Chapter 13: Temptation’s reach (3) 

'Damn! He said that it was a staff for magicians?'

With the excuse that I have to use the bathroom, I went to the old man as fast as I could .

"Advisor… no, Advisor, is it possible that you could make not just staffs but weapons for warriors?"1

"If I could make white rice, don't you think I could make black rice, too?"2

While talking, the old man's hammering did not stop .

Hearing the old man's words, I wanted to say 'Hurray for the black smith!'

While hiding my excitement, I continued the conversation .

"Then, could you possibly make a sword instead of a staff?"

Hearing my words, the old man stopped his hammering and looked at me with an exasperated expression .

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you a Magician? Why do you want something that you can't even use? If I make something wrong for you, I'd get in trouble with the young leader!"

"Please . I'll take responsibility for it, make it into a sword!"

Even while repeatedly rejecting my request, I kept asking the old man .

Maybe becoming tired of my constant pestering, he spoke without strength in his voice .

"A greenhorn like you, why so stubborn? Alright, fine, but don't regret it!"

"Thank you . Thank you . Also, this…"

I gave the blood stone that I earned from the kelvecore to the old man .

"You want to embed this into the sword?"

"Yes . Please!"

"Don't you have one more? The sword I'm making will have two embedded in . "

"I only have one, if I get another one, I'll ask again . "

"You're an annoying one huh . Alright, go away!"

"Yes, thank you very much!"

To the advisor grandpa, I requested something like 'a hot cold Americano . '

I found out that the jewel I gave him was a Strength +30 stone that was used for weapons .

I didn't know about the cost or the rank, but it was something that I risked my life for . So I wanted to use it for myself .

I was told that the weapon would take roughly one month's time .

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I returned to Park Hyun's office on the 60th floor .

I carefully read the guild's request form for I was suspicious of how for someone that was recently Awakened to be treated like this .

For the parts that I didn't understand, Park Hyun explained them to me .

As we continued, of course, I recorded everything .

After finishing the guild registration, I said that I will return in a month's time to receive the staff and then proceeded to return home .

***

-Sound effects for skills . -

[Gained 600 exp . ]

[Gained 600 exp . ]

.

.

Only in 10 minutes, I was able to clear the level 12th dungeon by myself .

It was only possible due to the combination of 'Eye of the Storm' and 'Lightning Spray . '

Of course, due to the 'Eye of the Storm' cooldown time, I needed to take 5 minutes breaks .

Using that break time, I continued to sell the drops .

I felt bad for Sangmin-hyung whom I hunted with . But there was no reason to suffer losses and hunt together .

Because now I wasn't just looking at the level 12th dungeons but rather dungeons beyond it .

Before I knew it, time passed and it was nearly August .

Tomorrow, I return to school .

During the long but short summer break, I was able to grow at a rate that no one could imagine .

Level: 57

Exp: [19,254,800/22,884,590] 84%

Class: Magician

Special Attribute: Infinite Mana

Strength: 160

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Mana: ∞

Agility: 10

Stamina: 140

Points to distribute: 0

Learned skills

Frost Orb: Lv . 21 [16,244/180,000]

Lightning Spray: Lv . 38 [128,456/350,000]

Eye of the Storm: Lv . 20 [88,243/170,000]

Frozen Shield: Lv . 17 [338/140,000]

Hunting more than 12 hours a day, my level finally became 57 .

For a normal Awakened, no matter how fast you went, it was a result that would require over a year .

And the difference would only increase the higher I go .

After level 20, the experience required to level up rose by 1 million per level .

However, after level 30, the rate of the increase became ridiculous .

It was almost like it was meant to weed out the weak-willed .

Despite this misfortune, at least the experience required to level up your skill didn't increase dramatically .

If that was the case, then the time one would be stuck in one place would be much longer .

Even if, compared to other people, it would have been much quicker for me .

For offensive type skills, leveling the skill wasn't that difficult .

For shield skills, one needed to be hit to receive experience, so it was very difficult .

If I had lots of money, I would have continuously used a variety of shields on rotation to increase my skill experience, but for now, it was too difficult .

I didn't concentrate on the debt I owed but saved all my money to obtain skill books .

The skill I was trying to purchase was a ridiculous one .

Level 12? No, I was preparing for something beyond level 13 .

15 days after visiting the Noblesse guild, I received word from the advisor grandpa .

With confidence, I went into the 15th floor of the guild to receive my sword .

However, the one who brought the sword to my house was not Park Hyun but a trainee secretary . 3

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Although weapons had S~F rank attached to it, the weapon's rank was not only determined by the blood stone's level .

The ranking was also determined by the Awakened's ability .

To use the weapon that was crafted, you needed to meet the stats requirements for it .

Depending on the rank of the stone that was used, the required stats would be determined .

The stats that were implemented on a weapon or armor was not done by strength, mana, agility, or stamina specific stones, but made with a blood stone . 4

Hence, the required stats to use the equipment will be changed based on the grade of the stone embedded in the equipment . 5

The warrior class sword that I received was a half A rank, which required 200 points in strength to use .

Because I did not have enough strength stats, no matter how hard I tried, I could not lift the light looking sword .

Thus, without any choice, I had to request Park Hyun's secretary to help me bring it home .

Thankfully, nothing was said about how it was not a staff but a sword .

Sword or staff, it was something that I requested for .

In front of me, there is a sword that I can't even use .

It was one of the mid to high ranking sword mankind could craft, yet it was like a rice cake in a picture .

After receiving the sword, I put all my level up points into strength because there was a reason to use that sword .

***

-Ringing noises . -

"Uwa…"

The day began with an energetic morning call .

However, for hunting, a depressing morning began different from waking up .

After washing, I ate the breakfast that my mother made .

If I could, I would quit school and live solely in the hunting zones .

The chance which one can Awaken was highest between the age of 15~19 .

In a regular school, the Awakened and the Non-Awakened with the possibility of being Awakened were taught in the same classes .

The goal of the school was to teach both the Awakened and Non-Awakened together .

For our modern day society, the danger of monster invasions and exploding portals were important, but at the same time, they also felt a threat from the Awakened .

Once it is determined that the student is an Awakened, it is reported to the Council as well .

Thus one becomes a special case .

You were an asset to the nation but were also capable of becoming a criminal at the same time .

If an Awakened causes issues in school or society, the punishment they received were far greater than normal people .

However, for increasing your social skill and attending normal school without any issues, upon graduating, you'd receive a guild recommendation and a waiver for education cost .

For the Awakened, the cost of education was nothing .

But, the guild recommendation was an award that would excite the eyes of the Awakened .

The Awakened had complaints about the current society .

What they wanted was the strong devour the weak, that the Awakened is superior to the Non-Awakened .

And that the lower Non-Awakened should be controlled by the Awakened .

Simply put, they wanted a caste system .

They didn't group up to rally or fought over power, and they were not in sight, but they were everywhere .

However, incidents that occurred once in a while gave fear to the Non-Awakened about the Awakened .

One of the incidents involved terrorist attack on the Central Plants Center .

Six years ago, it wasn't an exaggeration to call the Plant that they blew up the place that sustained all of humanity .

Due to the importance of the Plants, there were many Awakened guards .

However, it was caused by one person .

"Oh shit! Terrorism or not, I'm going to be late!"

***

Nothing seemed to have changed when I arrived back at the school .

The school entrance, the hill side roads, the classes, everything was the same .

With many thoughts in mind, I entered the classroom, and suddenly .

"Hey, pip squeak! Did you spend your days well? Go get me some sausage bread and soda . "

-Coin dropping on floor noise . -