NSE-Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Gate Net, which held the largest share among Awakened communities.

Recently, one topic had been steadily rising to the surface there.

―Who swept up every Shaman Totem Summon Skill Book? Weren’t Shammies a fucking unpopular Class? Is there actually demand for this?

―Brawlers are in an uproar right now too lolol. No Harden Skill listings, so they’re shedding tears of blood getting pounded by mobs lolol

―Just trade directly. If you buy near a few Gates, you’d get one quickly, no?

―Still haven’t heard? Low-level Skills are all getting hoarded in front of Gates lol

―Yeah. The black-suited big bros were buying up all the Skill Books in front of the Gates. They’re buying every kind of trash-tier Skill for 400, too.

―400? Am I the only one who hears the wailing of the non-mainstream Classes? lolol

―Some dumbass goes to the Auction House and sells a non-mainstream Skill for 200 lol. The muscle bros at the entrance reliably buy it at double, ugh lolol

―There’s not even a fee lolol

―This is why you have to hop on a popular Class, I’m telling you? Skill Books are expensive, so it’s not like you’d go to the Auction House lol

―The mainstream ones start at 700 minimum, from what I saw? Prices are all going up;

―……Huh?

―I’m a Mage, and this is bad. I need to learn Elemental Mastery but there are no listings, shit.

―Just realize magic at the Academy and learn it. This is a perfect chance for wall-facing meditation lol

―Are you kidding? Rather than going through that crap, I’d just pay money, buy a Skill Book, and learn it lolol

―Urgent breaking news! Swordies. You’re screwed too…… Swordsmanship Mastery listings, exactly zero!

There were no listings of F-grade Skill Books.

It applied to every Class without exception. Even the users who had started out teasing and laughing at each other gradually began to realize how serious it was.

―Crazy. The muscle bros are there again today;;

―Ah; I tried to buy a Skill Book but a muscle bro next to me kept calling higher prices. Lost it with my eyes wide open; unbelievable……

―I’m an Assassin and got my Skill snatched away, so I got pissed, used Stealth, and tailed the muscle bros. It seems to be related to Ilseong somehow?

―Kicking away the ladder, shudder

―If they’re buying across every Class without exception, could this be that thing? The +9.

―Huh……? There’s a king-possibility……?

―They’re really going for a +9? Did the Chairman get chewed out by the President? Told to stimulate the economy?

―Trickle-down effect, damn lolol

―But is there anyone at Ilseong worth getting a +9 for?

―Isn’t there none? Given they’re buying low-level Skills, it’s for a rookie…… but I haven’t heard news of anyone being recruited.

―I did hear something. About the Sword Immortal and Kim Min-woo having a spar.

―??? What kind of bullshit is that?

―Summary: The Sword Immortal and Kim Min-woo fought a match. Kim Min-woo fought like hell. Pushed the Sword Immortal back. Then Awakened. The light was insane. I’d say the Achievement is A or higher at minimum.

―I watched it live too. It was seriously badass, no black cranes who missed it, right? lol

―……?

―Is it real?

―Testimonies keep coming in from here and there? Something really did seem to happen?

“How’s it going? Is it taking effect?”

“Yes, Team Leader. It looks like it’s about to catch fire?”

“The Young Master will debut soon, so be careful not to let the fire die out. You know? It has to look natural.”

“Come on. We’re the experts at that. But that…… is it real?”

“What, the spar?”

“Yes. That spar.”

“I don’t know either.”

Even so, Ilseong’s Intelligence Team Leader was privately certain.

‘Nine times out of ten, it’s real.’

Because only then would the Group’s aggressive moves these days make sense.

‘They said the light was tremendous. Then it’s at least A or higher…… and maybe…….’

There were quite a few Awakened with high Achievement grades.

There were plenty of rich people with lots of money, too.

But Awakened who had it all could be counted on one hand even worldwide.

‘A real super rookie might actually be born here…….’

The Team Leader felt excitement for the first time in a long while.

* * *

[Summon Skeleton(F)+9 has been completed!]

[You acquire the Title ‘Sprout Destined for Greatness’!]

“Phew, did I get it done?”

Min-woo, who was at the Auction House, wiped the sweat running down his head.

Even after procuring every Skill Book in the whole country, it had taken a full two days.

Because from +7 and above, a few attempts had blown up.

Still, the reward for pouring in the money was just as sweet.

[Summon Skeleton(F)+9]

[A Skill enhanced to its limit.]

[Consumes 10 Mana to summon 2(1+1) LV1 Skeletons.]

“Super sweet.”

The original effect was to use 10 Mana to summon one.

But that had increased to two.

Double the efficiency.

An overwhelming gap.

‘And I even got a Title on top of that.’

[Owned Title List]

[1. Promising Prospect]

[Reached the growth limit at Level 1.]

[Effect: All Stats +1]

[2. Elixir Slaughterer]

[Consumed over a thousand Elixirs at Level 1.]

[Health +1, Magic Power +1]

[3. Sprout Destined for Greatness]

[Created a +9 Skill at Level 1.]

[Owned Skill Count +1]

Titles were usually granted at monumental moments, such as when performing a difficult feat or accomplishing something for the first time.

Titles came with a variety of effects, such as permanent Stat increases, increased damage against certain monsters, and an increased Owned Skill Count.

‘To reach the very top, I have to collect as many as possible.’

That was especially true of Stat increases. Titles, along with Level Ups, were one of the representative factors that could break through the growth limit.

‘It’s a good start. Status Window.’

[Name: Kim Min-woo(23)]

[Class: Necromancer]

[Level: 1]

[Owned Skills(1/6): Death Lord(EX)]

[Mana: 520/520]

[Titles: 3]

[Stats]

[Strength: 51] [Agility: 51] [Health: 52] [Magic Power: 52]

Numbers that were utterly unbelievable for Level 1!

The growth was close to rampant.

‘The number of Undead I can summon right now is…….’

At 2 per 10 Mana, he could originally summon up to 104.

If Death Lord’s 50% Mana reduction effect were added on top of that?

‘A maximum of 208.’

A crazy quantity.

What’s more, these 208 Skeletons weren’t simple Skeletons.

Their Stats were boosted by a whole 50%!

While an ordinary Necromancer was just starting to command one or two Skeletons, he would already be racing ahead with an overwhelming gap opened.

‘Ahh, this is it.’

What’s more, this wasn’t even the end.

Death Lord’s once-more revival function.

And what if equipment were added on top?

Even if Skeletons were early-game Summons and weaker than an adult man.

‘No one can stop them at this stage.’

He could guarantee it.

That there had never been a single Awakened stronger than him in the Level 1 range.

‘Now all that’s left is…….’

Kim Min-woo recalled the message he had seen last time.

Death Lord’s Call.

‘I don’t know what it’ll do after calling me, but…….’

It didn’t seem like there would be only things to laugh and chat about.

Death Lord.

Doesn’t even the name look wicked at a glance?

Preparing equipment, potions, and consumables thoroughly went without saying, and.

‘The most important thing is whether to raise my Level before going.’

Even without learning the Summon Skeleton Skill, hunting inside a Gate was entirely possible.

His Stats were high.

He could even wield a sword well enough to hold his own against the Sword Immortal to some degree.

F-rank Gates and the like could be swept without any particular Skills.

‘Leveling up will be easy. Stats will shoot up, too. The problem is Titles…….’

The way to acquire Titles easily.

The more self-imposed hard mode, the better.

With things just anybody can do, you either get Titles with truly tiny effects or not even that, countless times over.

‘Probably a few Titles will come out of Death Lord’s Call too, right?’

It was the effect of an EX-grade Skill, no less.

If things went well, a Title party might break out.

Not to mention, if he entered at the lowest, Level 1, the odds of getting Titles would rise exponentially.

He knew it was dangerous.

But without risk, there is no reward.

‘To hunt the Outer God, I have to collect even one more Title.’

All the more so for Kim Min-woo, whose physical talent was a dud.

Because a moment would surely come when every single Stat from Titles would be sorely missed.

‘The order is set.’

Receive Death Lord’s Call at Level 1. Clearing Gates comes after that.

[Searching for equipment.]

[Condition: Equip Level 1 or above.]

Right after he made up his mind.

The listings of low-level equipment that had been up on the Auction House began to dry up completely.

* * *

Normal – Magic – Rare – Unique – Legendary – Ancient – Mythic.

There were seven equipment grades in total.

Among such equipment, what do novice melee Classes aim for?

Probably nine out of ten would say the ‘Black Heart Set.’

The so-called gold-standard Magic Set.

Its biggest advantage was precisely the Equip Level.

Equippable at Level 1.

Equipment that even a novice who had just Awakened could put on right away.

Despite such a low Equip Level, the performance was quite decent.

Looking at the pieces one by one, the effects weren’t that tremendous.

But when the pieces gathered one by one and triggered the set effect, it was a different story.

From then on, it finally ranked among the premium goods.

Because it showed performance that was usable without problems even up to Level 40.

The cost-effectiveness was decent, too.

A full setup usually cost around 200 million won. Awakened earned somewhat more generously than ordinary people.

If you splurged with a bit of a loan, it wasn’t completely unaffordable.

Naturally, it was also one of the items traded quite actively.

Even at this very moment, countless melee Classes were probably saving money dreaming of this equipment.

[Would you like to purchase all Black Heart Set items?]

“Buy everything, listings of 50 million won or less.”

[50.728 billion won is withdrawn…….]

[An additional 10% is withdrawn as a fee…….]

‘Burp.’

Sorry, newbies.

Your equipment has been taken over by my Skeletons.

Skeletons are newbies too, so cut them some slack.

[Items are being moved to the Inventory…….]

[The weight is too heavy!]

“Yeah, I have a Spatial Ring.”

[Items are being transferred to the Spatial Ring(Mid-Tier)!]

He had obtained a Spatial Ring in preparation for times like this.

He hadn’t bought it himself.

Because Chairman Kim had lent it to him for free.

‘Thanks to that, I saved 50 billion won.’

The Inventory’s capacity is limited.

The capacity does grow as Levels rise, but it’s still not exactly generous.

That was why items like the Spatial Ring were in very high demand.

Low-tier Gates were fine since you could bring porters, but you couldn’t bring them to high-tier Gates because of the danger.

At that point, even porters needed to be at least mid-tier Awakened, and the hiring cost alone ran into the thousands per day.

Rather than that, they’d buy a Spatial Ring and save on hiring costs.

‘That’s why it’s one of the super popular items.’

I was a bit sad that there were no listings on the Auction House.

But I got it easily thanks to my family.

‘I got 200 sets of equipment in no time.’

He had also obtained all the gear to put on the Skeletons, and as a precaution had gathered plenty of spares.

On top of that, he had stocked plenty of top-grade potions and consumables.

Honestly, after going this far, if I can’t clear it?

‘Then I guess it means I’m not supposed to clear it.’

Min-woo began putting on the equipment one piece at a time.

They were individual Rare items, not cost-effective set items like Black Heart. As a result his whole body became colorful, but they were worth it.

Because each item was genuine premium goods, easily priced at over a hundred million won.

Money-splurge items that, unless you really wanted to level up quickly, you’d normally just skip.

[You equip the Crow’s Eerie Head!]

[Health +5, Magic Power +5]

[Evil Eye of Terror(F) is activated!]

[You equip the Ribbit King’s Elastic Armor!]

[Health +10]

[Elastic Skin(F) is activated!]

[You equip the Purple Goblin’s Leather Pants!]

[Agility +5, Magic Power +5]

[Curse of Sorrow(F) is activated!]

[You equip the Mumbling Necklace!]

[Magic Power +8]

[Shield(F) is activated!]

[You equip the Trivial Witch’s Magic Power Gloves!]

[Magic Power +10]

[Ice Ball(F) is activated!]

[You equip the Nimble Thief’s Shoes!]

[Agility +10]

[Haste(F) is activated!]

‘Burp.’

Individual items, each with a Skill effect of the kind you’d normally only get by collecting a set.

Since it was 4 Stats per Level, these were items whose Skill carried the effect of 2 to 3 Level Ups.

Honestly, the performance itself wasn’t so tremendous as to be worth several hundred million won.

But the Equip Level was the killer.

Being usable from Level 1.

That merit is bigger than you’d think.

‘Well, reselling will be the problem, though.’

Individuals practically don’t buy them, and the little demand there is comes from large organizations occasionally buying them for rentals, but.

‘Even they don’t buy much because of the loss risk.’

A Gate is a place where an accident could happen at any time.

Rental equipment getting lost happened more often than you’d think.

So demand wasn’t exactly huge.

‘If it doesn’t sell, I can just stash it in a warehouse.’

On top of that.

[You equip the Excavation Knights Commander’s Sword!]

[Strength +7, Agility +3]

[Bleeding(F) is activated!]

He equipped a sword instead of a staff.

Because he might have to join the fighting himself if push came to shove.

[Would you like to learn Summon Skeleton(F)+9?]

The preparations were done.

Let’s see, let’s have some fun.

[Learning the Skill!]

[You have met all conditions for Death Lord’s first Trial!]

[The Death Lord begins to call you.]

The scenery before his eyes began to change.