Look at this nonsensical growth .
It takes 20 minutes to clear the dungeon .
But the experience I gained from it was 2 to 2 . 5 million .
With only 10 days of hunting, my level had risen from 108 to 124 .
I was able to raise 1 to 2 levels each day .
If you think about it, it was only natural .
I did not have to wait to recharge my mana, and was taking the experience that would normally be shared across 5 to 6 people .
Rather than the boss, the hidden boss had a higher chance of dropping the Awakened Essence .
Thanks to the appearance of 'Gwidon', I was able to obtain another Awakened Essence .
As soon as I got the essence, I Awakened Fire Shock .
At least until level 150 to 170, I was planning to continue hunting here .
After that, I was planning to Awaken a physical attack skill .
Other items dropped other than the Awakened Essence, but they were all useless compared to the items dropped on the first clear .
Three footwear dropped, but all of them raised mana .
Why are only mana items dropping…
Thanksfully though, I was able to obtain a skill book I was going to buy, 'Flash' .
Soon as I exited the dungeon, I learned it .
It was a skill that would let me teleport 5m .
However the real prize was this .
The bracelet that Louver dropped!
It was on a dimension of its own, nothing like the regular equipment .
It was a 'named equipment', one that would only drop from Louver .
Not just the bracelet, but a ring and a necklace exists, each with their own abilities .
If you equip all three, you even get a set bonus effect .
'Louver's Bracelet' had a simple ability .
It didn't raise your stats, or your defense .
[After absorbing a certain amount of magical energy and using a skill with the hand that has the bracelet equipped, the skill casted will be more than twice as powerful . ]
It was a simple description, but an incredible item .
The bracelet's effect also showed an incredible destructive force .
After casting a certain amount of skills and killing monsters, the silver bracelet starts to glow blue .
Then .
The next skill used would be vastly strengthened .
Currently this item was not found on the auction house .
Even the history of this item showed that it was rarely auctioned .
'Those who will succeed can do whatever they want . '
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Recently, I've been thinking that this saying fits me perfectly .
Honestly, when the bracelet dropped…
I was hoping for equipment that raised strength or stamina stats .
I was just hoping for something that didn't raise the mana stat .
But instead of indulging in my small wish, it gave me this wonderful boon instead .
'Gold axe or silver axe . My choice is the steel axe . '
It was like the story of the lumberjack who lost his axe in the lake .
Previously, the 5% drop rate on the blood stone had increased to a reasonable level .
Perhaps it was due to the low number of monsters?
The amount of stone earned was similar with places where lots of monsters appeared .
Of course there was the huge difference in price of B rank stones dropping instead of C .
I think I got the hang of leveling up my skills to 100 .
If only Awakened Essences dropped more, but that's just wishful thinking .
I was planning to save money to purchase 'Glacial Field' .
Currently one of the most powerful magic out there .
I needed Magma Pool and Meteor Call as well, but I picked a frost type spell because the first spell I obtained was the Frost Orb spell .
* * *
In the taxi after finishing the day's hunt and heading back home…
The 30 minute travel time was also a time for me to plan ahead and sort out my thoughts .
Sometimes, this is where I'd have a call with mother or Jong Ho as well .
There were times when calls would come from Sang-min, but after leaving the guild, there was a unexplainable distance formed between us, and I was no longer glad to talk to him anymore .
-Riiiiiiiing .
'If you talk about a tiger, it will come . ' Jong Ho's calling .
I was grateful to this hyung for many reasons .
Other than the internet, it was my only route for obtaining information . Not only that, but there was much to learn from him, excluding the fashion sense .
During the meal we had to celebrate the purchase of the house, mother seemed to be very fond of him as well .
"Yes . The world's best Kim Min-Cheol speaking . "
"It's commander Lee Jong Ho . "
"Hail! What is it?"
"Uh . You're working hard . It's nothing much, just this . I was hoping to meet with you this weekend . "
"No worries, commander . Would you like to have dinner with my mother as well?"
"Oho . That's good . Then let's meet after taking care of business . "
I can't believe that we match this well .
Perhaps I should ask mother seriously if there was a long lost hyung?
"But what is it? It's the first time hyung has asked me to meet first?"
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"Nothing important, just wanted you to come somewhere with me . "
"Okay . Understood . See you tomorrow, hyung . "
"Oh yes . I'm grateful . "
* * *
"Min-Cheol . I'm in front of the house . But due to the guards preventing me from even entering the residential area, I just parked the car at the entrance . "
"Yes . I just got on the elevator . I'll be there soon . "
"Oka-"
I could see Jong Ho waiting at the entrance .
I've known him for over two months now, but this was the first time he asked to meet me first .
Without even telling me the details to boot .
I saw Jong Ho purchasing something at a corner .
"What's up? You called me up to meet first . "
"It's nothing much . Kind of embarrassing to say . "
"What is it? Making me curious . "
"Hyung is going to go purchase armor with the money he's saved up, but a bit nervous since I'll be meeting up in person to do a trade directly . "
"What… I'm a body guard?"
"Sorry . I couldn't ask anyone else because that'd be embarrassing . Let's buy this first and let's go . "
"What? Beansprouts?"
"Yes . Sweet potatoes and spinach too . "
"Eh?"
I noticed Jong Ho receiving a black envelop .
Paying for my share, and obtaining the change from the grandma…
I noticed Jong Ho sliding a few C rank stones into the herb basket .
Looking at Jong Ho, I asked by mouthing the words silently .
'What . Is . It?'
To my question, he put his index finger on his lips in a shushing gesture and nodded his head .
'Is he paying me because he is guilty? I feel like a bad person now . '
After finishing the purchase, Jong Ho scratched his head while laughing .
"You'll come with, right?"
He's been helping me so much until now, but for something simple as this, he was feeling guilty and sorry for me, and I found it cute .
Despite him being a hyung and all .
Today's the day we take a break, once a week . There's the dinner with Jong Ho and mother, and when else would I be able to help this hyung out, I felt proud .
However, if it went like this, it won't be fun .
"Ah . What are you doing, hyung . Calling someone busy like me for something like this . "
"Uh… uh? Ah . I'm sorry . I thought it'd be okay since I heard you are resting today . "
"Ah… Jeez . "
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Yes . I have to tease him like this for fun . Right when his red embarrassed face was about to explode…
"Pfft . Teasing you is the best . "
"What? You… Are you going or not?"
"Of course I'll go . Why are you asking something like that . And because it's cold today, you even wore a windbreaker?"
"Yeah . I thought you'd be embarrassed, so I wore it one purpose . Why?"
"Then we must go for sure . Let's go . "
* * *
A small park near the market .
This is the area Jong Ho planned to have the trade .
After calling the seller, Jong Ho spoke .
"3 min and they'll be here . "
"We'll only have to wait a bit . But what armor did you buy?"
"Yes . B rank armor, but it's used so it is cheap . It was being re-evaluated as a half A rank . "
"Aha . How much?"
"Cost?"
Hearing my question, he smiled while raising four fingers .
"4 million? Is it usually that expensive? From what I hear, it's about 1 million . There's no helmet included, right?"
"No . No . "
"Hyung, you don't like me, right?"
"$400,000! Super cheap, right? 'Opportunities come to someone who lives righteously . ' But it has to be all cash . "
"Wow . No matter it being a used item, it's that cheap? That's really good . But let me go use the bathroom real quick . "
Needed to go quick, but I did not see a single open stall .
I had to go to the cafe and buy a drink to be able to use the bathroom .
Returning to the park . I saw Jong Ho and the vendor from afar .
'Hm? Why does he look familiar?' was what I thought .
As I got closer, I heard the conversation .
"Since we need to check the armor's ability, should we go into a dungeon?"
"Yes . But my sibling has gone to the bathroom . Let's wait a bit . "
"Eh . It'll be over real quick . Let's go already . "
Who's this . The one who tried to scam me out, trying to buy the 'Magician's Insight Bracelet' from me .
Guess he didn't change his ways .
"Oh boy . You're still alive?"
"Hwuhh!"
"You really give your all to living . "
Remembering the past, he started to tremble like a leaf when he saw me .
Even stuttering his words too .
"You suffered that much last time . Why did you not learn . "
"… Th-that's… because… . . "
"You'll confirm it at the dungeon? Let's go then . "
I flicked the armor he was holding on with my finger, and he just collapsed on the ground .
"You know him?"
"Hyung . I think you saved $400,000 today?"
"What do you mean?"
"This guy is a scammer . Remember how I told you about the time I beat the shit out of the person who tried to buy the Magician's Insight Bracelet?"
"Yeah, you did . "
Instead of answering, I pointed at him .
Realizing the situation now, Jong Ho gave a hollow laugh .
However, Jong Ho was still handing over the envelope with the money inside to him .
'Kind to the point of bothersome . So frustrating . '
"What are you doing hyung? You can just take it you know?"
"… . . "
After handing the money, Jong Ho turned around and headed towards the car in silence .
I was able to learn that there was a side to him other than the joking one, a side that was very different from me .
It's not just pocket change, but $400,000 .
For a level 60 like Jong Ho, it would take months, if not a year to get that much money saved up without a doubt .
But here he is, walking on his own path with the armor in silence .
He was someone I could never understand .
"Let's go together, hyung!"
* * *
We headed towards Jong Ho's car .
He sat at the driver's seat with a neutral expression .
I quietly got onboard the car .
"Yeah! Min-Cheol . Doesn't this armor look killer?"
"Hyung… . . ?"
"It's not a joke . I smell the sweat of a hard, honest veteran's work . "
I didn't say anything more about the scammer .
Just kept joking around with him like usual while we moved .
"Then we should probably check out the armor's ability, no?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's go!"