I Became an Almighty All-Master with EX-Rank Spirits - Chapter 9

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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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Episode 9
9
“Ah, the young man returns! Steel-fanged wolves this time? Take it easy, will you? How are you already bringing in D-rank Monsters? Last time it was orcs.”
“Fortune smiled on me, I suppose.”
“That it did. I won’t pry further—anyone in the monster trade learns to keep their mouth shut. Check your bank. The deposit should’ve gone through by now.”
Exactly 1.53 million won had arrived.
I didn’t head straight home after dealing with the Hidden Monster.
I made the rounds through other F-rank Gates, harvesting every byproduct I could find.
It might seem meager, but that was the inevitable result of pouring money into Mana Stones and Spirit Stones.
‘Why does even the cheapest Spirit Stone cost over 10 million won?’
The 19.02 million won I’d earned today vanished in an instant.
It stung, but I held no regrets.
The amount I was earning each day kept climbing.
An investment of this scale was only natural.
“Thank you for your work.”
“Come back soon.”
Still, I had money left to spare.
Before heading home, I might as well do some shopping.
When you earn money, you spend it.
Besides, that gluttonous spirit had depleted our pantry entirely.
And eating delivery food for every meal wasn’t sustainable either.
-Chirp! Chirp!
[Fire (EX) insists on choosing the delicious items!]
[Fire (EX) says your contractor has no eye for quality!]
“No eye for quality? Everything’s the same to humans. It wasn’t made for spirits to eat anyway.”
The creature eats anything and everything.
I was about to dismiss the complaints, but since Fire had done well today, I decided to indulge.
If it wanted to eat, as its contractor I could hardly refuse such a small thing.
Besides—
-Chirp!
[Fire (EX) darts toward a plump orange fruit!]
“Whoa, whoa! That’s for sale—you can’t just grab it like that!”
If I didn’t buy it, Fire would cause a scene.
And not a small one, either.
“What would you like to eat?”
-Chirp!
[Fire (EX) asks for fruits, vegetables, and fresh beef!]
“Expensive tastes, I see.”
Organic, as much as possible.
By the time I’d loaded everything it wanted into the cart, it was overflowing.
The total price was beyond imagination.
“That comes to 1.244 million won. How will you be paying?”
“By card, please.”
“Please insert it here.”
What did food costs matter?
If my Fire wanted something, I’d provide it.
The investment had already paid dividends.
The number of times Fire fussed about discomfort in my pocket had dwindled noticeably.
That alone was worth it.
I arrived home with arms full of groceries.
I ate first.
Evening had already fallen.
I’d wolfed down lunch while making the rounds through the Gates, so hunger clawed at me now.
-Chirp!
[Fire (EX) demands its share!]
This one too.
“You ate plenty on the way here—samples at the market and everything. Still hungry?”
-Chirp! Chirp!
[Fire (EX) says that was mere snacking!]
[Fire (EX) thumps its chest indignantly, asking why you’d even question such an obvious matter!]
She digests everything she eats with remarkable efficiency.
I set out a generous spread for Fire as well.
Yesterday it was chicken, this morning spam—so tonight, let’s go fresh.
“Marinated beef and rice it is!”
-Chirp?
[Fire asks if marinated meat counts as fresh.]
“There are vegetables, and the meat was only butchered recently—of course it’s fresh! So you’ll eat it?”
-Chirp!
[Fire asks you to wrap it in a lettuce leaf!]
I laid out the well-cooked marinated beef, rice, and garlic dipped generously in sauce, then wrapped it all in lettuce.
As I placed it directly into Fire’s mouth, her eyes gleamed.
-Chirp! Chirp!
[Fire asks for another wrap!]
[Fire says there’s no more perfect combination in the world!]
“I know, right? Chicken, pig’s feet, beef—they’re all good, but when all’s said and done, marinated beef is the best.”
After we finished, dessert came in the form of fruit.
Thanks to Fire, even someone on a tight budget like me gets to enjoy expensive fruit.
Her belly must be completely full now.
“Time to check the rewards.”
First, the items dropped by the Hidden Monster.
“A Lucky Talisman?”
The very name was special.
Luck itself?
“If it’s not a physical stat like strength or stamina, but actual luck, isn’t that nearly top-tier?”
-You’re correct, human. Luck can make the impossible possible, and it’s traded as a high-value item among humans as well.
“Insane!”
What came next made me even more excited.
-The base price for trade is in the hundreds of millions. The expensive ones go for billions.
“And here I was about to open a Spirit’s Shelter—what kind of luck is this!”
Even though Fire sulks often enough, she’s nothing short of a blessing.
Getting such a precious item too.
Looking at the description, it was as I thought.
<Lucky Talisman (C-)>
Description: Simply by carrying it, the probability of good fortune occurring increases slightly.
If I sold it, I could leave this one-room apartment right now.
I could move into a nice officetel in Seoul on monthly rent.
-Will you sell it?
“No. You said luck items are rare, right? Why would I sell something so precious? I’m keeping it and using it for the long haul. The long-term gain outweighs any immediate profit.”
-A wise decision, human.
The method of use was simple.
The moment I pressed it against bare skin, the yellow talisman became transparent on its own.
It caused no discomfort whatsoever.
It didn’t shift when I moved, and there were no issues when bathing.
I wouldn’t have to keep removing and reattaching it.
“It’s active now, right? Since it’s luck, I can’t really tell.”
-Its true power will reveal itself gradually, so there’s no need to worry, human.
“Well, that’s reassuring then. Next up is…….”
It was time for the Spirit’s Shelter.
Its opening was completed naturally as I defeated the Hidden Monster.
[You have successfully defeated the Hidden Monster, Brute Troll!]
[A Spirit’s Shelter opens!]
[From the opened Spirit’s Shelter, you receive one ability from the defeated Hidden Monster, Brute Troll!]
[Superior Regeneration (D+) Lv. 1]
<Superior Regeneration (D+) Lv. 1>
Description: You can recover a small amount of mana, stamina, and health.
<Fire’s Spirit’s Shelter>
❰Held Buff: Superior Regeneration (D+) Lv. 1❱
❰Held Furniture: None❱
❰Floor Space: 1 pyeong❱
……Superior Regeneration (D+) Lv. 1 — can level up upon achieving Satiation 10,000
……Upon defeating a Hidden Monster, it’s possible to acquire new buffs.
……Upon acquiring Burning Stone Tree (0/10) and Blazing Cotton (0/5), a warm bed can be crafted (requires 5+ pyeong).
……Upon acquiring Burning Stone Tree (0/30), an additional 1 pyeong becomes possible.
“That’s quite a lot of things, isn’t it?”
I examined the list slowly.
Buffs, furniture, living space.
Those were essentially the main functions.
“Wow! But this also requires Hunger? I figured once I opened the Spirit’s Shelter, getting Mana Stones and Spirit Stones would be easy.”
—Human, all the functions I’ve explained are only possible after you’ve strengthened and grown considerably.
“Of course, since I’m just starting out. But what’s the point of furniture and living space?”
—The Spirit’s recovery, comfort, slight buffs, and later—as I mentioned—the supply of Mana Stones and Spirit Stones, as well as skill advancement, become possible.
In other words.
“So I need to gather materials along with Mana Stones and Spirit Stones?”
—The fortunate part is that once you bring materials here, I can craft them myself. Though unlike with Hidden Monsters, I won’t tell you where to find the materials.
“Right, that’s certainly good news. Thanks for letting me know.”
—Your praise is appreciated.
The Spirit’s Shelter wasn’t a place only Fire could enter.
With Fire’s approval, I could enter as well.
[The Spirit’s Shelter opens!]
[Fire (EX) has granted entry to the Spirit’s Shelter!]
A red portal appeared in the air—far smaller than a Gate.
Since Fire had complained about space being inconvenient, this would be useful for moving around.
There was one problem, though.
“It’s kind of small.”
—Squeak!
[Fire (EX) is protesting that her shelter has become the same cramped prison as her contractor’s!]
“It’s not a prison. I’ll expand it soon. Besides, it’s bound to be better than my arms, right?”
I managed to negotiate successfully.
1 pyeong was a bit much, admittedly.
It was late today, so I’d need to find materials tomorrow.
“But how do I get materials?”
—You can obtain them by harvesting from Gates and the Tower. As for other methods and which Gates yield which materials, figure that out yourselves, Human.
“Alright, alright. I got it.”
Despite being small, the Spirit’s Shelter was definitely effective.
Fire, who had been exhausted from clearing Hidden Monsters and multiple Gates,
—Squeak! Squeak!
[Fire (EX) says that even though it’s cramped, she rests well here!]
recovered instantly and was bouncing with energy.
But that wasn’t all.
I was affected too.
I just poked my head in and felt restored right away.
—Squeak!
[Fire (EX) is demanding you move that big head out of here at once!]
“Got it. For being 1 pyeong, the Spirit’s Shelter is surprisingly spacious. And there’s no height limit at all.”
If I kept growing steadily, the growth would pay for itself.
That was enough for today.
Just as I was about to rest, a system message appeared.
[The One-time Mana Stone Dungeon has opened!]
“Huh? The One-time Mana Stone Dungeon? Oh!”
Now I remembered.
—A one-time dungeon where you can acquire Mana Stones in bulk. After clearing floor 3, it will reopen 12 hours later.
“Speed Clones, thanks. This is why I climb the Tower.”
—You’re welcome. Please note that monsters can infinitely respawn for 1 hour.
It was a one-time Mana Stone Dungeon event.
Even low-grade Mana Stones drop at a higher rate than in the Tower of Trials.
That’s why you had to prepare thoroughly before going in.
Usually people start this after climbing the Tower a bit first.
“I’m going right now. Gotta earn my keep. You’re all rested?”
—Squeak! Squeak!
[Fire (EX) keeps calling out that she’s ready to go!]
The Spirit’s Shelter proved remarkably effective.
Entry worked exactly like the Tower of Trials.
[Enter the One-time Mana Stone Dungeon?]
[Yes/No]
“Yes!”
Her vision darkened, then gradually returned from the center outward.
A grassland stretched before her—flat, unbroken, carpeted with verdant growth.
And there, a Red-eyed White Rabbit bounded through the field, hopping in lazy circles.
[You have arrived at the One-time Mana Stone Dungeon.]
[Defeat twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits.]
[An event will trigger the moment you defeat all twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits!]
[Red-eyed White Rabbits: 0/20]
No time to hesitate.
Let’s go!
[Fire’s held skill, ‘Hellfire,’ activates.]
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-CRASH!!
Whoosh!
All twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits turned to ash in an instant.
And then the event began.
[An event triggers!]
[The moment twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits are defeated, they respawn instantly!]
She didn’t need to fire again the moment they reappeared.
The shockwave from Hellfire still lingered.
[Twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits defeated!]
[Twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits respawn!]
[Twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits defeated!]
[Twenty Red-eyed White Rabbits respawn!]
…….
…….
After five cycles, it finally stopped.
Then she unleashed Hellfire once more.
For one hour, the cycle repeated.
Being able to use skills inside the Spirit’s Shelter meant it was nearly infinite.
And exactly one hour after the event began, it ended.
[You have cleared the One-time Mana Stone Dungeon!]
[Red-eyed White Rabbits: 6,000/20]
[You have cleared the One-time Mana Stone Dungeon with overwhelming dominance!]
[You obtain 705× Lowest-tier Mana Stone!]
[You obtain 454× Low-tier Mana Stone!]
[You obtain 150× Mid-low-tier Mana Stone!]
[You obtain 83× Mid-tier Mana Stone!]
[You obtain 1× Mid-high-tier Mana Stone!]
Dopamine flooded her system as mana stones cascaded down.

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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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