Chapter 2

Chapter 1

An Unwanted Career Change

After a three-month journey, I finally entered the 'Cave at the Northern End' and witnessed an overwhelming scene of weapons and armor piled up like a mountain.

"Wow, this is amazing!"

The names of the dazzling weapons started from green, and yellow and purple names were not uncommon. Just picking up a few of these would make me a wealthy man!

I rushed over to sweep up the weapons, but it was impossible.

[You cannot obtain this item.]

"Really, this is so frustrating."

Items that clearly existed before my eyes, yet I couldn't acquire them!

No matter how many times I tried to put them in my bag, they would return to their original place, like a mirage.

In such a situation, people say it's like a picture cake or someone else's wife.

No, the concept of someone else's wife is different.

As I stood there, just sucking my thumb and staring, a strong sense of regret lingered.

'Well... if players could take these, the economic balance of Satisfy might collapse. It's disappointing, but I can understand.'

Initially, I didn't come here for these weapons.

Since I couldn't obtain them anyway, I calmed myself and shifted my attention, climbing the mountain of weapons. At the top, on a gleaming golden table, I found an old, worn book.

"Finally..."

All the hardships I endured to get here flashed before my eyes. I couldn't help but laugh, and my eyes welled up with tears.

If I hadn't been so persistent, I would have given up long ago, considering the extreme difficulty of the quest. I felt proud of myself for being on the verge of completing such a challenging quest.

"Ha ha... Hahahaha!! Finally found it!! Oh yeah!!"

An impossible-to-abandon, damn S-rank quest!

How many times had I experienced level drops and item destruction due to this wretched solo quest, which I had been forced to undertake by chance?

A human blacksmith who surpassed the skills of dwarves, the legendary techniques of Pagma!

The thought of the smirking face of that damn Baron Ashur, who had made me traverse the five forbidden zones of the Eternia Kingdom to find this, filled my mind.

"Damn you, Ashur! You said you'd give me the Sword of the Sun if I brought this back? Once I get that, I'll never deal with a scumbag like you again! How dare you make me go through this!"

Feeling a wave of satisfaction, I picked up the book.

[Obtained Legendary Blacksmith's Grimoire!]

[It is in an unidentified state. Use the Eye of Flarian to appraise and view detailed information.]

[Do you want to use the Eye of Flarian?]

"Eye of Flarian? Do I really need the most expensive appraisal item just to check a quest item?"

The Eye of Flarian was the most expensive appraisal item in existence.

I had bought one just in case I got a rare item six months ago, but since I never did, it had been sitting in my inventory.

"Using it just to appraise a quest item seems like a waste..."

I hesitated and examined the golden table.

Was there any way to take this chunk of gold with me? I tried kicking it, pulling it with both hands, and even biting it, but it was futile.

Like the other weapons, it was an item that players couldn't own.

"Ah, really, there's nothing to take except the quest item. I spent so much on potions for three months."

I stared at the book in my hand.

'Since I have to hand this over to Ashur anyway, do I really need to spend so much money to appraise it?'

After some thought, I finally took out the Eye of Flarian.

It was only natural to be curious about the nature of the source that had caused me so much trouble for three months.

"Appraise."

<Pagma's Grimoire>

Rank: Legendary

A book that compiles the legendary techniques of Pagma, a blacksmith who transcended human limits. Opening this book can turn anyone, regardless of their background, into a legendary blacksmith.

Effect: Change class to Pagma's Descendant.

Conditions: None.

*Using this will change your level and stats.

[Discovered a Legendary Item!]

[Your reputation across the continent increases by 500.]

My body trembled.

"Wow... Incredible..."

Indeed, a Legendary item!

To have my reputation increase by 500 across the entire continent just for discovering it!

Considering how difficult it is to gain 100 reputation even within a single city, this was a tremendous gain.

'Reputation is one thing, but...'

I re-read the item description, doubting if I had seen it correctly. But the content remained the same.

"Unbelievable!!"

I hadn't hallucinated.

The excitement was so intense that my head buzzed and my heart pounded in my ears.

I thought it was just a skill book, but it turned out to be a class change book?

And a Legendary class change book at that! It meant I could obtain the only strongest class!

"Moreover, there are no usage conditions..."

Tears streamed down my face.

I recalled the past year, during which I had dropped out of school and worked odd jobs to pay off loans and Satisfy account fees.

Friends left one by one, classmates mocked me, and I was looked down upon by everyone around me. I felt pathetic, and my body was worn out from manual labor.

My initial plan was to sell the items I obtained in the game for cash to cover my loans, account fees, and tuition. But Satisfy wasn't that easy.

Earning money was so difficult that I couldn't even afford to sell items, let alone upgrade my equipment.

But now, things were different.

A shiver ran through my body, and I trembled.

"It's over... This nightmare of a life is finally over!"

A Legendary class change book with no conditions!

The moment I registered it for auction on the item trading site, it would undoubtedly fetch tens of millions of won.

No, with over 2 billion users, how could an item that grants the only strongest class be worth just tens of millions? It was worth at least hundreds of millions, if not an astronomical amount that I couldn't even imagine!

"Ha ha ha ha ha!! Mother! Father! Your good-for-nothing son has finally made it! You don't have to hit me to quit the game and get a job! You don't have to pretend I don't exist because I embarrass the neighborhood! Sehee! Your big brother has finally made it! You don't have to avoid me on the street out of embarrassment! You don't have to make excuses when your friends come over! And my friends, my classmates, don't ignore me as a pathetic game addict, a failure in life! I've succeeded in the game! I'm ahead of you, mere rookies, by leaps and bounds! Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

Goodbye to the 10 million won loan I took to buy a capsule and the hundreds of thousands of won in interest I couldn't pay on time!

'Is Ae-young still as beautiful?'

I imagined driving a luxury car to my high school reunion, which I hadn't attended for two years.

Classmates who couldn't ignore my success, and the blush on my first love Ae-young's face.

"Great, let's sell it quickly!!"

Quest? I don't care about that anymore.

The Sword of the Sun was certainly a high-tier epic weapon, but it couldn't compare to this class change book.

My affinity with Baron Ashur would drop, but the backlash would only be a refusal to give me more quests. With hundreds of millions of won at stake, there was no reason to be afraid.

"Log out!"

I declared confidently.

An alert window appeared before my eyes.

[You cannot log out here.]

[Baron Ashur appears.]

"…?"

As I stood there, confused, dozens of knights rushed into the cave, followed by the familiar Baron Ashur.

Seeing my panic, he spoke with a twisted expression.

"Foolish traveler, you have harbored petty greed."

[The quest <Baron Ashur's Secret Request> (S) has changed to <Baron Ashur's Wrath> (SS).]

<Baron Ashur's Wrath>

Difficulty: SS

Baron Ashur, who chose you for your adequate abilities and apparent gullibility, tasked you with finding the 'Pagma's Grimoire,' whose existence was uncertain.

He had you under surveillance and, upon learning that you had discovered the 'Cave at the Northern End,' came here himself.

Blinded by greed, you tried to take the Pagma's Grimoire for yourself, and he has no intention of forgiving you. He plans to kill you and take the grimoire.

*Your affinity with Baron Ashur has dropped by -100.

*Due to your betrayal, all the reputation you've built in Partian has been lost, and your infamy has increased. Your affinity with all residents of Partian has dropped by -40. They will mock you as a thief when they see you.

Quest Completion Condition: Defeat Baron Ashur and his guard knights.

Completion Reward: Obtain the title 'Noble Slayer.'

*Noble Slayer: Intelligence -50

Noble Slayers are despised and oppressed by all nobles in every country. Job opportunities are limited. Some royals and commoners may have increased affinity.

Quest Failure: Level -2.

You cannot enter Partian.

If discovered by Partian soldiers, you will be killed.

I had created my character and started in the city of Partian.

From level 1, I had completed numerous quests in Partian, building a high reputation and nearly maxed-out affinity with the residents.

All merchants in Partian gave me a 20% discount, and they bought my items at 15% above market price.

Some residents would slip me hidden quests when I hinted at them.

But all those advantages were lost due to the linked quest that occurred at this moment.

"…Ah, damn it."

I couldn't help but curse.

"Baron Ashur… No, you damn brat!! You forced me to take a quest to find an item whose existence was uncertain!! If the Pagma's Grimoire didn't exist, I would have wasted months for nothing!! You deceived me and spread my infamy in Partian? You dirty bastard!!"

The knights, enraged by my insults to their master, drew their swords.

Baron Ashur, restraining the knights, spoke coldly to me.

"You decided to betray me the moment you realized you had been deceived. Yet you still have the nerve to speak so boldly, you shameless wretch."

"I just wanted a fair reward for the hardships of this difficult journey! I didn't firmly decide to betray you!"

Feeling a bit guilty, I tried to soften my words, but he sneered.

"Didn't I already promise to reward you? You broke your word for the short-term gain in front of you, so you have no right to call me out."

He was not someone I could reason with.

As I stood speechless, he continued with increased confidence.

"You are a truly inadequate person. The more I associate with you, the more evident it becomes. Yet, you occasionally show unexpected abilities. Finding this hidden cave in the north, which has disappeared from history, was something I didn't expect. I commend your perseverance, so I will grant you a painless death."

'You damn brat!'

I wanted to stab his mouth with my sword right away, but it was impossible.

His level was 300, a grand mage who had completed the third class change. The knights guarding him were all level 180.

At just level 73, I had no chance of winning a one-on-one fight with even the youngest knight.

But look at the quest completion condition.

Defeat them all.

Moreover!

Even if I somehow completed the quest, the reward was practically worthless.

'Intelligence -50? Damn, my current Intelligence is 30. If it drops by 50, I'll become a moron! And all the nobles in every country will hate me? What will happen to my future prospects? What kind of ridiculous quest is this? Ahh!!'

There was only one option.

To be captured and killed.

I would lose two levels, but what was the point of struggling to complete a quest that was impossible and offered no benefit even if I succeeded?

"…"

I resigned myself to everything.

The knights' intimidating presence as they approached was overwhelming.

'So, I'm losing eight levels because of this quest… Ashur, I'll get my revenge on you when I become a high-level character. I swear it.'

Glaring at Ashur and silently vowing revenge, I closed my eyes tightly as I saw the threatening swords in the knights' hands. Then I suddenly remembered the Pagma's Grimoire in my hand.

'What will happen to this?'

If I die, will it remain in my inventory when I respawn?

For regular quest items, it would, but I couldn't be sure in this situation.

What was Ashur's goal?

The Pagma's Grimoire.

He wanted to take it from me, which was why he was trying to kill me.

For the story to progress smoothly, if he killed me, the Pagma's Grimoire would likely disappear from my inventory and end up in his hands.

"Damn it!"

I might lose the Pagma's Grimoire, which I couldn't even sell!

A new option came to mind.

Using the Pagma's Grimoire myself.

But I hesitated. I had always despised crafting-related professions.

In a game, shouldn't the thrill be in the intense battles and combat?

If I became a blacksmith, I would have to sweat in front of a hot forge, hammering away. I might even have to wander through mines to gather materials and use a pickaxe.

That would be…

'Hard labor.'

I shuddered at the thought.

Even in real life, I had a job carrying bricks and shoveling at a construction site. The idea of doing hard labor in a game was even more terrifying.

"Ugh…"

I wanted to remain a warrior, swinging my sword and cutting down enemies to grow stronger, eventually becoming a general commanding an army, looking cool, and earning a good salary.

But now, it was time to give up that dream.

I wouldn't let an NPC like Ashur take an item worth hundreds of millions of won! Especially not that unlucky bastard!

"Better to use it than lose it!"

With tears in my eyes, I finally opened the Pagma's Grimoire.

Seeing this, Ashur panicked and stretched out his hand, casting a spell, while the knights, losing their composure, leaped over the pile of weapons to approach me.

"But it's too late, you bastards."

As the effects of the Pagma's Grimoire took hold, I saw a list of notifications appear and smirked at them, but then fell silent.

[Changing class to Pagma's Descendant.]

[Level decreases.]

[Level becomes 1.]

[All stats and skills are reset.]

"…?"

I couldn't believe my eyes.

A class change usually means retaining or enhancing your existing level, stats, and skills to become stronger in a higher class.

But my level, stats, and skills were completely reset, which was incomprehensible.

"What is this?"

Confused by the inexplicable situation, a new notification appeared.

[Crafting skill unlocked.]

[Blacksmith's Technique skill created.]

[Mastered Blacksmith's Technique skill.]

[Blacksmith's Appraisal skill created.]

[Mastered Blacksmith's Appraisal skill.]

[Blacksmith's Patience skill created.]

[Mastered Blacksmith's Patience skill.]

[Blacksmith's Disassembly skill created.]

[Mastered Blacksmith's Disassembly skill.]

[Blacksmith's Repair skill created.]

[Mastered Blacksmith's Repair skill.]

[Mastered all Blacksmith's skills, unlocking the ultimate skill of a Legendary Blacksmith.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Technique skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Identification skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Appraisal skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Patience skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Repair skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Disassembly skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Breath skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Blessing skill created.]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Creation skill created.]

[Obtained the title 'The One Who Became Legendary.']

[Composure skill unlocked.]

[Indomitable skill unlocked.]

[Awe skill unlocked.]

[Insight skill unlocked.]

I was familiar with the Crafting skill, a basic stat for users who had changed to crafting-related classes.

But the stats Composure, Indomitable, Awe, and Insight were completely new to me.

Were they good?

"Good? Hell no!"

I felt despair.

All 15 passive skills and 22 active skills I had learned as a warrior were gone, replaced by crafting skills.

I had completely lost my abilities as a warrior and had been transformed into a perfect laborer by the class change.

Moreover, my level was now 1.

To have all the levels I had painstakingly accumulated over a year reset and start from the beginning? To have to go through the tedious level-ups again?

"What kind of ridiculous quest is this? Damn it…"

I used every curse word I could think of in Korean as the knight's swift sword approached my neck.

[Critical hit!]

[You have died.]

My level 1 health dropped to 0 with a single strike from the level 180 knight.

[Quest failed!]

[You cannot enter Partian