Performance Test (3)
The boosts to strength and agility from the physical training quest rewards. Let's run the numbers... Roughly 10 to 20 levels ahead of others at the same level?
Even this gap from a repeating quest.
I felt it once more. Class quests were exceptionally outstanding.
Of course, the gains from the physical training quest were in strength and agility. They wouldn't have much immediate impact on me, who mainly relied on magic. But I'd gained a new insight.
The demon hunter class from the past, with nothing particularly outstanding about it. A new way to develop it...!
In truth, there was no need to call it a grand development method. There had only ever been one demon hunter: me.
Lying flat on the floor, I murmured,
"...How solitary it is."
Solitary, my ass. Pitiful, maybe, collapsed on the sweat-soaked floor. Anyone hearing would think I had some deep backstory.
Anyway. As I said, having nothing outstanding meant, depending on how you looked at it, no glaring weaknesses.
Of course, it wouldn't be an easy path. Limited stat points. Spreading them out was definitely inefficient.
For example, it was simple. If a mage class pumped up strength...
They couldn't even use it.
Mage classes had no skills affected by strength. In that sense, demon hunter was an absurd class no matter how you sliced it.
Not a single flashy combat skill!
Predator-prey relationship and exorcism ritual. Nothing but class-exclusive skills effective only against demons.
No other class was this faithful to its concept. That was why there was no set way to allocate stats.
"But it matters not."
I had no skills, but I had magic. That was why I'd poured all my points into magic until now. And I'd witnessed a new possibility.
...The Lion Heart Knights.
Precisely, the three knights. Harcon. Jessica. Enoch. The energy rippling on their swords.
Sword aura.
I wasn't certain of the name yet. I hadn't asked them directly. But magic, starting from exploration, interference, and manifestation... I hadn't learned that from anyone either.
This brain of mine. Grandfell's esteemed talent. It had figured it out the moment I saw it.
The name isn't important.
Yes, what mattered was whether I could wield that 'sword aura'.
I'd seen its power firsthand.
Jessica and Enoch made the level gap with the skeletons irrelevant.
Some might call it greed. But they didn't know my situation.
To avoid sinking, I had to thrash with all my might!
Including the strength and agility from the training quest. Every reward from class quests. I had to utilize every single one at 100%.
Only then could I back up this heavy pride.
So my schedule for the time being was set.
Prove Your Worth. (In Progress)
● Convince a majority of senior mages. (3/20)
While carrying out the Mage Tower's quest.
I should stop by the Yusra Kingdom.
Confirm sword aura info from Harcon. If I could learn it, training too.
...Damn, already exhausted.
But hardship brings reward in the end.
I checked the quest window again.
The prelude has begun, and beacons rise.
Final demon hunter, illuminate the world shrouded in evil.
─ Train your weakened body. (Repeating)
─ Investigate the great evil of the Yusra Archipelago. (Success)
─ Thwart the resurrection of the Sin of Gluttony: Greed. (Success)
...Yes! For the class quest rewards alone, I'd endure.
Rewards as massive as the stats might await.
But damn it. This incorruptible body and mind had no greed for quest rewards.
"To wield the sword again, I must build stamina."
Only one line visible in that quest description.
─ Train your weakened body. (Repeating)
Drip—
I started push-ups again.
Tremble—
Looking at my shaking arms, I thought,
Can't even sleep properly. My life...
How pitiable I was.
*
If there was a job in the spotlight lately, it was undoubtedly the player paparazzi. Or plparazzi for short.
"Ah, just trust me, okay? Who do you think I am?"
Yoo Anjun was a pretty successful plparazzi. One of his photos fetched millions of won. Videos, up to tens of millions.
The reason his shots sold so well was simple.
"I'll snag humiliation shots you won't find anywhere else."
Capturing players' humiliating moments in a split second. No player escaped Yoo Anjun's angle.
Not even rankers were exceptions.
Take player ranking 8th, Dmitri. He'd suffered humiliating articles thanks to Yoo Anjun.
[Exclusive] Dmitri, a beginner in love?
The attached photo was Yoo Anjun's masterpiece. In a fully rented hotel lounge. Dmitri on one knee, proposing and getting rejected.
Dmitri's expression, the flustered partner's reaction—all crystal clear.
Thanks to that, Dmitri had raged. Whoever it was, if caught, he'd kill them!
Of course, Yoo Anjun hadn't been caught, so here he was today. Lurking at the Mage Tower.
Yoo Anjun pictured today's target.
"Just hook 'em...!"
No bigger fish than this. Today, he was after none other than Lee Hoyeol.
Yes, bigger than Dmitri. Lee Hoyeol—who was he? The player riding the highest wave lately!
His actions defied logic. Started showing presence in the Askyura Viscount raid. In the Yusra Archipelago, took down two named monsters, and even a Lv.650 monster. The great evil, Sin of Gluttony: Greed.
Technically the Lion Heart Knights' achievement.
But Lee Hoyeol had practically led them. And above all, he had star quality. Unrestrained speech. Costume that could be concept or real. Unbelievable skill use.
There was reason behind his popularity.
But Yoo Anjun knew.
The higher they fly, the harder they fall.
Flawless. That near-perfect image would boomerang back. No need for big humiliation shots. Just a slight wobble would dent that lofty image.
"Illusions shatter slowly, after all."
In that sense, the Mage Tower was ideal. Especially those leg-trembling stairs.
Vanishing and reappearing. Yoo Anjun shuddered.
"Just one shot."
Rumor had it Lee Hoyeol got a quest from the chief mage. Wait, and he'd capture it.
Hiding his massive camera in wait—then players around the portal buzzed.
"...It's Lee Hoyeol!"
"Hey, don't overdo it. Don't wanna piss him off."
"Show some decorum. No whispering."
Understandable reactions. Most players didn't want his enmity. Imagine facing that Lee Hoyeol in a rift while on bad terms.
Not my problem, though.
That applied to players hunting rifts and monsters. So Yoo Anjun subtly pulled out his camera, zoomed.
Let's snap one.
Licking his lips. But his face stiffened soon enough.
Clack—
...How could a person be like that?
Yoo Anjun gaped in disbelief. No matter the zoom, not a hint of shake.
Not humiliation—this is a photoshoot?!
General shots. Burst mode. At least one should land. What happened? On those vertigo-inducing stairs. No humiliation, not even disheveled. Like a swan gliding serenely on a lake.
Shake—
Yoo Anjun shook his head.
No!
Lee Hoyeol photoshoot? Those were everywhere already! NetTube overflowed with fan uploads.
He needed the humiliating moment.
Closer up, maybe...
Pore-level shot even. Instinct pulling him forward a few steps—
"Hey, you there. Freeze."
A voice thick with killing intent.
"You with the camera. Come here."
Turning, a massive muscle lump. Dmitri.
He grinned.
"We know each other, right? Hotel lobby."
One line flashed: Whoever it was, if caught, kill.
Crack—!
Seeing Dmitri crack knuckles, Yoo Anjun realized.
How to hook a swan with a fishing rod...!
I was the fool who didn't know his place.
Thwack—!
*
Scribble— News emerging on the parchment.
Magical artifact, [Sage's Pastime], has been checked out.
Senior healing mage Bellie Yusia scoffed.
The senior mages had finally touched the artifact.
Not afraid of backlash?
The artifact some seniors requested: [Sage's Pastime]. A puzzle of sorts.
Combined with magic, it became a nightmare puzzle.
Once their magic infused it, it'd be leagues beyond the Crystal Hall's lock.
Even if Marcelo objects, they have no ground.
Knowing Marcelo's character, that's why they pulled this stunt.
Senior mage standard. Even glued to it all day, [Sage's Pastime] would take at least ten days.
Their plan was obvious. While Lee Hoyeol struggled with the puzzle, nitpick endlessly.
So predictable.
Can't solve? Riot. Solved too slow? Riot. Tantrums either way.
Of course, irrelevant to Bellie.
"Who knows. Better just watch quietly?"
Bellie had no desire to prove adventurer Lee Hoyeol's worth.
Simple reason. She'd reconfirmed the truth with skilled healing mage Cley.
"...Yes, it was him!"
Hearing Lee Hoyeol's description, Cley seemed delighted.
"I see. So he's the adventurer Chief Mage Marcelo recommended as co-researcher! What a relief... I thought I'd made a huge mistake...!"
Sweet girl, Cley. She'd worried plenty.
But did she know?
"Seeing through the Tower Master's welcome magic is another matter entirely."
Of course. The Tower Master's illusion magic—even Bellie, no, even Marcelo couldn't pierce it.
So I still don't fully trust him.
Thus, her desire to keep adventurer Lee Hoyeol close grew. Mage Tower instinct.
Pure curiosity toward the unknown.
Exploration demanded full focus.
Bellie picked up her fluffy quill pen. Calmly wrote on the parchment.
Agreement with Marcelo's decision. Recognizing Lee Hoyeol as co-researcher.
...Late.
The reply came moments later.
Something wrong? Before Bellie could wonder—
Scribble— Words appeared on the parchment.
Content she never expected.
2 votes remain until majority.
...Wait. Only 2 left?
Flustered, Bellie swept back her green curls. Counted on pale fingers.
"Three until yesterday. Plus me..."
No other seniors voted yes. No reason to.
Even Bellie wouldn't have without Cley's story.
That made four. Where did the other four come from?
Bellie muttered, half-disbelieving.
"No way..."
Suddenly, [Sage's Pastime]. The artifact 'some' seniors checked out.
Bellie checked the names on the parchment.
"...Curtain, Dorothy, Maya, Bex!"
Exactly four.
The implication was simple.
In trembling voice, Bellie continued,
"They pierced the Sage's Pastime in this short time...!!"
.
.
.
The [Sage's Pastime] sprawled on the desk. Not hard.
Just explore the visible magic and unravel with reversal magic.
Prove Your Worth. (In Progress)
● Convince a majority of senior mages. (8/20)
Yes, at this level, I could wrap it up quick.
Better to finish fast and grip the sword with lighter heart.
I scrawled my impressions on the parchment.
Tired? They were prickly.
A bit of apology for yesterday too.
If not childish pranks but true proof, I'd welcome it gladly.