A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 95

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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 95

As expected, I confirmed that numerous mystical entities permeated the path back to Liam.
However, absorbing them was an entirely different matter.
“Huh? Kael. Is this sorcery? The tree is withering in an instant?”
“….”

[Active Buffs]
[Leaf Vein Worm (Common)]
[Health +1]
[Duration: ?]

The Leaf Vein Worm was a mystical entity that had been beside a single tree I’d encountered along the way.
It turned out to be a mystical entity protecting the tree—the tree was dying at a visible rate.
‘Damn.’
This tree was surrounded by a fence, and despite the desolate surroundings, it alone remained alive.
Anyone could tell it was a tree maintained by the residents of Ath Village.
Pop.
I flicked my finger to extract the mystical entity.
It was to return it to its original place.
“It’s alive again!”
Fortunately, as the buff disappeared, the Leaf Vein Worm settled back into the tree.
I’d learned that mystical entities could affect their surroundings or living things.
‘I can’t just collect any mystical entity. I need to limit myself to those with no clear owner.’
For now, I decided to explain what I’d learned to Bella.
“It’s a sorcery I just learned, but I don’t think I should use it carelessly.”
“Hmm? Isn’t it good sorcery? If it can kill plants or revive them, it seems like it would help with farming?”
“The benefit I gain from it leans toward the killing side.”
“Ah. Then it’s awkward to use within Kingdom territory.”
As expected of a ranker.
Despite seeing my sorcery for the first time, she’d already deduced its nature from just a few clues.
Her perception is sharp.
My sorcery of embodying mystical entities is awkward to use carelessly within Kingdom territory.
“Exactly. That’s why I returned it.”
“Hmm. Then you’ll be heading to the Neutral Zone or Border Region?”
“That’s right. If I’m going to refine the sorcery. But I plan to visit here often for Chae-rim’s sake too. I’m thinking of developing Ath Village as well.”
“Then my information might be helpful? I just picked up some hot news while I was at the gym.”
“News?”
“Yes. Liam is experiencing an unprecedented boom right now. New users are flooding in like crazy.”
Not a depression, but a boom.
For the word “boom” to be attached to Liam, a city that already had plenty of people, just how many new users must have arrived?
“Just how many people exactly…. Ah.”
“Hehe. You’ve figured it out.”
Now that I thought about it, it was obvious.
Time flowed ten times slower in this game than in reality.
That made this game an incredibly appealing prospect for anyone who needed time.
“Students must be pouring in by the thousands?”
“Not just students. Parents are creating accounts left and right too, and with demand skyrocketing, the value of gold has shot up—now one gold is worth over two million won.”
“Good heavens.”
This was indeed tremendous news.
Users were flooding in, and the value of currency had risen.
Moreover, I had already completed my trade contract with Seoguang.
I was set to receive cash equivalent to the gold amount written in the contract.
It was as if I’d earned a fortune while sitting idle.
“I hadn’t considered this far ahead, but I suppose I’ll need to postpone my external schedule.”
“My. Really?”
For some reason, Bella’s expression brightened. It was the look of someone whose plan was unfolding perfectly.
However, this was news I could only accept, whether I wanted to or not.
Once Liam’s population reached saturation, people would naturally turn their eyes toward the nearby villages.
“Yes. Such an enormous opportunity has arrived—I can’t afford to miss it.”
This was good news.
Since I’d promised investment in Ath Village, now was the time to row forward with all my strength.
What I needed most right now was manpower.
And the key to that was NPCs.
Only NPCs could be managed densely without any gaps in availability.
While time flowed rapidly in reality, NPCs would continue to exist and live in this world.
“I need to move quickly. By any chance, are there any thief gangs in the vicinity? A mountain stronghold, perhaps?”
“Suddenly? There wouldn’t be any, I’d think. It’s a city village with good security.”
“How unfortunate.”
Unlike the Belhard Kingdom, which had been thrown into chaos by users, this area maintained good security.
For someone like me, aiming to farm NPCs, it was a shame.
‘In that case, I’ll need to extract the subjugated thief gang first and go through the immigration procedures.’
The former thieves, who were already undergoing merchant training, were with Chung-geom anyway.
And Chung-geom was logged into the game.
I decided to contact him quickly.
“I’ll send you a private message for a moment.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
After getting Bella’s permission, I reached out immediately.

[Kael: Chung-geom. Are you busy?]
[Chung-geom: Oh? Yes, it’s been a while.]
[Kael: Have you finished your Merchant class change?]
[Chung-geom: Of course! Though it’s only basic rank, I’ve successfully completed a merchant transaction! It’s all thanks to you, Kael.]
[Kael: What about the other NPCs?]
[Chung-geom: They all changed to Merchant class with me. It was easier than I expected—you only needed a few silver to make the change.]
[Kael: Is that so? Including you, how many people changed to Merchant this time?]
[Chung-geom: A total of 38 people. Why do you ask about the number?]

Thirty-eight merchants had been created.
And that was 37 NPCs under a single player.
Enough to establish a Merchant Guild.
With this many, I could paint a grand vision centered around Ath Village.

[Kael: Chung-geom. Let’s undertake something grand together. Stop what you’re doing and come to Liam by today. It would be even better if you go through the naturalization process as well.]
[Chung-geom: Ah, I could manage on my own, but gathering 38 gold is beyond my means…]
[Kael: Don’t worry about the money. I’ll send the teleportation fees for all 38 people.]
[Chung-geom: …Really? *chokes up* I never knew you trusted me this much.]

For some reason, I could sense emotion in Chung-geom’s whispered words.
To be honest, it wasn’t Chung-geom I trusted—it was Heaven Beyond Heaven.
More precisely, the Unnamed Guest.
His presence wielded overwhelming power against the Chinese players.
Besides, I had received considerable help from the Unnamed Guest, so eventually he would need my assistance in return.
At least until that debt was repaid, there would be no reason for conflict.

[Kael: I hear gold prices are rising. I’ll transfer the teleportation fees in an hour, so please secure the gold first.]
[Chung-geom: Understood! I’ll start packing right away! Thank you for this opportunity!]
[Kael: Yes. See you later.]
[Chung-geom: Yes! My benefactor!]

I had secured the workforce.
With 38 people, I could operate at the level of a small to mid-sized enterprise.
Failure aside, it meant I could pursue virtually any ambition.
“The whisper is complete.”
“Huh? Kael! Look over there! The newbies are swarming!”
“Hmm?”
I followed Bella’s gaze and found it teeming with actual new players.
I’d never seen this many users, even in the outer regions of Liam.
The South Gate area was normally a carriage road and should have been deserted, yet here it was crowded.
“…What on earth are those people doing?”
The users in newbie starter gear were all plucking grass.
With so much customization applied, I couldn’t deduce their actual ages, but most appeared to be female players.
“Judging by how they’re harvesting, they look like parents. That grass—when added as a food ingredient, it raises Wisdom by 1 for 2 hours. With advanced cooking, it can go up to 2.”
“Ah. So they’re harvesting it to feed their children.”
“Yes. I relied on it a lot when I was a newbie too. It has a bitter taste, but you get used to it surprisingly quickly once you chew it.”
The scene was far from peaceful.
They formed groups and pointed at each other while shouting at the top of their lungs.
“Hey! Didn’t you see we harvested that first?”
“Did you lease the land? First come, first served!”
“Did you just speak casually to me? Where are you from! We’re from the Daechi-dong Parent Association!”
“Ha! Daechi-dong? If you’re from Daechi-dong, we’re from Mokdong!”
Just watching drained my energy.
Overbearing parents existed everywhere, and this was hardly a pleasant sight.
That’s why I had to steel my resolve even more.
These people were also targets I needed to conquer.
“The village interior must be in chaos too. If the outer region is a parent zone, the interior must be filled with students.”
“Exactly. The government is showing great interest in the time acceleration changes, and the Gangnam Academy District has been continuously purchasing gold. At this rate, paper and ink prices will skyrocket too.”
“…Indeed.”
Those ahead were already moving in anticipation of change.
It was a future anyone could predict with just a little thought.
I was fortunate to have realized it now, thanks to Bella.
“Ah, it’s been so long since Liam felt this lively. Could you perhaps get me one more of those masks? The one with the perception obstruction option.”
“This one?”

[Master Craftsman’s Perception-Obscuring Mask (Masterpiece)]
[Defense: 12]
[Luck +21]
[Perception Obscuring]
[Toxin Resistance (Major)]
[A mask crafted by a master craftsman with deep affection. It carries the earnest wish that only they would recognize the wearer. Forged from fabric inscribed with toxin-resistance runes, it boasts formidable resistance against poisons.]

Just as Bella had said, the mask Chae-rim had made for me included a perception-obscuring effect.
Unlike me, who lacked any particular notoriety, Bella had become famous through this World Quest, making her the one who truly needed the perception-obscuring mask.
“I’ll bring it up with Chae-rim. Since I received it as a gift, it feels awkward to just hand it over.”
“So you need to win Chae-rim over, right? What if we include a generous allowance on top of the sale price?”
“Hmm. That wouldn’t be bad, but I think it would be better to advance some delicious food along with the allowance first.”
“I see. Then how much should I give? Would 20 gold be reasonable?”
“The gold exchange rate has gone up. That’s 40 million won.”
“Ah. Is that too much? When I think about forming the Child’s economic sense, it does seem excessive.”
Thinking in terms of actual currency, the skyrocketing gold value finally hit home.
Especially since the money I’d spent in Ath Village had exceeded 100 million won.
“Oh! I can see the gate over there!”
“We’ve arrived sooner than expected.”
In the distance, the South Gate of Liam came into view.
As expected, the area around the City Gate was packed with users.

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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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