Chapter 6

“…What? Kuk?!”

Jung-hoon didn’t even have time to react.

The pure white orb in his left hand suddenly trembled and shot out of his hand.

Crack!

Then, cracks began to appear on the surface of the orb, and it started to break. Jung-hoon’s face turned pale, while the Demonic Horse marveled.

-You really are lucky. Trap items are already rare, and I’ve never seen an orb-shaped trap item before.

“This isn’t being lucky! It’s my bad luck!”

-Stop making excuses. Can’t you read Korean? Prepare to fight and pray for a low-level monster to spawn!

“Where do you get these things?!”

Gray smoke began to seep out of the orb, and soon it started to take the shape of a monster.

It had been less than 10 seconds since the sudden notification appeared. Now, a monster stood before Jung-hoon.

A humanoid monster with green skin and slit eyes.

A Goblin.

It was a symbol of low-level monsters and one that Jung-hoon had just slaughtered. However, the Demonic Horse shook his head.

-That’s not it.

It was because a Goblin of a different caliber from the tutorial Goblins had appeared.

<Blood Sunset Tribe’s Goblin Warrior>

Above the Goblin’s head, holding a sharp kukri in one hand, those words were written.

“…What kind of Goblin modifier is that scary?”

-Running… no, it’s pointless. Fighting is also pointless. Even with all stat bonuses, you can’t win in your current state.

“Is there a penalty for dying?”

-There’s no penalty at low levels. As you level up, death penalties will become more severe.

“Hmm.”

Jung-hoon glanced at the Goblin Warrior. The creature seemed to have realized that Jung-hoon was a complete beginner and was smirking. It was like a cat toying with a small mouse.

But.

“I might as well try. I can’t just die quietly, can I?”

-Good attitude. Those who give up easily can’t reach the top!

Thud!

Jung-hoon kicked off the ground with all his might and charged at the Goblin. His movements were surprisingly smooth, making it hard to believe he had just started the game today.

“Hah!”

With a powerful yell, Jung-hoon’s fist cut through the air, aiming for the Goblin’s head.

Perhaps it was because the Goblin hadn’t expected such a move from what it thought was a mouse. The Goblin Warrior noticeably flinched and ducked.

Thud!

However, it couldn’t completely avoid the attack, and Jung-hoon’s fist struck the Goblin’s forehead.

“Got… huh?!”

But that was as far as it went.

The Goblin Warrior’s eyes widened, and it swung its kukri at Jung-hoon.

“Gah!!!”

“What, what? Why isn’t it working?!”

-Why wouldn’t it? A level 1 player trying to punch a level 35 elite monster with bare hands—what damage do you expect?

The bonus stats are the only reason it flinched. Without them, the recoil from the punch would have drained your HP.

“Then what do I do?!”

-Well… there’s no good solution. The stat gap is too wide. Even if I fought, it wouldn’t work.

“Saying there’s no way out is the end! You’re a 10-year player, right?!”

-A 10-year player isn’t a god. Sometimes, things just don’t work.

Jung-hoon’s body was already covered in small cuts from the kukri, and his HP was down to half after only about 10 seconds.

He hadn’t been hit directly!

-It’s frustrating, but what can you do? In RPGs, it’s all about leveling up and getting good gear. Try to dodge as much as possible and maybe spit at it to feel better?

“I want to kill it!”

Jung-hoon shouted, pulled out a sword from his inventory, and swiftly swung it at the Goblin’s neck. Surprised by the sudden weapon, the Goblin flinched and its reaction was a bit slow.

Thud!

Jung-hoon’s sword tip embedded itself in the Goblin’s throat! Just as his face was about to light up with joy,

“Gurk?”

-I forgot to mention. In Lase, unappraised items can’t deal or receive any damage until they are appraised. They’re just decorations. You’d be better off smashing it with a brick.

“You should have told me that earlier!”

The surprised Goblin tilted its head and then began to attack more fiercely with a vicious expression.

“Really, I’m going to die! Is there really no way?!”

-Hmm… no.

“Hey, 10-year player!!!”

-Well, who knows? If you had pulled an unappraised sword from the random box and then pulled a top-tier appraisal scroll from the other box, and the sword had gained two additional options, you might have had a chance.

“What, that’s ridiculous!”

-Isn’t it? It’s ridiculous. If that actually happened, it wouldn’t be a game; it would be a rigged scam.

“Yeah, I don’t know.”

Jung-hoon swung his sword at the Goblin one last time, feeling the inevitability of death. He closed his eyes tightly.

-You did better than I expected. Good job. Keep that passion and when you get to the village, I’ll make sure to—oh?

But there was one fact that even the Demonic Horse, who had played the game for over 10 years after regressing, had overlooked.

Jung-hoon had something that had never existed in 10 years. Something so irregular that it could be called a rigged scam.

Flash!

A bright light began to emanate from Jung-hoon’s sword. The rust started to peel off, revealing a red blade.

Ding.

[10-star Skill ‘Unlock’ activated.]

[Appraising unappraised items. Perfectly appraises all items up to the Legendary grade.]

[Additional option discovered.]

[Additional option discovered.]

[Additional option discovered.]

[Three additional options discovered. The item’s grade has been upgraded by one level.]

Swoosh.

Jung-hoon’s sword cut through the Goblin’s arm smoothly.

“…Huh?”

-…Huh?

The shock was so great that neither Jung-hoon nor the Demonic Horse could believe what was happening. The sight of the Goblin Warrior, now armless and writhing on the ground, barely registered.

What had just happened?

“Info window.”

Ding.

[Green Skin Slayer]

[Grade: Hero]

[Level Requirement: 10]

[Bound Item]

[Physical Attack: 170~190]

- Strength +2

- Agility +2

- Dexterity +3

- Attack Speed +5%

- Movement Speed +3%

[A light and sturdy one-handed sword. A faint wind magic lingers, increasing the user’s speed.]

- Additional Option 1: Agility +4

- Additional Option 2: Item Level Requirement -10

- Additional Option 3 (Hidden): Low chance to deal 300% damage to Green Skin monsters.

*The item’s name and grade have been changed due to the hidden additional option.

“Wow.”

Amidst the chaos, Jung-hoon realized one thing.

“This is amazing.”

He was experiencing something that ordinary players would never get to experience.

However, there was something more important than the sudden appearance of a Hero-grade weapon in the tutorial.

-Is the ‘Unlock’ skill an appraisal skill?

Finding the key to a 10-star skill!

The Demonic Horse’s voice was more excited than ever.

-Three additional options on a low-level item, one of which is hidden? The only appraisal skill I know that can do that is…

“Demonic Horse, wait a moment.”

-9-star skill Dragon Eye (龍眼) alone. Wow, you’re definitely a lucky bastard… huh? Why?

“I know you’re excited, but we need to put out the immediate fire first.”

-Immediate fire? What’s more urgent than a 10-star skill… oh.

Jung-hoon gripped the Green Skin Slayer tightly. In his line of sight was the Goblin Warrior, bleeding and writhing on the ground.

“I need to finish what I started. It’s all experience and money.”

-…You’re not going to let anyone take your meal away, are you?

“Is that a compliment?”

-Of course. You need to secure what you can. Especially in Lase.

The Goblin Warrior had already lost its fighting spirit, and its combat ability had drastically decreased with the loss of an arm.

The 300% damage from the additional option was working perfectly.

Its HP couldn’t be very high.

In short, there was no danger.

However,

Ding.

[You will be teleported to the scene in 5 seconds.]

The long tutorial was no longer waiting for Jung-hoon.

“No, no! Just one minute… no, 30 seconds!”

-Go! Go! Kill it! Stab it!

Jung-hoon used all his strength to kick off the ground and thrust his sword.

Thud!

The sensation of the blade piercing skin traveled up the sword.

Poof!

In the next moment, a new landscape unfolded before Jung-hoon’s eyes.

* * *

In the central square of the City of Beginnings, ‘Raejin,’ users were appearing one after another in short bursts of light.

They had completed the tutorial and were now stepping onto the main stage of the continent.

“This is the starting village?”

“Wow, look at the graphics of the buildings. This isn’t a game; it’s a real other world.”

“Hey! Let’s start by killing some monsters!”

“Quests! Quests!”

The group of beginners passed by, but the other users paid no attention. It was a common sight in the City of Beginnings, Raejin.

“…Sigh.”

And Jung-hoon sitting in the middle of the square, sighing, was not an unusual sight either.

“That guy must have been hit hard.”

“The tutorial monsters are pretty tough.”

“Unless you’re a pro, you’ll get one-shot. One-shot.”

“This isn’t an easy game.”

It was a common occurrence for those who believed they had a talent for the game to be taught a harsh lesson in the tutorial.

“Sigh. If I had just 10 more seconds.”

Of course, this had nothing to do with Jung-hoon.

Ding.

[Name: Carpe]

[Level: 2]

[HP: 165/165]

[MP: 31/31]

[Strength: 1(+24) Agility: 1(+24)

Endurance: 1(+24) Dexterity: 1(+24)

Magic: 1(+24)]

-Allocatable Bonus Stats: 5

[Titles (5)]

-First 10-star Skill

-First 0-star Backer

-Two Firsts

-Complete Tutorial Domination

-Level Up in the Tutorial!

[Backer]

0-star – Demonic Horse Supreme (Irregular)

[Skills]

10-star - Unlock (解禁) Lv. 2

-Allocatable Bonus Skill Points: 2

Fortunately, Jung-hoon’s final charge was successful. Level 2 was the clearest proof!

He also gained allocatable bonus stats and skill points.

“And the stats increased by 2 each….”

It was probably due to the new titles. Jung-hoon… no, Carpe, touched the new title.

[Level Up in the Tutorial!]

-You have leveled up in the Tutorial area, where you generally can’t gain experience. This is a remarkable achievement.

-All stats +2

“Guh.”

It was perfect. The tutorial couldn’t have gone any better.

“Just 10 more seconds, and it would have been perfect.”

Or, more accurately, 99% perfect.

“What if the Goblin Warrior dropped a supreme item? Ah, I didn’t check the drops. Just 10 more seconds!”

-What’s this conscienceless guy saying now? Is the Goblin a dragon? Why would it drop a supreme item? You’d be lucky if it dropped a common item.

“My supreme common item!”

-You little rat…

“What, enough joking around.”

Carpe looked at the Demonic Horse with a puzzled expression and continued.

“How are you still here, Demonic Horse? You said Backers are hard to see after the tutorial.”

-That’s true for most players.

According to the strategy guide Carpe had read, Backers were under strong constraints from god-like beings and couldn’t move freely.

Backers had to expend a lot of energy to communicate with players and tried to minimize contact to conserve that energy. So why was the Demonic Horse still there?

“Could it be that the Demonic Horse is an irregular? Can irregulars easily bypass game settings and systems?”

-Not really.

“Then what?”

-I’m not sure, but I have a guess. It might be because of the title.

“Title? Oh!”

Indeed, he had obtained a title related to Backers when he pulled the items. Carpe reviewed the title again.

[First 0-star Backer]

-One of the Backer’s constraints is removed.

“This is it.”

-Thank goodness. If I couldn’t communicate properly due to the constraints… it’s too scary to imagine.

“Exactly. I need to make the most of the 10-year strategy guide I pulled. Although, I’m still a bit skeptical.”

-It’s true, though. I understand why it’s hard to believe.

The Demonic Horse smiled.

-Now, I just need to prove it.

The 10-star player strengthened by the pull.