Chapter 40

◈ Chapter 40. Performance Test (3)

[Name: Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 226]

[Stats]

Strength: 33 / Agility: 35 / Magic Power: 126 / Luck: 3

[Available Points: 50]

Increased strength and agility from the physical training quest.

Let's calculate those numbers...

I'm probably about 10 to 20 levels ahead of the same level?

'This much of a gap from a repeatable quest...'

I realize it again.

Class quests are truly exceptional.

Of course, the increased strength and agility from the physical training quest...

They won't have much immediate impact on me, who mainly uses magic.

But I've gained a new insight.

The Demon Hunter class, which used to have nothing particularly outstanding...

Its new cultivation method...!

Actually, there's no need to call it a cultivation method.

I was the only Demon Hunter, after all.

I lay on the floor and muttered.

"...So lonely."

Lonely my ass.

If I look pathetic lying on the floor, drenched in sweat, that's one thing.

But anyone who hears me might think I have a deep backstory.

Anyway.

As I said, having nothing particularly outstanding...

It can also mean there are no weaknesses, depending on how you approach it.

Of course, it won't be an easy path.

Limited stat points.

Distributing those points is definitely inefficient.

For example, it's simple.

Increasing strength for a mage class...

'You can't even use that strength.'

Mage classes don't have skills that are affected by strength.

In that sense, the Demon Hunter class is absurd, even when reconsidered.

'No decent combat skills at all!'

Only skills that work against demons, like their natural enemies and exorcism rituals.

There's probably no other class as conceptually consistent as this.

Because of that, there's no set method for stat investment.

"But it doesn't matter."

I have magic, even if I don't have skills.

That's why I've been investing all my points in magic power.

And I've witnessed new possibilities.

'...The Lienhart Knights.'

More specifically, the three knights.

Harkon.

Jessica.

Enoch.

The aura that flickered around their swords.

'Sword Qi (劍氣).'

The name isn't certain yet.

I didn't ask them directly.

But just like how I learned about magic through exploration, interference, and manifestation...

I didn't learn it from someone else.

It was just this brain.

The talented Granfel.

Recognizing it at first sight.

'The name doesn't matter.'

Yes, what matters is...

Whether I can handle this 'Sword Qi.'

I've seen its power firsthand.

'Jessica and Enoch. It was enough to nullify the level gap with the skeletons.'

Some might call it greed.

But that's only because they don't know the situation.

I need to struggle to stay afloat.

I have to do my best to flail around!

Including the increased strength and agility from the training quest.

The rewards from the class quest.

I have to use each one to 100%.

Only then can I support this heavy pride.

So, my schedule for the time being is set.

─Prove your abilities. (In Progress)

●Convince the majority of senior mages. (3/20)

While completing the tower's quests.

'I need to visit the Uzra Kingdom.'

Confirm the information about Sword Qi from Harkon.

If I can learn Sword Qi, I'll also need to practice it.

...Damn, I'm already tired.

But hard work pays off in the end.

I checked the quest window again.

[Class Quest: Awakening]

The curtain rises, and the beacon rises.

O last Demon Hunter.

Illuminate the world shrouded in evil.

─Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)

─Investigate the evil in the Uzra Islands. (Success)

─Prevent the resurrection of the Seven Deadly Sins' Greed. (Success)

...Yeah!

Even if only for the class quest rewards.

I have to endure.

There might be incredible rewards waiting for me, just like the stats.

But damn it.

This pure body and mind.

I have no desire for quest rewards.

"To wield a sword again, I need to build up my stamina."

The only line visible in the quest content.

─Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)

Thud thud—

I started doing push-ups again.

Shiver shiver—

Looking at my trembling arms, I thought.

'Can't even sleep properly. My life, oh my life.'

I feel so pitiful.

*

There's a profession that has been receiving attention in the media recently.

It's none other than the player paparazzi.

Short for player paparazzi, or "playaparazzi."

"Trust me, okay? Who do you think I am?"

Yuan Jun is a quite successful player paparazzi.

His photos can fetch millions of dollars.

Videos can go up to tens of millions.

The reason his work is well-received is simple.

"I'll get you humiliating photos that you can't see anywhere else."

Humiliating photos of players captured at the right moment.

No player can escape Yuan Jun's angle.

Not even high-ranking players.

Dmitry, the 8th-ranked player, suffered from humiliating articles thanks to Yuan Jun.

[Exclusive] Dmitry, a beginner in love?

The photo attached to the article was Yuan Jun's work.

A hotel lounge rented out entirely.

A photo of Dmitry on his knees, proposing and being rejected.

Dmitry's expression, as well as the flustered reaction of the other party, were vividly captured.

-LOL, he got rejected.

-This is funnier than the content itself.

-He proposed after dating for only a week.

-He's a pure guy, despite his looks.

Thanks to this, Dmitry went ballistic.

He vowed to kill whoever it was if he caught them!

Of course, Yuan Jun didn't get caught, so he's here today.

Lurking in the tower.

Yuan Jun thought about today's subject.

"Just need to catch him...!"

There's no bigger catch than this.

Today, Yuan Jun is after none other than Lee Ho Yeol.

Yes, a bigger catch than Dmitry.

Who is Lee Ho Yeol?

The player with the highest stock recently!

Most importantly, his actions are unbelievable.

He started showing his presence in the Ascurra Count Raid.

In the Uzra Islands, he didn't just kill two named monsters but also a 650-level monster.

The evil, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed, was also defeated.

'To be precise, it's the achievement of the Lienhart Knights.'

But Lee Ho Yeol was the one leading the Lienhart Knights. Moreover, Lee Ho Yeol has star power.

His bold talk.

Costumes that are either a concept or genuine.

Most importantly, his unbelievable skill usage.

There's a reason for Lee Ho Yeol's popularity.

But Yuan Jun knows.

'The higher you fly, the harder you fall.'

Perfect.

That near-perfect image will come back to haunt him.

There's no need for a big humiliating photo.

Just a light stumble will do.

It's enough to tarnish that noble image.

"Fantasies break slowly, you know."

For that reason, the tower is the perfect place.

Look at those spine-chilling stairs.

Appearing and disappearing.

Yuan Jun shivered.

"Just one shot."

Lee Ho Yeol.

According to rumors, he received a quest from the tower's chief mage.

I don't know when, but if I wait, I can capture his appearance.

While Yuan Jun was hiding with his large camera, the players around the portal started murmuring.

"...It's Lee Ho Yeol!"

"Hey, don't make a fuss. Do you want to look bad?"

"Maintain your composure. Don't whisper."

Understandable reactions.

Most players don't want to be on Lee Ho Yeol's bad side.

Why? Imagine meeting such a Lee Ho Yeol in a rift while looking bad.

'Well, it's not my problem.'

Of course, that's only for players aiming for rifts and monster hunting.

So, Yuan Jun subtly took out his camera and zoomed in.

'Shall I take a shot?'

Yuan Jun, savoring the moment.

But his face stiffened in no time.

Click—

...How can a person be like that?

Yuan Jun was so astonished that his mouth dropped open.

No matter how much he zoomed in, there wasn't the slightest wobble.

'This isn't humiliation; it's a photo shoot!'

Regular shot.

Continuous shot.

One should have been caught.

What's going on?

While advancing on the dizzying stairs.

His expression and posture showed no sign of humiliation or even a waver.

He looked like a swan gliding calmly on a lake.

Shake shake—

Yuan Jun shook his head.

'No!'

Lee Ho Yeol's photo shoot?

These photos are already overflowing!

Just go to NetTube, and you'll find videos uploaded by self-proclaimed Lee Ho Yeol fans.

What I need is only a moment of humiliation.

'If I get a little closer... I might catch something.'

Even a close-up of his pores.

Driven by his paparazzi instinct, Yuan Jun took a few steps forward.

"Hey, stop right there."

A voice full of killing intent echoed.

"Hey, you with the camera. Look at me for a moment."

Turning his head, he saw a massive wall of muscle.

Dmitry.

He smiled.

"We're old acquaintances, right? I saw you in the hotel lobby."

A phrase came to mind.

Whoever it is, I'll kill them if I catch them.

Snap—

Seeing Dmitry cracking his knuckles, Yuan Jun realized.

'Trying to catch a swan with a fishing rod...!'

I was really a fool to think I could.

Smack—

*

Swoosh—

A message appeared on the parchment.

-The magical artifact, [The Sage's Pastime], has been removed.

Senior Mage of the Healing School, Bellia Yushia, snorted.

The senior mages finally decided to touch the magical artifact.

'Are they not afraid of the backlash?'

The magical artifact requested by some senior mages.

[The Sage's Pastime].

It was a kind of puzzle.

When combined with magic.

It becomes a difficult puzzle.

When the magic of senior mages is imbued.

It becomes a challenge far beyond the Crystal Hall's lock.

'Marcello won't have a leg to stand on, even if he objects. Of course, knowing Marcello's personality, he's probably forcing this absurdity.'

By senior mage standards.

It would take at least ten days to solve [The Sage's Pastime], even if they worked on it all day.

I can see through their foolish thoughts.

While the adventurer, Lee Ho Yeol, is stuck on the puzzle.

They plan to nitpick and cause trouble.

'As expected, it's predictable.'

If he can't solve it, they'll make a fuss.

If he solves it, they'll complain it took too long.

They'll throw a tantrum no matter what.

Of course, it's none of Bellia's concern.

"Well, it might be best to just watch quietly."

Bellia.

She has no desire to prove the adventurer, Lee Ho Yeol's, qualifications.

The reason is simple.

Thanks to reconfirming the truth from the Healing School's proficient mage, Cle.

-...Yes, that's right. It was him!

Hearing Lee Ho Yeol's description.

Cle seemed pleased.

-That's right. He was the adventurer recommended by Chief Mage Marcello as a co-researcher! I'm relieved...! I thought I had a huge misunderstanding...!

The good kid, Cle.

She seemed to have a lot of worries.

But does she know?

"That's a different story from seeing through the tower lord's illusion magic."

Of course.

The illusion magic manifested by the tower lord is something even Bellia herself.

No, even the great Marcello, couldn't see through.

'So I still don't believe it.'

That's why the desire to keep the adventurer, Lee Ho Yeol, close and observe him grew.

It's the instinct of a tower mage.

'The pure desire to explore the unknown.'

After all, exploration requires dedication.

Bellia picked up her lush feather pen.

Then she calmly wrote on the parchment.

It was her acceptance of Marcello's decision.

Acknowledging Lee Ho Yeol's qualifications as a co-researcher.

'...Too late.'

The response came a little later.

What's going on?

Bellia, who was briefly puzzled.

Swoosh—

Words began to appear on the parchment.

The content was something Bellia didn't expect at all.

-Only 2 votes remain to reach the majority.

...Wait a minute.

Only 2 votes left?

Bellia, startled, swept her long green hair back.

She counted on her white fingers.

"Three by yesterday. And me..."

The other senior mages wouldn't have voted in favor.

There was no reason for them to.

Even Bellia wouldn't have hastily voted in favor without Cle's story.

So, that's 4 votes in total.

Then where did the other 4 votes come from?

Bellia muttered in disbelief.

"Could it be...?"

Suddenly, [The Sage's Pastime] came to mind.

The magical artifact that 'some' senior mages removed.

Bellia confirmed the names of those 'some' on the parchment.

"...Curtain, Dorothy, Maya, Vex!"

There were exactly four of them.

The meaning was simple.

Bellia continued with a trembling voice.

"They solved The Sage's Pastime in this short time...!!"

.

.

.

[The Sage's Pastime] scattered on the desk.

It wasn't difficult.

Just follow what you see.

Explore the magic and solve it with counter-magic.

─Prove your abilities. (In Progress)

●Convince the majority of senior mages. (8/20)

Yeah, if it's this level, I can finish it quickly.

Might as well finish everything quickly.

It's better to hold the sword with a lighter heart.

I scribbled my thoughts on the parchment.

'Maybe I'm tired. I was a bit prickly.'

Why, I included a slight apology for yesterday's incident.

-If it was a proof process, not a childish prank, I would gladly welcome it.