Skeleton Master Chapter 029
The exam location was Kiku Village in the Hamma Kingdom.
Before departing, I organized my inventory.
[1,020 gold 27 silver 39 bronze]
There was less gold than I expected.
I checked the auction house system.
[Slow Poison]
A newly created poison that includes a special additive in the mixture of Molly and Creas. When it comes in contact with the body, it slows down movement.
[Instant sale price: 99 silver]
[Minimum order quantity: 10]
[Current sold quantity: 612]
[Remaining quantity: 388]
[Hallucination Poison]
A newly created poison that includes a special additive in the mixture of Molly, Creas, and Beer. When it comes in contact with the body, it causes hallucinations and continuous damage. However, it doesn't apply if HP drops below a certain level.
[Instant sale price: 99 silver]
[Minimum order quantity: 10]
[Current sold quantity: 531]
[Remaining quantity: 469]
Just over half had been sold.
Only this much, until now?
I checked other prices.
They were around 70 silver each.
"Sigh..."
Since the market price had dropped, Moo-hyeok had no choice but to significantly lower the price per unit.
At this rate, it might go down to 50 silver.
Then there's almost no profit left.
It would be much better to spend that time hunting and leveling up instead.
Or use other information.
This is the end for Slow and Hallucination.
But one thing remained.
Selling information.
Of course, I plan to proceed after all the poisons are sold.
['Hallucination Poison (x50)' is sold.]
['30 gold' is acquired.]
['Slow Poison (x100)' is sold.]
['60 gold' is acquired.]
Perhaps thanks to lowering it to 60 silver per unit.
The items sold quickly.
Meanwhile, I arrived at the general store.
"Welcome."
I bought Slow Potions and Tears of Confusion in bulk there.
Then I went straight to the herb shop and bought Molly, Creas, and Beer.
As a result, I only had 10 gold left in my pocket.
Whew, I hope I won't go broke.
If things go as planned, I'll definitely make a profit.
Still, I'm a bit nervous.
I shook my head.
Right, let's do it.
I quickly logged out and accessed the Illusion homepage to browse the paid information section.
Slow Poison. Hallucination Poison.
I searched, but nothing came up.
Fortunately, no one had posted about the mixing ratios and additives yet.
I thought there would be one or two.
This means I can monopolize it.
I hurriedly wrote posts.
[Title: Slow Poison Mixing Ratio and Additives.]
[Content: As many people are curious about Slow Poison, I will reveal the mixing ratio and additives that I worked hard to find out. First, the items needed for Slow Poison are....]
[Title: Hallucination Poison Mixing Ratio and Additives.]
[Content: As many people are curious about Hallucination Poison, I will reveal the mixing ratio and additives that I worked hard to find out. First, the items needed for Hallucination Poison are...]
Now I just need to post them.
100 won per post.
The user must pay that amount on the Illusion homepage to view this information.
10 percent of the incoming amount is taken as maintenance fees or commissions for the Illusion homepage, and 50 percent goes to the Illusion company.
The remaining 40 percent goes to Moo-hyeok.
It might seem tight, but because there are so many users of Illusion, if the information is good, one could expect quite a decent profit.
Please sell a lot.
I pressed confirm.
Ding.
The post was uploaded.
Moo-hyeok, after logging back into Illusion, steadily made his way towards Kiku Village.
A small village could be seen in the distance.
This must be it.
Kiku Village was desolate.
There were hardly any people.
Even the people who were there were mostly NPCs.
You could tell just by looking at their attire.
He approached a young man passing by.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Where is the Village Chief's house?"
"Oh, it's that one you can see in the center."
"Thank you."
It was easy to spot at a glance.
It was the most run-down place.
Anyway, he stopped in front of that dilapidated house.
"Excuse me. Is the Village Chief in?"
"Cough, cough..."
As the door opened, the Village Chief appeared. He looked as aged as his coughing sounded.
"What kind of visitor..."
"Ah, actually, I heard there was an exam hall here."
The Village Chief's expression changed.
"An exam hall... you say?"
"Yes."
"Could you tell me the exact name?"
"I'm looking for Groion's exam hall."
"Ah..."
The Village Chief's pupils shook.
He closed his eyes soon after.
"So it has come, finally..."
There was nothing to say in response.
I waited quietly.
"Ah, I apologize for showing an unpleasant side. Please follow me this way."
"It's alright."
The old man smiled and came out of the room.
"Please follow me this way."
"Okay."
Together with him, I left the village.
We walked along an unmarked forest path.
After quite a while, a clearing appeared.
"This is the place."
"Hmm."
The old man headed towards the right stone wall of the clearing and began to touch something.
Then, the center of the ground sank, creating stairs.
"You can go down."
"Thank you."
After thanking him, Moo-hyeok went down the stairs.
The old man, watching his figure, muttered lowly.
"I hope this ends my karmic debt..."
And then he touched the stone wall again.
Grrrr.
With that sound, the stairs disappeared.
Meanwhile.
Moo-hyeok's eyes widened as he came down the stairs.
"Oho..."
The walls all around were made of iron.
The center looked like a training ground, and in the middle of it stood an armored statue.
The moment he stepped onto the training ground, a message appeared.
['Groion's Exam Hall' has been discovered.]
['Qualification for the Exam' is being verified.]
['Groion's Ring' is reacting.]
At that moment, light burst from the ring and enveloped the statue in the center.
It was then that the petrified statue opened its eyes.
[Bearer of Groion's relic.]
A strange voice echoed.
[I shall test your qualification. Do you accept?]
He answered the question.
"Of course."
Then, this time, light burst from Moo-hyeok's body and enveloped the statue.
[Your 'Level (31)' is being verified.]
[The statue is adjusting to the same level.]
[Items cannot be used.]
[Skills are sealed.]
[A sword and shield without any abilities are provided.]
This is it.
The fact that the level is adjusted to match the opponent's level was the only hidden loophole in Groion's test.
Not being able to use items and skills is indeed a significant disadvantage.
However, Moo-hyeok's skill is just summoning, nothing more.
Moreover, even without items, his pure stats were Strength 27, Agility 12, Vitality 13, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 14.
Although he had focused on raising Strength for crafting, considering he was level 31, his Agility and Vitality were by no means low.
Excluding Intelligence and Wisdom, the total sum of stats was a whopping 52.
Even after subtracting the 3 basic stats given for each, it's still 43.
If the statue's level was adjusted to 31, it would likely have received 30 bonus stats.
Unless the basic stats were overwhelmingly superior, it was a battle that couldn't be lost.
[Prove your qualification.]
The statue kicked off the ground.
The sword and shield in the statue's hands drew closer.
Its Agility is higher than mine.
But Moo-hyeok had high Strength stats.
His reaction was a bit slow, but he blocked the attack with the temporarily acquired shield, and just before the impact disappeared, he pushed the shield forcefully.
The statue staggered, overwhelmed by the force.
Not missing that opening, he thrust his sword forward and slashed at the statue's legs.
Clang!
Stone fragments flew in all directions.
[You block the enemy's attack with your shield.]
[Damage is reduced.]
[Attack successful.]
[66 damage inflicted.]
Finally, the damage appeared.
If it's 66...
Moo-hyeok's current Strength is 27.
In other words, the damage is 81.
Since 15 damage was reduced, it means the defense is 15, which also means the Vitality is 15.
At that moment, the statue swung its sword again.
This time, he didn't block with the shield.
With a heavy impact sound, his body was pushed back.
[You take 32 damage.]
Moo-hyeok's current health is 13.
In other words, his defense is 13.
But since 32 damage came in, it means the statue's damage is 45, which translates to a strength stat of 15.
Strength, agility, and vitality all 15?
Agility and vitality were similar, but Moo-hyeok's strength was overwhelmingly higher, so if he fought carefully, he had no choice but to win.
That's why Moo-hyeok never attacked first.
He always defended first, then looked for an opening to thrust his sword.
This repeated action continued.
How long had this tedious battle been going on?
Grrrr...
The statue's movements slowed down.
Good!
He spotted an opportunity.
For a moment, he almost rushed forward in excitement, but Moo-hyeok held back once again.
He thought there might be something unexpected.
At that moment, as if on cue, a bright white light burst from the statue's body.
It couldn't be a skill since skills couldn't be used.
But it was clearly a powerful explosion.
"Phew..."
What if he had approached?
He would have suffered considerable damage from that explosion.
Thank goodness...
He waited for a moment, feeling relieved.
As the dust raised by the explosion cleared, he saw the battered statue.
Judging by how its entire body was creaking, it had already lost its combat ability.
Still cautious, Moo-hyeok looked around for something to throw, but seeing nothing suitable, he nodded while looking at the sword in his hand.
He raised his head again, looked at the statue, and took his stance.
Immediately after, he threw the sword forcefully, and it struck the statue.
Crumble.
With that, the statue crumbled.
['Groion's Exam' has been passed.]
A message appeared.
"Whew."
With a sigh of relief, he approached the statue.
Something was visible among the broken pieces of the statue.
A document?
The moment he picked it up, the ring on his finger reacted.
[The ring and document are reacting.]
[The sealing power in 'Groion's Ring' and 'Secret Document' disappears.]
The successive messages made Moo-hyeok feel refreshed.
After leaving the exam hall, Moo-hyeok first checked the ring.
[Groion's Ring (Growth)]
Wisdom +7
Knowledge +3
MP (100)
MP Recovery Rate +20
Durability 100/100
Usage Restriction: Those who have passed Groion's Exam
It had incredible options.
Increase in knowledge and wisdom.
Increase in MP and recovery rate as well.
It was truly an absolute ring for a mage.
But this wasn't all.
As more of Groion's items are collected, the ring's options would improve bit by bit.
With additional set options on top of that, it could truly be called the best item.
If he could collect all of Groion's items...
He couldn't help but salivate.
Gulp.
With eyes burning with desire, he checked the document.
[Secret Document]
It's presumed to be the location where Groion's relics are hidden.
The description was brief, and the drawing was complex.
Where is this...?
He turned the document this way and that.
But it was unreasonable to estimate the location based solely on the drawing in the document.
After pondering for a while, he finally shook his head.
I can't figure this out at all.
Suddenly, a person came to mind.
The library librarian...
He decided to meet that person first.
Since they knew about Groion's relics, they would surely be of some help.
With that thought, he quickened his pace.
