Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 80

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

Episode 80

 

Chapter 80. Good Thing It’s Just a Stone

 

Park Kang-hoon’s level up.

 

Park Do-jin jumped in surprise at that abnormal progression.

 

“Just how much experience did you accumulate, and how…! This is truly amazing…!!”

 

But then.

 

“Heuuup─!”

 

He closed his mouth and groaned quietly, trying to restrain his excitement.

 

‘Of course, the ‘Great Ant March’ was a perfect dungeon for leveling up. But even so, to this extent?’

 

Such explosive leveling was unprecedented!

 

He had already heard about his exploits through his colleagues.

 

But he was itching to hear the detailed story from Kang Hoon himself.

 

‘Hold back. I must hold back. It would be troublesome if Hunter Park Kang-hoon ran away…’

 

If he unleashed his boisterous social energy, Park Kang-hoon would definitely return to his home.

 

He was just like a hamster hiding in its burrow.

 

The problem was that this hamster was a heroic hamster that laid golden eggs.

 

Park Do-jin trudged over to the bookshelf.

 

And with a sad expression, he began searching for dungeon guide booklets for level 22 and below.

 

Watching that dejected back of his head, Kang Hoon tilted his head.

 

‘Is not being able to go to the dungeon he wanted to recommend really that sad?’

 

…he thought.

 

* * *

 

There was good news.

 

The dreaded level 20 wall.

 

Thanks to breaking through level 20, the pool of viable dungeons had expanded significantly!

 

Dungeons suitable for solo play that were also good for gaining experience.

 

Cheongjeong had entry tickets for four such places.

 

『Twilight Ancient Ruins

 

Corrupted Underground Tomb

 

Cursed Shrine

 

Werewolf Dark Forest』

 

First, the ‘Underground Tomb’ was out.

 

‘Going to a dungeon with a closed ceiling two times in a row is a bit much.’

 

He had even been having dreams about wandering through the stuffy ant nest for days.

 

Every morning, he found himself ventilating his room, something he never used to do.

 

Next, the ‘Cursed Shrine’ was also out.

 

‘It’s already a dungeon I’m going to alone, and adding fear on top of that is a bit…’

 

He closed the jet-black booklet as soon as he opened it.

 

And when he looked up.

 

The gaze of Dungeon Manager Park Do-jin, wearing a subtle smile, was obvious.

 

“…It’s not necessarily because I’m scared or anything.”

 

“It’s fine. There are dungeons that people have different preferences about. Though Hunter Park Seri quite liked this dungeon and cleared it three times.”

 

“…Seri did?”

 

“Yes. I think it was when she was in high school, haha. Brings back old memories.”

 

“…”

 

“It was truly physical exorcism.”

 

Kang Hoon briefly imagined Seri carrying a school backpack and beating up ghost monsters.

 

And he pushed the booklet far away.

 

“Then I’m definitely not going there.”

 

It would be awkward if he went and got compared to her.

 

…Especially to a high schooler.

 

Her younger brother who supposedly grew up without ever having a rebellious phase.

 

It was a moment when he completely understood Ji-seong.

 

“Then how about the ‘Werewolf Dark Forest’?”

 

Park Do-jin asked,

 

“Hmm. That’s…”

 

Kang Hoon,

 

Swoosh.

 

Pushed that booklet away too.

 

It was because of the excellent option on Lucky’s summoning item, [Dog Whistle +5].

 

‘Increased favorability and loyalty from canine species.’

 

Werewolves were technically part of the canine family, weren’t they?

 

With the [Dog Whistle +5] effect, they probably wouldn’t attack first, making them hard to hunt.

 

And if they came running because they liked him, that would be problematic in its own way.

 

“I tend to be well-liked by dogs. I think it would be hard to hunt them.”

 

“?”

 

Through the process of elimination, only one choice remained.

 

『Twilight Ancient Ruins』

 

“An excellent choice.”

 

Park Do-jin began his explanation.

 

“Ancient ruins dungeons are classified into two types: ‘excavated’ and ‘unexcavated’.”

 

“Even though they’re dungeons? Do you mean whether someone cleared them or not?”

 

“Similar but different. Even if the mission was cleared, there are cases where the interior of the ruins wasn’t fully explored.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“So in cases that are completely ‘unexcavated’, hidden areas and traps exist, and unknown gimmicks pop up. Incidents and accidents are common. I don’t recommend them for leveling purposes.”

 

“Then what about in my case?”

 

“It’s exactly the opposite.”

 

“Aha. I kind of figured it would be.”

 

“Why’s that?”

 

“Because of the name.”

 

If it were a dangerous dungeon that wasn’t fully understood, would they give it a name like 『Twilight Ancient Ruins』?

 

They would use words like ‘danger zone’, ‘destruction’, or ‘sealed’.

 

“Twilight is too ordinary, isn’t it?”

 

“…You’re the first hunter I’ve seen who approaches it that way.”

 

“Really? Twilight, fantasy, oblivion. Those kind of ambiguous names are usually boring.”

 

It was an otaku sense acquired through games and manga.

 

Perhaps that sense was enhanced by the unique intuition of an Enhancement Specialist.

 

And for good reason.

 

“Uh, how did you know…?”

 

Park Do-jin’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Fortress of Illusion, Tower of Oblivion. They’re all unpopular dungeons though…”

 

…Should I ask him to pick six lottery numbers for me?

 

But then he quickly came to his senses.

 

“Ah. A-ahem! Anyway, let’s look at the catalog together.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Indeed, it was an excavated ruins site.

 

From the Gate departure point to the exit point after completion.

 

A map of the entire area was drawn out.

 

“Hundreds, maybe even thousands of Hunters have been here so far. Every gimmick that could be discovered has been completely figured out.”

 

“To that extent?”

 

“Yes. The probability of new ruins or events appearing should be considered 0%.”

 

“It sounds relatively safe, but equally boring.”

 

“That’s right. The monsters are only undead and golems.”

 

“I see.”

 

It’s a universal rule that ancient ruins have guardian golems.

 

Just look at the masterpiece animation, 【Castle in the Sky Laputa】.

 

Common knowledge(?) that Kang Hoon also knew.

 

“Especially, this dungeon is famous for having a very weak boss.”

 

“Isn’t it usually the opposite? The boss should normally be the strongest.”

 

“That’s why it’s such a strange dungeon. Some Dungeon Enthusiasts even call it a ‘system error.'”

 

A weak Boss Monster – that is strange indeed.

 

But is it really worth calling it a ‘system error’?

 

As Kang Hoon tilted his head in confusion, Park Do-jin smiled and said.

 

“That’s not the only reason. Even after exploring all the areas that can be explored, the progress doesn’t increase.”

 

“Progress?”

 

“Simply put, how much of the map has been drawn out. Something like that.”

 

“I see.”

 

“The total progress is only 39%. Even though it’s been a dungeon since the early days.”

 

It really was a strange dungeon.

 

No more gimmicks to discover, every corner fully explored, yet the ‘progress’ remained low.

 

‘Plus it’s a dungeon with no hunting fun and boring strategy.’

 

Nevertheless.

 

Park Do-jin had a different reason for recommending this place.

 

“It makes money.”

 

“!”

 

On the next page, the ‘Dungeon Byproducts’ chapter.

 

There was a photo of a ‘Golem Core’ prominently displayed!

 

“Oho!”

 

Golems themselves are basically walking high-grade materials.

 

‘I used Wood Golem Timber well before.’

 

Stronger than that are rock golems.

 

Their heart, the ‘Golem Core’?

 

The base price alone is more than double, and depending on size, it can sell for up to ten times the value.

 

There are even specialized Treasure Hunter teams that supply and sell them exclusively.

 

Kang Hoon had seen them coming and going on Corn Market.com.

 

The problem was that the enemies were as strong as the items were expensive.

 

It was natural logic.

 

Monster byproducts from easy-to-catch monsters couldn’t be expensive.

 

In other words.

 

“Gain experience, collect crafting materials, and make good money too.”

 

It could be said to be the perfect dungeon for Kang Hoon.

 

Nod nod!

 

“Good. I’ll go there.”

 

“Understood! The Guild will prepare everything.”

 

The decision was made swiftly.

 

For some, it’s a lonely fight where they must risk their lives.

 

That’s what solo play missions are like.

 

But Kang Hoon was confident.

 

Not because he was overconfident in his abilities or had become arrogant, of course.

 

“Even if it’s solo play, it’s no different from a duo.”

 

Because Lucky, who was more reliable than most companions, was with him.

 

No fear or loneliness.

 

Rather, he was excited!

 

‘How many Golem Cores will I be able to pick up?!’

 

* * *

【 Welcome to ‘Twilight Ancient Ruins.’ 】

Along with the welcome message from the Status Window.

 

Thud!

 

Kang Hoon’s feet touched the white, worn stone floor.

 

“Wow.”

 

Looking around quickly, it felt like the sky and earth were divided in half.

 

Above, the sky was orange, and the ground was completely white.

 

The entire ruins site, like a giant maze, was built with white stone.

 

The seasonal feeling was autumn, and the temperature was cool.

 

“It’s really vast.”

 

Lucky was also focused on exploration.

 

– Sniff sniff.

 

The debris of broken golems scattered on the ground.

 

After briefly smelling them.

 

Stretching his neck out, he observed an old guardian golem in the distance.

 

That was half-destroyed and wandering around.

 

Kang Hoon nodded.

 

“It’s exactly like the guidebook description, isn’t it?”

 

This place, ‘Twilight Ancient Ruins,’ had a somewhat unique dungeon concept.

 

It felt like ruins that had already fallen after being heavily invaded by someone.

 

All the terrain features looked like they had been neglected for a long time.

 

Moreover, the guardian golems all had strange appearances.

 

Like creatures that had fought a war, not a single one was in good condition.

 

Missing arms, cracked heads, or legs torn off so they crawled around with just their upper bodies.

 

“If they were human-shaped, they’d look like zombies. Good thing they’re made of stone.”

 

Thanks to that, they weren’t particularly disgusting.

 

The only other monsters that existed were undead.

 

Even those were composed of soldiers who had died defending the ruins.

 

With empty eyes, wearing armor and staggering.

 

They patrol their designated scouting areas.

 

Like the enemies in the childhood video game, 【Pac-Man】.

 

“I saw how to avoid them, but… well. I have Lucky with me.”

 

Kang Hoon believed he could smash through them easily enough.

 

– Kyauuung!

 

Lucky also howled with overflowing energy.

 

The guy seemed restless, his fighting spirit at its peak.

 

Just as he was about to move forward without any worries.

 

Thunk!

 

A chunk of stone hit against Kang Hoon’s feet.

 

“Hm?”

 

More precisely, it was the remains of a golem that had already been destroyed and could no longer function.

 

“Come to think of it… rock-type golems only have their cores worth money, right?”

 

The red magic stone located in the heart.

 

The ‘core’.

 

Once the ‘core’, which could be called the soul and life force, is removed, the golem simply collapses.

 

Tomb Raider Hunters only pick up the ‘cores’, leaving all the collapsed golem remains behind.

 

Without the ‘core’, they don’t even move.

 

Plus the stones themselves are too heavy to transport, making them a nuisance.

 

Because of this, remains that had been abandoned for a long time were scattered everywhere from the starting point.

 

“How many of these are there?”

 

The situation was obvious.

 

The Guardian Golems would have rushed forward first to try to stop the invasion, and they were defeated in that order.

 

Among the fragments rolling around like trash, there were even broken faces.

 

Faces like ‘masks’ made of stone.

 

With both eyes closed as if eternally asleep.

 

Even that was half-broken.

 

“Hmm. Can’t this be used as material either?”

 

Thinking that, Kang Hoon brought his hand to the mask.

 

At that moment.

 

“Huh?”

 

A strange sensation suddenly awakened Kang Hoon.

 

“This. I can enhance this?”

 

At the same time, he checked the ‘Information Value’.

[Guardian’s Fragment]: Once a Guardian Golem that repeatedly performed its past master’s command “Eliminate intruders,” but was destroyed after losing its ‘core’. This is a fragment corresponding to the face that fell off at that time.

The intuition that enhancement would be possible.

 

And the detailed narrative seen through the ‘Information Value’.

 

This was content that only Kang Hoon, an Enhancement Specialist, could know.

 

“Hmm. A golem’s face.”

 

Even if it was worthless trash to Tomb Raider Hunters, it was different once it came into Kang Hoon’s hands.

 

“It’s already a destroyed fragment. What would it become if I enhanced it?”

 

The fragment itself is nothing more than a piece of dungeon scrap.

 

At best, it might be used as interior accessories for Dungeon Enthusiasts, if that.

 

But

 

‘Somehow.’

 

Tingle, tingle.

 

‘I’m getting a feeling from my fingertips…?’

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