A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 42

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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 42

[Participants: Kael, Eden]

Eden.
The nickname of the man I’d seen in Boa Village.
And in this game, duplicate nicknames weren’t permitted.
“Eden.”
As I murmured toward the cavity filled only with goblin corpses, I heard footsteps.
The sound came from precisely the blind spot outside my field of vision.
“Oh no. Of all things, it had to be a hidden dungeon.”
“….”
What should I do about this situation?
I was perplexed, but he seemed equally so.
“Eden. Were you following me?”
“Uh, well. Yes.”
“…Sigh.”
Should I extinguish the torch now and use Shadow Fairy Tale?
With darkness affinity granting me double status, could I win if I fought at full power?
The chances of my unconventional technique—which I’d used once before—working again were slim.
“Kael. I didn’t follow you with ill intent.”
Whether fortunately or not, it seemed we wouldn’t engage in combat.
For now, I decided to hear him out.
“Then what is it?”
“I received orders from above.”
“Is that so?”
It was likely a lie.
If such orders existed, Sung-chul would have told me long ago.
If not that, then it would be a secret order even Sung-chul didn’t know about.
And that’s why I had doubts.
The Seo-gwang Guild I knew was a group that pursued profit.
If asked whether I was valuable enough to deploy an important human resource like Eden, I could only answer negatively.
“What kind of orders would bring you all the way here?”
“Your personal protection, Kael.”
“Hmm.”
An answer without the slightest hesitation.
Eden even continued speaking.
“We’re currently in conflict with the Six Heavens. Therefore, the Raheem Continent is an extremely dangerous region for you. Are you aware that there may be other surveillance besides me?”
“….”
Honestly, I hadn’t even detected Eden following me.
High-level tailing remains beyond my ability to perceive at this stage.
Unreasonable as it is, I have no choice but to accept it—survival of the fittest is the law of this continent.
“I’ve dealt with all the tails that were attached. They belonged to the Six Heavens organization. By now, some of their members have likely crossed over to Dran themselves. I mention this out of concern, but they are truly different.”
They’re investing in teleportation costs just to capture one person like me.
There was reason enough for it.
I already have a track record of fleeing Lis Village with over 500 gold.
And spending tens of millions to recover 100 million is not unreasonable behavior.
Even if they do capture me, the pocket dimension ensures they won’t recover a single coin.
“Then let’s go together.”
Tailing is inconvenient, but companionship is different.
A pleasant dungeon conquest is always welcome.
Besides, Eden was the one who monopolized the experience party back in Boa Village.
I should make my position clear on this point alone.
“However, for this hidden dungeon only, all priority rights belong to me. Do you agree?”
It shouldn’t be a difficult matter.
Until now, Eden has only tailed me, never targeting my spoils.
Anyway, costs and rewards related to the mission will be handled internally by Seoguang.
“Of course. I will only intervene if I judge you to be in danger, Kael.”
“Good.”
Fortunately, I concluded the negotiation smoothly.
It was merely a negotiation to enter a hidden dungeon together, but securing all priority rights made it a promising outcome.

[Entering the hidden dungeon, Throne of the Goblin King.]

I stepped forward and entered the dungeon.
The air felt noticeably heavier.
“I sense miasma. For a beginner’s dungeon, there are many suspicious aspects.”
The heavy air wasn’t an illusion—it was an inherent effect of the dungeon itself.
Eden called this phenomenon miasma.
“Monsters tainted by miasma become far more violent. It’s not just their temperament that changes—they grow stronger in every way. Normally, this is a phenomenon you’d only encounter after level 50.”
Then, several monsters emerged from the darkness.
“Screeeech.”
“Grrrrgh!”
The monsters were mutant goblins drooling profusely.
Their skin tone was noticeably darker, and the bulging sinews across their bodies clearly proved they were doped by miasma.
“I’ll engage them first.”
“Understood.”
Fighting a doped opponent wasn’t a bare-knuckle affair.
I too was constantly doped thanks to my infinite sustained buffs, but if they were using miasma—that all-stat cheat key—I needed to compensate my stats equally.
‘Shadow Assimilation.’

[Shadow Assimilation: Concealment rate increases in darkness.]

It was a simple doping—surrendering my body to the shadows.
But this alone triggered advanced dark affinity simultaneously.

[Advanced Dark Affinity: Basic stats doubled in darkness, increased resistance to light-attribute magic.]

Then I wove in Gale Rush, my existing combo.

[Gale Rush: Instantly conjures a whirlwind, pushing surroundings away while accelerating.]

Boom!
I leaped forward with Kael Rush, and the moment I closed the distance to the goblin, I chained into Instant Pierce.
Crash!
“Huh?”
The attack was blocked.
To be precise, the goblin’s skull, steeped in mana, endured the wooden sword’s attack power—adjusted by Kael Rush’s rebound force, Instant Pierce’s accuracy, and Seven Impact’s doubled damage.
“I neglected to mention: monsters steeped in mana have their heart as a weak point.”
“I see.”
As Eden explained, the goblins launched their counterattack.
“Keeee!”
Clang! Clang!
Simple weapon swings, yet the force behind them was tremendous.
It had been a long time since I felt inadequate in strength.
I immediately retreated and checked my status.

[Level: 25]
[Unallocated Points: 2]
[Strength: 41 Agility: 59 Vitality: 42 Wisdom: 44 Luck: 41]
[Eternity: 5 Mana: 2]

Unfortunately, I had only 2 unallocated points.
Even investing all of them into Strength wouldn’t close the gap.
I felt the necessity of equipping a different weapon.

[Greatsword of the Corpse Collector Shrouded in Despair (Cursed) (Masterpiece)]
[Attack Power: 49~64]
[Durability: 124 (Irreparable)]
[Shrouded in Despair: The weapon’s attack power increases explosively, but the weapon cannot be repaired. Durability recovers by piercing corpses with the weapon.]
[A greatsword once wielded by the Corpse Collector, who was the nightmare of Belhard Kingdom long ago. It clouds the user’s judgment.]

Rather than rely on Eden’s most reliable help, I decided to use the cursed greatsword as my second option.
At least this blade boasted higher attack power than my wooden sword, and unlike the blunt wood, it was a genuine steel weapon—sharp and pointed.
Perfect for tearing through flesh and piercing a heart.
Thwack!
“Kiiieeeek!”
“Phew.”
This time, fortunately, the attack landed.
The greatsword even began draining the cooling goblin corpse of its magical essence, restoring its own durability in the process.
Splurch!
But I wasn’t facing just one goblin.
I quickly drew the greatsword and cleaved through the charging goblin.
The steel blade felt distinctly different from the wooden sword—the grip, the weight, everything.
Slash!
Even a quick thrust cut through effortlessly.
I could sever a neck in a single stroke.
Perhaps there was some maximum attack power modifier at work.
Fortunately, the mutant goblins tainted by magical essence that I encountered first could be dealt with without expending mana.
“Huff… huff…”
After finishing the battle, I planted the greatsword in a corpse and caught my breath.
The heavy air seemed to demand more breathing than I’d anticipated.
“Hmm. This is your first time in a magical essence dungeon, isn’t it, Kael?”
“Hm?”
Eden handed me a potion from his subspace.
“To navigate a magical essence dungeon smoothly, you’ll need resistance buffs. Fortunately, I have a spare potion.”

[Superior Magical Essence Resistance Potion]
[A potion that grants magical essence resistance for a set duration. While the potion is active, you cannot be corrupted by magical essence. Crafted at the Mirsil Temple.]

“Huh? I can just take it?”
“Of course. Though I’d advise against using that greatsword.”
“What? Do you know what greatsword it is?”
“A cursed weapon with some rather nasty hidden options. My profession makes me sensitive to such things. I’ve also received considerable bonuses to Demonic Energy detection.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you have that greatsword appraised in a Major City, the hidden options will be revealed.”
So there was a reason the greatsword felt so good in hand.
If Eden was warning me this strongly, it meant genuinely malicious options were hidden within it.
“I see. I’ll stick with my current weapon then.”
I decided to heed Eden’s feedback.
After all, I’d seen the genuine concern in his expression.
I accepted the Demonic Energy Resistance Potion in gratitude and drank it down.
It was the virtue a newcomer should possess.

[Active Buffs]
[Demonic Energy Resistance (Advanced): You will not be corrupted by Demonic Energy.]
[Duration: 48 hours]

This potion was more expensive than I’d expected.
The buff duration was extraordinary.
As if reading my thoughts, Eden offered further explanation.
“Dungeons tainted by Demonic Energy require extensive time to clear. Naturally, demand shifted toward potions with longer resistance durations. The potion you just consumed is the most recently improved formula.”
“Ahem. How much do I owe you?”
So the potion I’d just drunk was indeed expensive.
He might even demand ownership of the dungeon rewards.
“No need to pay. It’s a potion the Guild distributes for free.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Clearing the dungeon comes first.”
I’d gained considerably.
If I could convert this buff into permanent status within 48 hours, I could solo even Demonic Energy-tainted dungeons.
“Would you like me to share the spoils with you?”
“Ah, I haven’t explained this. Weapons tainted by Demonic Energy are far less valuable than cursed weapons. The moment you take them outside, they corrode, and all manner of penalties attach themselves.”
In short, every weapon that drops here is essentially worthless junk.
“Instead, you get this.”
Eden drove his blade straight into the goblin’s chest, rummaged around, and began extracting a pitch-black gem.
“See for yourself.”
I accepted the black gem and opened my status window.

[Small Mana Stone]
[Experience Gained (Small)]
[Experience Gained (Small): You acquire a small amount of experience.]

“You can harvest mana stones from the hearts of monsters tainted by demonic energy. Even the small ones fetch a decent price.”

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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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