Chapter 139 – 139. Ask an NPC if You Get Stuck

Time passed again. In the meantime, we hunted three more field bosses in almost a day. Thanks to the large number of resident personnel, it was relatively easier to hunt the field boss than at the sports center.

In particular, thanks to the large number of healers and supporters kidnapped from the Forest of the Missing, the battle became much easier.

But the important thing here is that even though I caught three, my level only went up by one.

‘Level 15 has risen to level 16 just by participating in battle…’

Starting at level 16, it became difficult to level up again. Even after defeating three monsters with full force to increase their contribution, the level only increased by one more, so even the field boss became an inefficient monster.

Because of that, I felt like I couldn’t get any experience points even if I killed zombies or skeletons. There is no reason to hunt the trash mobs. Of course, in order to supply and demand coins, you must catch and kill them, but it’s a big deal because the level doesn’t go up anyway.

‘Maybe it’s an arrangement to balance the power in its own way, since the power increases dramatically with each skill increase.’

And this is the most surprising thing I learned while leading the slaves and running raids as a group.

Classes that are considered general jobs. That is, Warrior, Archer, Fighter and Mage. As soon as these four classes reached level 15, they could no longer add skills, and their original skills were strengthened.

Their original skills themselves were ambiguous, but it felt like they were complemented by leveling up. The problem was that those who had already reached level 15 had their builds hardened.

‘Classes like me kept adding skills, but no one knows how long that will last. Unless there is an item or method that can reset the built-in build… Choosing a skill without a plan will end up suffocating..’

The general job is level 15, but the skill enhancement has already begun, not the addition. I don’t know in detail how the rarity or grade is divided between the jobs, but I was a bit embarrassed that the most common and low-grade jobs didn’t add skills from level 15.

I don’t know if the skill will be added later or if it will just continue to be strengthened, but it seems clear that there is a limit to skill acquisition.

If this trend continues, I, my harem members, and those with rare jobs will eventually stop adding skills. So, the build needs to be more systematic. Well, that’s a story when the level goes up a little faster.

Fortunately, among those who were at Hyoseon Girls’ High School this time, there were newly awakened ones. I plan to raise these humans systematically by referring to the advice of other awakened people rather than raising them randomly. It is to firmly grasp the concept and grow it.

‘But how can there be people who haven’t killed a zombie yet even though it’s been over a month since they perished… Of course, the elderly and the disabled would have been unable to hunt zombies…’

It’s a fact that I only found out after turning the disabled people in the auditorium into Alcid infected. Among the elderly and handicapped, there were those who hadn’t killed a single zombie yet. The problem is that they weren’t the only humans who didn’t kill zombies.

There were quite a few people with normal limbs and bodies who only avoided zombies and did not fight and kill them. There were literally no rice bugs, so I immediately brought zombies and skeletons and threw them to death.

As a result, as many as 24 new awakenings were added. Unfortunately, all of them were general Awakeners, but Awakeners are Awoken anyway. And among the regular jobs, a rare mage has also been added. Anyway, things like that happened.

“It’s fucking free.”

“Right. Is this peace…?”

I held Mer in her arms and sat on her rooftop, looking down at her playground.

In the playground, non-Awakened people were busy picking fruits from trees. In addition, Hee-seon’s older sister, who had picked up skinny pants from somewhere, and In-hye, a plant farmer, were farming hard.

From what I heard, it is said that he picked up what he bought as a banti on the day of the athletic meet and put it on. It’s a comfortable outfit to work in.

“Master. Do you know what Miss Heesun is planting?”

“Uh… I heard they plant potatoes and lettuce because it’s March.”

“That’s right… Potatoes… It’s a great pith crop.”

They planted potatoes and lettuce, and from morning they were compacting the soil and using plant growth-related skills. It was a very idyllic landscape that didn’t go well with the apocalypse, so I felt somewhat comfortable watching it.

‘Did they say that the spirits also evolved this time?’

There is a mountain and the inside of the school is also full of trees, so Hee-seon noona evolved a salamander and an undine last night. Salamanders evolved into Ifrits and Undines evolved into Nereids, both of which have now evolved into little human-like forms rather than beasts or slime-like forms. It could be said to be a humanoid spirit.

‘Both of them have greatly increased their firepower…’

They are now ready to be used offensively. When I measured the destructive power in the back mountain, Ifrit’s fireballs were equivalent to mage-class magic, and Nereid’s ice picks had very high killing power. Both were strong enough to break trees.

Seeing that, I even thought that Druid might be the strongest job in the second half. I still feel like I’m taking two wizards with me, but how strong will it be if those mid-level spirits evolve into spirit king-level ones later…

It could be a living natural disaster. Moreover, after farming together with Inhye, a plant farmer, he succeeded in signing a contract with a gnome, took care of Helgen together with Yewon on the roof, and signed a contract with Sylphid.

Gnomes can only level the ground and create fertile soil, so their attack power is close to zero, but Sylphid is a low-level spirit and uses a wind blade, aka wind cutter, and sits down. To be honest, if things go on like this, the position of the strongest belongs to Heesun noona.

‘One Ifrit and two Nereids… Even a gnome and a sylphid… Even with this, there is still one spot left…’

It’s just amazing that there is still one spot left after signing with five. Druids can make contracts with a total of six spirits.

‘While he’s getting stronger, he should go to the Forest of Corruption in search of Nous’ Bracelet…’

Heesun noona even has class-related set items. She is said to be the daughter of the World Tree, and she is a bit special, befitting a class that receives full support from Mangwijeon. Of course she is mine…

Anyway, Heesun noona’s exclusive item set is the Nous series. From the ring of Nous’ flower that she accidentally bought from a peddler, to the necklace of Nous that she got while evolving into a forest keeper.

I got the two items accidentally, but I’m not sure if I can get Noos’s bracelet by accident. Will the peddler sell the bracelet too… Or should I get it from the black market…

“Come to think of it, the peddler hasn’t come yet.”

“Right. It’s already Friday.”

“Are you planning to come tomorrow?”

There are already over 100 people in the school, so the peddler has to appear with a 100% chance. However, since he appeared on a random day and time, I couldn’t tell when he would appear, and I just had to wait endlessly for him to come.

“When will the jeweler and arms dealer come.. Ha~am..”

“Didn’t you say that those two would come almost unconditionally?”

“Huh. The jeweler said he was coming last time… I’ve never seen the arms dealer, so it’s time to come, but he still hasn’t come.”

“Don’t be too impatient, master. In the end, it has to come here. Apparently, there aren’t many people who can buy their goods anymore.”

“Is that right?”

Most of the survivors will have to come to us unconditionally if they want to sell anything. So, I’m sure all merchant NPCs will appear during this week.

“Come to think of it, are you going to see Cheshire tonight?”

“Yes. Because I couldn’t see you last week.”

“I see… I wish she could come here too.”

“If I could bring him out, I would definitely bring him out.”

Cheshire is unable to escape the black market. From what she hears, she seems to have said that she must explore the basement and find a piece of the soul.

‘A place with fanatics and demons…’

Demons are the parasites of Manma War. It seemed that some of them escaped from the deadly war and became trapped in the basement of the black market. From what I’ve heard, one of the demons with a fairly high rank has settled down, and it seems that there are things that I don’t know whether it’s his son or subordinate…

‘Because it means that you have to hunt the devil. Aram must be there.’

The piece of Cheshire’s soul must be held by a demon nesting in the basement. If that’s the case, I’ll definitely take Aram, the demon hunter. Because his job is a demon slayer, and the more he absorbs demonic energy, the more the job itself becomes stronger.

‘I’m going to go today and make sure I talk to Cheshire about the raid on the basement…’

Last time I said I was too weak to go in. I think they said that you have to be a dragon slayer to enter the basement of the black market…

‘Wait until then.’

If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to call Kisseria and ride it. Unlike summoning from the earth, if you summon from the basement of the black market, you might be able to summon for a little longer because the penalty for summoning is less. Maybe not, but…

While I was thinking about how to get Cheshire out, one of the slaves who had been scouting came up to the roof.

“Older brother!! A guest has arrived on the first floor!”

“Huh?”

“That’s… A bit of an unusual woman.”

“A guest, not a slave, came to see me?”

“Yes. That’s… I can see doll-like joints on her wrists and neck…

“Ah, a jeweler…”

Last time, it suddenly appeared on the first floor of the mart.

“Go right away. I will be back.”

I quickly went down to the first floor, leaving Mer behind. In high anticipation of what the jeweler will sell. That’s right, since she’s got so many coins from defeating the field bosses this time, you should be able to buy everything she sells.

“Long time no see. Cultist.”

“Are you here?”

A beautiful woman sitting in the principal’s office on the first floor. Dressed in a black gothic dress with lace, she was a doll that I really wanted to own.

In particular, her sparkling eyes were as beautiful as jewels… Maybe they were real jewels.

“Did you save some coins this time?”

“Yes. I knew you would come, so I collected a lot.”

“I see. Good. Very good. The parlor is much nicer than the last time I came. Do you like it.”

Last time, I put the jewelry on the counter at the supermarket, but this time, as we exchanged stories at the table in the principal’s office, it seemed that there was something more. She, who values ​​mood, seemed happy at the thought of trading in a place with an atmosphere.

“Okay then, I’ll show you the things I prepared for now.”

The jeweler took out a leather full of magical patterns this time, spread it out on the table in the principal’s office, and made a sound with his fingers.

– Right!

Leather at the same time as her finger snap.. Maybe parchment. Anyway, three ornaments appeared on the parchment.

[Dancer’s Earlobe Ornament: Creates an afterimage of the wearer’s movements. If you move at high speed, more afterimages appear, confusing enemies.]
[Price: 10000C]

[Krone’s Accessory: If you enchant an accessory, deadly poison will flow from the weapon. The accessory gets darker the more you use it.] [Caution. If completely blackened, the user is transported to the ruins of the Dark King.]
[Price: 60000C]

[Cracked Ankh: The effect of the skill increases even more when possessed by a player from the Shinshin faction.] [Caution. If the ankh is broken, it will fall to the bottom of the pit.]
[Price: 34000C]

“Oh…”

“How is it?”

“You have to buy them all.”

Dancer’s ear lobe is an item that can be given to Areum. There were no side effects, and it was an item that sniped at the dancer class. This will make the beauty around you a little stronger.

‘But the other two…’

The other two were extra-dimensional movement items. Krone’s accessories are sent to the place called ‘Dark King’s Ruins’, and the cracked ankh is an item that drops to the ‘bottom of the pit’.

‘If it’s the bottom of the pit… Is it the abyss? If it’s the abyss, it doesn’t matter because there’s an indicron… But what are the ruins of the dark king doing…?’

I’m curious. It smelled like it could be further strengthened.

“It’s hot too. I like it… If you do this again next time… I’ll give you a special service.”

“A service…?”

“Yes.. Very special service..”

There’s something enchanting However, her expression was very expressionless. Because she’s a doll, she can’t change her expression.

“Uh.. That, thank you for the service, but… Do you know about Noos’s bracelet?”

“Huh? Nous’ bracelet?”

“Yes. I am looking for it.”

“Hmm… Nous… If it’s Nous… Is it the mad deer king?”

“You know?

“I think I know. The lord of the oak forest. Although it is now called the Corrupted Forest.”

The jeweler knew something.

As expected, if you get stuck while playing a game, it’s a good idea to ask an NPC. While I’m already asking, I’ll have to ask about the curse stone, Eunha, and the automatic doll to be created through magic engineering.

No matter how you look at it, it seemed that a jeweler who only looked like a living doll would give us some answers.