I Possess Too Many Characteristics

Chapter 71

“Is this for real?”

It was a situation that was beyond surprising no matter how many times he looked at it.

The dagger that he had just thrown to the other side had returned to his hand not long after.

No matter how many times he experimented, the result was the same.

The dagger returned to Jeonghyeon’s hand after about 2 seconds, and it seemed to be based on the hand he threw it with.

What is one of the biggest weaknesses of throwing weapons like daggers?

It’s that once you’ve used up the set amount, you can’t attack anymore.

Of course, it was better than arrows, which were almost impossible to reuse, but it was also nearly impossible to retrieve daggers during urgent combat situations, so the effect of the artifact automatically returning was truly amazing.

Furthermore, since the basic performance was also superior to the ones he had used so far, it was an equipment that Jeonghyeon wouldn’t regret even if he had to pay a fortune for it.

……Of course, he didn’t know that he would actually have to pay a fortune for it.

“Jeonghyeon-ssi, I’m sorry to interrupt while you’re enjoying yourself, but……”

“Yes?”

Jeonghyeon’s expression hardened as he was playing around by throwing the dagger.

He already knew from countless experiences.

People who make that kind of expression and speak in that kind of tone, ten out of ten times━

“It’s a rule that the person who obtains an artifact has to give a certain percentage of the amount to the other party members.”

They were demanding money.

“Ah…… Ah, right. I know. Hahaha.”

As Jina said, this was practically an unwritten rule among Hunters.

Of course, the proposal he received from Suyeong also included the same content.

It was just that Jeonghyeon, who hadn’t expected to actually obtain an artifact, had pretended not to see it.

“Um…… How much would this be worth?”

“We’ll have to get it appraised by the guild to know for sure, but……”

Jina cautiously gave him an estimated amount.

“Hmm, I guess it would be around that much.”

“It’s a bit cheaper since it’s not an enchantment or anything.”

‘What? You’re saying it’s cheap?’

At first, he was suspicious that these people were colluding and trying to rip him off with the amount they mentioned.

But why would people like that bother giving him an artifact in the first place?

Hayul could have just taken the dagger, saying she would use it too.

Of course, it wouldn’t be good for his pride, but he didn’t even have time to think about pride in front of an artifact.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a condition attached that the commission fee, which originally should have gone to the guild, would be waived this time.

Half of it would be goodwill, and the other half would be the unexpected result of Jeonghyeon actually taking the artifact.

But what was certain was that Jeonghyeon didn’t have the means to pay that amount in cash right now.

‘Should I ask if I can pay in installments……?’

Jeonghyeon’s eyes trembled.

He had earned quite a bit of money through hunting recently, but it was nowhere near the amount Jina mentioned.

Was he really going to have to give up the artifact after coming this far?

He even threw it a few times already?

Jeonghyeon avoided Jina’s gaze and rolled his eyes.

And then something huge caught his eye, or rather, something he couldn’t help but notice.

‘Huh?,

Could it be possible with that?’

‘It’s a bit embarrassing……’

But wouldn’t it be better than asking to pay in installments?

Besides, if it worked, it could be a win-win situation for everyone.

Jeonghyeon, who had made up his mind, carefully started speaking.

“Is it possible to…… pay in kind?”

“……What?”

No one could immediately answer Jeonghyeon’s question.

Not even Hayul,

“……What?”

So what could they do?

However, Jeonghyeon had already taken out his work knife as if he had received permission.

‘If it doesn’t work out, I can just sell it and pay them! Even if I have to sell it myself!’

Even for Jeonghyeon, skinning a Drake’s hide with a work knife the length of a finger was an unprecedented challenge.

◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈

“Ouch! Ouch!”

Jeonghyeon was rolling around in his room, clutching his stomach.

Of course, he wasn’t suffering from a sudden stomachache.

“This damn lizard bastard! I knew it from the moment you were revived as an undead!”

The title that had been elevated to Drake-nim with the proficiency level rising by three levels at once had now become a damn lizard bastard.

Should he call it the vicissitudes of fortune?

The party members, who were initially terrified at the sight of Jeonghyeon skinning the Demi Drake, were slightly surprised after hearing his plan, but they said it was fine.

Jeonghyeon’s plan was none other than to entrust the Demi Drake’s hide to Doil and have him make armor for five people, using that to replace his share of the artifact.

Since there was more than enough hide even if he only selected the intact parts, if it wasn’t enough, he could just sell the hide and pay with that.

Although being undead was a slight flaw, the Demi Drake’s hide was still good enough to be used in 6-level Gates, so no one really objected.

Up to that point, it was fine.

However, the problem arose after Jeonghyeon returned home, blurred the Trait Shop, and then……

『Coins needed for next level: 13』

『Coins currently held: 12』

“W-What is this?”

At first, he thought he was seeing things.

But no matter how many times he checked, the result was the same.

The number of coins needed to reach the next level was 13.

And the number of coins Jeonghyeon currently had was only 12.

He was just one coin short of reaching Trait Shop Level 4.

“Argh!”

“Hey, even after a long time, you’re still making a ruckus! Let’s live quietly!”

It was the voice of the next-door ajusshi that he hadn’t heard in a while, but he didn’t have time to be happy about it.

How could he describe this shocking situation?

Therefore, Jeonghyeon’s anger in this situation was solely directed at the Demi Drake.

That wicked bastard who died without giving him a single coin despite showing a 55.9% probability!

Since Level 4, which he could reach after collecting a whopping 70 coins, was just one level away, the fact that he couldn’t level up due to a single coin difference was even more painful.

“Sob sob…… What did I do wrong……”

But no matter how much he cried and complained, one more coin wouldn’t magically appear.

He had no choice but to accept reality at this point.

“This is actually good!”

Jeonghyeon decided to lighten up since things had turned out this way.

Let’s say he had one more coin and leveled up to Level 4.

Then the probability would increase, but he wouldn’t have a single coin left.

But what if, miraculously, an A-Rank or S-Rank trait appeared on the list?

If he had to endure and hunt one more time to get it?

That would be an even more agonizing situation.

Jeonghyeon, who had finally made up his mind, opened the shop window.

Leveling up is leveling up, and shopping is shopping.

Objectively, 12 coins weren’t a small amount, so he thought something would come out.

However,

“R-Refresh.”

Even after refreshing 3 times, not even a trait that was remotely useful, let alone useful, appeared.

“How can an F-Rank appear in a Level 3 shop……?”

To be precise, it was a crazy feast of F-Ranks.

Trying to collect F-Ranks one by one and raise them to D or C would be a waste of time and coins.

Jeonghyeon had no choice but to refresh for the fourth time with tears in his eyes.

And finally, an E-Rank trait appeared.

“It’s here!”

『「Decent Battle Sense」（E, Lv.1）, 2C』

Jeonghyeon was overjoyed even though it was an E-Rank, which could now be described as insignificant.

In fact, the appearance of a Battle Sense trait at E-Rank was nothing short of extraordinary luck.

『「Decent Battle Sense」 has been upgraded to 「Considerable Battle Sense」.』

It was because the E-Rank Battle Sense trait could finally be upgraded to D-Rank.

Moreover, there was another window that popped up simultaneously with the message announcing the rank increase.

『The rank of Trait Synergy, 『The Best Defense is Evasion 2』, has been upgraded from E to D.

Synergy effect has been improved.』

It was the same notification as when 『The Best Defense is Evasion』 was upgraded from F-Rank to E-Rank.

This time, all the traits within the synergy had reached D-Rank, and the synergy itself had also been upgraded to D-Rank.

Of course, there wasn’t a dramatic effect like when the synergy was expanded.

Looking at the detailed explanation, it only said that the synergy’s effect, which applied to four attributes, had slightly increased.

However, since he had already experienced the effect once, he could fully anticipate it this time as well.

“Sigh…… Demi Drake, if it’s like this, yeah, I can understand you not giving me a coin.”

The evaluation of the Demi Drake, which had been going up and down like a rollercoaster, finally returned to normal.

Not only had the rank of one trait increased, but the rank of the synergy had also increased.

To wish for a Trait Shop level up on top of this?

Even if 「Trait Shop」 was EX-Rank, wouldn’t that be too much of a rip-off?

‘A person needs to have a conscience.’

Although he had already surpassed the level of a rip-off artist and reached the ranks of a legendary scammer in the eyes of others, Jeonghyeon was satisfied with this.

And as he was enjoying his joy,

Ding-dong━

The intercom rang.

“……Who is it?”

Was it a guild official like last time?

However, there was no one outside when he looked through the screen.

Creak━

And when he opened the door and went outside,

“What is this…… Huh?”

A fairly heavy plastic bag was hanging from the doorknob.

A plastic bag containing beef and a small note.

And a thick voice came from the slightly open door of the next-door apartment.

“I hung it there. Eat it.”

“Yes? Oh, wait━”

Slam━

Jeonghyeon was startled and tried to say something, but the ajusshi had already closed the door and gone back inside.

Jeonghyeon had no choice but to bring the bag inside.

“Why beef?”

And he unfolded the note first.

━ Hey game addict. I awakened with a decent rank this time and got into a decent guild. I’m moving out tomorrow, and I remembered you talking about beef last time. Stop playing games so much and don’t bother the next tenant.

“Wow.”

Is this what it feels like to be speechless?

No wonder he didn’t get much of a response even though he had raised his voice quite a bit recently.

He never would have guessed there was such a story behind it.

“Ajusshi, congratulations!”

It was a tone that was quite shy, so he didn’t know what rank he actually awakened with, but in any case, awakening was a life-changer for someone who lived in a studio apartment.

‘Seeing as I’m still here even after awakening as EX, it doesn’t seem like it’s always like that.’

Of course, in Jeonghyeon’s case, it was because he was active as a freelancer without any affiliation, and most people received enough money to buy a decent apartment just by joining a guild, so there was no need to stay in a studio apartment.

“Yeah. It seems like you’re working, but if you spend all your money on games, you’ll be ruined.”

“I understand, ajusshi.”

Still, he felt a bit sad that he wouldn’t be able to use（?） coins with the ajusshi anymore, as they had developed a bond while doing so.

Jeonghyeon, who was staring at the note endlessly, suddenly opened his mouth.

“But ajusshi.”

“What.”

The next-door ajusshi responded curtly.

“Your handwriting is really bad.”

“……”