Skeleton Master Chapter 045

Moo-hyeok's eyes stopped as he was reading countless posts.

[They say that dungeon is super easy, you know? It has 3 floors and the final boss is a Dark Knight. But apparently it's really weak. It doesn't even use skills...]

The scattered pieces of information had finally come together.

Hmm, so...

The Phoenix Guild's search party had cleared the dungeon and passed detailed information about it to the Guardian Guild.

The dungeon currently held by the Guardian Guild is Unique rank.

It takes some time to clear since it has 3 floors, but the difficulty isn't very high.

The Dark Knight that appears at the end doesn't use any skills and just charges mindlessly while mounted on horseback.

Most likely, one of the Guardian Guild members who heard this information told others around them, and that story gradually spread.

Thanks to that, he found out.

That the quest had affected the dungeon.

It's certain.

This was fortunate. Clearing a dungeon connected to the quest would likely yield a high chance of obtaining a skull.

Of course, he'd need to experience it a few more times to be completely sure.

That's when it happened.

Creeak.

The study door opened.

"Hm?"

His father, Kang Seonwoo, adjusted his glasses as he looked at Moo-hyeok.

"When did you get here?"

"Ah, about 10 minutes ago."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Have dinner before you go."

"I will."

Though his tone wasn't gentle, he had always been that way.

A brusque personality.

But Moo-hyeok knew. He remembered how his father had struggled desperately to find money for treatment when he had been completely paralyzed.

"Ahem."

He sat down on the living room sofa and opened the newspaper that was lying on the table.

Just then, his mother's voice rang out.

"Son, go get your sister."

"Okay."

With that reply, he opened Kang Jiyeon's door and went inside. He pressed the button installed on the exterior of the capsule in the corner.

Once, twice, three times.

Until she came out.

Finally, the capsule door opened.

Hisss.

Then his sister, Kang Jiyeon, appeared with a distorted expression.

"Mom! I said I'd come out on my own..."

She was speaking when she spotted Moo-hyeok and shouted.

"Hey, what are you doing here!"

"What else? I'm your brother."

"Ugh, so annoying!"

When you press the emergency call button, you hear a powerful sound that feels like it's scrambling your brain inside the game.

It's impossible to bear without coming out.

Because of that, even if you're in the middle of an important quest or hunting, you have to stop and come out.

Moo-hyeok knew this but pretended not to.

Shrugging his shoulders.

"I'm just doing what I was told."

"Urgh, you...!"

Just as a fierce battle was about to break out.

"Come eat quickly! Dad's waiting!"

At those words, Kang Jiyeon forcefully swallowed back the words that had risen to her throat.

"You'll pay for this later."

"Whatever."

Moo-hyeok followed behind his sister, smiling.

It was fun teasing her after so long.

Anyway, that feeling made him inadvertently smile.

"Stop smiling!"

Kang Jiyeon turned her head and yelled loudly. At that shout, Kang Seonwoo, who was sitting at the kitchen table waiting, said one word.

"Ahem."

That was all he said, but Jiyeon immediately shut her mouth.

That's just how fathers are.

"Let's eat."

"Thank you for the meal."

Having dinner together.

It's been a while.

Indeed, being with family was more enjoyable than being alone.

If only it weren't for Hyeyeon's usual questions whenever he visited.

"How's work going?"

"Oh, uh... it's going well..."

"Good, you should work hard. Getting along with everyone?"

"Of course."

Lying made him feel a bit guilty.

- Sigh*

But he couldn't reveal the truth yet.

He planned to tell them once he had something concrete to show for it.

Until then, he'd have to avoid being found out.

"Well, tomorrow's Sunday, so get some rest."

"Mm-hmm."

Seonwoo chimed in too.

"Eat plenty."

"Yes, you too, father."

Discomfort and happiness.

It was a strange time where these two feelings mixed together.

The next day.

Somehow, he ended up sleeping at his parents' house for the first time in a while.

Moo-hyeok's old room was kept clean as if it was still in use, so there wasn't any problem.

He woke up early as usual, but the gym was too far to go to.

Maybe he'll just go for a light jog.

After putting on a cap and changing into the workout clothes that were still at home, he left his room.

"Hm? You're up already?"

His mother Hyeyeon was preparing breakfast.

"Yeah, I'm going to exercise a bit."

"What exercise?"

"I do it every day nowadays."

"Really? Come back soon, you need to eat breakfast."

"Okay."

He went outside and headed to the nearby park.

There were quite a few people out even in the morning.

Moo-hyeok joined them and started exercising.

He jogged lightly around the park and used the outdoor exercise equipment to stretch.

After moving around for about 40 minutes, his back was already soaked with sweat.

”Maybe I'll stop here for today”.

Since he was planning on keeping it light anyway, he left the park.

On his way home, he stopped at a 24-hour convenience store and picked out a drink.

While waiting in the fairly long line, someone wearing a mask and cap entered the store.

Just from their height and build, he could tell it was a woman, and she flinched as she passed by Moo-hyeok.

"You...!"

Moo-hyeok tilted his head.

Someone he knew?

But he couldn't tell since only her eyes were visible.

"Who are you?"

"Oh, n-never mind."

Then she went to the back of the store where the shelves were.

What a strange person.

By then, it was Moo-hyeok's turn.

"I'd like to pay."

"Yes, that'll be 1,500 won."

After paying, he glanced back as he was leaving the store. The masked woman was watching him.

When their eyes met, she seemed startled and looked away.

What's going on...?

He hurried away, hiding his uneasy feelings.

The woman who had been staring at him intently.

"So he lives around here, huh?"

Deep in the Orc Village.

She was certain she had met him once before, where the Orc Great Warrior appears.

How embarrassing that day was...!

That man who had ignored her words and even made her fall into a trap. She had just run into him here.

”I remember your face”.

Just you wait.

She was a former idol member.

And now an MC on a certain program - it was Yura.

-

A shiver ran through his body.

"Why do I feel so uneasy?"

With this unsettling feeling, Moo-hyeok arrived home, took a shower, and began enjoying breakfast prepared by Hyeyeon with his family.

It really is delicious.

Living alone, how he had missed this taste.

"Is it good?"

"Yeah, it's delicious."

"Oh my, you've already finished? Want more rice?"

"Just one spoonful."

Hyeyeon scooped rice into Moo-hyeok's bowl.

"Ah, that's too much..."

"It's just one spoonful. Eat it all."

This is supposed to be one spoonful?

It's more like ten spoonfuls.

Nodding with an idle thought, he emptied two bowls until his stomach was completely full.

"Whew, I'm about to burst."

He put down his spoon.

"Thank you for the meal."

Afterward, they sat on the living room sofa, eating fruit and chatting about various things.

Seonwoo talked about economics and politics.

Hyeyeon about her company.

Jiyeon about Illusion.

Before long, everyone was talking about Illusion.

"The world changes so fast."

"It sure does, honey."

"Illusion, huh. At first, I only saw it negatively, but now everywhere you go, all you hear about is Illusion. My friend even runs a business in Illusion."

"Really? Is that possible?"

"Mom, Illusion is no joke these days. There are tons of people who deliberately start as merchants to run businesses."

"Does it make money?"

"Of course. Users who just hunt and level up to get into the rankings can earn tens of thousands of dollars a month just by streaming and selling items."

"T-tens of thousands?"

"That's right. I just made $800 selling a decent item I got!"

His father nodded at those words.

Having experienced much in society, his father seemed to acknowledge that Illusion was truly massive.

And his mother was just starting to understand bit by bit.

Hmm, not bad.

Watching this, he felt somewhat relieved.

It would help when he eventually revealed that he was all-in on Illusion.

"Just watch. Every TV channel is talking about Illusion."

That's when Jiyeon turned on the TV.

[Today we'll be focusing on Guild Wars...]

It was just as she said.

Everywhere you turned, it was Illusion, more Illusion.

Of course, not every channel was like that, but when 3 or 4 out of a dozen channels were talking about Illusion, this level of exaggeration was normal.

Besides, even with exaggeration, it was clearly something remarkable.

"What do you think?"

"It's amazing..."

Just then, a Guild War scene came on.

Users armed with various magic, skills, and dazzling movements swept across the battlefield to overwhelm enemy forces.

That overwhelming spectacle.

The vast space.

Anyone's heart would race at the sight.

"Oh my, oh my..."

His mother marveled at the footage.

"Ah..."

She let out a gasp as it ended.

Being busy with housework and watching dramas, she hadn't known about these things. Now she too was captivated by the spectacle that could entrance anyone.

Coming to her senses belatedly.

"My daughter..."

"Yes?"

"Could Mom try that too?"

Hyeyeon's face lit up with excitement as if she'd returned to her youth. There was no way to refuse her request.

"S-sure."

The grimace on Jiyeon's face was just a bonus.

-

After having lunch and returning home, Moo-hyeok lay on his bed absentmindedly before suddenly seeming to remember something and making a phone call.

"Hello?"

It was Seong Minwoo.

"Hey, what level are you?"

"I'm 39!"

"Oh, you said you'd hit 38, but you went past it?"

"Of course! When I say I'll do something, I do it! What level are you?"

Moo-hyeok smiled faintly.

"I'm 42."

"......"

Silence fell.

"My phone must be broken. I can't hear properly?"

"I said 42."

"I think my ears must be malfunctioning."

"Heh, I said 42."

"Are you serious?"

"Yep."

"You're insane."

"Hey, never mind that. What was your class again?"

"Oh, I was originally a Martial Artist, but I changed to a weird class two days ago."

"Don't tell me, a secret class?"

"Well... It's a class I've never heard of before..."

"What's it called?"

"Spirit Fighter."

Moo-hyeok's eyes sparkled.

Spirit Fighter.

He hadn't expected Seong Minwoo to discover that.

Well, he wasn't the type to brag about getting a secret class in Illusion to a friend who was paralyzed and bedridden anyway.

"Are you free today?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Let's do some party hunting."

"Oh, nice! Where should we meet?"

"Hmm, come to the Hemil Empire Plaza first."

"Okay! When?"

"In 50 minutes."

"Got it. See you soon!"

"Yeah."

After hanging up, Moo-hyeok visited the Illusion homepage and browsed the forums.

He was just killing time until his death penalty ended. While there, he checked the announcement board and learned that the homepage would be getting an update in 30 minutes.

It would take 2 hours.

Looking at the details, he saw that they would display rankings of the top 10 best-selling posts from the information board.

There was also information about being able to monetize your own videos privately, with payment of 50 won per view.

This is getting serious.

The free board and tips board were similar.

While all posts on the free board and tips board were free, it stated that if you made it into the top 3, Illusion would pay 2 won per view.

This was only available to individuals, not corporations.

Broadcasting stations and large companies wouldn't be able to interfere.

In other words, it was a system for the users.