The Game of the Grea Chapter 14

[Translator - Pr??ks]

[Proofreader - Pr??ks]

Chapter 14

"Huff, huff, I-I almost died!!!"

Thanks to the users' quick thinking and Seonghyun's actions, Marlen regained consciousness.

She trembled, saying she could have been in real danger.

"Wow, I've never seen an NPC collapse before."

"Yeah, wasn't that dangerous?"

"Puhaha, co on, who dies from seeing a mountain of at and hides?"

They laughed and joked it off.

'As if an NPC would die from seeing a huge amount of items in a ga.'

That's probably what they were thinking.

However...

'It really was dangerous.'

Her soul had been half-way out of her body; it was truly dangerous.

Only Seonghyun could see it, so no one else knew.

Once the commotion subsided, Marlen marveled at the unbelievable mountain of hides and at.

'A-amazing.'

Many newcors hunted a lot of rabbits and sold them before leaving the village.

But a newcor who amassed such a mountain of at and hides?

She had never seen such a thing in her life.

And he even hunted a green deer and a tiger.

This was no small feat.

'I should inform the village chief.'

That a great newcor had arrived in Hindel Village.

As Marlen thought this, she suddenly noticed sothing strange.

'Wait? Did that mage really open the Hunter's Forest so quickly?'

The Hunter's Forest was originally a hidden dungeon that could only be accessed after befriending the sole mage of Hindel Village.

But Seonghyun ignored that and went there after hearing about it from a ghost.

He had skipped the process and obtained the result directly.

The mage had a rather picky personality and wouldn't have given in so easily, would he?

But what did it matter?

How Seonghyun persuaded the mage wasn't important.

What mattered was that he had succeeded.

Looking at it again, the mountain of at and hides was overwhelming.

'I thought sothing had changed...'

She had thought he was an unusual newcor, but she hadn't expected this.

Never in her wildest dreams.

Although she was flustered by the sheer quantity, she was Marlen.

She quickly assessed the piled-up rabbits.

"One hundred... thirty... two rabbits. Plus, ten green deer and one tiger. Since Seonghyun is a regular, I'll give you 10 silver per rabbit, 100 silver per green deer at, 300 silver for the hide, and finally, the tiger... the at is unusable, and the hide is 3,000 silver, so..."

A total of 9,640 silver.

100 silver equaled 1 gold.

Converted to gold, it was 96 gold and 40 silver.

But Seonghyun was a regular custor.

"Here! 100 gold! You won't find a better price anywhere else!!!"

"Oh!"

"Ehehehe!!!"

Seeing Seonghyun genuinely surprised, which was rare, Marlen let out a hearty laugh.

She had already given him a discount as a regular custor, but she added another 4 gold on top of that.

She wouldn't have done that if she wasn't truly impressed.

Seonghyun felt grateful.

"Thank you."

"Ehehehe! No, no!!! I'm the one who's grateful!!! Even with the extra, the quality is excellent!!! I'm not losing out at all!!!"

[You have earned 100 gold by selling items at the butcher shop.]

Marlen, the bold woman, still spoke with passion.

He had felt it before, but despite her outward appearance, she was quite warm-hearted.

While he was feeling grateful, the other users erupted in shock.

"No way?! Did you hear that? 100 gold?"

"Wow... I've seen people trying to complete the 50 gold challenge in the beginner village, but 100 gold is a first."

"Wait, is that even possible to earn...?"

"Even if you catch over 100 rabbits, you can't make that much... Where did he even hunt the deer and tiger?"

"Wait, is that even possible? At level 1?"

Everything seed impossible to them.

Perhaps this was the realm of geniuses that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.

They all gulped and made way for Seonghyun.

When the difference was this significant, they couldn't even feel envious, let alone jealous.

That's how the users gathered at the butcher shop felt.

"Wow, he even got the Steel Sword and defeated the Scarecrow in one strike..."

"He's truly amazing."

"It's like we're witnessing a future ranker."

"Right!"

They couldn't have been more excited.

Embarrassed, Seonghyun fled the butcher shop as he had done before.

He understood that they were acknowledging him, but it was still awkward to hear such praise to his face.

It was understandable.

Watching Seonghyun's retreating figure, Marlen chuckled at his impressive yet shy deanor.

Perhaps that was his charm?

Anyway, that wasn't important right now.

Marlen turned to Hans, another butcher shop employee, before attending to the next custor.

"Hans, please take this to the village chief."

"I'll be back soon."

Hans nodded in understanding at Marlen's unusually quiet and serious tone.

He figured it must be important, even though he didn't know the details, and headed towards the village chief's house.

Hans would at least arrive faster than Seonghyun.

With that out of the way, she felt relieved.

Thinking she wouldn't have to worry about it anymore, she shouted in her usual manner,

"Next!!!"

1.

After leaving the butcher shop and running for a bit, the heat in his face subsided.

Had he ever been showered with so much praise in his life?

He had received quite a bit at the training ground and the butcher shop earlier, but he still couldn't get used to it.

If he had been focused on sothing else, he could have ignored it.

'But it's a bit awkward in situations like this.'

It wasn't a bad feeling, but he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

He had finished his business in the beginner village, where he had maximized his earnings from selling hides and at.

He had achieved the remarkable feat of obtaining a whopping 100 gold.

'How much was 100 gold again?'

'What was the exchange rate? Was it 10 silver to 1 dollar?'

He had looked it up last night, but he couldn't rember exactly.

He vaguely recalled that 1 gold was close to ten thousand won.

So, even with a rough calculation...

'Is this worth a million won?'

A staggering 100 gold in the beginner village.

Even considering the high prices of at and hides in the beginner village, this was a significant amount.

Considering that most people only aid for 10 gold before moving on, this was ten tis that amount.

Seonghyun couldn't help but gulp.

He hadn't realized it, but this was a considerable sum of money.

'This is amazing.'

He hadn't seriously considered that a ga could be this profitable.

'Hmm.'

It was fun, and it paid well.

There was no reason to refuse.

It seed like his sister was supporting him too.

Above all...

'It's an Almighty class.'

If it were just that, Seonghyun wouldn't have taken it too seriously.

He would have enjoyed it for a while and then moved on, but not anymore.

An Almighty class, and the mories and experiences of the world's strongest Demon King.

It was a sha that Helena's soul seed to have attained Nirvana, but her mories and experiences remained with Seonghyun.

It would be foolish not to utilize them.

Seonghyun had already made up his mind.

To think he would decide to beco a professional gar after just one day of playing.

'Mom and Dad don't seem to mind too much either.'

They didn't say much, even though they knew his sister was making a lot of money from gaming.

Being absorbed in a ga and even making it a career?

From an outsider's perspective, it might seem like a failure as a parent.

Although perceptions were slowly changing after Eternal World beca a global ga-hit, it was difficult to completely change the minds of older generations.

Nevertheless, their acceptance of their children deserved respect.

'I should be filial to them.'

And also give his sister a piece of his mind.

Lost in thought, Seonghyun arrived at the village chief's house in the center of the village.

It seed like he had arrived quickly while pondering.

It was a larger house than the others, with guards stationed at the entrance.

Because of these guards, he had to complete various chore quests to enter the village chief's house, but Seonghyun didn't need such quests.

He had a secret weapon.

『Gruger's Recomndation Letter』

As Seonghyun approached, the guards beca alert.

Soone opened the door of the village chief's house and stepped out.

A sowhat familiar NPC.

'Wait? Who is that?'

He couldn't recall imdiately, but it was an employee from the other butcher shop, not the one where Marlen worked.

'Why is he coming out of the village chief's house?'

It wasn't really any of his business, but since Seonghyun was also coming from the butcher shop, he was montarily curious.

However, he didn't dwell on it.

He didn't want to get too involved in the affairs of NPCs.

"Hans, give

a discount on the at next ti."

"Sigh, you know how Marlen is. No chance."

"That's true. Haha! Well then, I'll head back in."

"Take care."

"Yes, you guys be careful on duty too."

Hans exchanged friendly greetings with the guards and ran towards the butcher shop.

Then, noticing Seonghyun in front of the village chief's house, he greeted him with a cheerful wave.

"Oh! Seonghyun, isn't it!

Huh, to think you're already here to see the village chief! As expected, you're amazing! May your path be forever blessed!

See you!"

"Ah, yes. Thank you?"

Hans dashed off before Seonghyun could even finish his reply.

Seeing his speed, Seonghyun understood why he had arrived later.

Anyway, that wasn't important.

After Hans left, the two guards turned their attention back to Seonghyun and said,

"We can't let just any newcor in here."

"You need to help us with our chores before we can let you in."

Looking at the stern guards, Seonghyun presented the 『Gruger's Recomndation Letter』 he had prepared in advance.

"Gasp!?? I-Instructor Gruger's Recomndation Letter!?!"

"So-so you're that newcor!!! We apologize for taking up your ti! Please, co in!"

"To think you're the newcor recognized by Instructor Gruger! We're sorry we didn't recognize you!"

"Khaha! To be acknowledged by Instructor Gruger, you must be truly remarkable! Indeed!"

"Huh? Ah, yes, thank you..."

Flustered by the guards' continuous praise, Seonghyun accepted their enthusiastic greetings and stood before the village chief's house.

One of the guards knocked on the door and announced,

"Village Chief! The newcor with Instructor Gruger's Recomndation Letter is here."

"..."

Although there was no audible response from inside, the guard took it as permission and kindly opened the door for him.

"Here, co in. Haha. It's an honor to et a newcor like you!"

"You'll be the pride of our village!"

"Tha...nk you."

Seonghyun entered the village chief's house, blushing with embarrassnt.

An elderly man sitting in a rocking chair in the living room looked at Seonghyun and twitched his long eyebrows.

Although his eyes were hidden within his wrinkles, Seonghyun felt as if he had made eye contact with him.

"Hello, my na is Seonghyun."

"... Nice to et you. I am Pam, the leader of this Hindel Village."

When Seonghyun greeted him, the village chief responded with a greeting of his own. His voice, unlike his frail appearance, was filled with strength.

Seonghyun couldn't help but feel slightly impressed by his aura.

It was the first ti he had heard such a robust voice from soone so incredibly aged.

Noticing Seonghyun's surprise, Village Chief Pam gestured towards the chair with a familiar motion.

"Have a seat."

"Ah, thank you."

At Village Chief Pam's invitation, Seonghyun sat down on the chair facing the rocking chair.

Once Seonghyun was seated, Pam spoke.

"...I heard you cleared the Hunter's Forest?"

"Ah, yes."

Seonghyun didn't bother asking how he knew. He assud it was just the ga system and moved on.

'So, after this conversation with the village chief, I can move on to the next village, right?'

As Seonghyun smiled in anticipation, Village Chief Pam said sothing unexpected.

"It has been a long-standing tradition in our village to give a gift to adventurers who clear the Hunter's Forest. Since you are a newcor, I wouldn't hesitate to offer you an heirloom of our family."

"An heirloom...?"

It sounded familiar.

'No way, it can't be.'

Seonghyun waited with bated breath.

Village Chief Pam continued,

"It's a Green Deer Leather Gloves, a part of the Forest Hunter set that doesn't drop in the Hunter's Forest. I'll tell you where it is."

"Ah."

He couldn't bring himself to say, "But I already know where it is."

'To think that the old ghost was the previous village chief's ghost...'

'Should I ask for a different reward?'

Caught in this awkward situation, Seonghyun felt a cold sweat trickling down his back as Village Chief Pam's long eyebrows twitched and his eyes seed to widen slightly.

And then...

"...Those gloves you're wearing... they look familiar..."

Seonghyun, usually calm and composed, felt a cold sweat trickling down his back.

Gulp.

'What should I say?'

That was the only thought that filled his mind. Thanks to his normally calm nature, his mind raced.

He recalled Helena's mories, a lifeti spent on the run as the Demon King.

Helena, a master of escaping difficult situations, would have been able to smoothly talk her way out of this.

As he delved into her mories, a brilliant idea surfaced.

'As expected of Helena!'

"I can't simply accept a precious family heirloom like that."

"...Hmm."

A tactful refusal.

He had phrased it politely, so as not to offend the listener.

Village Chief Pam nodded in agreent.

"...Since you say so, I understand."

"Whew."

"Well, it seems you already have sothing similar."

"..."

'So he did recognize them.'

“...”

'But it's a relief that he's letting it go.'

It was a bit disappointing to miss out on the reward, but he should be grateful that the village chief wasn't pressing the matter.

Seonghyun certainly thought so.

However, Village Chief Pam surprised him with an unexpected offer.

"Then I'll compensate you with sothing else."

"Huh?"

"Why? Are you surprised?"

"...A little."

"If the heirloom is too much of a burden, I must offer sothing else. That's how our family has always done things."

'What a noble upbringing.'

Seonghyun felt both admiration and joy, his anticipation growing.

Village Chief Pam's eyebrows twitched again, as if glancing at Seonghyun.

After a mont of contemplation, Village Chief Pam rose from his rocking chair.

Seonghyun wondered if he should help him up, but the chief walked with surprising vigor.

'Don't judge a book by its cover.'

Village Chief Pam walked steadily to the fireplace and opened a box beside it.

His movents were confident, as if he had already decided what to give.

He pulled out a staff.

A staff that looked like it belonged to a mage.

"Judging from your appearance, this staff seems like a perfect fit for you."

With a chuckle, Village Chief Pam handed him the staff.

As Seonghyun received the staff, which seed to possess a strange power, a ssage appeared.

[You acquire 『Staff of the Forgotten One』 from Village Chief Pam of Hindel Village.]

'Forgotten One?'

As soon as the question arose, Seonghyun opened the item information.

『Staff of the Forgotten One』

→《Rare 》

→A staff whose user has been forgotten over ti.

→Although the owner remains unknown after all these years, the faint power lingering within suggests that the previous owner was a formidable black mage.

→Slightly increases mana regeneration after using black magic skills.

→Slightly increases the power of black magic skills.

'Wow.'

It was the perfect staff for Seonghyun, now an Overlord.

Although it was a bit disappointing that it only offered a slight increase instead of a percentage-based boost, that was to be expected for a Rare

rank item.

It was an item he could be satisfied with.

He had thought he had already received all the rewards for the Hunter's Forest.

It felt like receiving a gift from Santa Claus.

'But how did he know?'

That this was an item he desperately needed?

'Does he know I'm a black mage?'

As this thought crossed his mind, Village Chief Pam changed the subject.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"Huh?"

Lost in thought, Seonghyun didn't understand the question at first.

Then, realizing what he ant, he imdiately replied,

"I'm planning to go to Perthville."

Perthville was one of the villages that followed the beginner village, Hindel.

It had several advantages, but his sister had highly recomnded it.

Had she ntioned that the instructors there were excellent?

Seonghyun had also researched it and found it to be a recomnded village, so his decision was swift.

Village Chief Pam slowly nodded at his answer, with an expression that seed to say, "As expected."

Seonghyun felt a strange dizziness from the village chief's reaction and gulped.

'Is there sothing more?'

"Find the gravedigger, Garrick."

"Ah."

[You have obtained a clue about Gravedigger Garrick.]

That was all he said.

But with just those words, a ssage appeared, stating that he had obtained a clue.

And this clue was sothing he had already heard about from his sister.

'Is this... a clue to a hidden piece?'

It felt like he was being given too much.

[Translator - Pr??ks]

[Proofreader - Pr??ks]