Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 47
>Chapter Title: Irad Back Alley
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Chapter 47
>47.
>Irad Back Alley.
This somewhat fancy-sounding name wasn't the official title.
It was just a convenient nickname borrowed from the Irad General Store next door.
There was a story behind this place becoming a hotspot.
'Raven's first Legendary Skill drop happened here.'
The first user to obtain a Legendary-grade skill had appeared right here.
Pulling a Legendary from the second Random Draw Ticket was such insane luck it could make history books, and people started flocking here hoping to borrow even a sliver of that fortune.
Naturally, more people grinding cards meant higher odds overall.
Word spread of those pulling good skills, drawing even more crowds, and successful card grinds kept piling up.
That virtuous cycle turned it into the famous spot it was today.
'It's basically superstition...'
But that's human psychology for you.
People chase lottery spots with more winners, or line up at popular restaurants just because the lines are long.
In reality, it's just increased odds from more attempts.
Some users pitied those folks, but Do-hyun wasn't one of them.
'Sometimes, nothing's as reliable as superstition.'
Do-hyun was the kind of guy who sought out hotspots more than anyone.
It hadn't always been that way.
But after pulling nothing but trash despite endless draws, he'd naturally grown interested in power spots.
And the day he first drew at one!
'I'll never forget that yellow glow until I die.'
It was his first Heroic-grade skill card.
Maybe coincidence, but the impact was huge for Do-hyun, and from then on, he hunted down every hotspot he could find.
Thanks to that, he'd snagged a few Heroic skills himself.
'Those who believe shall be rewarded...'
Do-hyun finished his prayer to a god he didn't even believe in and stepped into Irad Back Alley.
The air stung his nose with the scent of countless card grinds.
"Mmm~ That's the stuff. It's been ages since I felt this vibe."
He'd been riding the Eye of Truth's luck too much lately, getting complacent.
So even with a Random Draw Ticket, he'd only pulled Rare skills... This wouldn't do. Time to tighten up.
That was why he'd used a lowly Low-Grade Skill Draw Ticket and come all the way to a hotspot.
"Since when do I hold back on draw tickets? It's all because my mindset's gone soft."
He used to be dead serious about every card grind, but the Eye of Truth had turned him into a weak opportunist.
This grind was a sacred ritual to reclaim his beginner's spirit.
-...Humans are so weird.
"Tsk tsk. What would you know? I need to focus now, so be quiet."
It sounded absurd to Guardian Jihad Black, the goblin, but Do-hyun was dead serious.
And he had good reason to be.
'This matters a lot to me right now...'
To others, it'd just be some common skill, but Do-hyun was an All-Master.
Any class's skill could pop.
With every profession's skills mixed in just ten cards, he prayed for the most useful one.
Worst case would be an Explorer skill.
Useless to him with the Eye of Truth.
'Still don't get why Explorer isn't a production class.'
Maybe because of its self-defense skills?
Or the buffs are too meh for production? Anyway, it was a class Do-hyun always avoided.
[Would you like to use the Low-Grade Skill Draw Ticket?]
Do-hyun rubbed his hands, steadying his nerves at the window.
'Whew.'
Routine, but always tense.
He tore the card pack calmly, and ten cards scattered into the air.
He scanned the faint brown glow seriously, then reached out.
'This one!'
Third from the left.
Never forget: 3 is the golden rule when you're clueless.
Flash!
Brown filled his vision, followed by a cheerful chime.
[You have acquired ......]
"Huh? This?"
Do-hyun's eyes lit up at the result.
A skill not on his mental list of predictions.
But the one he wanted most.
An enigmatic expression crossed his face, soon turning into a smile. He left the alley, and Jihad followed.
-Done already, Master?
"Yeah."
-So where to now?
The answer was simple.
Only one thing left to do in Raven right now.
"Time to grind."
Level 24. Until graduation quest level, nonstop hunting was the way.
* * *
Deep in the western forest of Raven.
A rugged terrain full of obstacles that users avoided as a hunting ground.
Monsters overflowed here, and one user was hunting.
Slash- Stab!
Kieeeek! Kek!
[You have defeated Forest Red Goblin.]
[You have defeated Giant Spider.]
No, it wasn't hunting.
It was a massacre.
1 vs 10+ was unnatural, but shockingly, the monsters were the ones getting slaughtered.
Crunch! Bam!
[You have defeated Giant Centipede.]
Stab!
Kukek!
[You have defeated Forest Blue Goblin.]
One per hit.
He methodically killed them one by one, and soon the beasts were backing away.
Instinct told them this foe was unbeatable.
[Using Charge Slash.]
[You have defeated Forest Red Goblin.]
But death closed in relentlessly.
Flee and die, or charge bravely and have your head explode.
Pick one.
So merciless even monsters evoked pity.
-Tsk tsk, those poor things....
Guardian Jihad Black, spectating live, actually felt sympathy.
He'd turned beasts into undead fodder before, but never this violently.
-How is that even human? Looks like Satan to me.
One minute talking card grinds as sacred rituals, next charging into a hunting ground and massacring for an hour straight.
Maybe that ritual was prep for ripping monsters apart.
-That demon could totally... Whoa!
Grumbling, he locked eyes with Do-hyun and clamped his mouth shut.
Do-hyun coolly looked away and refocused on hunting. Only then did Jihad exhale.
-...Didn't hear that, right?
Heart still pounding.
Far away, probably didn't catch it, but with that demonic master, who knew.
Do-hyun seemed friendly to others, but to Jihad, beaten senseless before, Do-hyun was Satan incarnate.
...Maybe back up more?
He inched away stealthily.
"Jihad. Come here a sec."
-Uh, yeah? W-Why...?
Did he hear?
Jihad sweated bullets, refusing subtly. But Do-hyun frowned, so he bolted over.
Do-hyun relaxed his face and nodded at the corpses.
"Turn 'em into undead."
-Oh, got it.
Quick on the uptake, the goblin extended both hands.
Black energy flowed out, seeping into the bodies.
One, two, three from the left...
Whoosh-.
Their eyes turned black, then snapped open.
Drip- Crack-.
Twisted bodies forced upright into obvious undead forms.
The creepy-faced things knelt on one knee to Jihad Black.
[Guardian Jihad Black has successfully undead-ified Forest Red Goblin.]
[Guardian Jihad Black has successfully undead-ified Forest Red Goblin.]
[Guardian Jihad Black has successfully undead-ified Forest Blue Goblin.]
[Guardian Jihad Black has failed to undead-ify Giant Spider.]
[Jihad Black's level is insufficient.]
"Three, huh."
-W-Well, I used to lead legions, but I lost my original power, Master.
"So three's your limit now, right?"
-...Yeah.
Ashamed at struggling with just three, Jihad hung his head.
Couldn't even look up, but Do-hyun was satisfied enough.
'Could be useful later.'
Necromancers usually unlock limits every 10 levels.
With skills or items, sure, but baseline: 3 at 10, 5 at 20, 10 at 30, and so on.
Three at level 1 wasn't bad at all.
'Only undead-ifies monsters he killed... Wait, Guardian perk? Includes mine too.'
Heroic Named Guardian power?
Impressive despite looking the part.
Not the only unique trait.
Normal Necromancers remake monsters as skeleton soldiers, but Jihad's kept relatively intact forms.
'Combat power difference?'
Haven't tested in battle yet.
Pondering Jihad's unexpected prowess—
[Jihad Black's mana is depleted.]
[Undead summoning canceled.]
....
[Undead summoning canceled.]
[Undead List]
>-Forest Red Goblin Undead × 2
>-Forest Blue Goblin Undead × 1
"Huh?"
Cheerful alert and window popped up.
Do-hyun turned as the undead vanished in smoke.
-Ahem, cough....
"......"
Jihad cleared his throat, averting eyes.
Do-hyun sighed at the blatant denial.
Guess he couldn't handle undead properly yet.
Understood. Level 1, and the undead were higher level than him.
But his only skill is undead creation, and he can't even use them right? Total freeloader?
'Yeah... Raising divine beasts takes heavy investment, they say.'
This guy's basically a divine beast type. He'll pay off eventually.
For now, think of it as investment—let him leech EXP.
Not that he'd do nothing forever.
"Hey."
-Yeah?
Eyes met with the tilting goblin. Do-hyun nodded aside.
"Pick up the loot at least."
-...Me?
"Who else?"
-I've been picking it up fine till n-... Er, right, Master. I love picking items.
Pride stung—ex-Named Boss, after all—but one clenched fist, and he flipped like a switch.
[Loyalty +1.]
Loyalty hit 21 already.
Fists beat laws every time. Feeling that timeless truth, Do-hyun lowered his fist.
Slide.
[Loyalty -1.]
"......?"
Do-hyun doubted his eyes.