Chapter 49

00049 Dungeon Of Alchemist =========================================================================

The moment I heard the word "shadow," I was greatly startled. I looked at the user in my arms with a stunned expression. He, on the other hand, was looking at me with a calm expression and serene eyes, different from a moment ago. His calm gaze made me feel an inexplicable chill.

Instinctively, I tried to move the shadow, but the rising fear in my heart made me stop. A cold sensation crept up my neck. His arms, which were wrapped around me, and his hand had somehow reached my neck.

I'm going to die.

In a life-or-death situation, I don't entertain foolish thoughts like why or how. My sharp instincts, which have kept me alive so far, were warning me more clearly than ever. The moment I move the shadow, the user, who is pressing his face against my chest, will break my neck without hesitation.

I felt the strength in the arms holding me gradually wane.

*

The woman's arms went limp. Her skills were already somewhat researched in the first round, so she was using the shadow for detection. However, even knowing this, she couldn't let her guard down with a user like him. If she showed any sign, she was prepared to twist his neck immediately.

But the woman didn't overdo it. She acknowledged her misjudgment and took a step back. She has good innate senses and doesn't overestimate her abilities.

I started to like her more. The woman in front of me was a user who knew when to back down. Thinking that I didn't need to deal with her right now, I slowly activated my Third Eye. This time, I wanted to know all her information.

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name (Name): Ko Yeon-ju (5th year)

2. Class (Class): Queen of Silhouette Master

3. Nation (Nation): Babara

4. Clan (Clan): -

5. True Name · Nationality: One who leaves a pitch-black silhouette · Republic of Korea

6. Gender (Sex): Female (26)

7. Height · Weight: 169.4cm · 51.8kg

8. Alignment: Neutral · Chaos

< Statistics >

1. [Strength 89] [Endurance 90] [Agility 97] [Health 87] [Magic 93] [Luck 82]

< Achievements (5) >

< Unique Ability (1/1) >

1. Lure Eyed (Rank: A)

< Special Ability (1/1) >

1. Abyss Crowd (Rank: S Plus)

< Potential Abilities (3/3) >

1. Shadow Dagger Technique (Rank: A Plus)

2. Stealth (Rank: A Plus Plus Plus)

3. Black Shadow (Rank: A Plus Plus)

< Statistics Comparison >

1. Kim Su-hyun: 540/600

(12 ability points remaining.)

[Strength 94] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Health 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 88]

2. Ko Yeon-ju: 536/600

(No ability points remaining.)

[Strength 89] [Endurance 90] [Agility 97] [Health 85] [Magic 93] [Luck 82]

Seeing Ko Yeon-ju's abilities and stats, I couldn't help but be impressed. Her total stats were 536 out of 600, just 4 points less than mine. No wonder she could take on one of the "Top 10" later.

Still, I was confident I could beat her. Except for health, all my other stats were higher than hers. Moreover, considering the levels and ranks of her unique, special, and potential abilities, I was sure I could overwhelm her.

So, I made up my mind right there. I would decide what to do with Ko Yeon-ju when I finished all my business in Muel and left. My thoughts must have shown on my face, as I saw her flinch when she looked into my eyes. I quickly composed my expression and spoke in a calm voice.

"Shadows like beautiful women. That's why you appeal to me."

"..."

"That's why..."

Ko Yeon-ju's face remained stiff, and she didn't respond. This time, I was the one caressing her face. The sudden reversal of the situation gave me a strange sense of pleasure.

"I hope you don't do anything foolish."

Ko Yeon-ju, a user of this caliber, would understand the implications of my words. After seeing her nod slightly, I finally pulled away from her.

Ko Yeon-ju's current state of mind seemed quite complex. Her usual calm expression was gone, and her eyes, filled with complexity, were the only indication of her feelings. She then sighed deeply and spoke.

"I understand what you mean. I'm not one to talk too much."

"Good. I like women who keep their mouths shut."

Ko Yeon-ju, who had switched to formal speech, gave a bitter smile in response to my words.

"I was just really curious. I had no intention of causing any harm, so please don't misunderstand."

"I would like to tell you, but the situation is complicated."

And I wanted to add that even with good intentions, the Lure Eyed ability is a form of mental pollution. But I decided to leave it at that for today.

Accepting my indirect refusal, Ko Yeon-ju looked disappointed and cautiously got up. I signaled for her to leave, and she moved towards the door without a word.

*

In the morning, the kids woke up one by one, rubbing their sleepy eyes. Seeing them yawn and immediately start their detection practice, I felt proud. Normally, I would have encouraged them, but today we were planning to leave the city, so I called the three of them to my room.

"What's the matter, calling us here?" (An-hyun, speaking with a yawn)

An-hyun yawned and mumbled, making Yu-jung look disgusted and Sol embarrassed. I chuckled at An-hyun's appearance and continued.

"Seems like you all can handle mana detection pretty well now, right?"

Given my usual lack of praise, the kids blinked and looked at each other. They then all blushed and straightened up, some even clearing their throats, which was quite amusing. A smile crept onto my lips, but I managed to hold it back.

"I've been watching you practice for a week, and I feel that way. You've all worked hard."

"Bro, so..."

Excited, An-hyun asked, and I nodded calmly. Today was finally the day we would leave the city.

"Yeah. I think we can leave the city now. It's also time to start moving."

The moment I gave my permission, a silent commotion broke out among An-hyun, Sol, and Yu-jung. Realizing they were about to take their first true step into the Hollow Plain, their faces lit up with clear excitement.

"But listen carefully. You should always have the habit of practicing, except in unavoidable situations."

I added this immediately, seeing their overly excited expressions. They nodded half-heartedly, already with their minds elsewhere. I was about to scold them but decided against it. I wanted to see if they could maintain this excitement even after experiencing various events outside the city.

The research lab of the ancient alchemist Vivian and the dungeon. After considering which to go to first, I decided the dungeon would be better. Both the lab and the dungeon would be challenging, but the alchemist's dungeon, where we had more clues, had a higher chance of success.

To reach Vivian's dungeon, we needed to go through the north gate of Muel and enter deep into the Black Forest. The Black Forest, located between the northern continent and the unexplored region, is not an easy place, as even Babara has only stabilized the early to mid-section. In other words, once you pass the mid-section, it's considered the unexplored region.

However, these concerns didn't apply to me. I had experience with expeditions into the unexplored region and didn't plan to recruit additional archers. I decided not to form a caravan for now. The more people, the more rewards to distribute, and I didn't have the luxury to worry about other users when I was struggling to feed and clothe the kids.

Seeing An-hyun and Sol, who were so excited they were holding hands and skipping, I took out a bag. It was a magic backpack with a weight reduction spell. A permanent magic backpack was too expensive, so I bought one with a spell lasting a week. After this expedition, I planned to sell some of the rewards and combine the gold coins I had, ensuring we wouldn't lack money in Muel.

"I have a gift for you all for your hard work."

At the mention of a gift, the kids immediately turned their attention to the backpack. They had learned about magic backpacks at the User Academy, but this was the first time they were seeing one in person. Their eyes shone brightly, especially An-hyun's, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Feeling their impatient gaze, I broke out in a cold sweat. After reaching into the backpack, I carefully took out the gifts. The gifts were weapons, which I had chosen and ordered after carefully observing their training at the User Academy.

A long spear, two daggers, and a wooden staff.

"Wow."

"Huh?"

"Wow..."

Seeing the weapons on the floor, An-hyun, Yu-jung, and Sol exclaimed in turn. They all looked at me, gesturing for me to give them the weapons, and then rushed to pick them up. Of course, An-hyun had mentioned GP, but I had told them to save it, as there was no need to waste it on unnecessary things.

An-hyun, holding the spear, thrust it into the air a few times and looked satisfied. His thrusting form was somewhat well-practiced, indicating it felt right in his hands.

"Wow, this feels really good in my hands. It sticks to me every time I thrust."

An-hyun's spear technique was different from my initial expectations. I thought he would focus on slashing with a sword, but he often practiced thrusting. So, I chose a spear with a sharp point.

"Your spear technique is more specialized in thrusting than slashing. That's why I chose a spear with a sharp tip. As you can see, it's a long spear, not a throwing weapon. You'll need to pay attention to maintaining distance in battle. Defense is up to you."

"Bro, you really thought about me that much... This is embarrassing."

An-hyun, looking moved, said something silly. I immediately turned away. He laughed, and Yu-jung, who had been quietly examining her daggers, quickly joined the conversation.

"Bro, what about me? These daggers only have a blade on one side."

"That's how I ordered them. Ah, Yu-jung, yours are specially custom-made..."

"Really?"

Yu-jung interrupted, delighted at the mention of custom-made weapons.

"Your daggers are based on a katana, a Japanese sword. So, they are longer than regular daggers, about half the length of a katana."

"Hmm, it feels a bit awkward, but I think I'll get used to it and it will be better."

"Mercenaries, who specialize in close combat, have many abilities that are effective in chaotic battles. Anyway, try them out. Finding the right weapon for you is also part of your training."

"Okay, but Bro, are custom-made weapons more expensive than regular ones?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

I nodded, and Yu-jung smiled proudly, turning to An-hyun. She gave a smug smile and twirled her daggers, and I knew why she was doing it without asking. She then turned back to me.

"So, my gift is the most expensive, right? Hehehe. Oh, Bro, if you like it, just say so. Do you have to beat around the bush like this?"

An-hyun, who had been listening silently, suddenly looked flustered. Sol was giving me a look of injustice. I was the one who felt wronged, but the kids were being childish. I expected such minor incidents, so I looked at Yu-jung with a disappointed expression. However, I couldn't resist her provocative wink.

I sighed and continued in a low voice.

"Unfortunately, the most expensive gift isn't your daggers but Sol's staff."

"...What? Why? It's just a wooden staff."

Yu-jung's voice dropped. Sol's lips pouted at the "just a wooden staff" comment. I shrugged.

"Of course. Most weapons for mages and priests are magical items."

"Really? Magical?"

Sol's eyes widened in surprise. I nodded and explained the enchantments.

"Yes. It's said to calm the user's mind and improve mana control efficiency. As a low-level item, it won't have a significant effect, but it's better than nothing. I didn't think you needed to increase your mana capacity right now. Is that okay?"

"Sure!"

Seeing Sol's enthusiastic response, I smiled slightly. I thought it would be nice to have a kind and cute little sister like her.

For a brief moment, I caught Sol giving a smug look to Yu-jung. Sneaking a glance at Yu-jung, I saw her face slightly contort, as if she had noticed Sol's gaze.

I suddenly remembered hearing that Sol had been showing off recently. I thought it was unlikely, but now I felt it was something to reconsider.

============================ Author's Note ============================

* Setting changes for Chapter 5: Jin Su-hyun's appearance is moved from 3 years later to 1 year later.

* Some authors mentioned that there are places where you can buy covers. If anyone knows a good site, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know.

Hello, I'm Ro Yu-jin.

The Queen of Silhouette has appeared. As one of the "Top 10" in the mid-section, she is a very powerful character. Now, you can get a sense of where Su-hyun stands.

Finally, Su-hyun and the kids are leaving Muel. Their first destination is the alchemist's dungeon. Look forward to Su-hyun's continuous success. I'll be entering the review section. :)

『 Reviews 』

1. Person's Life: Finally, you've recreated past glory. Congratulations on being number one! You were on a roll yesterday. 😄

2. Blami: Yes, for example, to see Seraph, you need to go through the temple. There are exceptions, but generally, that's the case. Evil deities also exist. :)

3. Kagu: Yes, I'm remaking and reposting the one I uploaded in March 2012.

4. Toranoanal: Love. I can really relate to what you said. Ah, the title uses special characters, not English capital letters. (It's the Korean character 'ㅍ'.) Even when I put them all together, there were still some spaces.

5. Sealed Tolstoy: Yes, the reliable older brother will eventually... hehehe.

6. Jinny1003: Correct. They are still young and fresh. Hahaha.

7. Baek In-timo-si: Thank you. I'm really happy you enjoyed it. Su-hyun is, of course, male. Hahaha. You'll understand the meaning... :)

8. Refill: Wow, I was surprised to read your comment. There are many similarities between Su-hyun and Han-byeol's initial settings. You made a very objective judgment. Correct. How did you know? I did plant a hint that Han-byeol and So-young overlap, but I didn't expect you to pinpoint such a complex aspect so accurately. :)

9. Strongest Holy Maiden: Great comments for this chapter. :)

10. Lizad: Don't eat it now, or it will be a disaster. Hahaha.

I always read all the comments repeatedly. Don't be too disappointed if your comment isn't in the review section. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a message, and I'll respond! (More comments and recommendations, please! And recommendations...☞☜)

That's all for today.

I hope you always read the story with a comfortable mind.

Pre-reads, recommendations, comments, reviews, and questions are always welcome.