Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Placement Test (4)
Translation: godtl
Thud.
A hulking figure with crimson skin.
The hobgoblin with a broken neck collapsed limply to the ground.
[You have completed the mission from the Constellation Black Goat.]
[You have earned 500 Achievement Points.]
[The Constellation Black Goat expresses immense satisfaction with your application of human transmutation.]
[You have earned an additional 500 Achievement Points.]
"Whoa!"
Si-mun's previously pale face instantly brightened.
'She's giving me another 500 Achievement Points!'
Internally cheering, Si-mun subtly glanced up at the sky.
'As expected, Zeus was the stingy one.'
During the tutorial, Zeus had offered a 1,000-point mission for first place.
Compared to the mere 100 points he'd given afterward, this was a substantial amount.
Of course.
'Well, if you tally the totals, Zeus did give more.'
When comparing Zeus's 1,100 points during the tutorial to Black Goat's current 1,000 points, there wasn't much difference.
Either way, with the 1,000 Achievement Points plus the 100 points Zeus had sponsored earlier, it totaled 1,100 points—the same as during the tutorial.
But it didn't end there.
[You have single-handedly defeated the hidden boss 'Hobgoblin.']
[As a reward, you have earned 500 Achievement Points.]
'A hidden boss?'
Despite earning an additional 500 Achievement Points, Si-mun's brow only furrowed further.
'So it wasn't meant to be defeated.'
Hidden bosses.
Grotesque entities that often possessed power far beyond their rank.
Of course, there were also monstrous rookies who managed to take down such hidden bosses.
'Si-hyeok was the prime example.'
His younger brother, Kim Si-hyeok.
Later known as the 'Sword Saint,' that talented younger sibling had been exceptional from birth.
Even in lower ranks, he had made a habit of slaying hidden bosses.
'While some had to rely on Mythic-grade equipment forged from the Philosopher's Stone...'
Just as he let out a hollow laugh at his brother's absurd achievements—
[The Galaxy Arena, which had been deliberating about you, is shocked by your news.]
[The Constellation Black Goat mocks the council, saying,"These damn idiots and their bureaucratic bullshit. This is why I never registered as a Constellation."]
[The Galaxy Arena's discussions about you intensify.]
Message windows popped up in midair one after another.
Among them, what caught Si-mun's attention was—
'They're discussing me?'
Tilting his head, Si-mun soon nodded as something occurred to him.
'Come to think of it, they said something similar when I created the Obsidian Tablet.'
[Due to a series of unbelievable achievements, the Galaxy Arena has begun discussions regarding player Kim Si-mun.]
It seemed his actions since the tutorial had made some impact on the Galaxy Arena.
He also distinctly remembered Black Goat mentioning she was "a Constellation not registered with the Galaxy Arena."
Si-mun rested his chin on his hand.
'The Galaxy Arena's attention... Is this a good thing?'
The Galaxy Arena's attention.
In his past life, he had never seen a player who attracted the Arena's direct interest.
Or perhaps—
'Those players simply didn't make it public.'
Either way.
The Galaxy Arena's attention didn't exactly feel welcoming.
'Let's think positively. The Galaxy Arena always balances risk and reward.'
Just look at this arena—a five-player cooperative mission, with a checkpoint map that usually only appeared in Platinum ranks.
And hadn't he single-handedly wiped out all the goblins?
He couldn't even begin to guess what the clear rewards would be.
'No point worrying about it now. Might as well head out and claim the rewards.'
The moment Si-mun turned his body.
"Kee, keekik!"
"Kiiii..."
A dozen goblins plopped down on their bottoms, their entire bodies trembling violently.
Dozens of their kin had been wiped out in an instant.
With even their leader, the Hobgoblin, dead, their loss of fighting spirit was only natural.
"Looking at them like this, I feel oddly sorry for them."
-They say pretty faces have their privileges. But oppa, with a heart this soft, where will you ever use it?
The Philosopher's Stone immediately reacted to Si-mun's murmur.
"Do I look that way?"
Si-mun let out a hearty laugh.
As he took a step forward without any particular gesture—
"Kee, keek... Human, will you spare us?"
"Kind human!"
True to their cunning nature,
the goblins trembled even more violently, their eyes welling up with tears.
-Look at these goblins putting on airs. Don't fall for it, oppa. They'll just be sharpening their knives behind your back. It's obvious!
"I know."
Brushing aside the Philosopher's Stone's indignant words,
Si-mun walked past the goblins toward the target area.
"Kik! Human! So kind!"
"Keekik! Thank you, human!"
The excited voices of the goblins echoed from behind.
-Oh my? Look at this oppa? Are you really going to spare them? Really? For real?
The Philosopher's Stone's voice was utterly dumbfounded.
Yet Si-mun's footsteps didn't stop,
"Keekik! We'll repay you!"
and neither did the goblins'.
"Philosopher's Stone, I think you've been misunderstanding something since earlier."
-Huh?
Sensing their wretched killing intent,
"I never once said I'd spare them."
Snap.
Si-mun flicked his finger.
Returning to his studio apartment amidst a gentle light,
Si-mun was greeted by
[You have successfully cleared the arena 'Infested Goblin Stronghold'.]
[You have single-handedly defeated all enemies under the 5-player cooperation condition.]
[Clear rewards have increased based on your performance.]
[The bound trait 'Philosopher's Stone' has received a portion of the experience points.]
[Level has increased by 4.]
[Philosopher's Stone level has increased by 2.]
[Obtained 'Hobgoblin's Battle Axe' as clear reward.]
An overwhelming flood of system messages.
[You have defeated the hidden boss Hobgoblin alone.]
[Reward: 'Tainted Hobgoblin Serum' has been granted.]
[Hidden achievement 'Defeating Hidden Bosses (1/?)' has been accomplished.]
[1,000 Achievement Points obtained.]
"Wow..."
The dizzying array of rewards.
Si-mun immediately opened his status window to check his level first.
[Status Window]
Title: Pioneer of Alchemy (and 2 others)
Class: Magic Class
Level: 7
Affiliation: South Korea
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Stamina: 5
Transmutation Power: 13
Remaining Stats: 4
Traits - Philosopher's Stone (E)
Achievement Points - 9,350
The first thing that caught his eye was the Achievement Points.
A total of 1,000 points from Black Goat's mission reward.
An additional 1,500 points from the Hobgoblin achievement brought his previous total of 6,850 points to a whopping 9,350.
"At this rate, I'll hit 10,000 in no time."
Once it reaches that point, he'd be able to transmute the Obsidian Tablet again.
Si-mun looked down at his chest.
"Philosopher's Stone, at 10,000 points, I can transmute the Obsidian Tablet again, right?"
-Yup. But the required amount and percentage increase of Achievement Points will change as you progress.
"Really? Got it."
-Huh? What? You're not going to ask? I thought you'd ask.
"With years of alchemy experience, I'd already roughly anticipated that."
Having already handled the similar Emerald Tablet,
Si-mun knew that as he progressed, the contents would become increasingly crucial for transmuting the Elixir and the Philosopher's Stone.
The Obsidian Tablet would likely be the same.
'Still, I have no choice but to invest in it.'
Unlike the consumable Astrapē,
the Obsidian Tablet was a permanent item.
Moreover, hadn't he already experienced firsthand the sheer power of human transmutation that the Obsidian Tablet granted?
'I need to keep investing steadily to match the growth of my Transmutation Power.'
It provided stat increases that no buff could replicate and perfectly embodied the traits of the transmutation lineage.
For a Magic Class like him, whose physical attributes were lacking, it was the ultimate ability.
Most importantly, it didn't consume Achievement Points.
This was directly tied to his pure combat prowess.
-Still, up to the second transmutation, the 20% growth rate will apply as is for 10,000 points.
"So, the transmutation cost remains unchanged until 40% completion?"
-Mhm. Exactly.
"Good. That's all I need."
Si-mun nodded in satisfaction.
Even by simple numerical calculation, this meant his human transmutation ability would become at least twice as strong as it was now.
'Still, it'd be better to leave some spare points before transmuting. Achievement Points are my main resource, after all.'
Rather than spending all 10,000 points the moment he reached it,
it would be more efficient to save an additional 2,000-3,000 points as a buffer before transmuting.
'Come to think of it, even though the clear rewards increased, they didn't give any AP.'
AP (Arena Points).
A type of score occasionally obtainable through broadcasts or Arena clear rewards, often used as a substitute for currency.
In the early days of the Arena's emergence, those in immediate need of cash sold AP for real money,
while those requiring equipment or other gear used AP in the Arena shop.
Nowadays, it was considered a currency above the dollar, primarily used in player transactions and auction houses.
Fortunately, since only the Awakened could possess it,
Earth's currency hadn't been completely reduced to worthless scraps of paper.
'Well, it's still just the Placement Test phase.'
Shaking off his disappointment, Si-mun invested all four remaining stat points from his level-up into Transmutation Power.
With this, his total Transmutation Power reached 17.
Additionally, the Philosopher's Stone had leveled up from 5 to 7, gaining two levels.
Its grade remained at E, the same as when he had created the Obsidian Tablet,
but his overall transmutation proficiency should have improved.
"Alright, now for the main dish."
Si-mun rubbed his hands together eagerly.
Though the true main reward was the level-up and stat increases,
the tangible, material rewards still filled him with considerable anticipation—especially since one had a familiar name.
"Inventory."
A small window opened before him.
Like items in a typical RPG,
his inventory displayed a miniature double-edged axe and a glass vial filled with a deep crimson liquid.
Si-mun inspected the double-edged axe first.
[Hobgoblin's Battle Axe]
Grade: B
Requirement: Level 50, Strength 35 or higher.
Si-mun's eyes sparkled as he read the description.
"Whoa!"
The Hobgoblin's Battle Axe.
A Green Skin series item favored by combat-oriented players.
Commonly referred to as "uniform gear," it was part of the axe category.
Though Si-mun, as a Magic Class user, was familiar with the item, his surprise stemmed from something else entirely.
"The item's options are identical to Platinum-tier drops?"
The Hobgoblin had appeared in a nerfed state.
Of course, since this was the Placement Test phase, it was still classified as a Hidden Boss, powerful enough as it was.
Was that why?
The [Hobgoblin's Battle Axe] he received as a reward hadn't been nerfed in its options—
it was exactly the same as the version dropped in the Platinum tier.
"And it even gives a whopping +5 Strength!"
Normally, Strength stat bonuses ranged between +1 to +3 at most.
A +5 stat boost was undoubtedly a top-tier option.
"This pretty much guarantees maximum value. This is way too juicy."
It felt like shoveling a fistful of salt straight into his mouth.
Still riding the high of his excitement, Si-mun turned his attention to the glass vial beside him.
[Corrupted Hobgoblin's Blood Serum]
Grade: C
The blood serum of a hobgoblin.
Corrupted by excessive Demonic Energy, its toxicity has intensified.
As expected of a material item, no specific effects were listed—but...
"Even though I haven't been back for long, this feels like something I haven't seen in ages."
Si-mun knew better than anyone what this material could do.
And not just because he was an alchemist.
—Huh? Oppa, what are you talking about?
"This thing."
Si-mun retrieved the Corrupted Hobgoblin's Blood Serum from his inventory.
Watching the sluggish, dark-red liquid slosh inside, his expression grew slightly complicated.
—Isn't this just a hobgoblin's blood serum? Why would you... Oh.
The Philosopher's Stone, which had been voicing its confusion, let out a small sigh.
True to its mythical status in alchemy, it recognized the potency hidden within the [Hobgoblin's Blood Serum].
—Oppa, you used this as medicine before you synthesized me, didn't you?
Si-mun silently nodded.
The side effects of Mana Disability.
The physical deterioration that began once the official Arena started had inflicted indescribable agony, and Si-mun had relied on specially crafted anesthetic potions to endure it.
And this [Hobgoblin's Blood Serum] had been one of the main ingredients in those anesthetic potions.
After all, hobgoblin blood carried potent paralytic toxins on its own.
—But Oppa, you even made an Elixir. Why didn't you drink it sooner?
"Well..."
Si-mun hesitated briefly before answering quietly.
"...There were circumstances."
—Ugh! What kind of excuse is that? You should've taken care of yourself first! Though, I guess it worked out since I got synthesized in almost perfect condition because of it.
At that, Si-mun let out a soft chuckle.
"You're right. If I hadn't used the Elixir as the foundation for your synthesis, this regression wouldn't have been possible."
To recover from Mana Disability and regress eleven years—no ordinary price would have sufficed for an Equivalent Exchange.
—True. Regression itself is something even Constellations can't pull off.
"Oh? Then what exactly did you synthesize to heal me and send me back?"
—There's a being who can do that. XXXX said... @#!*
"What? What did you just say?"
The Philosopher's Stone's words cut off abruptly.
At Si-mun's questioning, it clicked its tongue in frustration.
—Tch. Guess I'm not allowed to mention it. Well, it is an existence even the Constellations are wary of.
"Now you're just making me more curious."
—I want to tell you, but you won't hear it. The Galaxy Arena's giving me absolute hell right now.
"The Galaxy Arena?"
—Yep. Bombarding me with so many messages my vision's spinning. It's warning me not to say anything.
No system window popped up in front of Si-mun—but the Philosopher's Stone had no reason to lie.
"If it's not allowed, then there's nothing we can do."
Si-mun shrugged, showing no particular curiosity.
—Hehe. As cool as your face, Oppa! Anyway, what are you gonna do with the serum? You don't have Mana Disability anymore.
"Right, I don't need to brew it into painkillers anymore."
—Then why... Oh my god!
Its voice suddenly shot up an octave, laced with thinly veiled excitement.
—D-Don't tell me you're planning to make a Spirit Elixir out of this poison?!
"Exactly. To an alchemist, poison is also medicine."
—Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!! I love this kind of thing!!
The Philosopher's Stone's energy skyrocketed to extreme levels.
Si-mun's eyes widened briefly, but he quickly understood its enthusiasm.
After all, the very essence of its existence was rooted in alchemy.
Of course, the act of synthesizing something through alchemy would bring it this much joy.
—We're basically breaking its very nature and reshaping it to our will! Ahh! I'm so hyped!!
And then—
—With that Demonic Energy mixed in, it's gotta be one ferocious little thing, huh?
"......"
—How humiliating would it be for poison—its original nature—to be completely inverted into the properties of a Spirit Elixir?! Haa... I'm getting worked up!
He had gravely misjudged its excitement.