Chapter 78

00078 The Wizard is a Bumper Crop

=========================================================================

I didn’t feel particularly elated about the successful dungeon exploration. Instead, I tried to return to my normal life as quickly as possible, as if nothing had happened. I hoped the children would show more dedication to their training rather than getting overly excited.

Normally, news of a successful exploration would spread throughout the city, attracting many curious users. I was a bit concerned about this, but ironically, the temple’s decision to temporarily suspend exploration reports made it a secret known only to us.

For now, this seemed like a good thing. It meant we wouldn’t be distracted by unnecessary attention. Of course, I didn’t plan to keep it a secret forever. Discovering the dungeon of the ancient alchemist Vivian was a significant achievement that could earn high recognition. It would be valuable when forming a clan later, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

The children’s daily routine was a repetitive process. They would wake up in the morning, practice their sensing skills, and then I would provide individual guidance. In the afternoon, we would go outside the city to practice group magic and formations against monsters, and in the evening, we would return to the inn for individual maintenance time.

After dinner, the children would use their maintenance time to rest or practice further, but for me, this was when I had to work even harder. There was a lot to do. I had to organize and sell the spoils from the day, and search through records to find the ruins of the laboratory. Organizing items from the dungeon and considering new equipment for the children were also important tasks. Additionally, I often had to meet with children who requested interviews to discuss how to use formations more efficiently and what roles they were best suited for.

Of course, the children were also involved to some extent, so I often called them. However, none of them ever showed any signs of annoyance, as they knew how busy I was. They could easily secure enough time for rest and sleep, but I couldn’t.

After finishing all my tasks, I would use the early morning hours for my personal training. This training, which involved swordsmanship, meditation, and physical conditioning, was more about maintaining my skills rather than improving them.

After completing my training, I would get a couple of hours of sleep before starting my daily routine again. Sometimes, I couldn’t even get an hour of sleep. The children would marvel at my schedule and worry, but I would reassure them by saying, “It’s more beneficial for you to grow quickly and help me.” Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult. When I was in the Fairy Forest or Hell, I had to push myself to the limit every day, but compared to that, my current life was like heaven.

The intensity of the children’s training increased. Although the training was more rigorous than when we first arrived in Muel, I never heard any complaints. In fact, they were so eager to learn that they even followed me for early morning training. I had to calm Ahn Hyun and send him back, as he was still growing and needed sufficient rest and sleep as part of his training.

However, their attitudes had definitely changed. This trip to the Dark Forest was a kind of adventure and a gamble. Although Kim Su-hyun, a card of victory, was involved, there were many dangerous situations, and they must have learned a lot. Previously, they followed me reluctantly, but now they were eager to learn as much as possible, which made me very satisfied.

Ahn Hyun and Yu-jung were better off with my guidance, but for Ahn Sol, Vivian was more suitable. Ahn Sol seemed a bit dissatisfied, but as a fellow mana user, she accepted my decision. I also hoped they would become closer through their training.

I kept the items we obtained from the dungeon. I decided to store the gems, potion pouches, and books in the general storage. I didn’t really want to sell the gems, but it wasn’t easy to find such high-quality gems all at once, so I decided to keep them for now. They might be useful later.

However, I sold all the other items. This included items from the vagrants and gems from the goblins. After organizing everything, I earned nearly 150 gold. Additionally, the byproducts we obtained from clearing monsters ranged from 50 silver to 1 gold per day. We no longer had to worry about the inn fees, which was a clear sign that we had moved beyond the novice stage.

However, where there is income, there is also expenditure.

The first priority was to change the children’s equipment. The weapons didn’t need to be changed, but improvements were necessary. I had about 700 gold left, and I decided to invest at least 100 gold per person. For Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, Yu-jung, and Vivian.

Vivian was already a proven user, so she didn’t need a lot of money. She chose a mage’s robe that kept her warm and enhanced mana activation (27 gold) and a staff that improved mana circulation (63 gold).

Ahn Sol didn’t need much equipment either. However, I bought her a thin chainmail (38 gold) and a priest’s robe that enhanced divine spells (46 gold). I tried to change her staff, but she clung to it and refused to let go.

“Ugh. No… I want to keep this. I like it….”

“Why? I can get you a better one. It’s not bad, but….”

“Aah… No… This is the one you bought me… Aah.”

“……”

When I tried to take it by force, she started to cry, so I gave up. However, I managed to persuade her to upgrade her staff by adding a gem. The gem, which cost 61 gold, significantly enhanced mana activation. She finally handed over her staff when I showed her the gem.

Ahn Hyun and Yu-jung, who were melee fighters, needed to focus on their armor, which inevitably required more money.

Ahn Hyun, who served as both a melee dealer and a tank, needed armor more than the others. I wanted to get him full plate armor immediately, but it would cost at least 900 gold for a decent set. So, I decided to equip him gradually.

Ahn Hyun first bought a chainmail with lightening magic (124 gold), a chest plate (48 gold), and leg guards (39 gold). The cost was higher than expected, so I gave him the gold I had set aside for my own equipment. During this process, Ahn Hyun calling me “dad” and getting hit was a small source of amusement.

Yu-jung was a dealer. To specialize in melee combat, she needed equipment that didn’t restrict her movement. She bought a thin and light ringmail (92 gold) and a monster leather armor (71 gold). The leather armor, which normally cost around 50 gold, required a potion to maintain its defensive properties while making it soft, costing an additional 20 gold.

Yu-jung initially said it was too expensive and waved it off, but when I forced the potion on her, her cheeks turned red. She seemed to secretly want it, even if she said she didn’t.

In total, we spent about 520 gold. Although it was a significant expenditure, it wasn’t a waste. Seeing the children’s satisfied faces made me feel like I had made a good purchase, and I felt a sense of pride.

After equipping them, they finally shed their novice appearance. They didn’t look like experts, but they had the appearance of users with proper equipment and armor. As I looked at them with a satisfied smile, Yu-jung approached me.

“Brother, aren’t you going to cry?”

“Why would I cry?”

“Why? Parents cry when their children wear their school uniforms for the first time. Ah, our children have grown so much. Sob, sob. It’s so touching.”

“You’re teasing me.”

Smack!

“Ouch! Ah… Stop it.”

She rubbed her forehead and pouted, and I sighed. Honestly, I felt a bit of that sentiment. It seemed like just yesterday they were fumbling through the rite of passage, and I never expected we would be acting together for so long.

When we first arrived in Muel, they were wearing the clothes provided by the User Academy and looked like typical novice users. But now, they had the appearance of competent users. Yu-jung, in particular, was excited about her new equipment and was brandishing her daggers in front of me. I watched her with a motherly smile. Is this what it feels like to raise children…?

Some users looked at our group with envy as we laughed and chatted. From their equipment, they seemed to be at a similar level to us. They didn’t have proper armor or weapons, and their clothes were worn out, indicating they were still wearing the academy-issued uniforms.

For them, getting proper equipment was a distant dream. They were probably struggling to make ends meet, worrying about their next meal. This was the reality for users who couldn’t join a clan. However, there was no reason to blame them. It was almost a miracle that we managed to get this level of equipment in less than a month without joining a clan.

In any case, I decided to upgrade our equipment again before leaving Muel. Resolving this major issue gave me a sense of relief.

Although the equipment wasn’t of the highest quality (by my standards), it was still usable. After equipping them, the children’s training and hunting speed improved significantly. It seemed to provide them with a sense of motivation.

This motivation sometimes led them to eagerly want to explore again. However, I firmly rejected their requests. For experienced users, it was common to take a break and reassess after an exploration. They would review their actions, identify and address their weaknesses, and add new skills.

Objectively, our group was lacking in every aspect: personnel, equipment, experience, and skills. Especially considering the children’s current experience and skills, it would be irresponsible to go on another exploration immediately after the last one. Like reviewing a game, they needed to identify and correct their mistakes. As each member improved, the group’s overall level would rise. I made it clear that we wouldn’t go on another exploration until we addressed the issues from the last one.

Thus, after returning from the dungeon, we repeated the same daily routine, and the children, demonstrating their growth, improved day by day.

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

Hello, I am Ro Yu-jin.

Yes, another daily update. I am overwhelmed by the support from my readers, and I feel that the only way to repay you is through daily updates. (Ah, I’m so tired! My daily updates are getting messed up!)

As mentioned in the previous author’s note, this chapter describes what the protagonist and his group experienced after returning from the dungeon. Instead of simply saying, “And a week passed,” (which might be necessary at times), I felt it was better to provide some explanation.

I would love to describe in detail what kind of training they received, how they fought monsters in the city, and how they gained experience, but I’m afraid it would take us over 100 chapters to reach the ruins of the laboratory. Hahaha.

『 Reader Comments 』

1. MT Bear: Congratulations on being number one. Thank you for always supporting me. I will continue to do my best. :)

2. Lamude: The conditions for forming a clan were introduced after arriving in Muel. The most important factors are achievements and performance. If you want more detailed information, please send me a message.

3. Hweel: User + User: User (100%) User + Resident: User (50%). Newborns do not need to go through the rite of passage and automatically gain the status of a user. I welcome any questions.

4. Sobbing Soul: Wow, five daily updates. You’re killing me. ㅜ.ㅠ Well, since I did a daily update today, Sobbing Soul, you should do a daily update on Norse mythology… Hahaha.

5. Koya: Oh, I’m sorry if this name offends you. I just thought it was pretty. Hahaha; It’s not meant to refer to anyone specific. I hope for your understanding. (__)

6. Human Life: I always believe in you, Human Life. You can be number one if you set your mind to it!

7. Demodex: Hahaha. Ahn Hyun’s TS transformation. That sounds interesting. However, I promise there will be no BL in the main story, at least not for the protagonist. BL is so hard to write… ㅜ.ㅠ

8. Dragon: “Brother, Su-hyun, wait a moment….” “Ah, Ahn Hyun? What’s wrong with you?”