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 sh quest.]
The representative Guardian of Scond proposed a sh quest in the Korean server, an action that naturally demanded significant cost, since it was a direct System interference.
A sh quest when Im 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:<ol data-mce-style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li>
Hundred Dog Master title upgrade.</li><li>
5,000 Coins</li><li>
- (Currently hidden. Will be automatically visible upon quest clear.)</li></ol>
What the heck?
I already knew about Red Eyes. The Barrier Magician who possessed Red Eyes, the young woman who might be 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 Scond server? Why did the Shepherd Boy give me a quest to look for the Red Eyes Ahn Seohye possessed?[ept the quest?]
For now, I epted 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 Boys favor has temporarily added a special effect to the title effects of Hundred Dog Master.]
Just then, Sung-gu asked, Hyukjin. The esctor going to the 2nd floor did get activated, but were not gonna go up, right?
Of course we werent. I had absolutely zero intent to clear this ce legitimately.
Were gonna leave right away.
Using this?
Sung-gu took out his Beginner Free Pass Scroll, the reward we obtained when clearing the U-Plex Dungeonst time. If we used this, we could leave the dungeon.
Yeah. That was my n, 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.
Ill respect whatever decision you make.
In the current situation, the Beginner Free Pass Scroll was like Sung-gus 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 didnt 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, fuck it.
Surprisingly, Sung-gu didnt 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 didnt ask me much, and I didnt give him any useless exnations, either.
Thanks for trusting me.
Why so sentimental all of a sudden? Youre scaring me. You and I both know youre not that warmhearted. Youre 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 ce of life and death, Sung-gu gave me his one and only lifeline without asking for anypensation 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 customers needs was one of a content creators 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 theradery.]
[The White Hunter is impressed by the trust and faith.]
Luckily, the two of them were apparently in Senias 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 Senias half-transparent wings, a hefty shower of sponsorships was likely dumped on her as well, as my exclusive contract Streamer.
Cant 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 ces, was to give them a good show of my enhancement.
Senia. Im going to start the enhancement now.
...Enhancement? Here?
Senia looked around. A few Big ck Dogs were sleeping, and the Twin-Headed Big ck Dog was standing next to me. To be perfectly honest, it would be a lie to say this ce waspletely safe. Even people could turn on a dime, but monsters? No matter how amiable we were now, you never knew when they would be enemies.
You want to say the location isnt appropriate, right?
Yes. As I said before, when ites to enhancing, location and timing are very important factors.
Senia was saying typical stuff she should naturally say as an Intermediate Administrator. And she wasnt wrong. <em>If </em>this were a typical situation.
Scan my title. The Hundred Dog Master one.
[Hundred Dog Master]
The master of a hundred dogs.
Inducesplete 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.<ul data-mce-style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li>
Shepherd Boys favor: Will not be attacked by Big ck Dog monsters within the U-Plex Dungeon.</li></ul>
I intentionally picked this moment to share the title effects and gave a short exnation to supplement.
I wont be attacked here by the Big ck Dogs. Also, theyre feeling a great deal of intimacy towards me.
Even the boss monster Twin-Headed Big ck Dog currently saw me as a true friend, or a benefactor who helped him find his owners whereabouts.
Big ck Dogs are pack monsters. Theyre also feeling a lot of goodwill towards Sung-gu, a member of my group.
This was something I confirmed with Eye of Perception. We wouldnt be attacked by the Big ck 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.
Im 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, <em>and</em> 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-gus.
It wasnt 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 yer clearing the unassable 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 Scond server. It was probably a sign that Senias channel was bing more and more famous.
Ive waited long enough.
I started enhancing.
[Enhance the Beginner Free Pass Scroll?]
[Calcting the enhancement sess rate.]
The +1 sess rate for regr items was typically around 100%. But this cheat effect scroll would have a much lower sess rate. I heard it was only 50% for the +1 enhancement, which was why it was a scroll most people didnt 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 sess rate will be determined by the yers talent andpetence.]
[+1 enhancement sess rate: 120%]
It was 120% again. A little time passed, and then I went right into enhancing the second scroll.[The enhancement was sessful.]
By now, I knew this couldnt be chalked up to coincidence. I was sure of it. At least in the under-40 period, my enhancement talent was world-ss. Only outstanding talent could possibly exin this result.
Sung-gu took the enhanced scroll with a sour face.
You enhanced it? His jaw dropped. But whats with this effect? Its not even just a regr clear
What I did wasnt a regr enhancement. When I enhanced regr 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. Arent you a sovereign? Whyre 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 yers good at enhancement were even called craftsmen or masters.
Youre a sovereign, youre good at fighting, youre smart, youre popr, and youre even good at enhancement. Ugh. We call blokes like you broken. You broken af mofo, he grumbled.
His words might be derisive, but Sung-gus state was full to the brim with happiness and slight admiration.
Lets 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 werent 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.
Theres no Demon King here.
It wasnt the same feeling. That brief sh 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.