Episode 13
013. This Works?
The dazzling light bursting from the scroll reminded him of someone.
During that time when everything was crumbling.
Before the dying campfire, the woman shedding hot blood with a bitter smile.
The sacred light she emanated until the final moment resembled this light.
“- Geumson-ssi, thinking about it, we were so foolish. We always saved, saved, and saved again for the best moment. Cough… In the end, the best moment never came. No, perhaps every moment was the best moment…”
“You’ll die like that! Stop it!”
“Are you worried about me? It’s okay. I can’t just end here, right? If I stop… everything ends. Cough… That scroll, what if I had used it on myself instead of my holy sword? A paladin blessed by a god, wouldn’t that be cool? Then, if that were the case… maybe things would have been a little different…”
The Last Paladin, Baek Jin-ju.
That was the last conversation Geumson had with her.
The words she threw out like a joke for those who would remain, facing death.
Geumson hadn’t forgotten those words yet.
‘Items are ultimately consumables. And the best moment… never comes.’
Geumson, who experienced the destruction.
Now he knows her words were right.
Items are ultimately consumables.
They break someday, replaced by better items.
But the player themselves?
The character is a unique existence that stays with you until this world ends, no, even after synchronizing with reality, for a lifetime.
Baek Jin-ju left those words as a joke for the comfort of those who would remain, but Geumson’s thoughts were different.
The moment he saw the description of the ‘Scroll of God’s Whistle’, he was certain.
[When used, can grant a powerful god’s blessing to one chosen target. (Single-use)]
It doesn’t say item.
It says ‘target’.
That means it can be used on something other than an item.
So he intends to use the scroll he obtained again as she said.
Just then, a message appeared before his eyes.
[Designate the target for use.]
To that message.
“Geumson.”
He answered briefly.
That moment.
The swarm of light spreading from the scroll engulfed Geumson.
KWAHAAAA-!
A warm, powerful energy enveloping his entire body.
It felt like an illusion of entering the sun’s core.
Amidst a brilliance so intense he couldn’t open his eyes, endless system messages filled his vision.
[You have achieved a first-time achievement!]
[You were the first to grant the ‘Scroll of God’s Whistle’ to yourself.]
[The system is astonished by your out-of-the-box thinking and boldness.]
[Your choice has opened a new horizon of possibilities.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Sun’s Right Hand’!]
[Title: Sun’s Right Hand]
– Description: A hand that received a god’s blessing and holds the sun’s power. The source of all creation, and the peak of destruction.
– Effects:
1. [Sun’s Flame]: A low chance for ‘Sun’s Power’ to imbue all items you craft. (Grants Fire and Holy attributes)
2. [Sun’s Authority]: In combat, you can concentrate the sun’s power in your right hand to deliver a powerful strike. (Acquire skill ‘Sun Smash’)
[The Divinity stat is unlocked, and you receive a +25 bonus.]
[You have acquired the hidden skill ‘Sun Smash’!]
[Sun Smash Lv.1]
[Active Skill]
– Description: Concentrates the sun’s power in the right hand to inflict explosive damage to enemies in front.
– Effect: Deals fire and holy damage equal to 300% of attack power. Inflicts the ‘Burn’ status ailment on the target for 5 seconds. (Cooldown 10 minutes)
Messages rising insanely.
He was busy just reading them.
The rewards were extraordinary.
But it seemed the messages weren’t finished yet.
Another unexpected thing happened.
[The designated target possesses the hidden skill ‘Godly Handiwork’.]
[The hidden skill ‘Godly Handiwork’ and the title ‘Sun’s Right Hand’ create synergy.]
[The title ‘Sun’s Right Hand’ gains an additional effect.]
[Additional Effect]
1. [Sun’s Blacksmith]: When crafting, you can smelt and forge materials using only the heat from your right hand without using a forge’s fire. Handiwork-related work speed increases by 50%, and Great Success chance increases by 10%.
After reading all messages, the fading light.
When that light completely disappeared, Geumson finally realized he had succeeded.
“It really… works!”
In the past, someone might have questioned the phrase ‘target’.
But no one actually experimented.
Because each scroll’s value was immense; it couldn’t be used for mere experimentation.
Moreover, with the overwhelming ‘result’ shown by Blade Demon Ryu Shin, there was no need to try other things.
But Geumson boldly tried.
And ultimately succeeded.
The result was an enormous reward.
The rewards were so outstanding, far beyond expectations, that it was bewildering.
‘A new stat… Divinity? The Divinity stat is unlocked without even having a divinity-related class?’
Divinity.
A stat that can only be unlocked by acquiring a god-related class like Priest or Paladin.
But Geumson unlocked that stat without even obtaining such a class.
Moreover, Sun Smash.
A whopping 300% of attack power as damage.
Meaning, it can deliver triple the damage in one strike.
Additionally, a status ailment for 5 seconds on hit.
An overwhelmingly powerful skill.
If he were an ordinary player, he would have focused on that part.
But the part Geumson focused on wasn’t such combat-related abilities.
‘Other things aside… synergy with Godly Handiwork? Sun’s Blacksmith! This means I don’t even need a separate forge, right?’
The part pointed out as the fatal limitation of blacksmiths when playing 《Repion》.
That is precisely the existence of the forge.
Because of the nature of blacksmiths requiring forges, they always needed a base.
Thus, Geumson, who couldn’t go far and was active only within specific regions.
Now, such restrictions have been completely lifted.
Moreover.
‘During the age of destruction, bases were often attacked… but now that won’t be necessary.’
《Repion》 materialized.
Even then, a workshop for crafting was needed.
But the receding defense lines, pouring monsters.
And even occasional human attacks…
He couldn’t maintain a proper workshop.
Because workshops he painstakingly built were often destroyed.
But now, that risk has significantly decreased.
Also, with this ability, he could perform simple tasks on the spot even during combat.
So for Geumson, the ‘Sun’s Blacksmith’ effect feels the most significant, more than anything else.
‘With this… with this power…!’
Hope is visible.
It feels like a faint lamp has been lit for the daunting future.
Perhaps he can overcome it.
The helplessness felt on the day the sky fell.
Perhaps he has found a needle hole.
A needle hole to crawl out of from the collapsing sky.
Moreover, he has only used one ‘Scroll of God’s Whistle’.
If, just if.
Like Blade Demon Ryu Shin who used two scrolls, if Geumson uses another one, no, two more scrolls.
Maybe the needle hole will widen a bit more.
[Player Information]
Name: Geumson
Level: 10
Class: Blacksmith
Titles:
Narcissist
The First Maverick
Sun’s Right Hand
Achievements:
Unshakable Conviction
Head Hunter
The One Who Astonished the Blacksmith
The One Who Beat a Troll to Death
Skills Possessed:
Resolve’s Insight[Hidden]
Mining
Smelting[MAX]
Soul Forging[Hidden]
Godly Handiwork[Hidden]
Low-grade Regeneration
Sun Smash[Hidden]
Fame: 50
Neman Village central square.
Players, as well as NPCs, move busily.
But there, a player standing alone with a suspicious smile.
It was Geumson.
“Isn’t that a player? Why is he smiling creepily in the square? Must have nothing better to do. A casual player?”
“Did 《Repion》’s reality break his mind? You know, those people. The ones who say reality is fake.”
“Is that it? But his face looks familiar… huh? Isn’t that Geumson?”
“Geumson?”
“That guy who caused a stir on ‘RepiNet’!”
Some players recognized Geumson and began whispering.
But Geumson seemed to pay no mind to such external gazes.
He was simply marveling at his player information, unbelievable for level 10.
‘Wow, did I really do all this?’
Titles, achievements, and skills possessed.
Privileges he couldn’t even dream of at level 10 in the past.
Moreover, in the detailed information.
[Player Detailed Information]
[Basic Stats]
Strength: 36(+20)
Agility: 16
Stamina: 16(+20)
Magic Power: 16
[Unlocked Stats]Luck: 21
Precision: 25
Divinity: 25
[Remaining Stat Points: 30]
Stats unimaginable for level 10.
Moreover, 30 remaining stat points.
Because from level 6, he secured 6 stat points per level, unlike other players.
Of course, having unlocked the Divinity stat, he will now secure 7 stat points per level.
‘For now… I should distribute stats into Agility, Stamina, and Magic Power.’
There’s no need to invest additional points into unlocked stats yet.
So he chose to raise basic stats evenly.
Geumson’s other goal.
For the All-Master, balanced growth is important.
A filled hexagon of stats.
That is Geumson’s aspiration.
[Agility: 16 → 26]
[Stamina: 16 → 26]
[Magic Power: 16 → 26]
Having sorted out the remaining stats, Geumson.
He felt his mind clearing, as if his tired body was recovering.
Geumson looked at Neman Village with a satisfied expression.
In his past life, he would have left the village around this time.
Because he already obtained a class and reached level 10, the limit for a beginner village.
For rapid growth, he should leave Neman Village as soon as possible.
Only then does the experience limit lift, allowing him to accumulate experience toward level 11.
But.
‘I can’t leave here already.’
Most players want to leave the beginner village as soon as possible.
Because only then can they level up.
But a fact most players still don’t know or overlook.
That beginner villages make it easy to obtain classes.
‘There’s no place like a beginner village for obtaining subclasses.’
Leaving a beginner village and obtaining a new class elsewhere is usually not easy.
Because the difficulty of quests needed for classes spikes dramatically.
But this is a beginner village.
A place meant for obtaining classes in the first place.
Even for subclasses, it’s relatively easier compared to other places.
The final reason for choosing Neman Village in the Kingdom of Eirock among countless starting villages.
Because a class obtainable only here exists.
