A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 89

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

Chapter 89

“Here you are!”
“How much?”
“40 copper.”
“Here. Keep the change.”
“Oh my! Then I should give you more!”
“It’s fine. Just take it.”
“Oh! Really? Thank you so much!”
“Have a good day.”
I received the food.
Lizard and dumplings—a rather predictable combination.
The only lizard I’d ever tasted before was grilled, and I had no idea what actual lizard truly tasted like.
Still, drawing on my memories from my previous life, the grilled lizard I’d eaten then had a flavor remarkably similar to chicken.
“Have you tried this before, Bella?”
“Yes! I had it with the other Guild members when I came here before. This is my personal recommendation for the perfect pairing.”
Bella pulled a bottle containing a crimson liquid from her subspace.
“Behold—spicy chicken sauce!”
“They’ve developed something like this?”
“Of course! Our researchers are incredibly thorough.”
Bella clearly enjoyed spicy food.
Unfortunately, I did not.
“I can’t handle spicy food, so I’ll just eat it plain. After all, taste follows reality as it is.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
We each enjoyed the lizard dumplings according to our own preferences.
I chose to eat mine without any sauce, savoring the creator’s original intention.

The taste was surprisingly excellent.
A subtle, savory richness emerged with each bite—a delicate umami that was truly exquisite.
And the buff was.

[Active Buffs]
[Well-Roasted Kukuri Mumu (Superior)]
[Strength +5 Stamina +4]
[You can now perceive shamanic entities.]
[Duration: 40 minutes]

I received a buff with decent stat bonuses and intriguing secondary effects without issue.
Moreover, the effect of being able to perceive shamanic entities seemed distinctly connected to the Shaman class.
“Ah, so this food was related to the Shaman advancement after all.”
“That’s right. Do you see that burning bonfire over there?”
“Hmm?”
Above the roaring flames, colorfully decorated animals spun in circles.
These must have been the shamanic entities the secondary effect was pointing me toward.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?”
“…So those are shamanic entities.”
“Simply observing them doesn’t cause any changes, though.”
“Hmm. They don’t seem particularly interested in us either.”
“Right. They’re neither hostile nor friendly—more like they have no interest at all.”
“Are there any simple Quests I could complete?”
“From what I know, the advancement Quest is all there is. The culture here has settled into simply enjoying delicious food and observing the wonders.”
“I see.”
Despite Bella’s words that there wasn’t much, doubt crept into my mind.
Was the advancement Quest truly all there was?
“Hmm. Still, it feels like there should be something more.”
“There probably is something. The residents of Ath Village hold fire sacred, after all. Normally, the Shaman should have been included in the World Quest our Guild cleared. The Shaman class had a skill for flame resistance.”
“I see.”
“But thanks to you, Kael, the deep investigation phase was skipped. The Golden Fox fur acted as a universal key. I’d say we bypassed several months to even years worth of linked Quests.”
Bella had indeed conducted her own investigation.
It had simply been abbreviated.
The Golden Fox fur came with absurdly powerful options: flame resistance and temperature immunity, which surpassed cold resistance.
“I see. Do many Shaman users stay in this area?”
“Not really. Since the monsters around the village aren’t high-level, everyone leaves after shedding their beginner status. As you can see, even creatures like Kukuri can be hunted by NPCs, so there’s no profit to be made.”
“Is that so? Hmm. I’d like to experience shamanism myself.”
“Oh! There’s a Shaman NPC here! The Village Chief of this town is a Shaman. It’ll be difficult at this hour, but you should be able to meet him in the morning.”
“Is that so?”
It would be best to wake early tomorrow.
Before leaving the village, I wanted to experience shamanism as well.
‘I should change the buff to permanent duration.’
The option to perceive shamanic entities also seemed like something that would prove useful someday.
I might encounter shamanic entities in completely unexpected places and receive hidden Quests.
“This is delicious. Are there any other foods you’d recommend?”
“There are plenty of decent options, even if they’re not as famous as Kukuri Mumu! Come along.”
After that, I experienced several dishes with Bella.
However, none of them had the peculiar option of perceiving shamanic entities.
They simply raised my stats moderately, with minor secondary effects like slight temperature resistance or marginal increases to recovery speed.
“Phew! I’m stuffed!”
“Thanks to you, I had a wonderful experience.”
“I enjoyed it too. It felt like a proper date, didn’t it?”
“…Didn’t you mention you had a boyfriend, Bella?”
“Huh? I thought you already knew? I don’t have a boyfriend!”
“Is that so? I had no idea.”
“Wow….”
For some reason, Bella’s expression darkened.
Yet I couldn’t think of any particular way to cheer her up.
For now, wealth and renown took priority over romance for me.
Of course, Chae-rim had become an exception to that.
“Shall we rest for now? Tomorrow morning, I plan to wake early and visit the Village Chief.”
“Is it about the shamanism?”
“Yes. That was our original purpose for coming here, after all.”
Bella’s lips pouted slightly.
I’d need to bring her another gift later to make up for it.
“Ugh. Fine. Let’s go back.”
“Understood.”
We returned to our respective lodgings amid an awkward silence.

* * *

-Ding!

[It is 5:00 AM.]

My alarm chimed as scheduled.
After a quick preparation, I stepped outside and drew in a deep breath of the dawn air.
“Ahh.”
Though not vastly different from Liam, the rustic, serene atmosphere made the air feel cleaner and more refreshing.
“There it is.”
The Village Chief’s House stood atop the highest hill in the village.
It too blended traditional architecture with shamanic mystique, emanating an air of enchantment.

-Screech!

The higher I climbed the Hill, the more entities became visible.
They were all shamanic beings.
These shamanic entities were of an entirely different category from those I’d seen at the Bonfire.
They felt completely distinct from spirits, making identification certain.
“Hmm.”
For reasons I couldn’t fathom, a log stood in the corner.
Upon it, a serpent-like shamanic being coiled itself, gazing into the void.
I found myself torn.
The desire to touch it clashed against the risks such contact might entail.
Would touching it truly grant me a buff?
‘I should adjust my vitality just in case.’

[Name: Kael]
[Occupation: Eternal Adventurer (Hidden) (1st Unlock)]
[Level: 73]
[Unused Points: 9]
[Strength: 237 Agility: 258 Vitality: 287 Wisdom: 134 Luck: 160]
[Eternity: 38 Mana: 6]

My stats had risen modestly from yesterday’s culinary indulgence.
Given the situation demanded confronting the unknown, I decided to redistribute my stats differently this time.
I would allocate Strength and Agility evenly into Vitality, Wisdom, and Luck.

[Strength: 100 Agility: 100 Vitality: 387 Wisdom: 234 Luck: 255]

After completing the stat redistribution, I cautiously addressed the shamanic being.
“Hello.”

-Guuu?

Fortunately, it responded.
I had successfully captured its attention.
Next came the question of whether we could communicate.
“I’m curious—would it be alright if I touched you?”

-Guuu.

He gave some kind of response, but I couldn’t understand what he said.
However, it didn’t seem to be a negative reaction.
If it had been negative, he would have shown signs of threat or evasion instead.
“Touch it?”

-Grrrrr.

For a snake, the most threatening weapon is its fangs.
Regardless of whether it carried venom, the sharpness of those fangs meant it could certainly inflict real damage.
With that in mind, I carefully stroked the Shaman’s head, ready to seize its neck at a moment’s notice if needed.
“I’m just going to touch it, that’s all?”

The moment I extended my hand.

-Hisssss!

The Shaman lunged directly at my fingers, snapping its jaws.
Snap!
I didn’t touch it, and it didn’t bite me.
Fortunately, it was an attack I could evade with my Agility of 100.
Moreover, no follow-up attacks came.
It seemed I should interpret this as a warning.
“Hmm. If this is how it reacts, forcing physical contact won’t trigger any beneficial interaction.”

-Hisss! Hisssss!

“Yes. I apologize. I’ll back away.”
I widened the distance and carefully retreated step by step.
The serpent, which had been staring at me for a while, coiled itself and turned its gaze to empty space, losing interest.
“Hmm. Still, at least I’ve grasped the pattern.”
A request for the Village Chief had taken shape in my mind.
If I could secure a means to avoid hostility from shamanic entities—and if it were even a buff—I would be able to interact with shamanic entities permanently.
“Good.”
Continuing up the hill, I arrived at the Village Chief’s House.
Despite the early dawn, shamanic NPCs practicing their craft were visible in the nearby courtyard.
Each stood before a shamanic entity, muttering something incomprehensible to my ears.
I decided to approach an NPC who appeared to hold some rank.
“Pardon me. Is the Village Chief inside?”
“Calling the Ritual Master a village chief suggests you’re no shaman yourself. Are you a foreigner aspiring to become one?”
“My apologies. So you’re the Ritual Master. I’m merely interested in shamanism for now. My name is Kael.”
“Hmm. I am Parmon. I oversee the conduct of rituals, so if you have business, speak to me. Foreigner Kael.”
“I wish to learn how to communicate with shamanic entities without becoming a shaman myself.”
“…You’re bolder than you appear.”
“I have no desire to be bold. I intend to pay the price.”
“The only price for facing shamanic entities is a vow to walk the path of shamanism.”
He was resolute.
But I could see how to approach this.
From the building itself to the uphill trail, there were plenty of elements requiring repair that caught my eye.
“Would monetary compensation not suffice?”
I withdrew a handful of gold coins from my subspace to gauge his reaction.
“For the advancement of shamanism.”

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