

He shook his head, banishing memories.

"Ugh."

Needed food.

Hatted up, he hit a nearby gukbap joint.

"Gukbap, one."

It arrived soon.

Scooped a spoonful, blew, topped with radish kimchi, shoved it in.

Slurp, haa...

Heat filled his mouth.

Crispy kimchi, nutty rice, chewy meat—pure bliss.

Mmm, good.

Warmed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his belly.

Gut settled.

I'll live.

Halfway done, he checked his phone. Browsed net, ate slow. Recalled stock plan, pulled up Illusion's price.

3.22 million won per share.

Up nice.

Still room for 3x ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gains.

If I buy now.

Good.

He wolfed the rest.

Hit a nearby brokerage, opened an account, deposited 50 million.

Left with ~3.8 million—enough for three months.

Confident he'd snag or craft killer items by then.

Home, downloaded the app. Transferred cert, searched Illusion, bought shares.

3.22 million each.

15 shares. 48.3 million total.

Transferred remaining 1.7 million to living expense account.

Now 5.1 million.

Unsatisfying.

Just 15 shares.

If game goal was levels, life short-term goal: 30 shares by year-end.

Fired up, called Sung Min-woo.

"Asleep?"

(Just woke, eating...)

"Time for Illusion."

(Gut's killing me...)

"Dark gamer life's hustle. Log in 30 min."

(Ugh, fine, you demon!)

Mu-hyuk hung up, logged in.

Waited at Dark Ghostwood Forest entrance, prepped food with bought mats.

Real belly full, but game hunger under half.

Made extra for Sung Min-woo, then pulled disposable tools for shield craft.

Clang! Clang!

Shields worked like swords.

Iron ore into sword shape: sword. Greatsword: greatsword. Shield form: shield.

Mu-hyuk made it huge, body-covering. For hiding.

Many preferred small shields—bulky, or fashion-focused.

Not him.

Efficiency first.

More hammer strikes.

One shield done.

"Yo, whatcha doing?"

Sung Min-woo arrived.

"Oh, whipped up a shield."

"Shield?"

Sung Min-woo eyed it curiously.

"Wanna see?"

"Hell yeah!"

Mu-hyuk handed it over.

They inspected together.

Options were meh.

Still, not bad.

Even with title, use restrictions stuck high-probability.

No big expectations, so Mu-hyuk nodded—auction it.

His enhanced skeletons and bone swords used better anyway.

Sung Min-woo, though? Total opposite reaction.

Blown away.

"Y-you made this?"

"Yeah. Learn it quick. Higher strength, better results."

He nodded fiercely.

"Over 20 gold, right...?"

"Probably."

"You always hit this quality?"

"Nah. Often worse. Tons don't sell. This level's occasional. Real jackpots—100-gold stuff—pure luck."

"Ahh..."

Made sense now.

"Ultra-rare super hits happen too."

"No way? You get one?"

"Once. Netted over 1,500 gold."

"Holy shit...!"

Sung Min-woo bolted up.

"BRB!"

"Now?"

"Yeah! Solo hunt meanwhile!"

He dashed off.

"..."

Mu-hyuk laughed wryly at his retreating back.

Some personality.

Alone, he prepped for battle.