Chapter 129
[Title ‘Hundred Dog Master’ acquired.]
I got a new title. It was one I knew, but before I could even check it, another notice came right on its heels.
[The ‘Shepherd Boy’ proposes a flash quest.]
The representative Guardian of Scotland proposed a flash quest in the Korean server, an action that naturally demanded significant cost, since it was a direct System interference.
‘A flash quest when I’m not even a tamer?’
The ‘Shepherd Boy’ was famous for being a Guardian who exclusively sponsored tamers, so I was surprised to see he was getting personally involved with an ‘Observer’ like me.
[A note has arrived.]
The quest reached me in the form of a note. I immediately opened it and checked the contents.
[Note from the ‘Shepherd Boy’]
The ‘Shepherd Boy’ wishes to grant you a quest. The Shepherd Boy is currently looking for ‘Red Eyes’. The Shepherd Boy is certain that the ‘Red Eyes’ are somewhere in the Korean server. Find the Red Eyes.
Reward:
‘Hundred Dog Master’ title upgrade.
5,000 Coins
– (Currently hidden. Will become automatically visible upon quest clear.)
‘What the heck?’
I already knew about ‘Red Eyes’. The Barrier Magician who possessed Red Eyes, the young woman who might become the Red Demon in the future, was currently the just 19-year-old Barrier Magician Ahn Seohye. She definitely had red eyes.
‘Why is a Guardian looking for Red Eyes?’
And why a Guardian primarily active in the Scotland server? Why did the Shepherd Boy give me a quest to look for the ‘Red Eyes’ Ahn Seohye possessed? [Accept the quest?]
For now, I accepted it. Upon doing so, the Shepherd Boy sent me another notice.
[The ‘Shepherd Boy’ respects your choice.]
[The ‘Shepherd Boy’ grants you a favor.]
[The Shepherd Boy’s favor has temporarily added a special effect to the title effects of Hundred Dog Master.]
Just then, Sung-gu asked, “Hyukjin. The escalator going to the 2nd floor did get activated, but… we’re not gonna go up, right?”
Of course we weren’t. I had absolutely zero intent to clear this place legitimately.
“We’re gonna leave right away.”
“Using this?”
Sung-gu took out his ‘Beginner Free Pass Scroll’, the reward we obtained when clearing the U-Plex Dungeon last time. If we used this, we could leave the dungeon.
“Yeah. That was my plan, at first.”
The ‘Free Pass’ was, as the name suggested, a scroll that would let us “pass” the dungeon. But “passing” was not “clearing”. It was actually closer to “fleeing”.
“Sung-gu. Do you trust me?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Then would you trust me and give me your Beginner Free Pass Scroll?”
“…” Sung-gu made an unhappy expression. “But I only have one?”
“I know.”
Sung-gu blinked at me. I had long since imagined his possible responses.
‘I’ll respect whatever decision you make.’
In the current situation, the Beginner Free Pass Scroll was like Sung-gu’s lifeline. Without it, he would be stuck in the U-Plex Dungeon. The only way to leave this dungeon was this scroll. It would never happen and I didn’t intend on doing so, but if I were to take this item and run away, Sung-gu would be left behind, and before long, would die.
“Ah, f*ck it.”
Surprisingly, Sung-gu didn’t deliberate for long.
“Here, take it.”
He handed his Beginner Free Pass to me despite any doubt or regret such an action might bring. He didn’t ask me much, and I didn’t give him any useless explanations, either.
“Thanks for trusting me.”
“Why so sentimental all of a sudden? You’re scaring me. You and I both know you’re not that warmhearted. You’re not leaving me behind and booking it, right?”
“Of course not.”
I was talking to Sung-gu right now, but ultimately, this conversation was mostly an ‘act for the Guardians’. In this place of life and death, Sung-gu gave me his one and only lifeline without asking for any compensation or guarantee in return. ‘There are definitely Guardians out there who go crazy for emotions like trust and friendship.’
I was creating content to suit their tastes. Meeting the customer’s needs was one of a content creator’s duties, was it not? I would give them enjoyment, and they could give me physical rewards through the System in return.
[The ‘Conductor of Sound’ is impressed by the comradery.]
[The ‘White Hunter’ is impressed by the trust and faith.]
Luckily, the two of them were apparently in Senia’s channel.
[The ‘Conductor of Sound’ gives you 1,000 Coins.]
[The ‘White Hunter’ gives you 1,500 Coins.]
A simple act snagged me 2,500 Coins from the Guardians. Judging by the trembling of Senia’s half-transparent wings, a hefty shower of sponsorships was likely dumped on her as well, as my exclusive contract Streamer.
‘Can’t end it here, can we?’
Guardians had to be wrung for all they were worth. The reason I was choosing to enhance here, out of all places, was to give them a good show of my enhancement.
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“Senia. I’m going to start the enhancement now.”
“…Enhancement? Here?”
Senia looked around. A few Big Black Dogs were sleeping, and the Twin-Headed Big Black Dog was standing next to me. To be perfectly honest, it would be a lie to say this place was completely safe. Even people could turn on a dime, but monsters? No matter how amiable we were now, you never knew when they would become enemies.
“You want to say the location isn’t appropriate, right?”
“Yes. As I said before, when it comes to enhancing, location and timing are very important factors.”
Senia was saying typical stuff she should naturally say as an Intermediate Administrator. And she wasn’t wrong. If this were a typical situation.
“Scan my title. The Hundred Dog Master one.”
[Hundred Dog Master]
The master of a hundred dogs.
Induces complete submission of all pure dog monsters under level 30.
Grants extreme intimacy with all pure dog monsters between level 30-40.
Grants weak intimacy with all pure dog monsters between level 40-50.
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Shepherd Boy’s favor: Will not be attacked by ‘Big Black Dog’ monsters within the U-Plex Dungeon.
I intentionally picked this moment to share the title effects and gave a short explanation to supplement. “I won’t be attacked here by the Big Black Dogs. Also, they’re feeling a great deal of intimacy towards me.”
Even the boss monster Twin-Headed Big Black Dog currently saw me as a true friend, or a benefactor who helped him find his owner’s whereabouts.
“Big Black Dogs are pack monsters. They’re also feeling a lot of goodwill towards Sung-gu, a member of my group.”
This was something I confirmed with Eye of Perception. We wouldn’t be attacked by the Big Black Dogs. Our safety was guaranteed, meaning this was the perfect timing for the ‘enhancement content’ many Guardians were sitting on the edge of their seats to watch.
“I’m going to start the enhancement right away.”
I had a ‘One-time Free Pass Scroll Enhancement Permit’.
[One-time Free Pass Scroll Enhancement Permit]
A permit to enhance the Free Pass Scroll one time.
Required Coins: 50,000 Coins
It required a whopping 50,000 Coins, but that was fine. Many Guardians were focusing on this scene, and I would be able to clear the U-Plex Dungeon again.
“I need 50k Coins for each scroll, so 100k for both mine and Sung-gu’s.”
It wasn’t a small sum for me at this point in time. I would have to use a huge 100k of the 138k Coins I had saved bit by bit.
‘When going for something, you just gotta take the plunge.’
To be precise, this was an investment. An investment that would create the miracle of a level 32 Player clearing the unassailable U-Plex Dungeon once again.
‘From the standpoint of the Guardians, a miracle.’
I purposefully dragged things out a little. Right now, we had two Guardians from the Italian server, and even one from the Scotland server. It was probably a sign that Senia’s channel was becoming more and more famous.
‘I’ve waited long enough.’
I started enhancing.
[Enhance the Beginner Free Pass Scroll?]
[Calculating the enhancement success rate.]
The +1 success rate for regular items was typically around 100%. But this ‘cheat effect’ scroll would have a much lower success rate. I heard it was only 50% for the +1 enhancement, which was why it was a scroll most people didn’t try to enhance.
‘What percent will it be?’
It was fine even if the enhancement failed. That, too, was entertaining content in its own way.
[The success rate will be determined by the Player’s talent and competence.]
[+1 enhancement success rate: 120%]
It was 120% again. A little time passed, and then I went right into enhancing the second scroll.
[The enhancement was successful.]
By now, I knew this couldn’t be chalked up to coincidence. I was sure of it. At least in the under-40 period, my enhancement talent was world-class. Only ‘outstanding talent’ could possibly explain this result.
Sung-gu took the enhanced scroll with a sour face.
“You enhanced it…?” His jaw dropped. “But what’s with this effect? It’s not even just a regular clear…”
What I did wasn’t a regular enhancement. When I enhanced regular items before, I got blue and purple grade items. But enhancing this scroll gave a free ‘brown Clear Crystal’.
“It gives a brown Clear Crystal?” Sung-gu wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Aren’t you a sovereign? Why’re you so good at enhancement, too? Or wait, is this how it normally is?”
No, far from it. People with ‘outstanding talent’ for enhancement were so rare that Players good at enhancement were even called ‘craftsmen’ or ‘masters’.
“You’re a sovereign, you’re good at fighting, you’re smart, you’re popular, and you’re even good at enhancement. Ugh. We call blokes like you broken. You broken af mofo,” he grumbled.
His words might be derisive, but Sung-gu’s state was full to the brim with ‘happiness’ and ‘slight admiration’.
“Let’s clear and get out.”
I ripped the scroll and heard a notice.
[Brown Clear Crystal has been destroyed.]
[The ‘U-Plex Dungeon’ has been cleared.]
[Distributing ‘U-Plex Dungeon’ clear rewards.]
My eyes were blinded. We found ourselves in front of the U-Plex Dungeon entrance.
‘Ngh…!’
My eyes weren’t just blinded by the change in brightness.
‘My eyes…’
It was only for the slightest moment, but I suddenly felt extreme pain, like someone was carving out my eyes with a huge needle. The feeling was reminiscent of when I came face to face with the Demon King.
‘There’s no Demon King here.’
It wasn’t the same feeling. That brief flash of pain disappeared like it never happened.
‘Just now, that was…’
I suddenly realized what the pain I had just felt in my eyes meant.
