by Park Saenal
“Speak quickly.” Grid frowned.
The facility chief explained in a trembling voice, “Since the facility level reached advanced level two, it has changed so that experience is only accumulated when the ultimate performance is achieved…”
“Eh?”
“What?”
Grid looked horrified while Chris’ eyes became bloodshot. Chris stepped out on behalf of Grid. “So, what…? In the past, the experience value of the facility rose even when you only made low-grade potions. Now in the future, experience will only increase with the ultimate grade potions? Am I understanding correctly?”
“…That’s right.”
“This is crazy!”
The cost of producing a single health recovery potion was similar to the trading price of a super health recovery potion. This was extremely inefficient. It was much better to buy potions directly than to manufacture them from the alchemy facility. Nevertheless, the reason all Overgeared members used potions from the alchemy facility was to gain ultimate health recovery potions and improve the level of the alchemy facility. Once the alchemy facility was up and running, they were forced to keep using it to accumulate experience and increase the level.
Now the investment itself had become meaningless. Only the ultimate result would accumulate experience…? It really would be the beginning of ‘pouring water into a bottomless pit’ from now on.
“They are crazy.” Grid finally lost his temper. He forgot that the alchemists were watching and expressed his thoughts. The alchemists looked like the sky had fallen.
“Your Highness, please don’t say that! We aren’t crazy!”
“That’s right! We are sane! We are just explaining it!”
“No, I’m not talking about you.”
It was the S.A Group. The majority of alchemists were NPCs, so Grid swallowed the rest of his words. His stomach was burning. Alchemy! Ah, alchemy! It was the culprit that emptied his pockets, and it always hit him in the back of the head, making the stars visible!
‘XX… Even the CEO of the Sasung Group can’t reach advanced level 3 unless he is lucky.’
Grid was convinced of this. Alchemy—its efficiency was terrible compared to its potential. It wasn’t content that existed for players. Rather, it was merely a fantasy responsible for vague expectations.
Chris seemed to think the same way, “This isn’t a problem that can be solved by being impatient. If we invest money in order to raise the level quickly, our finances will be ruined. Let’s not hurry and just utilize the facility while maintaining the current operating policy. Then the level will rise slowly.”
“Do you want to reach advanced master level in 20–30 years?”
“…”
It might not be possible in 20 or 30 years. The alchemy facility couldn’t reach the advanced master level until their children’s generation. Chris became miserable when he thought seriously about it. “Fantasy content… Well, okay. I like it. It is worth it.”
A wide smile appeared on Grid’s face. Chris found it absurd that Grid was so happy.
Step, step. Grid walked forward. He stood in front of the nucleus at the center of the institute and opened the Rune of Darkness. A black and ominous demonic energy rose around Grid’s body.
[The activation of the Rune of Darkness has increased demonic power by 200!]
Grid ignored the rising notification window and placed a pale hand on the magic power nucleus.
Duguen! Duguen!
The magic power nucleus of Reidan’s alchemy facility—the giant amethyst breathing like the heart of a living being—started to react to the force inside Grid. The wide smile on Grid’s face couldn’t be erased.
“Grid?”
“Chris, have I told you exactly what Berith’s Power is?”
The 22nd Great Demon Berith’s power to produce every material that existed in the world at will was born at Grid’s fingertips. Berith’s Hoof emerged from Grid’s inventory and floated around the magic power nucleus. It was the activation of the Transformation system.
“Wait! Grid!!” Chris was shocked. Transformation was a system where a specific materials was used to enhance the inherent performance or transform it to steel, silver, black iron, or orichalcum. In other words, if the value of the materials used exceeded orichalcum, the system was likely to cause a loss. Enhancing the performance of Berith’s Hoof would fail. Berith’s Hoof would be changed to either steel, silver, black iron, or orichalcum.
“Hey! Stop!”
It was too big a gamble. The best metal that Berith dropped would be lost. Chris reached out to stop Grid.
“Transformation.”
He was one step too late. Grid had already activated the Transformation system using Berith’s Hoof as a material. Simultaneously, a brilliant golden light surrounded the entire laboratory and emerged through all the windows of the laboratory. The entire city of Reidan, which had a population of one million, had turned golden. After the light was cleared, Chris and the alchemists made the same sound, “Ah…”
They saw it. Berith’s Hoof emitted a mystical brilliance.
“This is Berith’s Power.”
Grid placed the hoof in his inventory and shared some of the Rune of Darkness’ information with Chris.
[★Special★
*22nd Great Demon Berith’s Power.
The ultimate falsehood distorts reality.
The ultimate alchemy manipulates all things.
-When activating the ultimate alchemy-
Activate the Automatic Transformation and Ultimate Transformation skills.]
[Automatic Transformation]
[Passive skill.
If you are targeted by a projectile, a metal shield made of defensive metal will be automatically generated in real time.
10,000 damage will be absorbed per shield.
* The duration is one minute.]
[Ultimate Transformation]
[Active skill.
The best result will be obtained when using alchemy.
* 10 days of charging time is needed after use.]
“I was angry at first.”
It was due to the preconditions attached to Ultimate Transformation. What was the prerequisite to use alchemy when Grid was a blacksmith?
“At first, I thought of it was a skill to be used in conjunction with the Automatic Transformation passive skill and that it would be possible to defend myself temporarily.”
Then Grid noticed that he could take advantage of the alchemy system. It was a matter that could be simply resolved by using the alchemy facility.
“However, as you can see, there is a separate method of use.”
Fantasy? It couldn’t exist before Berith’s Power. He had the power to make fantasy into a reality.
[The success of Ultimate Transformation has increased the alchemy facility’s experience by 1%!]
“…!” Chris saw the lord-only notification window in front of him and raised his fists.
“Waaaaahhhhh!” The alchemists embraced each other and cheered enthusiastically. They thought that Grid’s presence itself was a blessing.
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Chapter 1058
-Really? As expected, the value of the options is the greatest.
For the last week, Grid had devoted himself to hunting in the jungle, the first gateway of the Ruins of the War God. The followers in the jungle couldn’t easily stop him, Noe, Randy, Tiramet, the light elemental, and the Overgeared Skeletons. Randy was particularly active. The ‘doppelganger of the Mysterious Forest’, who could copy skills as well as the appearance of the target, evolved further with the development of Grid’s Swordsmanship.
“Let’s take a break.”
Once his stamina gauge flashed, Grid sat down and summoned Overgeared Corn. Overgeared Corn confirmed that there were no women and ushered in Sage Time. He started to lick Grid’s cheek in a humiliated manner like he was a prisoner kissing the feet of an enemy leader.
Noe laughed. “Overgeared Corn is
swearing about how his master doesn’t have a lover. A man who walks alone without a woman is the most pathetic and unsightly person in the world.”
Overgeared Corn responded like it was refreshing for his words to be heard.
Grid snorted. “I’m a married man. You are the solo one.”
Overgeared Corn gave up. He bowed his head and cried. Grid stoked Overgeared Corn’s mane, pulled out his portable furnace and anvil, and focused on the whisper. He was contacting Chris.
-So, who is the lucky protagonist?
-Vantner.
During Grid’s absence, Chris had carried out a campaign. It was a campaign that said ‘make things for yourself.’ The campaign was to keep the alchemy facility running non-stop while not putting the burden on the Overgeared Kingdom’s finances. The Overgeared members participated in it actively. Hundreds of Overgeared members came to Reidan every day. They provided the materials and used the Production system.
Sometimes, they used the Transformation system. Other times, they used the Option system. Of course, the Option system could only be used by a limited number of Overgeared members as there was a 48-hour countdown. Well, the utilization wouldn’t be high even if there was no cooldown time. There was a limit to the number of options that could be attached to each item, and there was a great risk that the value of the item would be slashed entirely if they ended up with the ‘coolness’ option like Iyarugt.
However, one lucky person had been born. It was Vantner. He was fortunate to have the best ‘Add Skill’ option added to his main weapon. There was a celebration throughout the entire Overgeared Guild.
The ultimate result in normal alchemy led to the facility’s experience rising by 0.01% percent. The best result in transformation increased experience by 1% while the best result in the field of adding options increased experience by 5%.
-A skill was added… I’m jealous.
-I thought I was going to die from a stomach ache watching him.
Vantner was the lucky one. Thanks to Vantner’s personality, he would probably boast about it for the next few years, making their ears sore. Grid grumbled for a moment before smiling.
-Well, I’m glad that the experience of the alchemy facility has increased dramatically.
-Yes. Grid, you guarantee 1% experience every 10 days. If this luck keeps up, the facility will level up faster than we think.
The situation was optimistic, and the campaign had greatly reduced the financial burden. The problem was the members who failed appeared one after another. In the worst case, the number of members using the alchemy facility could plummet and the rate of experience gain would slow.
-It is too much of a strain on the guild members. I will instruct them to increase the investment in alchemy at the national level, so distribute alchemy products to the members.
-Yes, I understand.
Chris was a top ranker. Among the two billion players, his power was at the top, and he had great experience running a large guild. Since he had many faithful subordinates and was a tycoon in the pursuit of founding a country, his actual pride was very high. Yet he was like this in front of Grid. He faithfully followed Grid no matter the circumstances.
Was it because Grid’s power transcended Chris’? No, humans weren’t animals. They didn’t simply give into power. The biggest reason Chris followed Grid was his absolute trust in Grid’s nature. As Grid gew up, Chris genuinely came to respect Grid’s attitude that abandoned his arrogance and looked around. Chris always felt the desire to stand at the top with this man.
“Then let’s start again.”
Grid intended to be the first player to reach level 400. He recalled Overgeared Corn and got up. Then a follower from a bush came upon him. The follower used a bull-like rush similar to Bubat and instantly narrowed the distance to Grid. The bushes and branches shook in response to the wind that blew belatedly. By this time, the follower’s sword was already drawing a frightening arc. The sharp end of the weapon headed toward Grid’s neck.
However, Grid didn’t respond. He didn’t have to go out on his own.
Kyak kyak! Kyakyakyak!
“…!?”
The Overgeared Skeletons dancing and laughter attracted the eyes of the follower, and the follower’s weapon naturally transferred from Grid’s neck to the Overgeared Skeletons. The weapon ended up hitting Tiramet’s chest, not the Overgeared Skeletons. Blood gushed out, but Tiramet didn’t blink. Rather, he scoffed and hugged the follower tightly around the waist.
“Nyahahahat!”
“Grid’s Sword Dance! Link!”
Noe’s claws and Randy’s swordsmanship turned the followers into rags. The furious follower shook Tiramet off and tried to fight back.
Flash!
The light elemental temporarily destroyed the follower’s vision. Grid’s basic attack slammed into its back. One time, two times, three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, eight times, nine times… Alex’s Quick Gloves, which increased general attack speed by three times, worked well with his transcendent status.
Previously, Grid was limited to the maximum speed and could only achieve six basic attacks per second. Now it was possible to go up to nine. He was even in a no-buff state. The follower kneeled down with a moan. Grid didn’t even look at the follower who was swept away by the black flames and turned to ashes. There was a smile on his face as he praised Noe, Randy, Tiramet, the light elemental, and the Overgeared Skeletons, “It was a great teamplay. Well done.”
“Heh, this is no big deal. These low-level guys are ordinary food for the best demonic beast of hell.”
“Grid becoming stronger means Randy is stronger. I’m happy…”
Kyak kyak! Kya kya kyak!
Clack! Clack clack!
Flash flash!
Noe, Randy, the light elemental, and the Overgeared Skeletons clearly expressed their delight at Grid’s praise. Only Tiramet was unresponsive. The true blood vampire was still unable to understand the reality of being a human’s pet. All the true blood vampires that Grid met so far had their noses in the air, so he thought it was right to give Tiramet time to adjust.
‘It will be different if we keep staying together.’
Clack clack! Clack clack clack!
“Stop dancing,” Grid scolded the Overgeared Skeletons and moved deeper into the forest. He planned to keep on hunting until the cooldown time of Ultimate Transformation ended.
***
The vampire cities and the Galgunos Temple were the exclusive hunting grounds of the Overgeared Guild. Both hunting grounds had distinct advantages. In the vampire cities, a large number of vampires appeared, and it was good for raising the Overgeared members’ skill proficiency. It was also possible for them to obtain jackpots like the vampire items and elixirs.
On the other hand, the Galgunos Temple guaranteed overwhelming experience instead of fewer monsters and dropped items. The high-levelled Overgeared members were using the Galgunos Temple while the low to mid Overgeared members were using the vampire cities as hunting grounds.
“Wow, I’m going to die. It is so hard here. What about the Ruins of the War God?”
In the Galgunos Temple, Peak Sword returned the beautiful Iyarugt to his sheath and sat down. He was still stunned. Considering how Grid could play solo at the terrible Ruins of the War God… he felt more and more like a distant existence in the world.
Vantner replied with a grin, “The ruins aren’t a big deal for Grid. Well, I’m also going to move my hunting grounds to the ruins.”
“You?”
“I’m too strong because of the new skill attached to my weapon. It is boring here. Huhuhut.”
“Don’t drink a potion and tell me that. You will die.”
“Hum hum.”
It was hard. In the Galgunos Temple, the frequency of the followers was too high. Peak Sword, Vantner, Pon, Regas, Jishuka, and others of the 10 meritorious retainers hunted together, but the Overgeared members faced new crises every time. Ibellin and Zednos,
the strongest members after the 10 meritorious retainers, had died three times in the past 10 days. Losing concentration for even a short period of time caused death, so the 10 meritorious retainers encouraged guild members to hunt in the vampire cities.
“Sigh. It is hard because we don’t have enough buffers and healers.”
The healers were particularly problematic. Due to the nature of Satisfy, they were forced to hire NPC priests of the Rebecca Church if they wanted healers. However, the Galgunos Temple was too dangerous for the Rebecca priests. The priests became reluctant to go to the Galgunos Temple, and the healing drought in the Overgeared Guild became more severe. At this moment, the drought was over.
“Please let us into the party.”
“Eh?”
The 10 meritorious retainers were helping the guild members hunt while blocking the paths of other followers. They were tired from the ongoing battle, but their eyes looked back. Only one person had the title of Saintess. Grid’s sister Ruby appeared in the temple with her friend and escort knight, Sexy Schoolgirl. The moment they entered the party, the Overgeared members were perfectly restored thanks to Ruby’s wide-area heals, and the members were happy and surprised.
“What’s going on here?”
Ruby and Sexy Schoolgirl had joined the Overgeared Guild since high school and were two of the few light users in the Overgeared Guild. They were studying, so their gameplay time was very low. Due to their low level, they were generally active in low level hunting grounds. Sometimes they were spotted in the vampire cities, but it was only sometimes. Why were they in the Galgunos Temple, which had a great level of difficulty? Had they gained so many levels after not being seen for a while?
Sexy Schoolgirl raised a V sign to the blank Overgeared members. “I’m a former university student who has transitioned to being a professional gamer.”
“…”
The power of the Overgeared Guild… The players they hoped would be their greatest power in the next few years were finally…
“Yes!” Vantner’s cry represented the joy of the Overgeared members. All guild members welcomed Ruby and Sexy Schoolgirl, and the party’s hunting speed increased by four times.
