A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 54

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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 54

“Yes.”
Cheon Sang-hyun’s reply was crisp and without unnecessary words.
With that, I became the owner of Sumoq.
Of course, there were still procedures like contract drafting to complete, but it was a standard contract without any problematic clauses.
“As mentioned before, the 4.7 billion will be paid in installments. Additionally, as of this moment, ownership of Sumoq belongs to you, Kael.”
The negotiation concluded with Hoin’s briefing.
Throughout all this, the matter of the Fountain water was passed to me without any mention—as if it were a given.
Even though that was the most crucial part.
“Kael, since we’ve formed this connection, would you care to join us for a meal?”
“I’d be happy to.”
I had no reason to refuse the buff opportunity.
It was a chance to fill my buff window, currently overflowing with water buffs, with high-quality cuisine instead.
Of course, the meal came with information I possessed included in the price.

* * *

Once the formal dining area was prepared, numerous people gathered around.
Meanwhile, surprisingly, Sung-chul and Cha Eun-kyung kept their distance.
“Greetings. On behalf of the Dark Mage Group of Seoguang, I thank you for the dungeon transfer. This will prove to be a valuable discovery.”
“Thank you so much, Kael!”
The eyes of the Dark Mage Guild members from Seoguang were practically rolling back in their heads.
The traces of the Dark Mage Group discovered beyond the Boss Room had tremendous potential to become a major asset for them.
“You’ll find the Dark Mage traces beyond the corridor that opens after defeating the boss.”
“I see. We’ll have to participate in the first raid without fail.”
“Commander! Don’t forget about me!”
“Of course. Regardless of entry restrictions, all Dark Mages will be deployed for dungeon exploration.”
“Excellent!”
The conversation didn’t last long.
After all, I wasn’t a Dark Mage, and I had no relevant knowledge whatsoever.
The flow naturally became a celebration for the Dark Mages, so I quietly excused myself and moved over to Sung-chul, taking a seat.
“You did well.”
“Come on, well done? Everything wrapped up nicely. Next time, let me buy you a meal.”
“That might be difficult for a while.”
“Huh?”
“A guild from the Meriam Kingdom occupying a dungeon in Belhard Kingdom territory isn’t a simple matter. Things are going to blow up for a while.”
“Ah. So you’ll have to get involved in the dispute too?”
“Right. This dungeon occupation is our chance for Seoguang to become the strongest Guild in the world. We absolutely cannot miss this.”
The PvP rewards in this game are quite generous.
Especially since you gain experience points just by killing other players, and you can even plunder some of their equipment.
Moreover, the level penalty is clear-cut.
Low-level players struggle to even land attacks against high-level opponents, making the gap even more pronounced.
“So, make sure you eat properly this time. Here, take this.”
“Oh.”
A completed dish suddenly slid across the table toward me.
“This is your first Legendary-grade dish, right?”
“Wait, this is Legendary-grade?”
What lay on the plate was an exquisite fish dish.
Beautifully prepared and grilled, adorned with various sauces that displayed a spectrum of colors in perfect harmony.
“Yes. The fish itself is high-grade farmed stock, but when a Legendary-grade chef prepares it, you get a Legendary-grade dish like this. Of course, this performance is only possible because the supporting ingredients are up to standard. Go ahead and taste it.”
“Alright, let me try it.”
The flavor was beyond compare.
The sauce’s taste was nearly impossible to decipher, and I couldn’t even identify the fish, but my palate was already thoroughly satisfied with the dish.
“How is it? Much better than Kingfish, the prince of fish, right?”
“I’ve never eaten Kingfish before, but this is the best fish I’ve ever had.”
“Heh. Try Kingfish later and compare.”
“Will do.”
Taste aside, the buff was far more important to me.
It could be considered another critical aspect of this meeting.

[Active Buffs]
[Maracaum Special Set (Legendary)]
[Strength +16 Agility +11 Stamina +7 Wisdom +17 Luck +4]
[Mana +2]
[Immunity to Fear effects]
[Duration: 12 hours]

“Wow….”
It was an option truly befitting a legendary dish.
Like cuisine from a ranker guild, it boasted overwhelming performance in combat stat bonuses and duration.
The fact that it even boosted mana felt luxurious enough to be considered a bonus.
Naturally, I set this buff to permanent duration.
All I had to do was swap it out with the excess water buff.
“Beyond the Beginner Village, there are countless villages in this game. Our Guild has invested in multiple villages to develop local specialties and increase production, and that’s how we’ve been securing the raw materials for legendary dishes like this.”
“Wow….”
“And the Maracaum special set you just ate is the culmination of those investments. Even with increased specialty production, this is such a precious dish that you can only taste it during special events like this. I bet everyone here secretly wants to rush to City Hall and cross over into the Dungeon, right?”
“I think I’d feel the same way.”

[Name: Kael]
[Class: Eternal Adventurer (Hidden)]
[Level: 59]
[Unused Points: 0]
[Strength: 62 Agility: 82 Stamina: 57 Wisdom: 52 Luck: 53]
[Eternity: 12 Mana: 5]

My stats, which had been whittled down to the 30s, had recovered back to the 50s.
It was a stroke of fortune gained simply from experiencing a meal that only rankers typically enjoyed.
For them, a special meal was significant—but for me, it resonated far more profoundly.
“Now, we should wet your throat next.”
This time too, I accepted the cup that Sung-chul (Elder) handed me.
“Next is a special wine. In a world with magic, long aging periods can be replaced with magic.”
“Oh?”

[Active Buffs]
[Compassionate Tears (Legendary)]
[Strength +7 Agility +21 Stamina +8 Wisdom +21 Luck +10]
[Mana +1]
[Resistance to various forms of pain.]
[Duration: 3 hours]

This time, it was a legendary wine with a pain resistance option attached.
Similarly, it appeared to be made from high-quality grapes whose production had been adjusted through investment in Seoguang.
The stat bonuses were impressive, but the option to resist pain was particularly appealing.
This game had the characteristic that pain was felt exactly as it would be in reality.

[Strength: 69 Agility: 103 Stamina: 65 Wisdom: 73 Luck: 63]
[Eternity: 12 Mana: 6]

My Agility had somehow reached three digits.
Whether it was because I’d achieved this through mere meals alone, or because the wine was stronger than expected, my vision spun.
“The alcohol content is stronger than I thought, isn’t it?”
“Ah. Is the alcohol content high?”
“Yeah. That’s why you need this. Here.”
This time, Sung-chul handed me a small medicinal herb.

[Active Buffs]
[Detox Herb (Superior)]
[Neutralizes trace toxins infused in mana.]
[Duration: 1 hour]

“Wine rapidly aged through mana is still in its developmental stages. For now, it requires detox herbs to accompany it.”
“Ah. I feel much better now.”
Sung-chul truly was a living encyclopedia.
Thanks to him, I could maintain the wine buff permanently without side effects.
Though I’d need to maintain the detox herb permanently as well, since the intoxication could also last indefinitely.
Since I had Eternity to spare anyway, there was no immediate problem.
“So the status window doesn’t show everything.”
“Right. Exactly. Hidden options only appear after you have a professional appraiser evaluate an item and complete the assessment.”
Sung-chul’s answer suggested an entirely new approach.
Then perhaps the Fountain water also had hidden options.
Since the spring that never dried up boosted my Eternity.
The meal began to wind down.
Everyone was fidgeting in their seats, eager to reach the Dungeon as soon as possible.
Especially if you were a Dark Mage.
As a Dark Mage myself, I could see this Dungeon was connected to Dark Mage hidden content.
“Elder, crossing through Belhard Kingdom should be fine, right?”
“Yeah. Take this.”
“Huh?”
Sung-chul handed me something again.
It looked like a map at first glance.
“It’s a map?”
“Yeah. A surprise gift.”
“Oh. Don’t tell me.”
“That’s exactly it.”
I hadn’t expected much, but an unexpected surprise was coming my way.
“Shh. Grab what we need, then head to Kela Village.”
“Yes.”
My next destination was decided.
The hidden class Eternal Adventurer grows through adventure itself.
In that context, having a clear destination was a shortcut that guaranteed certain growth.
Kela Village would provide the answers I sought.
“I think it’s about time we got moving.”
“Right. Oh, and say goodbye to the sub-guild master.”
“Of course.”
Seoguang’s sub-guild master, Cheon Sang-hyun.
Still an enigmatic figure.
Despite readily accepting the deal after seeing something in me, he said nothing during meals—merely ate in silence without initiating conversation.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Understood. See you next time.”
“Yes.”
So I too exchanged only brief pleasantries before ending the conversation.
As I stepped through the door, a whisper reached my ears.

[Eun-nyang E: Leaving?]

Cha Eun-kyung’s farewell.
It must have been a satisfying time for her.
She hadn’t touched the mythic attachment weapon.

[Kael: Yes.]
[Eun-nyang E: Okay.]

Another person whose depths I couldn’t fathom.
Emotions leaked through subtly in her expressions, yet her true intentions remained opaque.
Was this how all people of substance were?

* * *

I returned to my room.
My subspace was brimming with Fountain water I’d brought along.
Gulp.

[Eternal Adventurer rises by 1.]

No matter how many times I checked, my status window was always satisfyingly full.
Yet my stomach wasn’t bloated.
Even consuming minimal amounts triggered the buffs.
It was simply a virtuous cycle where Eternity continued to rise endlessly.
Crunch!
On top of that, I’d discreetly brought along snacks from the negotiation earlier.
Picking them one by one would have drawn too much attention in such a setting, but buffs were buffs regardless.

[Active Buffs]
[Exquisitely Flavored Éclair (Superior)]
[Strength +3 Stamina +5 Luck +2]
[Duration: ∞]

[Madeleine Born from a Master’s Hands (Masterpiece)]
[Wisdom +11 Luck +21]
[Duration: ∞]

[Subtle-Scented Dried Persimmon Roll (Superior)]
[Stamina +8 Wisdom +8]
[Duration: ∞]

Similarly, these snacks boasted exceptional performance that defied their grade.
Moreover, their taste was outstanding, allowing me to stack all the Fountain water and snack buffs to their fullest.

[Strength: 72 Agility: 103 Stamina: 78 Wisdom: 92 Luck: 86]
[Eternity: 35 Mana: 6]

The Fountain water totaled twenty-seven bottles.
Eternity had increased by a staggering twenty-seven points, reaching an overwhelming thirty-five.
And roughly twenty permanent buff slots remained filled by the water buffs.
“The time has finally come.”
I sent a whisper message right then.

[Kael: Bella, are you there?]

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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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