God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 85: Episode 16 _ Sow Beans, Get Beans. Feed Gold, Get Gold(6)
10.
Han Simin appeared in the Gloomy Forest.
"Over here!"
"Simin!"
The Specialists welcomed him with glad expressions.
On the approaching Han Simin’s left shoulder sat a golden bird.
"Is that the $1.2 million bird?"
"...Don’t even bring it up. My stomach hurts just thinking about it."
"Puhahaha. Still, it doesn’t look like a normal bird, does it? Its feathers are fine, too. What kind of monster is it supposed to be?"
Naturally, Kang Yeseul started by teasing him.
The memory of the skill book she bought for $6.1 million was a pain that wouldn’t be erased for a lifetime. Besides, if she didn’t laugh at Han Simin at a time like this, when would she? She was determined to hear a word of frustration from his mouth.
"This guy? It’s a Gold Dragon hatchling."
"I knew it! Just some unheard-of bird flying around the forest... Huh?"
"I said this bird is a dragon hatchling."
However, the words that came out of his mouth defied expectations.
"..."
"..."
Silence descended for a moment.
So that bird—the thing sitting on his shoulder, rubbing its head against his neck and acting cute—was the terrifying dragon that flew in imaginations and destroyed kingdoms with just a breath?
"Your imagination is likely correct."
"...That can’t be."
"Why can’t it be? It’s right here."
"Ha."
Frowns formed naturally on their faces.
Anyway, the result was that the end of the $1.2 million road was a dragon!
"What the heck. That’s good!"
"What’s good about it?"
"Getting a dragon as a pet for $1.2 million is getting off cheap!"
"This damn pig grows by eating gold, too."
"...Ah. Really?"
’Then is it bad?’
Sensing Han Simin’s intense pain, Kang Yeseul, who had been speaking casually since it wasn’t her problem, paused. It didn’t grow by hunting on its own and roasting orcs after being born, but one had to pay more money there, too?
Hearing that, it did seem a bit bad.
"So, did you invest gold?" she asked cautiously.
Han Simin invested much more money into the game than she, a second-generation chaebol heir, or the two Jeongs. When one looked at the reality, he was a miser trying to extract every single penny he could. Would such a Han Simin invest gold in content that was close to money-splurging?
A curious situation.
Han Simin nodded with a look like he was chewing on dog feces.
"I invested a whopping 7,000 gold more."
They gasped.
"...Seven thousand gold?"
"For that amount, it doesn’t look like it’s grown much."
"I didn’t spend it on him. Obviously. Am I crazy? Why would I invest in a pet?"
There was a moment when he almost invested for the taming monster. Since Han Simin’s own leveling was already a lost cause, he thought about raising his pets diligently to live comfortably.
But after regaining his reason and thinking about it, he realized there was no need to do that.
’Why should I?’
For what reason?
If he had to spend money anyway, wouldn’t it be right to choose to make himself stronger?
The rabbits getting stronger was certainly important, but that was a problem the rabbits could solve by hunting diligently. Right now, Han Simin was the one whose growth was limited.
So he chose buffs focused on himself.
[Character Information]
- Name: Simin
- Title: Baron of the Empire
- Job: Legendary Enhancement Master of Legends (3rd Awakening)
- Sub-Job: Legendary Legend Tamer
- Titles: 11
- Level: 30 (Required EXP +550%)
- Stats (0): Strength (269+55), Agility (261+110), Stamina (212+55), Luck (233+55), Mana (40+55)
- Skills: Enhancement (F), Absolute Enhancement (SS), Legendary Heal (S), God’s Blessing (SS), Taming (SS)
- Bonus Options:
1. Enhancement Success Special Option Add Chance +33%
2. Enhancement Success Chance to Increase Enhancement Effect +35%
3. Enhancement Success Rate +15%
4. Legendary Grade Item Effect +10%
5. Enhancement Success Evolution Chance +5%
- Gold Buff Effects:
1. Attack Power Buff Lv20: Attack Power +20%
2. Defense Buff Lv20: Defense +20%
3. All Stats Buff Lv1: All Stats +1%
Level 10 costs 100 GP, Level 20 costs 200 GP, and the All Stats Buff costs 1,000 GP per level.
The price was a total rip-off that made him groan involuntarily, but the effects were enough to make him exclaim, "Indeed!"
"Whoa. Attack and Defense up by 20% each? And all stats increase by a percentage?"
"There are plenty of other buffs, too. I just need money."
"...That’s a jackpot."
Especially for a character like Han Simin, who grew based on stats, having all stats increase by a percentage was a tremendous benefit. It was a way to overcome the penalty of a low level.
Money!
"I have to earn even harder."
Of course, Han Simin’s game goal wasn’t to be the strongest. It was to be the richest.
He was only investing because he felt character growth was necessary for that goal. He had learned that lesson the hard way in the Gloomy Forest.
’This is just the beginning; I can’t get stuck here and struggle.’
The users’ levels were still low. So, he could earn enough money by enhancing and selling low-level items.
However, to enhance the Gold Hatchling, the Ring of Blessing, or items that would shake the continent, the specs were insufficient for the current users’ level.
Continent scale! Martial power comparable to the Five Legends who once defeated the demons! He needed at least that much to enhance the items he wanted whenever he pleased.
That was why he planned to upgrade his armor this time as well. Something with a low-level requirement but a high grade.
"Let’s go. Since I’ve made up my mind, I should level up a bit too."
"...Okay."
Luck had found the Specialists.
The "Experience Cicada" was volunteering to serve for free; when would such an opportunity come again?
Han Simin and the Specialists, who had suffered greatly in the Gloomy Forest, began to stir things up, driving the rabbits before them.
11.
Kenji also reached his target level and started the Main Quest.
Including the time he died after going to interfere because his first-place rank was stolen, the gap had widened significantly.
His stomach churned, but he wasn’t a man who gave up on the present by being tied to the past.
’I just have to rise again.’
Although the overwhelming gap was hard to bridge, the advantages he possessed remained. Didn’t he realize that the difference between the Specialists and him was an artifact held by another person, not the three of them?
’They won’t hunt together forever.’
If they did, four people would have been listed in the rankings, not three. Kenji, unaware of the reality of the experience penalty, judged it so.
Thus, he saw hope.
He could start Act 2 of the quest even now, and the quest wasn’t finished yet. This alone was enough.
"Please find a clue as soon as possible."
"Yes, Guild Master. Don’t worry."
Numerous users dedicated solely to quests existed in his guild. In fact, thanks to them, he was able to complete the quest faster than anyone else during Act 1 as well. It was just that at the time, the level ranking and real-world business issues overlapped slightly, so he missed arriving at the desert by a hair’s breadth.
This time, he would not miss it.
While Kenji spent more money to increase guild members to proceed with the Main Quest and hunt simultaneously, someone came to find him.
"This is the Kenji Guild’s hunting ground. We would appreciate it if you turned back."
"I didn’t come to hunt. I came to meet the Guild Master."
"...Is he an acquaintance?"
"No, I just know that he is the Guild Master of the number one ranked guild and that he doesn’t spare money on talent."
Although he was stopped at the entrance, the Kenji Guild members were essentially full-time employees. They were people playing the game, but all their play was tailored for their employer.
Naturally, they didn’t show off power or act spitefully like in a normal game, but nodded politely and approached Kenji. Even to their eyes, the man with the serious expression seemed to have something about him.
"Guild Master, there is someone who wants to see you. What should we do?"
"Me? I’ll go."
Kenji was also an extraordinary user. He was quite famous, but not enough for random people to seek him out. It was like the shield of dignity from being the former Rank 1 and the Guild Master leading the Rank 1 guild.
If someone sought him out despite that, there must be a reason.
"You were looking for me?"
"Hello. My name is Dino."
"I’m Kenji. But what brings you..."
"I want to join your guild."
"...!"
Dino was direct.
Legendary Archmage! The confidence he had thrown at Han Simin.
Surprise was written on Kenji’s face. There were few people who spoke so confidently in front of him. Even excluding social status and such, people usually tended to be a bit intimidated by the numerous guild members waiting nearby.
But Dino was not.
Kenji asked, "Can you handle it? Our guild is special."
"I want to be Mr. Kenji’s colleague, not a hired hand."
"Well. Unless you are quite an exceptional person, I..."
"My class is a Legendary grade class."
"...!"
"And I have a debt to the Specialists—no, to the user named Simin, to whom Mr. Kenji also owes a debt."
Dino was a genius. He accurately caught the wound in the heart of Kenji, who had been through all sorts of hardships.
But that was a double-edged sword.
The calm smile on Kenji’s lips curled up deeply.
His hidden nature. And his wildness.
Dino had touched that.
"Let’s see then. If you have the qualifications."
"Anytime."
The two men headed to the hunting ground.
12.
Level 3.
That was the number of levels Han Simin gained in three days.
Considering the Specialists only gained one level, it was a speed that elicited admiration.
"...Shit. Now I’m 33."
However, anyone who knew his actual level could only click their tongue.
"Wow. That’s brutal, seriously brutal. The monster levels here must be 80, but a level 30 gaining one level a day..."
"The 550% required experience is huge, indeed."
"You have to add the fact that he doesn’t get the Blessing Ring benefits."
On top of that, one had to consider that he took all the hardships and adversity head-on. Others hunted while receiving full experience bonuses, but Han Simin hunted normally, so how could it work out?
Still, Han Simin, who had diligently hunted and gained three levels, suddenly made a declaration.
"I’m going somewhere for a bit."
"...Where?"
"The Empire. I need to spec up. Since it’s come to this, I should at least catch monsters around Level 150 to keep up with others leveling."
"..."
They couldn’t bring themselves to stop him. From the perspective of watching beside him, how could a human being stop him?
If she had to hunt while suffering like that, Kang Yeseul would have shaken her head. Even if she could endure everything else, the sense of loss from falling behind those hunting together was miserable beyond words.
"Then please work hard on the Main Quest."
"Yes, have a safe trip."
"Simin, bring back some ice cream!"
Receiving their encouragement, Han Simin left.
From the Specialists’ perspective, it was a section where leveling up slowed down again, but since they decided to think of him as a bonus obtained occasionally anyway, they moved for the Main Quest again.
"By the way, Yeseul, why go to the Empire to spec up?"
Then, a sudden thought.
Kang Yeseul blurted it out without thinking.
Jeong Hyeonsu and Jeong Seolah’s steps also stopped.
It wasn’t a problem they had particularly thought about. But hearing it, they were curious.
Why?
"..."
"..."
They couldn’t find the answer.
* * *
