Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Hwarang Searches for the Red Dragon Bone Bow Owner
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A message appeared in the chat window for users residing in Edenhark.
Hwarang: Searching for the user who obtained the Red Dragon Bone Bow.
'They used a megaphone.'
Jeong Hoon realized that Lee Hwarang had visited Edenhark and used it.
Took them longer than I expected.
He had thought Lee Hwarang would rush to Edenhark first upon discovering the Red Dragon Bone Bow.
It seemed they had taken time to prepare in order to acquire it.
That's why they were using the megaphone so boldly.
'Not that I have any intention of selling it to them.'
If he planned to sell it to him, he wouldn't have come to Edenhark and grinded away.
"Huh? Why are you grinning like that?"
Woo Kang tilted his head.
"It's nothing. So, about that information?"
"Ah, the one who robbed this smithy this time... he's a tricky bastard."
"Who?"
"A band of thieves led by a guy named Rex."
"I see."
"...You don't seem surprised. Like you already knew."
Jeong Hoon smiled faintly.
Of course he knew.
The first time you visit the smithy to use an Evolution Stone, this is the situation that unfolds.
But chasing down the thieves blindly won't solve it.
To use the Evolution Stone, you have to start by getting information from Woo Kang and proceed through the quests in order.
"Anyway, please tell me the rest."
"Ahem. Rex has visited the smithy several times recently. Seems like he was planning to rob it during one of those visits."
"Where did they go after that?"
"Last sighted in the northern snowy mountains, then they vanished."
"Got it."
Jeong Hoon stood up.
"Anyway, I'm truly grateful for the fan. It's one my late wife made for me by hand. When it was stolen, all sorts of thoughts went through my head."
Woo Kang stroked the fan lovingly and carefully.
"Sure."
Jeong Hoon stepped out of the building and headed straight for the snowy mountains in the north.
Your registered Evolution Stone has been sold!
Collect your payment.
Was it the Evolution Stone hype?
It sold shortly after being listed at the auction house.
Sale price: 98 gold.
Just a few days ago, Evolution Stones were going for 110-120 gold, but the word spread that they dropped in Edenhark Village, and prices dropped about 10.
Still, it was enough for Jeong Hoon to buy what he wanted.
"Hmm... Forgotten Intermediate Knight's One-Handed Sword."
Ha-jin searched the auction house for the item.
There were two listings.
Forgotten Intermediate Knight's One-Handed Sword
-Type: One-Handed Sword
-Rarity: Rare
-Attack Power: 67
-Critical Hit Chance: 1 1.5
-Remaining Durability: 100
-Special Ability (1): Attack power increases by an additional 5 when using sword skills
-Special Ability (2): Passive: Valiant Spirit activates automatically while holding the sword
And the listed price was 55 gold.
55 gold for such a trash item.
Even though it wasn't his money, it felt wasteful.
Better options were available for 35-40 gold.
"Hmm... No choice."
After some deliberation, Ha-jin paid 55 gold for the one-handed sword.
With the remaining money, he decided to buy some weapons Jeong Hoon could use.
"Martial Sovereign, right?"
He'd heard Martial Sovereigns could wield a variety of weapons.
Of course, the process to master them was brutal.
But it was undeniably a job with infinite potential.
"Gonna have to dip into my own pocket a bit."
He'd offered early-game gear support before and been refused, but now he could probably slip some in.
Nothing high-rarity, of courseRare grade should suffice.
Ha-jin bought a decent-looking knuckle and dagger for a total of 65 gold, then left the auction house.
He hurried back to Edenhark to hand them over to Jeong Hoon, but what was this?
Named NPCs had gathered in the square, grabbing passing users.
Of course, Ha-jin got nabbed soon enough.
"Hold on a sec."
It was Bowmaster Lee Hwarang.
'Eh? Lee Hwarang? And next to him, Lord Knight Park Jin-hyuk?'
Crazy...
Never thought he'd see Named NPCs this up close.
Jeong Hoon, you magnificent bastard.
They must all be here for Evolution Stones.
Grabbing users to buy them in bulk, probably.
"Why? I don't have any Evolution Stones."
Unfortunately, Ha-jin had none.
He'd sold the one from Jeong Hoon, and hadn't even picked up the quest.
"Ah, not that. Do you know who got the Red Dragon Bone Bow?"
"Red Dragon Bone Bow?"
Ha-jin tilted his head.
Yeah, it was found in Edenhark, right?
But he knew nothing about bows.
Reading his expression, Lee Hwarang smiled amiably and backed off.
"Guess you don't know."
"Yeah... Haven't been in Edenhark long."
"Understood. Thanks for your time."
"Sure."
Lee Hwarang and Park Jin-hyuk left without lingering.
"Excuse me. Did that guy say anything?"
Moments after they left, Jeong Chang-ho and Oh Min-ji approached.
'Whoa... Now Jeong Chang-ho and Oh Min-ji?'
What a lucky day!
Northern Snowy Mountains.
A field where temperatures stayed at minus 20-30 degrees around the clock.
Over ten users were diligently hunting Lv. 53 Yetis.
"These bastards are hiding treasures too, right?"
"Yeah! Hand over that pendant quick!"
They hunted Yetis hard.
All of them were working on Edenhark quests.
'Hunting Yetis won't get you anything...'
The only way to get the pendant was to head to the eastern field and dig like mad.
Well, this grind wouldn't last long anyway.
Walk-ins had all sorts of users.
Some documented quest guides in detail.
Soon, they'd post the strategies.
Whisperzl12 - Hoon: Hey! Got what you asked for!
Perfect timinga whisper from Ha-jin.
Sold the Evolution Stone and bought the items as requested.
Faster than expected.
Fueled by Evolution Stone fever?
Way ahead of schedule.
WhisperHoon - zl12: I'm at the northern snowy mountains now. Want to do the quest first till then?
Whisperzl12 - Hoon: Quest?
WhisperHoon - zl12: Yeah. I'll tell you the strategy.
Jeong Hoon explained the quest he'd done in detail.
This way, Ha-jin wouldn't waste time while he finished up.
Whisperzl12 - Hoon: OK! Starting now. Oh, wanna hear some shocking news? I just met four Named NPCs!
WhisperHoon - zl12: Four?
He could picture who.
Meeting Named NPCs was like plucking stars from the sky for regular users.
That's why users freaked out when Lee Hwarang and Min Jin-ho showed up in Origin Village.
Whisperzl12 - Hoon: Man... Came here today at the perfect time. How awesome would it be to join their guild?
Users treated Named NPCs like gods right now.
Ha-jin's reaction said it all.
Jeong Hoon, on the other hand, was indifferent.
He'd long been disgusted by their greed and rotten minds.
WhisperHoon - zl12: Got it, so hurry and do the quest.
Jeong Hoon closed whispers and kept walking.
"Hey! Hold up! You can't just go up there!"
As he entered the snowy mountains' entrance, two users grabbed him.
"Hm?"
Player Info
-Nickname: Johannesberg
-Level: 78
-Job: Lower Warrior (1st Class)
The user grabbing Jeong Hoon was a Lv. 78 Lower Warrior.
Player Info
-Nickname: Canvasra
-Level: 75
-Job: Lower Gunner (1st Class)
And the one beside was a Lower Gunner.
Why grab him out of nowhere?
Jeong Hoon's eyes cooled sharply.
Fields often sparked PvP quarrels.
Reading his gaze, the Lower Warrior hurriedly shook his head.
"Ah, we're not picking a fight."
"Then what?"
"It's dangerous to go up the snowy mountains alonehow about partying with us!"
To them, Jeong Hoon looked like a 1st-class Lower Martial Artist.
A beginner who hadn't even hit Lv. 40.
So they were intervening directly.
"I'm fine."
"No! What if you get a death penalty and logged out for 24 hours? Sad! Let us help!"
Such nosy folks.
Some people were like that.
The type who itched if they didn't meddle with good intentions, or so they claimed.
'But you can't fool me.'
He'd seen plenty like them.
Packaged in kindness and friendliness, but rotten inside.
Earlier, when they grabbed him, he'd seen greed flash in their eyes.
And one more thing.
Jeong Hoon no longer trusted people after a betrayal.
"Then you'll help me climb the snowy mountains?"
"Yes! Let's go together."
The Lower Warrior and Lower Gunner's faces lit up.
Piercing their intentions, Jeong Hoon smiled silently.
'Jackpot.'
Han Hak-seong, with the nickname Johannesberg, cheered inwardly.
While hunting monsters in the snowy mountains to level up, he'd luckily found a dungeon.
An undiscovered one, at that!
They were the first to find it, with no prior discoveries.
Undiscovered dungeon achievement: 1,000 points.
Stingy for a first discovery, but that wasn't the point.
First clears guaranteed a 100 drop from the boss monster.
'First clear! Muahaha!'
'Nice!'
He and his friend Canvasra, Park Jin-seong, planned to conquer it.
But the dungeon required 3 players.
'Shit, what now?'
Just the two of them.
They needed one more.
'Just open a party and recruit?'
'Dude, then we'd split rewards.'
Splitting 5:5 shares into thirds meant 33 each.
A 17 losstoo wasteful.
'Hmm, how about snagging a passerby?'
'Snagging?'
'Yeah. Who knows? Maybe someone needs help.'
'Damn... You're a genius. How do you think like that?'
'Hey, if I'd studied, I'd have cracked a SKY uni.'
'Bullshit.'
Bickering, they hunted near the entrance, scouting users.
But as a high-level field, no solo players wandered.
They could only pray users avoided the mountains and watch.
Soon, one user appeared.
Solo, no partylike the others.
Player Info
-Nickname: Hoon
-Level: 34
-Job: Lower Martial Artist (1st Class)
Perfect level and job.
Ideal for sucking dry and ditching.
He wondered briefly why a sub-40 beginner poked around the north, but dungeon access erased doubts.
"Whoa, you found a dungeon?"
"Yes."
They explained the undiscovered dungeon while climbing, since he'd join.
"Needs 3 so you need me, right."
"Exactly! You can just hang back and watch. Recommended level's 52!"
"Sure. You helped me up the mountainsleast I can do."
The user agreed readily.
No mention of rewards, so it went smoothly.
'Heh, perfect.'
Psssh!
Critical hit!
Huh?