Hidden Skills and the Scammer's Ploy
-What the hell is this?
-Not a bug?
-Hack?
The chat sped up even more, still brimming with questions. The recommendation window that had popped up was crammed full of all sorts of icons. Hanbit looked at Yeonwoo, whose mouth hung open, and asked, “Not just three?”
“No way, hyung, how'd you do that?”
“No clue.”
-No clue?
-New cheat glitch?
-Reporting it first. GG.
-Report sent.
The viewers reacted like they'd been totally scammed.
“Huh?”
That's when Yeonwoo shoved his face right up to the stream screen. He started stammering, his voice pitching higher. “Hi, hi, hidden! It's a hidden!”
“Hidden?”
“The shiny icons! These are hidden skills!”
At his excited outburst, Hanbit scanned the list. There, on the bottom row, were freshly appeared glowing icons. And not just one or two.
-Insane. lololol
-Has a hidden ever popped in recommendations?
-This is a legit jacked-up bug.
-But what good's a hidden if you can't even get it?
-The fact it showed up at all is the problem, you game noob.
The chat window suddenly erupted into arguments, people snapping at each other. Apparently, the value of a hidden skill was huge.
“Hyung, if you snag this, you're set for life!”
“It's just a recommendation.”
“Not just! Look at all these icons you've never seen before!”
Yeonwoo clenched his fist with fanboy fervor. Ignoring it, Hanbit turned back to the list.
Nicely drawn, huh.
Even though they were simply depicted, he could guess what each skill was. Fortunately, they matched the techniques from his isekai world.
Stuff I can get in Edlen... about this much, yeah.
Hanbit swept his eyes over the icons and quickly made up his mind. Experience from his past lives aside, this was his first step into the game world. He needed to figure out what matched his old world, what differed. What the Goddess was scheming. And how to rake in the cash. To chase those answers, a solid foundation for growth was key.
“Let's start safe with a fire-attribute spell. Where do I pick up the quest?”
“Huh? You're going magic?”
“What's wrong with that?”
“No, it's not bad, it's just...”
-Magic?
-Ma-freakin'-gic?
-Romance junkie?
Unexpected reactions flooded the chat. Hanbit shot it a puzzled look, and Yeonwoo scratched his head.
“In this game, proficiency's as big a deal as the skills themselves. And magic? Building that up is insanely hard.”
“Proficiency?”
“Like EXP for skills. You gotta fill it to the threshold before unlocking the next one. Problem is, no way to check how much you've got.”
“What? Then how do you know the threshold?”
“When it's full, a star appears next to the skill name. That's how you know.”
-Tough luck, grind it out~
-Black Dragon spamming the same spell for 2 months? Massive respect.
-He'll be sobbing to switch skills in a few weeks. lol
“Hm.”
Hanbit gauged the mood and got the picture.
“Realism check, huh?”
“Realism?”
“...Nah, just sounds obvious.”
No matter the technique, mastering it took effort. Hanbit's grueling experiences and memories proved that.
Took me a bit at first too.
Talent and hard work were key to learning anything. But for magic, who taught you mattered most.
“Who's the teacher? Can I pick?”
“Teacher?”
“Gotta learn magic hands-on. Need someone to teach it.”
-?
-New pattern;
-RP's first magic exam, written/practical.
-He'll be getting private lessons later. lol
“Why the shade again?”
“Hyung!”
Hanbit jabbed a finger at the mocking chat, and Yeonwoo frantically waved him off. He pulled up the map and checked the NPC list.
“NPC AI is god-tier, but they don't teach skills like that. Usually, you clear quests and achievements for skillbooks. Use 'em, and you can cast naturally.”
“...Really?”
Skill acquisition was way too easy compared to his isekai world. He almost blurted out how it wasn't like that back in his day. If it had been that faithful, most players would've quit.
“Anyway, let's go. To the general store, right?”
“Huh? How'd you know? Fire magic's from Julio the shopkeep.”
“...Julio? Why that guy?”
“He gives the spellbook quest.”
The two stared at each other in confusion. Hanbit spoke in disbelief.
“That guy's a total scammer.”
“...A scammer?”
“Pure trash. The spellbook and all? Total fakes.”
-Julio in tears. lololol
-His face looks shady, but no slander.
-Scammer NPC (not a scammer)
-Provides spellbook (for real)
The chat filled with mocking laughs at his firm accusation.
[Julio has donated 1,000 won.]
[What crime is this? Sue him.]
“Thanks for the 1,000 won donation!”
Yeonwoo jumped on the sparkling notification.
“What, we just made money?”
“Yup. Fees cut in, but you got like 500 won too, hyung.”
“Whoa...”
-Oh snap. lol
-Cute noob.
-Hit big with hidden, numbers change.
-Told you it's a bug;
-Guy's not even a streamer?
Viewers ticked up to 30. Hanbit was quietly impressed.
Actually making money, huh.
Just yapping without doing jack, and he'd pocketed 500 won. Wild. He didn't get the mechanics yet, but...
“But 1,000 won's pocket change for you, right?”
“Nah, business is business. Change your mindset, hyung. That's how you go big.”
Testing the chaebol heir got him a business pitch. But Hanbit had no mindset to change.
“I treasure every 1,000 won. If you and it fell in water, I'd save the 1,000 first.”
“That's cold, hyung!”
-lololololol
-Roper < 1,000 won
-Just meme'd Roper into assassination. Easy.
Yeonwoo let out a hollow laugh at the absurd reply. Banter like this was routine for them. He pointed at the map to shift gears.
“Anyway, Julio's the only one with the fire magic quest. Suck it up and go.”
“Hold up.”
Hanbit pushed away Yeonwoo's face as he tried to grab his arm. He scanned the still-open map's NPC list.
Scroll...
Edlen was a big city, tons of NPCs. Hanbit scrolled down and stopped at the bottom.
[Atsbel]
“Found it.”
“Found what?”
“Magic teacher.”
“...”
Yeonwoo was speechless at the bold claim. He leaned in close, whispering as the chat cracked up.
“Hyung, not a bad concept, but wait a bit—they'll call it brain-dead.”
“Concept my ass.”
Hanbit shoved his face away again and turned to the familiar street. The paths in his head were more detailed and precise than any map.
“Don't believe me? Fine. I'll prove it with results.”
“Works for me, but you're really hunting a magic teacher?”
“Obviously.”
-Stubborn af;
-Gotta find a game mentor first. lol
-Fr, who’s Roper teaching lol
The chat kept up the jeers and shade. One caught Hanbit's eye.
-Spoiler: Wastes time then goes to Julio anyway.
He paused, then faced the camera.
“Should I hit Julio first, then?”
“For real?”
“Said I'd prove it. Show he's a scammer, done. You guys agree?”
-Oh. lol
-No chicken +1 point.
-Training arc meta, 500 points.
-If he's really a scammer, 10k.
Hanbit zeroed in on the last one. “For real? 10k?”
[Yeah donated 1,000 won.]
[Yeah for real. But if not, idol dance.]
“Sweet.”
Even with the dance condition, Hanbit nodded eagerly. Free 10k? No brainer.
“This'll be fun.”
Yeonwoo was already picturing Hanbit dancing, itching to clip it for daily roasts.
“Julio it is? I'll lead the...”
“Nah, just follow.”
Hanbit ruffled his hair and strode ahead. It felt like strolling hometown streets—steps light and sure.
“This way?”
Yeonwoo asked as he ducked into an alley.
“C'mon.”
Hanbit weaved through alleys and soon reached a general store on the main drag.
...Damn, it's identical.
The shop was recreated with eerie perfection. Through the window, he spotted the owner.
[General Store Owner Julio]
He focused past the name tag. Greedy face, jewels plastered on his clothes. Exact match for his first sight of Julio in the isekai.
Crack.
His fist clenched on reflex. The day he'd first been thrown in prison. The horrific memory of falling for that bastard's trap—he couldn't forget.
“How's interaction in this game?”
“Interaction?”
“Y'know, games where you can't mess with NPCs freely.”
“Oh, freedom degree? Don't worry. Easier to find what you can't do. Just hurts your progress if you screw up.”
“Got it.”
-Freedom's straight busted.
-Freedom comes with responsibility.
-Fr, people got perma-banned.
-Tons got jailed. lol
-Plenty of blocked quests too.
From the chat, he got the gist. Do what you want if you're confident.
Hanbit pushed open the shop door and stepped in.
“Welcome.”
Julio rose politely from his seat. Even that fake smile was nauseatingly realistic.
“Still peddling your crap here, trash?”
“Pardon? How dare you say...”
-Wtf. lol
-Sneak diss;
-AI bugged? lol
Unable to hold back, Hanbit spat the insult. Julio panicked. NPC AI was top-notch, he'd heard. If it mirrored the isekai perfectly, personality and all would match.
“You give the spellbook?”
“Ah, need a spellbook, do you?”
At the mention, Julio's face reset. He eyed the display regretfully.
“Sorry about this. Looks like the last one sold just before.”
He stepped closer to Hanbit, smiling.
“But I can introduce the shop instead. If you do me a small favor?”
“Favor?”
“Yes. A thief snuck in while I dozed. Evidence points to my rival, Atsbel. Care to help catch her?”
Julio pulled out a tiny brooch. Its back had a signature-like mark.
Ding-
An alarm rang in his ear. A hologram window popped up with text.
[Quest]
Julio's money bag has been stolen. Use the discovered evidence to catch the culprit.
Goal: Arrest general store owner Atsbel.
Reward: 100 gold, Fireball spellbook (1-rank Normal), letter of introduction, 50 EXP
Time limit: None