[Solved the tricky puzzle of the Tutorial Labyrinth!]
[Reward…]
Messages are pouring in like crazy.
I don’t get why the poop-cleaning deity is so happy one moment and then sulking the next.
《The Maiden of the Stars asks if there’s something you desire.》
“I need a mana-related item. Do you happen to have one?”
《The Maiden of the Stars scoffs, asking if you’re seriously questioning the obvious, and heads towards the treasure.》
“Thanks a lot.”
《The Demon of Samtan shakes his head, saying the Room Master’s smile is way too evil.》
“What’s wrong with me?”
─Click, click.
“Phew─”
《The Maiden of the Stars requests a trade.》
As soon as the deity’s message pops up, a cluster of light forms in front of me and turns into the shape of a necklace.
Ding!
───
[Starlight Necklace]
Grade: Heroic (EPIC)
○ Increases mana by 25%
○ Increases mana regeneration by 50%
◈ Vibrant Starlight: Restores 50% mana (Cooldown: 24 hours)
───
“Wow, not bad.”
《The Maiden of the Stars looks smug.》
A Heroic-grade item is one tier above the necklace Yu Bit-na had.
Just one tier, but the performance difference is like night and day.
“It’s decent, but for something from the deity, the options seem a bit lacking, don’t they?”
《The Maiden of the Stars explains it’s part of a set, so it can’t be helped.》
I heard about this from Yu Bit-na.
Each piece has weaker effects compared to individual items of the same grade, but when all pieces of the set are collected, they unleash a set effect. That’s why set items are far superior to single items.
They’re hard to collect, but if you can, nothing beats a set item.
“Alright, thanks.”
I hand over the book I was holding, and it instantly turns into light and disappears.
[Trade with the Maiden of the Stars has been completed.]
《The Maiden of the Stars feels a sense of happiness.》
Looking at the percentages on the item, it’s hard to find anything better. The problem is that my total energy pool is so low that the efficiency drops significantly.
In games, sometimes there are events that double the drop rate of gacha items.
Even if you double a 0.001% chance, it’s still only 0.002%.
My current energy and spirit stats are marked as B- in the status window.
Even by Wisdom Academy standards, it’s considered top-tier, and since it’s a special stat, it’s way more efficient than mana of the same grade.
But it’s still not enough. I got so caught up in the fun of combining undead that I mindlessly raised the tiers, and now I can’t even control a single high-tier undead.
《The Maiden of the Stars asks why Cheolsu is free-falling off a cliff.》
“He’s a person with a noble spirit, sacrificing himself for a glorious future.”
《The Maiden of the Stars is overwhelmed with emotion and sheds tears.》
What a sensitive friend.
《The Maiden of the Stars asks why Younghee is racing against a train.》
“Younghee ran until she got a stroke. Younghee and Cheolsu are seekers of truth. They’re the assistants of the Sage of the Stars.”
《The Maiden of the Stars is deeply moved by Cheolsu and Younghee.》
“Those two have been through a lot.”
[You will be moved to the Resting Room.]
While I was talking, a message popped up, and the surroundings began to change.
“I’m going to rest. If you have any questions while studying, just ask.”
《The Maiden of the Stars gives a thumbs up, calling it top-tier after-sales service.》
As soon as I finish speaking, the surroundings completely change. It’s the room where I cooked ramen yesterday.
“Wow, my baby’s covered in dust.”
“I’m sleepy.”
After getting covered in dust in the labyrinth, Baekseol looks all grimy.
“Let’s get cleaned up and sleep.”
“Okay.”
She’s slumped over, completely drained from playing so hard.
***
“Alright, all clean. Now shake it off.”
Swoosh-!
“….”
I told her to shake it off, but she just dangles from my hand and shakes herself.
Water drips from the hair I just wrung out.
“Scrub scrub!”
“I’ll lay out a towel.”
“Okay!”
After finishing the shower and stepping out of the bathroom with Baekseol, I see a familiar silhouette.
“Is Haetnim here?”
“Player Han Ga-eul.”
“Yup.”
It doesn’t seem like there’s a reason for calling my name; it’s more like a response.
While I lay out a towel for Baekseol to dry herself and wipe her wet hair, she sits quietly on the bed.
“Your physique is truly impressive.”
“Are you hooked?”
“……Han Ga-eul is perfect as long as she keeps her mouth shut.”
“Same old story.”
“I wasn’t talking about her figure.”
“Wanna eat me?”
Ariel, who had been staring blankly, quietly turns her head away.
After roughly shaking off my hair and hesitantly sitting down next to Ariel, she finally meets my eyes again.
“Did you come to ask for a kiss?”
“……Rather than that, is the rabbit okay?”
I awkwardly change the subject.
Following Ariel’s finger, I see Baekseol, who had been rubbing herself against a towel before falling asleep.
“She must have been tired from playing so hard.”
I bring Baekseol, who is sleeping on the towel with her belly exposed, and lay her on the bed, where she curls up.
In just a short while, her fur is already fluffy from all the rubbing.
“So, why did you come?”
“Didn’t you ask me to teach you how to use points?”
“Ah, right.”
“Han Ga-eul is the latest.”
Even while throwing off the towel wrapped around her and changing into comfortable clothes, she keeps nagging.
“Other players are already using their points……”
“Got it, got it.”
Tap. Tap.
“Come here and lie down.”
As I pat my lap, Ariel stares at me.
“Why should I lie on Han Ga-eul’s lap?”
“I’ll clean your ears. Just talking is boring, isn’t it?”
After a moment of silence, Ariel carefully lies down on my lap.
“Ta-da. Ear pick set.”
“You really carry all sorts of things.”
“I wanted to clean your ears.”
As I tidy up Haetnimu’s hair, she slowly closes her eyes.
First, it’s a small wooden ear pick.
I push Haetnimu’s hair behind her ear and gently insert the ear pick, carefully scratching inside her ear. She shivers slightly.
“Tell me if it tickles.”
“It feels good.”
As I carefully move the ear pick, Haetnimu’s stiff expression gradually softens.
“Han Ga-eul, be careful of the divine beings in tomorrow’s tutorial.”
“Why should I be careful of divine beings in a tutorial?”
“Normally, divine beings can’t intervene in tutorials unless it’s a legitimate transaction. But tomorrow is the only day they can sneak into the tutorial.”
“Tell me more.”
“I can’t.”
After spouting incomprehensible words, Haetnimu starts to snore softly.
She came to tell me things but ended up falling asleep.
Now I feel like sleep is coming for me too.
Holding Haetnimu and lying down on the bed, I have the warm Haetnimu in my arms and the fluffy Baekseol by my pillow.
***
[The tutorial has ended]
“What, it’s over?”
As soon as I wake up and open my eyes, the floating message in front of me makes me feel dumbfounded.
Haetnimu, who was sleeping in my arms, seems to have already left.
[You will be moved to the tutorial waiting room shortly]
As the space twists, the environment changes to the usual waiting room.
I guess I wasn’t the only one expecting more. The angel in charge of the tutorial passes through the crowd of murmuring players.
“Welcome, players. You must be very confused by the Tower’s message, but there’s actually one last tutorial left.”
The angel’s brief explanation seems insufficient, as the murmurs of the players grow louder.
The tutorial angel, watching this, waves his hand in the air.
Ding!
[Moving to Floor 0.5]
With the strange message, the surroundings change once again.
─Wahhh!!!
As soon as the surroundings change, a loud cheer tears through the air.
The players who moved with me also look around in a daze.
─Click, click.
“Whew─”
It looks just like the Colosseum, a massive circular building.
From the bottom to the top, it’s packed with people. There must be tens of thousands of people here alone.
Since even Yu Bit-na couldn’t explain the tutorial, I have no idea what’s going on.
Excited by the loud cheers, Baekseol starts wriggling around.
Haetnimu’s warning to be careful in the tutorial and the message that the tutorial has ended seem to contradict each other.
Ding!
───
[Floor 0.5 Event Match……]
───
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Just as the quest window was about to pop up, the message window instantly covers my vision.
《Choco Stone Monkey has sent an invitation》
《The Handstand Guy has sent an invitation》
《The Bird-Hating Righteous Thief has sent an invitation》
《A macho man cleaning cow dung sends an invitation.》
Probably the divine beings Ariel warned me about yesterday.
The 0.5th floor, which is a tutorial but not quite a tutorial. It seems the conditions for divine beings to directly intervene with players are being completed here.
Messages from the divine beings are floating around everywhere.
Among the endlessly rising messages, there’s one particularly insane being sending duplicate messages like crazy.
《Choco Stone Monkey sends an invitation.》
《Choco Stone Monkey sends an invitation.》
《Choco Stone Monkey sends an invitation.》
..
..
It’s the divine being who’s been throwing glances at me since the first day of the tutorial.
I noticed some divine beings almost blatantly naming themselves, but this Choco Stone Monkey doesn’t seem to have an ordinary personality.
No matter how freely they name themselves, I can’t understand why they included “Choco.”
“Baekseol, who do you like the most?”
“Choco!”
“Rabbits shouldn’t eat chocolate, right?”
“I like it!”
Since it’s a rabbit that dips flower petals in ramen broth, I guess it’s okay.
《Choco Stone Monkey is dumbfounded by the room master entrusting the divine beings’ invitation to the rabbit.》
“If you’re jealous, just say so.”
《Choco Stone Monkey shakes his head vigorously.》
As I place my hand on the floating invitation in front of me, the world flips in an instant.
Opening my eyes out of habit, a new world unfolds before me.
“Wow. What is this place?”
“Whoa!”
The scenery is so majestic it sends shivers down my spine.
Stone-carved structures rise endlessly into the sky, scattered everywhere.
─Click, click.
“Whew─”
While looking around with Baekseol, something shiny catches my eye in the sky.
What looked like a dot from afar grows enormous in the blink of an eye.
I’ve never seen anything this fast in my life.
Boom!!
A cloud-like explosion occurs before my eyes, and something bursts out from within.
“This body makes an entrance.”
“Whew─ Nice show.”
“Huh? Haha.”
As the cigarette smoke flies away with the cloud, the face of the person who suddenly appeared becomes visible.
“This body is Son Goku. The one who called you here.”
“Choco Stone Monkey?”
“Hehe, yeah. That’s right.”
The well-built guy is spinning around with an annoying grin.
The divine being’s tone is incredibly light.
“So, why did you call me?”
The guy, who had been laughing, leans in close.
I can feel his breath.
“Not the reaction I wanted? Sniff sniff ····· huh?”
“I said, why did you call me?”
“Huh?”
Pushing the approaching guy away, he dramatically steps back a few paces.
“You ate the蟠桃 (Peach of Immortality)?”
The guy, who had stepped back, crosses his arms and leans in again.
“I’ll split your head like a divided country. Peach or whatever, why did you call me?”
“How many years old was the peach? No, how did you even eat it? You’re human.”
The mischievous smile fades, and he suddenly becomes serious.
“Hmm·····. What is it? Even if it’s the蟠桃, is the fragrance really emanating from your body?”
This conversation isn’t going anywhere.
─Click, click.
“Whew─”
It feels like talking to a monster that doesn’t make sense.
Throwing away the cigarette and lighting a new one, I feel a bit calmer.
“If you have nothing to say, let me go. I have to do the tutorial.”
“The flow of time is different there and here, so it’s fine.”
“I’m not fine. Just tell me what you want.”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
He tilts his head, staring at me intently.
“Haha. Can’t help it if I don’t know.”
He’s playing all the parts by himself.
His unpredictable personality is going to be a hassle.
“I called you here for a reward.”
“Reward?”
Son Goku, who started giggling again, nods his head.
“You asked for a reward in exchange for an interesting story, right?”
“Just give me points, did you really call me here for that?”
Looking around once more, I…
It’s over.
After everything is done, I feel like I want to build a cabin here and live leisurely.
“Phew— Yeah, since I’m here, give it to me.”
As I reach out my hand, his laughter grows thicker.
“Take that.”
What Son Goku was pointing at was a pillar that seemed to be the remains of a stone building.
“You want me to take the pillar from your house?”
“Haha, you’re really funny. Yeah, that’s the reward.”
I think I definitely picked the wrong invitation.
As I approach the pillar and look back, Son Goku is laughing with a mischievous face.
“You want me to take this, right?”
“That’s a really good one. Take it quickly.”
No matter how I look at it, it’s just a pillar, and even when I touch it, it’s still a pillar.
Ding!
“What?”
───
[Ruyi Jingu Bang (如意金箍棒)]
Durability: 3%
Weight: 13,500 geun
Grade: Ancient Myth
[Owner: Son Goku]
───
This is the second Ancient Myth-grade equipment I’ve seen.
Although the durability is low, it’s still manageable.
“Oho. Hey, can I really take this?”
“Didn’t I say? The Divine Seat doesn’t speak twice. Of course, if you can take it.”
Ding!
[Owner: None]
As soon as Son Goku finishes speaking, the engraved name disappears.
The reason he’s chuckling like that is probably because of the weight.
13,500 geun. Roughly 8,100 kilograms, or 8.1 tons.
It’s about three times the weight of my beloved axe, Ppyongppyong.
Since I’ve only swung it twice, it’s not so much a beloved item as it is a bittersweet magic wand.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
“Puhahaha!”
As I pretend to grab the pillar and exert strength, Son Goku behind me falls over laughing.
I thought it was just a message, but every time he laughs, he actually falls over.
“Phew.”
“Uhaha! Uhahaha!”
He laughs uncontrollably, slapping the ground.
I wonder if he’ll get high blood pressure from laughing like that.
But there’s something Son Goku doesn’t know.
When I lifted the heavy Ppyongppyong with just my basic strength, it felt satisfyingly heavy.
I can still pull it out now, but this is a weapon. Lifting it and swinging it are two different things.
───
◈The Love of the Woodcutter Gungsangi for the Low Moon
[User’s strength increases by 20 times]
───
The effect of the woodcutter Gungsangi’s ridiculous request. Baekseol’s father forcibly took it from Baekseol and gifted it to me.
He probably thinks the headband I’m wearing is just for decoration.
“Ugh, this is tough. If I pull this out, I can really take it, right?”
“Uhaha, of course.”
“No hard feelings, right?”
“That’s right.”
“What about the Divine Seat?”
“It doesn’t speak twice.”
Ding!
I turn on the option I had turned off to control my strength, and a surge of power rises from my body.
Thud.
“Huh?”
Thud-thud!
“…What?”
Thud-thud-thud!
As I exert more strength, the pillar buried deep in the ground breaks through the surface and is pulled out.
“Huff!”
Crash-thud!!
The giant pillar that soared high into the sky shrinks back to its original size in an instant. Then, the stones attached to its surface fall off, revealing a smooth iron rod.
Ding!
[Owner: Han Ga-eul (天桃)]
“Teacher, are you satisfied? I thought you’d like something like this, so I put in some effort.”
Since I pretended to struggle pulling it out, Teacher Son must be very satisfied.
“Uh, uh… My, my, my Ruyi…”
He seems so happy that he’s speechless.
This must be why people work in the service industry.
“Thank you, monkey. I’ll use this well♡”