A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20

“Compensation, then.”
“This sword was compensation, and the fur was compensation as well.”
I proposed a clear level of reward.
Since it was a Quest where I’d risked my life, a comparable reward was essential.
“Let me see that for a moment.”
“Of course.”

[Wooden Sword of Resentment – Mauro (Unique)]
[Attack Power: 24~44]
[Durability: 311 (Irreparable)]
[Imbued with Resentment: Triggers ‘Laceration’ at certain probability]
[Laceration: Inflicts wounds on the target that cannot be healed for a set duration.]
[A wooden sword crafted from Mauro wood. Meticulously maintained and nourished with fine oil for decades. It surpasses most steel blades and boasts unparalleled performance among wooden swords.]

The Training Instructor squinted one eye and began examining the wooden sword from every angle.
The outcome was predetermined without needing to speculate.
“…This is no ordinary wooden sword. I sense a profound resentment within it.”
“You could perceive that much?”
I was genuinely surprised.
Based on appearance alone, I’d expected something like, “That’s a fine weapon, excellent for taking lives.”
“Even now, I was once a renowned Mage-Swordsman who accomplished great deeds. Without the ability to manipulate mana, resisting poison is nearly impossible.”
“You must have been quite formidable. The instructor in Liam was indeed from the Royal Court as well.”
“That place has become nearly a metropolis now. They must have dispatched someone even more impressive than me. If the mana essence embedded in this wooden sword carries such deep resentment, and if that resentment originated from someone of Royal Court origin, then this wooden sword is an exceptionally superior weapon.”
“I see.”
In my previous life, mana was treated merely as an energy source, never my specialty.
Conversely, the Training Instructor was a mana expert.
In any case, the conclusion was that this was an excellent weapon.
“I understand the unique characteristics of the fur, I understand this wooden sword surpasses most steel blades, and I understand your desired compensation should match these standards.”
“Exactly.”
“For reference, I have no remaining weapons to give you. Those bastards took everything.”
The Training Instructor’s quarters had been empty for some time.
The weapons he’d used likely found new owners in China’s weapon markets or with influential Guilds.
“That’s fine. This weapon alone is sufficient for me.”
“I imagine so. Let me propose a different reward suited to you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll teach you how to use mana. If that’s insufficient, you could even learn swordsmanship from the Sword Guild Master nearby. Even if that old man is weaker than me, his swordsmanship is extraordinary.”
A new reward had been presented.
To summarize briefly, it was mana and swordsmanship.
“That sounds excellent. If I may ask, what timeframe are you considering?”
“It depends on your talent. I’ve never directly taught a foreigner before, so I’ll have to see, but if I’m the one teaching, that’s a different story. I’ll help you master mana within a month.”
Mana was not a status one could easily manipulate.
In my previous playthrough, I had unlocked mana by consuming an elixir obtained through countless hardships and trials, and in this playthrough, the standard method was to awaken mana only after enduring at least three months of grueling training at the Magic Tower.
Even those three months at the Magic Tower represented the highest record achieved by universally recognized geniuses in reality.
“…Can mana really be generated within a month?”
“Just decide whether you’ll learn or not. Since your life is on the line, I’m giving you the choice. If you won’t even accept this, then monetary compensation is all you’ll get. Once everything is resolved, the Royal Court should offer some reward money.”
There was no reason to ask about the amount of gold that would fall to me.
It wasn’t as though I lacked money, and what I needed most right now was strength.
“I will gladly accept any training you offer.”
“Very well.”

[Hidden Quest ‘Freedom for Boa Village’ has been updated.]
[The Training Instructor of Boa Village was deceived by foreigners and consumed a poison that cannot be detoxified. Having barely clung to life for so long, a savior named Kael from Liam has finally arrived. Now is the time to turn the situation around. Help the Training Instructor restore freedom to Boa Village.]
[Time Limit: 1 month]
[Objective: Normalization of Boa Village]
[Reward: Teachings of the Training Instructor of Boa Village, Teachings of the Sword Guild Master of Boa Village]

Moreover, the updated message was not all.
This was the type of content where rewards came in real-time.

[Hidden Achievement Unlocked!]
[You risked your life to persuade your opponent and secured an outstanding reward!]
[Wisdom increases by 3.]
[You have obtained a clue to the Hidden Class ‘Steely Negotiator’.]
[First Discovery Bonus!]
[Wisdom increases by 1.]
[Rumors about you spread throughout Boa Village.]

I had obtained my very first Hidden Class.
Moreover, all the stat increases were related to Wisdom.
Since Wisdom had been my most lacking stat, I was quite pleased with this reward.
It seemed it would be helpful when awakening mana as well.

[Name: Kael]
[Level: 11]
[Unused Points: 0]
[Strength: 22 Agility: 45 Stamina: 24 Wisdom: 18 Luck: 19]
[Eternity: 2]

At this level, I could overwhelm most players in my tier through sheer stat advantage.
Simultaneously, I had reached the threshold where I could fully activate Contempt for the Weak.
My total stat sum had reached 130, after all.

[Contempt for the Weak]
[Immunity to physical attacks from those with Strength below 10]
[Immunity to magical attacks from those with Wisdom below 10]
[Increased level penalty when opponent’s level differs by 10 or more]
[Immunity to physical and magical attacks from targets with a stat difference of 50 or greater]

In other words, anyone whose total stat sum failed to exceed 80 couldn’t even scratch me.
“Good. The rewards are settled, and now all that remains is for each of us to do our best. From now on, I’ll focus on recovery for a while.”
“Ah, wait a moment, please.”
The quest rewards included two masters.
The Training Instructor and the Sword Guild Master.
They too were struggling through a grueling battle while resisting the poison, so separate measures were necessary.
“Here’s an eye bandage.”
I cut another piece from my cloak and crafted an eye bandage similar in size to the Training Instructor’s.
The design allowed it to be wrapped around the wrist if needed, so there was no reason to limit it to just the eyes.
“This way, you can shorten the preparation period considerably.”
“Good. Then let’s finish preparations by ten days from now. Don’t go wild until then.”
“Of course.”
I had received recognition from Boa Village’s official powerhouse.
His acknowledgment meant free PvP within Boa Village.
It was essentially an opportunity to fully experience Contempt for the Weak.
“Then, in ten days.”
“Right. You brought those foreigners here?”
The Training Instructor pointed at the newbies who were beating the stuffing out of dummies with bleeding hands.
“Ah, yes. Strange fellows were dragging them around, so I brought them along.”
“Well done. While we’re at it, I’ll train those ones to pull their own weight too.”
“Oh, if that’s the case, then I’m grateful. Thank you.”
The Training Instructor gave instructions to the two remaining soldiers and then left.
He seemed eager to fulfill his duties for once.
Since the results would be the same, I decided not to interfere.
I left the Training Ground and headed out of the village.
I had devised a strategy from the moment I accepted the Quest.
It was a method that had worked well when I conquered the lands of the native barbarians, so I was confident it would prove effective this time as well.
‘In an environment where basic human rights are suppressed, conquest becomes simple.’
The operation’s codename was Chaos.
Literally, I would wreak havoc throughout Boa Village.
Conveniently, they would mistake me for the Black Dragon Faction, giving me limitless possibilities.
Therefore, to conquer Boa Village through multidimensional means, I planned to secure provisions first.
Since I had already acquired maps of the Chinese Beginner Villages beforehand, I set my first destination as the South Forest of Boa Village.
In the south of Boa Village, which belonged to a relatively cold region, dense coniferous forests thrived alongside animal-type monsters such as deer and wolves.
Unlike Liam, I could obtain relatively thick and durable practical leather here, and thanks to the frigid climate, it was a reasonably suitable environment for stockpiling meat.
Naturally, such a prime hunting ground attracted swarms of users.
“The does are over this way. The bucks are over there.”
The South Forest was far more crowded than the Fountain.
However, the atmosphere was distinctly different from Liam.
There were no merchant caravans to be seen.
“Kekhe! Only two died this time! I won!”
“These trash! I should have killed one more!”
Where the merchant caravans should have been, gambling dens had sprung up instead.
Chinese users covered in wounds from hunting wolves were even being appraised as stakes in the gambling games.
“Sigh.”
My situation assessment was complete.
What I needed in this moment was authority.
More precisely, chaos masquerading as authority.
“Listen up, you lot.”
I immediately inserted myself into the betting game.
Not content with merely joining the game, I provoked them.
“That bet—won’t you let me in on it?”
“Huh?”
The gazes directed at me split sharply.
The majority lowered their heads further, while some cast puzzled looks.
The hierarchy naturally sorted itself out.
Those who kept their eyes on me were surely the hyenas who dominated the South Forest.
“If I may ask, who are you?”
The man who had won at gambling hardened his expression and questioned me.
I answered with my blade instead.
Screeeech!
Crack!
The man’s head shattered from a powerful horizontal slash.
It was a natural result—my stat advantage combined with the effect of Seven Impact made it inevitable.

[Seven Impact]
[Strength +7 Agility +7 Stamina +7 Wisdom +7 Luck +7]
[The first seven attacks against the target deal double damage.]
[Duration: ∞]

Even the strong ones in the Beginner Village hunting grounds were ultimately just users who had barely shed their beginner status.
Stats don’t lie.

[Your level has increased!]

My level had risen as well.
I realized that killing users granted experience points—a fact I’d just discovered.
This was the same system as the previous game.
The South Forest of Boa Village was no longer an ordinary honey hunting ground.
“….”
The surroundings fell silent in an instant.
Even though I had killed someone, not a soul raised their voice.
Now my voice carried weight enough to echo without effort.
So I spoke quietly instead.
“Does anyone have further questions?”
No user dared question my actions anymore.
It was time to move to the next phase.
“Then it’s my turn to ask.”
The target was clear.
The pack of hyenas that had fixed their gaze upon me.
“All who have met my eyes will answer me. Those who fail to understand my words or attempt to flee shall face death.”
I gathered the experience points for a proper mass hunt.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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