NOVEL NEXT chapter 32
32 – Hidden World – Interlude (2)
A cheerful system alert echoed in my ears.
The previously minimized quest window opened wide, filling my retina.
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Main Quest Chapter. 2
【Escape】
Escape from the hidden world. (Completed)
– Reward: 20,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), 2 rank-up tickets (C-rank and below), choice of B-rank talent and skill, 3 random cheat usage rights.
– Failure: Death.
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The quest information appeared first.
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Main Quest Chapter. 2: Quest Clear
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Congratulations!
You’ve cleared the quest!
…so declared the dazzlingly sparkling clear message.
And below that.
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“As a reward, ‘20,000 points’ will be granted.”
“As a reward, ‘2 rank-up tickets (C-rank and below)’ will be granted.”
“As a reward, you will receive the ‘B-grade Talent and Skill Selection Voucher.’
“As a reward, you will receive ‘3 Random Cheat Usage Tickets.'”
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On the flip side, the price of the hardships endured in the other world is laid out.
However, this is merely a token to avoid the market’s gaze, and the real satisfaction lies elsewhere, filling a different kind of hunger.
Buzzing!
[☆★Achievement Bonus!☆★]
It’s the ‘additional reward.’
“…It’s here.”
A buzzing sound echoes in the ear.
The colorful iridescent message captivates the eyes.
But only for a moment.
As the buzzing sound fades away and the iridescent message becomes fainter.
Expectations rise, and tension builds simultaneously.
“Indeed….”
The person who destroyed the main core is about to be revealed.
Is it me? Or is it Kang Cheol-soo?
The result is soon disclosed.
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“Quickly assemble a team of 15 people, including key figures in casting.”
“As an additional reward, ‘40,000 points’ will be granted.”
“Lead the supporting characters (Park Garam, Im Dahee) to destroy the sub-core.”
“As an additional reward, you will receive ‘1 Random Cheat Usage Ticket.'”
“Command a perfect operation with the key figures, including 15 personnel.”
“As an additional reward, you will receive the ‘A-grade Talent Selection Voucher.'”
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…Nothing.
There is no achievement for destroying the main core.
Once again, I checked the list of rewards.
No change, still.
So this time, I checked if there was a scroll in the list window.
There is no scroll.
I closed the quest window and opened it again.
The content remains the same.
I checked three times, but there is no change at all.
“…Hmm.”
I sighed and slumped against the headboard of the bed.
I had expected it, but confirming the absence of it drained my energy.
However, that regretful feeling was short-lived.
I quickly dispelled the emotion and regained my vigor.
“Well, I expected this.”
There’s no need to be overly disappointed.
And although it’s a result from the system, thinking about it, the one who destroyed the main core is Gang Cheolsu.
The explosive material detonated after Cheolsu fell, not my grenade.
So, the main core that came into contact with Cheolsu’s body was likely destroyed by his ‘Crush’ skill.
Anyway, even without the achievement of destroying the main core, the quality of the rewards was excellent.
Especially, the promotion ticket (below C-grade) was very pleasing.
Why?
Because with that promotion ticket, I can upgrade the ‘Transfer (F)’ skill, practically my identity.
“I wonder how much the distance will increase.”
The current transmission distance of the transfer skill is 1m.
I wonder how much it will increase if it goes up two grades.
I immediately used the promotion ticket.
[Promotion Ticket (Below C-grade) has been used.]
[Transfer (F → E)]
[Promotion Ticket (Below C-grade) has been used.]
[Transfer (E → D)]
Finally, the transfer skill escaped from F-grade.
I wonder how much the distance has changed.
I immediately checked the skill information.
『Transmission (D)』
Transmits possessions to the desired location.
– Transports owned items to a location within a 15m radius.
– Mana consumption increases with distance.
– Transmission into the internal space of a living organism is impossible.
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“Oh, wow!”
The range has increased to 15m!
I jumped up from my seat, shouting with excitement.
It was merely 1m for Grade F.
To think it upgraded by a whopping 15m!
Now, there’s no need to dangerously set up bombs anymore.
No, not just bombs; with a 15m radius, I can realize some of the things I had been contemplating.
“If Grade D is this impressive, I wonder how much Grade C increases.”
Like a mid-tier superpower defeating 10 low-tier ones.
Talents and skills also experience a rapid rise in effectiveness and power from Grade C onwards.
It’s a real game-changer.
“Maybe 50m?”
Since Grade D is 15m now, it seems plausible.
“Ah… I really want to upgrade to Grade C as soon as possible.”
This time, they gave me the upgrade rights for Grade C and below.
Hopefully, next time, they include the upgrade rights for Grade B and below as a reward.
Of course, that’s my wish.
Understood, system?
“By the way, there’s something new in the skill information, isn’t there?”
Mana consumption increases with distance…
“At 1m, it was truly negligible, but how much mana will be consumed at a maximum of 15m?”
To confirm, I decided to use the skill.
And after trying it out…
“Ah, insane.”
30% of the available mana had evaporated.
All with just a single use.
“…It’s great that the range increased, but the mana consumption is too severe.”
I intended to conserve my options this time.
But it seems I’ll have to acquire mana-related abilities due to the excessive mana drain.
“Since I obtained one B-grade and one A-grade option this time…”
I’ll save the A-grade option for later and use the B-grade one to acquire abilities.
And now that I’ve accumulated 100,000 points, I’ll also purchase the Penetration skill.
The moment the thought crossed my mind, I opened the points shop and typed ‘mana increase,’ ‘mana recovery,’ and ‘B-grade’ into the search bar.
Setting those keywords and hitting search, four abilities appeared.
“…What’s this? I can only use one of them?”
Maybe it’s because only keywords were entered.
Without the need for comparison, among the four abilities, only one was usable for me.
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“Management Method of a Hero’s Skills (B)”
A management method created by a hero to reduce mana wastage of skills.
– Reduces mana consumption of skills below B-grade by 10%.
– When possessing over 60% mana, increases mana recovery by 30%.
– When possessing less than 40% mana, increases mana recovery by 50%.
– Mana +10.
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“Is it alright?”
Though it lacked derivative skills, it was precisely the ability that suited me now.
Immediately, I used the B-grade ability and skill option to purchase the ability.
Then, with 80,000 points, I acquired ‘Penetration (B).’
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‘Penetration (B)’
Provides a brief insight into the opponent’s abilities and skills.
– Confirms opponent’s abilities and skills.
– Mental +10
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I must have purchased all the skills.
I decided to check my status window after a long time.
I wonder how much has truly changed from the beginning.
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[Name: Lee Yujin]
■ Physical Abilities: 23
– Stamina: 3 (-2)
– Strength: 3 (-2)
– Agility: 17 (+12)
■ Mental Abilities: 45
– Mana: 15 (+10)
– Mind: 30 (+25)
– Spirit: 0
■ Talents
– Sharpshooter’s Eye of the Aged (B-), Resilient Mind (A), Swift Agility (B), Heroic Skill Management (B)
■ Skills
– Teleportation (D), Penetration (B)
■ Derived Skills
– Fleeting Moment (Sharpshooter’s Eye of the Aged (B-))
– Fortitude (Resilient Mind (A))
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“Wow, is that the same status window I saw at first?”
It was at its lowest to the point I’d call it a “mangtae window.”
Sure, my stamina and strength had dropped even more, but the rest had changed significantly, almost to the point of skyrocketing.
And the empty talent slots had four talents now, while the skill slots, including derived skills, had three more.
With this much, it feels more like a status window than a “mangtae” one.
“Quite satisfying, indeed.”
I smiled contentedly and closed the status window.
“Now, the last thing to check is the cheat tool…”
The total number of licenses I currently have is 8.
There are 7 random licenses and 1 selection license.
And since 6 random licenses have been satisfied, one draw is now possible.
Using it now seems a bit impractical.
The most efficient way to obtain cheats is to use the selection license first, followed by the random license.
However, since the minimum of 3 selection licenses has not yet been accumulated, if I draw randomly now, the number of uses will increase from 6 to 12 for the lowest-use cheats: ‘Infinite Energy,’ ‘Infinite Items,’ and ‘Speed Limit Release.’
Of course, the others will also double.
Therefore, it’s almost essential to prioritize the selection license.
“For now, super accuracy alone is sufficient.”
Having infinite items would be nice.
But in the early stages of the story, there’s no need to acquire it.
Useful items will all appear from the middle onwards.
And even if I draw now, there’s no guarantee that infinite items will appear.
If ‘Infinite Energy’ or ‘Speed Limit Release’ comes up, I’ll have to twiddle my thumbs for quite a while.
So, as planned last time, it seems I can endure until I collect 3 selection licenses.
And even if I don’t have infinite items, I do have infinite supplies.
“I’ll sleep today and go recharge the supplies tomorrow.”
Recharge the supplies.
Go to the corrupted devotee to extort money and extract named information.
Ah, I could take a break tomorrow.
But I’ll probably get busy again.
&
The next morning, at the training ground.
I was in a very good mood, thinking of filling my inventory abundantly today.
But that mood lasted only for a moment.
Thud.
I slumped in front of the weapons and supplies storage.
It’s gone.
There should be plenty of supplies, but there’s none at all.
“…Why? Why is it not here?”
Supplies are clearly restocked once a day, aren’t they?
No, the academy has plenty of funds.
Why aren’t they filling this one?
Ignoring it because it’s weaponry?
A whirlwind of emotions swept over me.
But that too, only briefly.
Instead of supplies in the storage, I found a piece of paper.
I walked shakily towards it and picked up the paper.
And upon reading what was written on it:
“Student Lee Yujin, please visit the supply office promptly. Until then, we will not replenish firearm supplies.”
– Supply Staff –
“….”
It was a message from the supply staff to me.
However…, judging by the way the words are hastily scrawled, they seem quite angry.
“Ah.”
Should I just turn the lottery wheel?