A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 5

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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 5

Unique Grade.
It existed in the previous game, but it was a rarity—difficult to come by.
Legendary items, which ranked higher, were far more abundant, and Mythic-grade items, the highest tier, actually outnumbered Unique items.
“Unique Grade? That’s pure luck of the draw. Half the time they’re worse than ordinary gear. But when they hit, they’re insanely powerful—rivaling Legendary items. The problem is Unique items are even rarer than Legendaries, so collectors go absolutely mad for them. There’s only one of each in the game.”
Sung-chul’s assessment mirrored what I’d known from the previous iteration.
Unfortunately, in my past playthrough, I never managed to witness a top-tier Unique item.
“Kael! Look at this. Unique Grade leather panties. Don’t you find them desirable? The exquisite wear is the highlight.”
“What about this shell necklace? Isn’t it beautiful? And it’s Unique Grade, no less?”
When it came to Unique items, Japanese veterans from the neighboring country and hardcore players from Monaco had possessed far more than I ever did.
“But Kael! You must judge by appearance, not performance! Look! Look!”
“Check this out too. It’s a Unique Grade teacup. Pretty, right?”
None of these were top-tier Uniques either.
The leather panties were far better crafted ordinarily, the shell necklace had marginally better stats, and the teacup—aside from a trace purification function—was essentially worthless.

[Wooden Sword of Mauro Wood Imbued with Resentment (Unique)]
[Attack Power: 24~44]
[Durability: 320 (Unrepairable)]
[Imbued with Resentment: Triggers ‘Laceration’ at a certain probability]
[Laceration: Inflicts a wound 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 genuine blades and boasts unparalleled performance among wooden swords.]

This time was different.
The first weapon I obtained since starting this game was a top-tier Unique Grade item.
Its performance was incomparable to the wooden sword from the Training Ground.
“Ahhh….”
I caressed the wooden sword carefully.
The texture was smooth, and its durability rivaled that of steel itself.
‘I never thought such fortune would come my way.’
The urge to wield the sword immediately threatened to burst from within me.
Yet I endured with desperate restraint.
Having obtained a top-tier weapon, I felt compelled to align my buff slots to match that caliber as well.

[Active Buffs]

[Hearty Well-Baked Bread (Masterpiece)]
[Strength +5 Stamina +5]
[Wound Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

[Liam’s Eternally Flowing Water]
[Stamina Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

Before hunting the Golden Fox—my quest objective—it made sense to reserve the bread buff separately.
The water was also a buff I could refresh anytime.
‘I need to find at least one better buff than the bread and fill both slots.’
The Temple was out of the question from the start.
Priest buffs were paid services.
Besides, standing before the City Gate where people could venture outside meant plenty of foot traffic.
Among them, there were certainly skilled players.
“Eastern Forest guide needed!”
A level 20 player.
But with a bow slung across their back, they wouldn’t be a class capable of casting buffs.
“Long expedition! Recruiting for orc hunting! Sub-dealer and porter positions open!”
My first candidate group had appeared.
Recruiting a sub-dealer and porter meant the party included a buffer among its members.
But I couldn’t spot anyone who looked like a buffer.
The remaining party members were presumably recruiting elsewhere at another gate or waiting at a different location.
“There’s a performance at the Fang Tavern this evening. Please come!”
My second candidate group.
Their voice carried without shouting—it pierced the ear naturally.
They appeared to possess a bard-class job.
“Hmm.”
They likely had song-related buffs.
However, the performance time didn’t align with my schedule.
Asking them outright for a buff before their performance would likely result in refusal—they had a show to prepare for.
“…This is harder than I thought.”
I decided to observe more people.
Perhaps simply begging a random passerby for a buff would be better.
‘A buffer wouldn’t bother wearing heavy defensive armor.’
Adding just one filter—excluding metal armor—to my search criteria drastically reduced the pool of potential targets.
“Excuse me, are you a buffer?”
“I’m a mage.”
“My apologies.”
“…What’s this?”
I was a newbie anyway.
Even an odd question wouldn’t be seen as troublesome.
“Are you a buffer?”
“I’m a leather merchant.”
“My apologies.”
“?”
Since I’d had little success so far, I moved with greater urgency and asked again.
“Are you a buffer?”
“No.”
“My apologies.”
That made thirty people.
Buffers were still proving difficult to find.
“This is becoming a problem.”
Of course, there was a faster, simpler way to find a buffer.
It involved lying down and shouting to draw attention.
But that method destroyed human dignity.
Having made the decision to enter this civilized modern game with great resolve, I’d reserved this approach as an absolute last resort.
“…One hundred. If I can’t find a buffer by the hundredth person, then I’ll really do it.”
I steeled myself and resumed my search for a buffer.
Just then, a woman caught my eye—she didn’t appear to be a mage or production-class player, but wore revealing clothing.
“Excuse me.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
“Are you a buffer?”
“I told you I do, okay?”
“Are you a buffer?”
“…I am a buffer, but why?”
Finally, a hit.
I immediately launched the strategy I’d prepared.
“Would you mind casting a buff on me? I’m aspiring to become a buffer.”
At first she ignored me, then she examined my outfit, and now she’d clearly identified me as a newbie.
“Are you busy right now?”
From this point forward, every response mattered.
Even at a glance, she seemed like someone who’d received countless confessions.
There was a high chance she wouldn’t even accept a denial at this stage.
From now on, my gaze had to remain fixed solely on her eyes.
“I’m aspiring to become a buffer—would you mind casting a buff on me?”
Small talk was absolutely forbidden.
I countered her question with a question, blocking all suspicion.
I had to communicate only my purpose clearly.
“….”
The woman’s gaze fixed on my wooden sword.
There was certainly enough reason to suspect I was a combat class, but this alone wouldn’t constitute solid proof.
I was a newbie, after all.
Most newbies wielded a wooden sword regardless of their desired class.
“That wooden sword looks pretty decent even at a glance. You’re not aiming to be a Buffer, are you?”
Another counterattack followed.
But having finally found a Buffer after searching for so long, I absolutely could not back down.
“I’m a newbie, though?”
I raised my newbie shield.
“Please. I’d really like to see what buffs look like.”
I made my appeal while displaying my most shabby equipment. The more jaded my opponent was, the better my position. Most veterans couldn’t ignore a newbie’s earnest request.
“…What would you like me to cast?”
“Everything.”
“That’s a bit difficult. I don’t have enough mana for all of them. Recovery potions are expensive too.”
Regrettable as it was, this was where I needed to yield.
I needed to ease off the pressure to maintain control of the situation.
“My apologies. I’d like to experience raid-tier buffs instead.”
“Raid-tier buffs have short durations, is that okay? They’ll probably wear off by the time we reach the Rabbit Zone?”
I detected her guard lowering.
I responded respectfully, appealing to pure curiosity rather than greed for easier hunting.
“It doesn’t matter. Whether it’s five seconds or ten, I’ll focus and savor every moment.”
“…Let’s go over there. We’re too visible here.”
“Yes.”
We moved to an empty space behind the Blacksmith, near the City Gate.
Here, we would certainly escape the notice of others.
“Pay close attention from now on. Raid-tier buffs have short durations, so you need to stay focused.”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“I’m only doing this because you’re a real newbie, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“Sigh. Really.”
From the start, I had my back to the woman and my buff window open.
Now I needed to quickly judge and select the buffs to apply.
“First is Rising Strength. Duration is five seconds. It’s typically a single-target buff used on physical-type main dealers during burst phases. Cooldown is five minutes, and the buffer’s judgment is crucial, so you need to use it precisely.”

[Rising Strength]
[Strength +15]
[Critical hit on first strike against target]
[Duration: 5 seconds]

A buff that literally conjures strength from within.
Moreover, it was an exceptionally useful buff that guaranteed a critical hit on the first strike.
The drawback was that I had to attack within five seconds, but that didn’t apply to me.

[Liam’s Inexhaustible Waters]
[Health recovery speed slightly increased]
[Duration: 10 minutes]

Without hesitation, I swapped out the buff.
“Understood.”
“Next is Rising Wisdom. It’s identical to the buff you just used, except it raises Wisdom instead of Strength. Naturally, you’d use it on magic-type main dealers.”
“Yes.”
Since this one held no value for me, I skipped it while maintaining my composure.
“Next is….”

* * *

The buff lecture finally ended after about thirty minutes.
It had been an ordeal that drained my mental fortitude as severely as watching the Round of 64 in an ideal-type world cup.
“…I truly, truly cannot thank you enough.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You look unwell.”
“I’m simply overwhelmed with emotion. So this is what a true buff really is.”
To be honest, my emotions right now were a chaotic mess of profound sadness and joy intertwined.
I could only choose two buffs that would sustain indefinitely.
“Sigh…. This is the best. No, it’s such a shame….”
“A-are you really okay? Do you want to go rest somewhere?”
The overwhelming power of maintaining a short-burst buff permanently filled me with such joy, yet having to abandon buffs that would have complemented it so perfectly tore at my heart.
“…I’m fine. Actually, I’m not fine. No, I’m fine. I’ll never forget what happened today.”
Moreover, since I had to make the decision before the duration expired, I wasn’t even certain this choice was the best one.
But I must move forward.
“I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for everything.”
“Wait? That’s the direction of the Eastern Forest!”
“Yes, I know. The Eastern Forest was my destination from the start. Should we happen to meet again later, I will surely repay this kindness.”
This much, at least, was sincere.
If I managed to catch the Golden Fox and obtain her fur, I’d decided to give some of it to the buffer.
“Really? You’re not going to your death, are you?”
“No.”
“…Then come find me later at the Lumiere Guild hideout. Since you promised to repay me.”
The wariness had clearly vanished now.
This encounter must have left quite an impression, enough to anticipate a future meeting.
“What’s your in-game name?”
“It’s Kael.”
“I’m Bella. I can help you with buffer class advancement, so definitely come find me.”
“Bella of the Lumiere Guild. I’ll remember that. I’ll visit you.”
“You promised?”
“Yes.”
After making about five more promises, I finally managed to escape from Bella.
Now it was time to head toward the Eastern Forest.
I opened my buff window and steadied my resolve.

[Active Buffs]

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

[Life Whisper]
[Agility +2 Stamina +2 Luck +5]
[Evade critical wounds with high probability.]
[Natural wound healing speed increases dramatically.]
[Duration: ∞]

Gazing at my updated status window, I found peace of mind.

[Name: Kael]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 12 Agility: 14 Stamina: 14 Wisdom: 12 Luck: 17]
[Eternity: 2]

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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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