Chapter 2

01. A Hidden Piece in a Clear Sky (2)

"Mr. Carlos?"

Startled, I jumped to my feet, and he nodded slightly.

He was a tall, imposing man with a rugged face, standing a head taller than me, and his posture and expression were menacing.

"Where did the letter come from?"

"The letter was sent by Viola from Florence Village. Ah, I'm Yun Gaho. I came here at the request of Charlotte, Viola's daughter."

At the mention of Viola's name, Carlos's expression visibly softened.

Upon closer inspection, despite his harsh appearance, he was quite handsome.

Carlos, who made even a casually worn shirt look like a designer piece, looked even more handsome as the coldness in his expression dissipated. If he weren't an NPC in the World Tower, he could have been a famous celebrity.

"I can't just turn away a guest of that girl. Come in."

"Thank you!"

Is he going to give me a reward inside?

I tried to calm my excited heart as I followed him in.

'Something seems off here.'

The interior of the house was abnormally spacious compared to its exterior, and the ceiling height was different from what I had seen from the outside. Indeed, a hidden quest NPC! His appearance wasn't the only extraordinary thing about him.

Carlos, who had seated me in the living room, brought some refreshments from somewhere.

While he read Viola's letter, I sat quietly and nibbled on the cookies.

Despite my usually picky taste, especially for sweets, these cookies were incredibly delicious.

Just as I finished the plate of cookies, he spoke, his expression as harsh as it was at first.

"Gaho, right? Answer honestly. How is Viola doing now?"

"I don't know Viola well. I only have a close relationship with her daughter, Charlotte. I occasionally helped her find a four-leaf clover to cure her sick mother."

"Tsk, I see. She's as foolish as ever."

Carlos looked somewhat disappointed.

After carefully folding the letter and tucking it into his chest, Carlos seemed to be thinking about something before speaking.

"Thank you for delivering the letter. I'll take care of the reply."

'So, what's my reward?'

As if answering my unspoken question, Carlos led me out of the living room.

"Thanks to you, I learned about Viola's condition. If it weren't for you, I might never have known she was sick."

A bitter tone crept into Carlos's voice.

Leading me to the living room, Carlos stopped in front of the fireplace.

"You mustn't tell anyone about what happens from here. Can you promise that?"

What kind of reward could be so significant that he's building up the suspense like this?

I nodded, and Carlos reached up to the mantel. As he turned the candlestick, the scene before me shattered.

The space around us flipped.

I was speechless at the sight I had never seen before.

'What is this NPC's true identity?'

"This is the only thing I can offer as a reward to a player."

The warm living room vanished, replaced by a room filled with various items.

The shelves were lined with items that looked anything but ordinary, and the floor was cluttered with items, making it hard to move.

"These are better than what most people can make. Choose one you like."

"Any one?"

At my dazed question, Carlos chuckled and nodded.

The aura emanating from each item was extraordinary. Is he really going to give me one of these?

I bit my lip without realizing it. A-grade? If I look carefully, I might even find an S-grade.

"What a stroke of luck."

S-grade items, which drop with extremely low probability, are even hard for S-grade hunters to obtain. Could I finally get a leg up with this?

My heart was pounding.

"Stay calm, Yun Gaho."

Getting too excited can ruin things. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

'Be calm, be calm, and take a good look.'

The items displayed on the shelves looked the most valuable at first glance. They boasted a lavish appearance, as if crafted by a master with exceptional taste.

That longbow? No, it seems too precious for me. Maybe I should go for the more practical armor over there? My eyes darted around.

Carlos watched me with narrowed eyes, waiting for my choice.

"Something that stands out isn't necessarily the best."

A saying I once heard came to mind.

It felt like someone had poured cold water over my head, bringing me back to my senses. Calm down, my ass. I was about to make a foolish mistake in my excitement.

"True talent can be recognized without seeing it."

I calmed my eagerness and closed my eyes.

Instead of relying on my easily deceived vision, I extended my mana to feel the surroundings. Each item was powerful, and my mana rod tingled as I passed over them.

After searching for a while, I found a spot with a noticeably strong mana presence.

When I probed it, the item repelled my mana. I had a gut feeling it was something special.

"This one!"

I picked up a dagger that had fallen in the corner of the sea of items.

"I'll take this one."

"Are you serious?"

Instead of answering, I nodded vigorously.

Honestly, when I opened my eyes and saw that the item in my hand was a worn-out dagger, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

But a hunter's intuition shouldn't be ignored. Even if it leads to a dead end, you must seize the opportunity when it comes.

Just as I was about to put the dagger in my inventory, Carlos suddenly snatched it away.

What? Why did he take it back after giving it to me?

"Choose again."

"Huh?"

"I'll give you one more. Choose again."

I don't know why, but there's no reason to refuse an extra item. I closed my eyes again. It felt a bit easier this time.

'Hmm, this one!'

This time, the item was so kind that it even accepted my C-grade mana. I had a good feeling. I reached into the pile of items.

"This is... a monocle?"

Carlos, who had been staring at me intently, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

"Accept it quickly."

A system window I had never seen before popped up.

Without thinking, I said I would accept it, then looked at Carlos in surprise.

'Is this even possible?'

NPCs don't know about the system. I've never heard of an NPC asking to see a status window. My mind froze at this unprecedented event.

'Wait a minute. Could this be...?'

A new... possibility?

Confused by the series of inexplicable events, I couldn't think straight. But when I saw the window that appeared, I was certain.

All the indicators pointed to one thing.

Hidden Piece.

The term refers to special NPCs and items hidden in each layer.

Some call it a stroke of luck. Hidden Pieces can only be obtained through very special routes. According to rumors, some people have even transcended their innate talent to reach A-grade through Hidden Pieces.

Is a Hidden Piece coming to me? No way. Why me?

I couldn't believe this sudden stroke of luck.

"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"You have talent."

"Me? Everyone can sense mana, right!"

Carlos snorted as if I had said something ridiculous.

I couldn't relate to Carlos's story. Sensing mana had been as natural as breathing since I awakened.

'What's the big deal? If I can do it, others can too!'

"Come on, do you think that kind of mana sensitivity is common? Stop talking nonsense and check the options of the equipment you chose."

Saying that he wouldn't say such things, Carlos turned his gaze to my status window.

I ignored his tapping in the air and checked the options of the two items.

SS-grade? I hurriedly checked the grades of the items displayed on the shelves. Most were A-grade. Carlos patted my shoulder, where I stood with a dumbfounded expression.

"How about it? Want to learn? Your innate attributes are different from mine, so you'll become a different type of craftsman, but I can show you the way."

You receive Gaho's Protection (C) → Eternal Protection (S)

- Additional Skills (Predicted):

Attribute Assignment (C) → Enchant (S)

Eyes of the Marksman (C) → Eyes of the Explorer (A)...

※Some of the additional skills of the current characteristic 'Eternal Protection (S)' cannot be viewed.]

I was stunned by the popup that appeared as soon as Carlos finished speaking.

"S, S-grade characteristic?"

I stuttered like a broken machine, staring at Carlos. Carlos looked at me with a mischievous smile.

There are fewer than ten S-grade hunters in the country. An S-grade characteristic with S-grade additional skills! It was a condition anyone would covet.

'With this, I could reach A-grade, or even near S-grade...!'

Moreover, the part at the end. Judging from the message that some skills cannot be viewed, it seemed that other skills would unlock if certain conditions were met.

There was no reason to refuse.

"Of course... "

"But if you take lessons from me, you have to give up the equipment."

"Huh? That's different from what you said earlier!"

"Giving both the item and the characteristic exceeds my authority. I'm sorry, but you have to choose one."

Before Carlos finished speaking, a system window appeared, forcing me to make a choice.

1. Argo (S), Eye of Vulcan (SS)

2. Characteristic Evolution: Eternal Protection (S)]