Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Meeting (1)
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I looked down at the massive staff in my hand.
It really seemed like it had been made by pulling a root straight from the World Tree.
The grain was so vivid it felt alive.
"Finally...."
I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration.
[World Tree Root]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Effect: Power of the Earth. Grants the authority to command not just sand, but the earth itself. Earth-attribute magic evolves to a whole new level.]
The item description was as curt as ever, but it didn't matter.
Legendary. That single word was enough.
The name alone—World Tree Root.
It oozed coolness.
I wanted to test this incredible thing's power right away.
Let's see, earth-attribute magic... What were the classics?
Three letters popped into my head immediately.
I raised the staff high toward the sky and shouted.
"Meteor—"
"Wait!"
A frantic shout cut off my incantation.
I turned my head to see the elf elder staring in horror.
"What are you trying to do! Are you planning to wipe out the World Tree we just saved?"
I shrugged at the elder's words.
"Nah, no way. I was just saying it for fun."
It wasn't like shouting "meteor" once would actually make a meteor fall, right?
I didn't even have the related skill, so what?
The elf elder let out a sigh and nodded at my casual response.
"Of course, I know Benefactor wouldn't seriously cast something like that. But...."
The elder pointed at the staff in my hand.
"When Benefactor was chanting just now, I saw all the mana in the area surging toward this staff like mad...."
There was still excitement in his voice, making it tremble.
"Of course, the odds are extremely low, but what if...? Please, be careful—extra careful. Benefactor has that kind of potential."
Oh ho, so my potential was at that level?
My shoulders rose even higher.
Maybe someday I'd actually be able to cast Meteor for real?
I was already looking forward to it.
"...Ahem. Alright, I'll be careful, as you say."
I cleared my throat and readjusted my grip on the staff.
I'd gotten the staff, and he'd showered me with praise, so the venomous look on his face from earlier had quickly faded.
My business here was done.
I lightly waved to the elf children still surrounding me, gazing up with wide-eyed awe.
"See ya."
The kids waved their tiny hands in response, seeing me off.
Just before I was ejected from the tower, a familiar system message appeared before my eyes.
[The elves remember you.]
"Huh?"
I'd seen this somewhere before.
I racked my brain for a moment.
Right. I'd seen it when I cleared the 10th floor.
The orc chieftain had remembered me back then, too.
Of course, I hadn't run into a single orc since.
Who knew how a dead guy could remember me anyway.
"Eh, whatever it means."
I brushed off this message like it was nothing.
It wasn't like I'd see them again. Whether they remembered me or not, what did it matter?
Even if I ran into elves on a higher floor, I doubted they'd hold a grudge.
As I stepped out of the tower, fresh outdoor air pierced my lungs.
Alright, so what now?
The answer was obvious.
"Obviously, time to brag on the gallery first."
I headed home in high spirits.
The new staff was even taller than me, so it wouldn't fit in my bag.
In the end, I had to sling it over my shoulder as I walked.
"I really need to get a place in the hunter district near the tower soon."
Dragging something like this around every day? It was only a matter of time before the locals noticed.
If I lived in a tower-adjacent spot just five minutes away, I wouldn't have to worry.
I just hoped the broker came through.
***
The moment I got home, I leaned the staff against the wall.
It thudded heavily.
Without hesitation, I hit the power button on my computer.
The short boot-up time felt like an eternity.
I had to share today's thrill with everyone as soon as possible.
Of course, I had no intention of sharing everything honestly.
Before snapping a photo of the staff, I paused in thought.
'Is it okay to just post that it's Legendary?'
No, that was too risky.
Legendary-grade items were way too rare.
Even S-rank hunters only had a few.
No one could track me down anyway, but there was no need to stir up unnecessary greed.
"Even bragging has its limits."
I made the wise call.
Unique.
Yeah, let's say Unique grade.
That level would pull just the right amount of aggro.
I found the angle that made the staff look the most mystical and took the shot.
Then I logged into the Hunter Gallery as usual and started a new post.
[Title: !!!Hambugi Strikes Again!!!]
Author: ㅇㅇ (B99.9C9)
(Staff photo.jpg)
S-sorry.
Actually, nothing like that here.
Just wanted to show off this new Unique item with insane options....
What? Not mad at all?
See? You guys totally love me—!
A moment later, the comments exploded.
I hammered F5 and scrolled through them eagerly.
ㄴ Ugh, where's my Hambugi!!!
ㄴ Wtf is that?
ㄴ I'm so dumbfounded I can't even speak. Real one-shot life.
ㄴ Unique mage weapon lololol how much would that sell for?
ㄴㄴ You'd never afford it no matter how hard you work your whole life.
ㄴ Tower drifter, I believed in you.... Just one Hambugi pls....
Pure envy from some.
ㄴ But isn't that a new item? Nothing like it on strategy sites.
ㄴㄴ Hidden piece then?
ㄴ Selling info alone would make bank lol.
The analysts.
ㄴ Looks flashy but probably trash options?
ㄴ Fr, size is too big, zero practicality. How do you even walk with that?
ㄴㄴ Mages fly, duh?
ㄴ Anyway it's a mage item so I don't need it~ Not jealous at all~
ㄴㄴ Stop crying and say it.
And the sour grapes crew.
Every reaction was gold.
I leaned back in my chair, savoring each one piling up in real time.
Yeah, this was it.
This was why I climbed the tower.
The blatant jealousy and envy from everyone made me feel on top of the world.
Should I grab some popcorn? I seriously considered it as I scrolled lazily.
"Ah, pure bliss...."
In this moment, I didn't envy a soul.
***
Meanwhile, in the guild master's office at Busan's Hwaryeon Guild.
Jeong Tae-yeon rested her chin on her hand, staring at her monitor.
She wasn't looking at the still-buzzing Hunter Gallery.
It was the secretive Mage Gallery, a space only five mages knew about.
A new post from a familiar IP had just gone up.
[Title: Lied and said Unique on Hunter Gal]
Author: ㅇㅇ (I55.555)
This is actually Legendary.
Made from the World Tree, elves gave it to me as thanks.
Special service, just for you guys.
Jeong Tae-yeon let out an involuntary chuckle.
Turning Hunter Gallery upside down, then coming here to spill the truth.
So very him.
ㄴ pkkacchuu: Wtf, I climbed the tower and never even got a Unique! Every time I see one I get pissed. Honestly newbies should give item usage rights once each.
ㄴ Fridge: I wanna hear more about the elves.... What happened on 20F?
The usual jealousy from pkkacchuu.
And Fridge with his academic curiosity.
"Same as always...."
Jeong Tae-yeon smiled faintly at their comments.
But the smile didn't last.
Her gaze drifted naturally to a long, luxurious case in the corner of the room.
It held the Unique-grade staff she'd splurged on recently as a gift for the newbie.
*Snap.* She started to flick her fingers but stopped.
A strong urge to reduce it to ash welled up.
But she barely suppressed it.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
This wasn't like the last Rare-grade robe.
Unique items were too expensive to burn just because she was annoyed.
Way too expensive....
Even with her personal funds, it was a major hit.
Guild assets-wise, it was nothing to sneeze at either.
"So what do I do with this now?"
Jeong Tae-yeon muttered softly.
She already had her trusty Unique staff.
She stood, opened the case.
A blue staff radiating chill appeared.
She stared at it for a moment, then a strange idea struck her.
Jeong Tae-yeon picked up her own staff and the new one, one in each hand.
"...Can I use two at once?"
She murmured with a serious expression.
***
I kept rereading the comments over and over.
It never got old.
But I couldn't bask in it forever.
"Time to get to work...."
Time to calm my excitement and face reality.
First up: the identity issue.
I grabbed my phone and opened Telegram familiarly.
[SSalDaPam]
[How's the ID coming?]
The "1" vanished instantly after I sent it.
As if he'd been waiting for my message, a reply flew back.
[SSalDapam: Uncle who?! Obviously all prepped~ lol]
[SSalDapam: Should be ready tomorrow. But really okay? ㅠ_ㅠ Uncle's worried....]
"...."
This guy's online persona was impossible to get used to.
I ignored his wordy worries and typed curtly.
[OK. Got it.]
First problem solved.
Next: A-rank hunter registration.
I switched back to the Mage Gallery.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(55G.555): @Pungdeng-i So how do I register for A-rank? Day after tomorrow good?
ㄴ Pungdeng-i: Day after tomorrow?
ㄴ Pungdeng-i: Gonna set up a barrier around the meet spot for a few hours. Nothing visible or audible from outside. Come worry-free.
ㄴ Pungdeng-i: 2 PM. HamHamCheese cafe near the tower.
"A barrier, huh..."
An S-rank mage putting it up personally.
Couldn't be safer.
I typed without hesitation.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(55G.555): K then day after tomorrow.