Chapter 3

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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– ?

– What’s this?

– Isn’t it a bug?

– Is it a hack?

Even as the chat sped up slightly, it was full of questions.

The window that popped up for recommendations was filled with all sorts of icons.

Looking at Yeon-woo, whose mouth was wide open, Han-bit asked.

“There aren’t just three?”

“No, hyung, how did you do that?”

“I don’t know either.”

– He doesn’t know?

– Is this a new type of flex?

– I’m reporting this for now. RIP.

– Reporting completed.

The viewers reacted as if it was a deception.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Yeon-woo leaned in close to the broadcast screen.

Then, stuttering, he raised his voice.

“H-H-Hidden! It’s a hidden skill!”

“Hidden?”

“The shining icons! These are hidden skills!”

At that intense reaction, Han-bit examined the list.

The glowing icons that had just appeared on the bottom row.

There wasn’t even just one or two.

– Crazy. Lol.

– Has a hidden skill ever appeared in the recommendations?

– It’s a real freakin’ bug.

– But what’s the use of a hidden skill popping up? He won’t even be able to get it anyway.

– The fact that the list appeared itself is the issue, you game noob.

The chat window suddenly started biting at each other and fighting.

Apparently, the value of something called a hidden skill seemed to be quite large.

“Hyung, if you get this, it’s a huge jackpot!”

“It’s just a recommendation.”

“It’s not just ‘just’! There are so many icons I’ve never seen before!”

Yeon-woo passionately clenched his fists.

Ignoring him, Han-bit turned his gaze back to the list.

‘They drew it pretty well.’

Even though they were simply depicted, he could guess what kind of skills they all were.

Fortunately, they seemed to match the techniques from the other world.

‘What I can get in Edlen is… about this much.’

Scanning the icons, Han-bit immediately made a decision.

Setting past experiences aside, this was the first time he set foot into this game.

What was the same, and what was different from the world he experienced.

What that goddess was scheming to do.

How he could earn a lot of money.

To reach the answers to his various questions, a foundation for growth was important.

“For a start, let’s go smoothly with Fire attribute magic. Where do we get the quest?”

“What? You’re going to do magic?”

“Why, is it bad?”

“No, it’s not that it’s bad, but…”

– Magic?

– Ma-giiicc?

– Are you a romanticist?

Unexpected reactions came up in the chat.

When Han-bit made a puzzled expression, Yeon-woo scratched his head and said.

“In this game, proficiency is just as important as skills. And building that up for magic is insanely difficult.”

“Proficiency?”

“It’s like experience points that fill up when you use a skill. It needs to accumulate to a base standard before you can step up to the next skill. The problem is there’s no way to know how much proficiency you’ve built up.”

“What? Then how do you know the standard?”

“When proficiency is fully stacked, a star mark appears next to the skill name. Only then do you know it’s completely filled.”

– It means shut up and roll around~

– Strong recommendation if Black Dragon uses the exact same magic for two months.

– Probably gonna cry and change his skill in a few weeks. Lol.

“Hmm.”

Observing the atmosphere, Han-bit roughly understood the situation.

“Is this realistic authentication?”

“Realistic?”

“… No, it just seems like an obvious story.”

No matter what kind of technique it is, learning it requires effort.

The experiences and memories of Han-bit rolling around desperately proved it.

‘It took me a while at first too.’

It’s natural that talent and effort are needed to learn something.

However, for magic, it mattered even more who you learned it from.

“Who’s the teacher? I can choose, right?”

“Teacher?”

“I have to learn the magic firsthand. There has to be someone teaching it.”

– ?

– New pattern;

– RP’s first magic written/practical exam.

– He’ll probably even receive private tutoring later. Lol.

“Why are picking a fight again?”

“Hyung!”

When he pointed at the mocking chat window, Yeon-woo hurriedly stopped him.

Pulling up the map, he checked the list of NPCs.

“Although the NPCs’ AI is crazy high-level, they don’t teach skills that way. Usually, it’s a structure where you get skill books by clearing quests and achievements. You can naturally use them just by using the books.”

“… Is that so?”

Unlike the other world, the acquisition of skills had become far too convenient.

He almost blurting out that it wasn’t like this back in his day.

Although most people’s spirits would have been broken if they implemented it exactly the same.

“Anyway, let’s go. We’re going to the general merchant, right?”

“Huh? How did you know? For Fire attribute magic, you just go to Julio the General Merchant.”

“… Julio? Why would you go to that bastard?”

“Because he gives out the magic book quest, obviously?”

The two looked at each other with puzzled faces.

Han-bit spoke in an bewildered voice.

“That guy’s just a con artist bastard, though?”

“… A con artist?”

“That jerk is purely wicked. The magic book or whatever, it’s all probably fake?”

– Julio sobbing. Lol.

– His physiognomy is sinister, but don’t defame him.

– Con artist NPC (Not a con artist)

– Provides magic books (Actually gives them)

One by one, the chat laughed again at the resolute criticism.

[Julio has supported 1,000 won.]

[I am suing you for such-and-such crimes.]

“Thank you for the 1,000 won donation!”

As the chat popped up shining brightly, Yeon-woo immediately reacted.

“What’s this, did you just make money?”

“Right. There are fees, but anyway, you basically earned about 500 won too, hyung.”

“Oh…”

– Oh, he’s amazed. Lol.

– So cute.

– The amount would be different if you hit the jackpot with hidden skills.

– I’m telling you, it was just a bug;

– It’s not even his stream in the first place?

The viewers increased a little bit more, reaching 30 people.

Han-bit implicitly marveled.

‘It genuinely makes money.’

They had just been chatting while doing nothing, yet they earned 500 won.

That fact was simply fascinating to Han-bit.

Although he still didn’t quite know how it all worked.

“But didn’t you say 1,000 won was nothing to you?”

“Ay, business is different. It’s better if you change your perception as well, hyung. That’s how you can make it big.”

When he tested the silver spoon’s mindset, an answer of business came back.

However, Han-bit had no intentions of changing his perception.

“Even a thousand won originates as precious to me. If you and a thousand won fell into the water, I’d save the thousand won first.”

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

– Lmaoooo

– Loafer < 1,000 won

– Ttl possible to assassinate Loafer with small donations.

At the ridiculous reply, a hollow laugh escaped Yeon-woo as well.

Of course, these kinds of conversations were far too familiar to the two of them.

Pointing at the map again, he changed the subject.

"Anyway, only Julio gives the Fire attribute magic quest. No matter how much you hate it, let's go quickly."

"No, wait a minute."

Han-bit pushed away Yeon-woo's face as he tried to pull his arm.

Then he started scrutinizing the NPC list on the map which was still on.

Scroll.

Because Edlen was a big city, there were many NPCs.

As Han-bit continuously scrolled down, his hand stopped near the bottom.

[Atsbel]

"Found her."

"Found what?"

"A magic teacher."

"…"

Yeon-woo remained speechless at his overly confident remark.

Looking at the chat window that started laughing, he leaned his head close and whispered.

"Hyung, that concept isn't bad, but if it goes on a little longer, they'll say you're crossing the line."

"Don't talk nonsense about concepts."

Pushing his face away again, Han-bit turned his gaze back to the familiar streets.

The paths everywhere in his memory were more detailed and accurate than the map.

"If you can't believe it, that's fine. I just need to show it through results."

"Then I have no complaints, but are we really looking for a magic teacher?"

"Of course."

– Look at that stubbornness;

– Will probably have to find a game teacher first. Lol.

– For real. Who is Loafer teaching.

Mockery and criticism still surfaced in the chat window.

Among them, the very last chat caught Han-bit's eye.

– Spoiler) He's going to dig pointlessly and then end up going to Julio.

Pondering for a moment, he looked at the camera and said.

"Shall we try going to Julio first, then?"

"Huh? Really?"

"I said I'd show you the results. I just need to prove he's a con artist. You guys agree, right?"

– Oh. Lol.

– +1 point for not running away scared.

– Let's give him 500 points for the boot camp meta.

– I'll give you ten thousand won if he's genuinely a con artist.

"Are you serious about that? Ten thousand won?"

Han-bit pinpointed that last chat.

[ㅇㅇ has supported 1,000 won.]

[ㅇㅇ I'll really give it. Instead, if he's not a con artist, do a girl group dance.]

"I'd love that."

Even with the condition of demanding a dance, Han-bit readily nodded his head.

When they were providing ten thousand won for free, he had no reason to refuse.

"This will be fun."

Yeon-woo was already picturing the scene of Han-bit dancing.

He wanted to clip it and tease him every day.

"Then we're going to Julio, right? I'll show you the way…"

"Forget it, just follow me."

Han-bit messed up his hair and stepped forward.

His steps were so light, feeling as if he was walking down the streets of his hometown.

"Huh? We're going here?"

Yeon-woo asked as they abruptly turned into an alley.

"Just come."

Han-bit kept pressing forward, threading through one alleyway after another.

And a moment later, they arrived at a general store situated on a main road.

'… Wow, it really is exactly the same.'

The appearance of the store was perfectly replicated to a ridiculous extent.

Through the window, the store owner could be seen inside.

[General Merchant Julio]

He focused on the exterior rather than the name hovering above his head.

The greedy face and the jewels plastered all over his clothes.

It matched exactly with the appearance of Julio when he first saw him in the other world.

Crack.

Reflexively, his fists clenched tight upon seeing that face.

That day when he was locked in a prison for the first time in his life.

He could never forget the terrible memory of falling into that bastard's trap.

"How are the interactions in this game?"

"Interactions?"

"Well, since it's a game, there are things like casually not being able to touch NPCs, right?"

"Ah, if you're talking about the degree of freedom, don't worry. It's faster to find what you can't do. Though affecting the game progression is your own loss."

"Is that so?"

– The degree of freedom is truly unbalanced.

– Freedom bears responsibility.

– For real, there are guys who got permanently banned.

– There were many guys locked in prison too. Hahaha.

– There are quite a few cases where quests were entirely blocked off.

Looking at the viewers' chats, he somewhat got the grasp of it.

Simply put, if you're confident, give it a try.

Opening the store door, Han-bit walked inside.

"Welcome."

The owner, Julio, stood up politely from his seat.

Even that fabricated smile was recreated in all its disgust.

"Are you living like this here too? You garbage-like bastard."

"Excuse me? Why would you say such…"

– Crazy. Lol.

– A surprise ambush criticism;

– Did the AI hit a bug? Lol.

Unable to hold back, he spat out profanity, making Julio fluster.

The artificial intelligence endowed to NPCs.

Although Han-bit wasn't fully aware of the details, he heard its performance was considerably impressive.

If they brought that other world exactly as it was, his personality and disposition would be identical.

"Are you saying you'll give me a magic book?"

"Ah, so you needed a magic book."

At the mention of the magic book, Julio's expression returned to normal.

Inspecting the display stand, he continued with a regrettable face.

"I apologize. It seems the one sold earlier was the last one."

Looking at Han-bit, he took a step closer.

And with a smile, he said.

"It might be inadequate for a substitute, but I can introduce you to a shop. Instead, could you do me a favor?"

"A favor?"

"Yes. A thief broke in while I was dozing. Looking at this, it seems to be the doing of my rival merchant Atsbel, and I'd like you to go catch her with me."

Julio took out a small brooch.

A pattern like a signature was drawn on its back.

Ding.

Concurrently, an alarm echoed in his ears.

Letters trickled down on the hologram window that subsequently appeared.

[Quest]

Julio's money bag was stolen.

Use the discovered evidence to catch the culprit.

Objective: Arrest General Merchant Atsbel.

Reward: 100 Gold, Letter of Introduction for Fireball Magic Book (Rank 1 – Common), 50 Experience Points.

Time Limit: None