A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 60

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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 60

Boom! Crash!
The Ancient One’s rampage continued unabated.
No matter how far this place was from Beginner Village, an 80-level opponent was considered high-tier anywhere.
There was no one to match him.
“I am strong! I overflow with power!”
Even with restraint, the Ancient One’s standards were still formidable, and the level gap meant the Thief Gang suffered considerable casualties.
“Bring bandages! Quickly!”
“Potions… potions…”
“We only have the leader’s potions!”
I had discovered that potions existed.
If that was the case, then the potions were mine as well.
“How many potions do you have?”
“Eh?”
Since the leader had submitted, I was now the leader.
“I asked how many you have.”
“Um… about thirty bottles of low-grade potions, sir.”
“Do you have mid-grade ones?”
“Um…”
The thief who had taken on the role of medic began trailing off, watching the leader’s expression.
It seemed there were mid-grade potions as well.
I appeared to have chosen the wrong person to interrogate.
“Hey, Leader. Come here.”
“…Yes.”
“How many mid-grade potions do you have?”
“…Three bottles. One is hidden under my bed.”
I appreciated that he disclosed even the hidden potions.
Though there might be more potions still concealed somewhere.
“Good. Bring them all.”
“…Yes.”
Bottles clinked softly as they were stacked one by one.
Thirty-five bottles in total.
This should be sufficient for treating all the thieves.
“How much is each worth?”
“Eh? I’m not entirely sure about that.”
“Stolen goods, then?”
“That’s right. We’re thieves, after all.”
Indeed, their professional spirit runs deep.
But I have no desire to delve deeper into their circumstances.
“What is easily obtained is easily lost. From now on, many things will change.”
With those words, I administered potions to the bandits lying in the infirmary ward.
“First. Plundering only within the scope I permit.”
After all, these are people who know how to do nothing but plunder.
And I am merely utilizing the cards I’ve been dealt.
“Well. The potion fee.”
The first card to seize control of this situation is money.
Ting! Tinging! Titinging!
It wasn’t just a single gold coin I tossed—several more bounced across the ground.
“Gasp. G-gold?”
“What. Not enough?”
“No, sir. It’s far too much….”
“Then work it off as change. Besides, I have work that would suit your particular expertise. For now, finish the treatment.”
“Yes! Big Boss!”
Capitalism truly was formidable.
If my thinking was correct, and if the problem resolved well.
Then from here, I could advance to an even greater stage.

* * *

I returned to the Training Ground.
Though the Training Ground was merely an Open Ground with flattened earth, it served its purpose well enough.
“Uooooooooh!”
Crash!
The Ancient One roared valiantly as though he were the master of this place.
“Hmm.”
This time, I stepped forward to face him.
“Uo….”
His momentum died the moment I advanced.
The psychological issue had been resolved, and now I understood that the hierarchy was completely established.
‘Will it work this time.’
I carefully drew Sumoq.
Uuuuung-
The resistance was less than before.
Rather, a gentle light leaked from Sumoq as it began to tremble softly.
Simultaneously, a new message unfolded before my eyes.

[You have satisfied the conditions for using Sumoq.]
[Sumoq’s information has been updated.]
[Sumoq Approaching Truth (Mythic)]
[Attack Power: 137~201]
[Durability: Indestructible]
[Approaching Truth: Can open ancient dimensional gates.]
[Call of the Ancient One: Can summon the Ancient One.]

No special Achievement was unlocked.
Instead, the previously locked option on Sumoq—’Failing to Reach Truth’—was replaced with a new option: ‘Approaching Truth.’
“Hmm.”
Dimensional gate.
An ominous word had appeared, one that couldn’t be glossed over no matter how I tried.
At the very least, it didn’t seem like content a newbie should recklessly touch.
The ominous option wasn’t the only one.
The description of the unique ability ‘Call of the Ancient One’ had also changed.
Even the word ‘powerful’ had been omitted from ‘powerful ancient one.’
On the surface it seemed like a downgrade, but the entire description related to cooldown had been deleted, hinting at numerous possibilities.
“Could it be that I can summon multiple without cooldown restrictions?”
“Uh?”
The Ancient One before me stared at me with an expression of utter stupidity and harmlessness.
“Aren’t we going to fight?”
I lifted Sumoq at the Ancient One’s question.
And aimed it at the Ancient One.
No resistance occurred.
“No. We should fight.”
This time, I didn’t redistribute my stats.
Sumoq’s attack power was overwhelming to begin with.
Even its minimum attack power reached numbers that Mauro’s wooden sword could never match.
So I trusted my full capabilities and Sumoq.
“Here I go.”
“Uuaaah!”
Crash!
The match was decided in a single blow.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if this qualified as a match.
The Ancient One couldn’t even muster resistance.
“This is strange! I can’t put any power into it!”
“Ah. It’s been applied in reverse.”
Could this be a hidden ability of Sumoq?
At least now, Sumoq seemed to exert absolute influence over the Ancient One.
“Drop your weapon and try hitting me with your fists.”
“Understood!”
Bare-handed made no difference.
The Ancient One reached me but made no further movement.
“Ugh! Something’s wrong! I can’t lift my arm!”
From this, I learned one crucial fact.
At least the Ancient One I summoned through Sumoq could not harm me—this was now verified.
Originally, it had worked the opposite way.
“I held back at the end, so get up. You’re not hurt.”
“Huh? Really! I can get up!”
The Ancient One brushed the dirt from himself and rose, breaking into a bright smile.
I inadvertently discovered that the Ancient One’s teeth were distinctly different from those of other NPCs.
“Let’s stop fighting and talk instead.”
“Talk? Is that food?”
I decided to hold off on casual conversation—it would only make my head spin.
It was better to ask directly.
“Where did you come from?”
“I opened a door in the Nankta Mountain Range and came through.”
“A door?”
Could this door be the dimensional rift that had opened in Sumoq?
If so, what was this new option called the “Ancient Dimensional Door”?
Were they two separate doors, or the same one?
“Yes.”
“Why did you open the door?”
“Open the door in the Nankta Mountain Range. That is the Elder’s command. The Elder is wise.”
A new Ancient One had been revealed—the Elder.
This meant there was a story connected to the Ancient Ones.
Then could Sumoq summon other Ancient Ones as well?
“Then what were you?”
“I am the one who opened the door and received the revelation of Sumoq. I am Tuuram.”
Tuuram.
I had learned the Ancient One’s name.
Now it seemed fitting to introduce myself properly.
He seemed like an important NPC tied to the story, not merely a summon.
“I am Kael.”
“Understood. Tuuram, who received the revelation of Sumoq, remembers Kael, the master of Sumoq.”
“Yes. Tuuram. I will remember.”
Now it was time for the next test.
A test regarding the resummoning of the Ancient One.
“Would you like to rest a bit first?”
“Good. I’m hungry.”
“You could eat here.”
“I prefer Kelphin meat. There is none in this place.”
I had no idea what Kelphin was, but it seemed certain that a separate world existed beyond the dimensional gate.
An Ancient One who even managed his own meals without assistance.
Perhaps he’d prove useful for more than just combat after all.
“Then go ahead.”
I infused mana into Sumoq, and the dimensional gate opened.
Unsummoning seemed to have limitless applications as well.
With a competent administrator, one could potentially create a logistics warehouse that transcended even a massive subspace.
“Call upon me whenever you wish, Kael.”
“Will do.”
Tuuram coolly vanished beyond the dimensional gate.
Since the hour had grown late, I decided to log out as well.
It was fortunate that the Thief Gang’s newfound hideout had eliminated any safety concerns.

* * *

The next day.
The original Thief Leader, who had unexpectedly surrendered his bedroom, was curled up sleeping by the door.
“Still asleep?”
“Ah! You’re awake, sir! Big Boss!”
“Anything noteworthy happen?”
“Luban has returned!”
“Luban? Who’s that?”
“The one the boss sent to Kela Village, remember? He came back this morning with two outsiders.”
“Oh. Really?”
Good news had arrived faster than expected.
Perhaps he’d ridden through the night.
Money truly was a powerful motivator.
“Where are the outsiders now?”
“Probably at the Communal Dining Hall.”
“Probably?”
“Ahem. I was taking a nap….”
An afternoon nap in such a brutal medieval wilderness.
Thievery was truly a luxurious profession.
Though one needed to reach the rank of leader, at least.
Since I already knew about Luban’s return, I judged it wasn’t a complete dereliction of duty and headed toward the Communal Dining Hall.
Two male users were in the dining hall.
One had an anxious gaze, while the other surveyed his surroundings with bright, dopamine-filled eyes.
“Hello. I’m a player as well.”
“Oh!”
“Ooh…!”
Once again, contrasting reactions.
For now, I decided to introduce myself simply.
“I’m Kael.”
I’d considered using an alias given the circumstances, but it was a nickname that would be revealed anyway once we added each other as friends.
“I-I’m Chung-geom….”
“Nice to meet you! I’m Mu-myeong-gwi!”
I wasn’t sure about Chung-geom, but the one called Mu-myeong-gwi seemed to have claimed quite a rare nickname.
Could they actually be a named user?
On the surface, I sensed neither overwhelming strength nor weakness from this person.
Moreover, their complete lack of fear despite this unfamiliar environment struck me as suspicious.
“…Um, excuse me. Are you really giving all 50 silver?”
“Of course. You received the 10 silver advance, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did receive it, but….”
“Here.”
I handed over the remaining 40 silver immediately, rather than waiting for the final settlement.
If they grew anxious and deserted, everything would fall apart.
“This is a contract deposit. I’ll add 1 gold each for the final settlement.”
“Gasp! Ah, ah, ah, ah—subspace!”
“Huh? Kael, are you perhaps from Heaven Beyond Heaven?”
Their reaction to the subspace was far more intense than to the money.
They certainly seemed like typical Beginner Village players.
For some reason, Mu-myeong-gwi’s words kept rubbing me the wrong way.
“No. I’m just a kind and ordinary player.”
I gave my usual response.

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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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