The Automatic Rooting Range Is Too Wide - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Auto Looting Range Too Wide Episode 31

Episode 31: Please Give Me a Discount (1)

The reward Mincheol obtained wasn’t just a skill.

【You partially acquire Cardmos Dunwall’s techniques and experience!】

Something rushed into Mincheol’s mind.

Spear gripping techniques, basic footwork, how to handle one’s gaze when facing enemies, and so on.

All kinds of knowledge flooded in. Despite being another person’s knowledge, it seeped into his mind without any difficulty.

‘Amazing.’

The knowledge absorbed by Mincheol consisted only of basic things.

Nevertheless, the amount was incredibly vast and profound.

He could understand why Memory Stones were managed so secretly.

“Congratulations on becoming Cardmos Dunwall’s successor.”

Ursongbarsong congratulated Mincheol.

“He may be a bastard of a human, but there’s no doubt he’s an incredible powerhouse. You’ve obtained a tremendous opportunity.”

Mincheol had no choice but to agree with those words.

The martial prowess of Cardmos Dunwall that he had glimpsed through the memories was at a terrifying level.

Every time he threw his spear, hordes of orcs were massacred. Even their leader couldn’t withstand a single exchange.

“I recommend you consistently practice the knowledge gained from the Memory Stone. Techniques are useless unless you master them through your body.”

Ursongbarsong added with a look that said to keep this in mind.

“And even if it’s clear now, it will become blurry later on. It would be like throwing away gold to lose the memories and know-how of a powerful warrior you’ve finally obtained.”

“Oh… That would be quite troublesome.”

“Ah, and once you become proficient in the techniques, the Memory Stone’s next Quest will open up. If you complete that Quest, you’ll be able to acquire new skills and knowledge.”

After saying that, Ursongbarsong let out a long sigh.

“Originally, Lord Cardmos should be telling you these things directly. Since I’m doing his job for him, really…”

“You seem to dislike Cardmos.”

“Of course I do. He increased my workload.”

Ah.

Mincheol immediately understood.

It made sense to be angry when doing work that didn’t need to be done.

“Still, I’m happy to be able to meet you, Awakened One. Thanks to you continuing to do well, my evaluations keep getting better.”

Ursongbarsong’s face looked very satisfied as he said this.

It seemed he wasn’t just being polite but was genuinely pleased.

“Oh my, our conversation has gone on too long. I have a mountain of work to handle, so I’ll take my leave now.”

A black hole opened behind Ursongbarsong.

“Thank you for today.”

“It was just my job. Oh, please be careful on the next floor as well.”

Mincheol brushed off Ursongbarsong’s concern casually.

He had gotten used to fighting Failed Golems and had learned new skills too.

His confidence was overflowing to the point of being problematic.

But Ursongbarsong’s expression was excessively serious.

“Just thinking about the Awakened Ones who died there still makes me feel sorry. They were all precious talents.”

Huh?

An administrator expressing mourning like this?

Mincheol sensed something was not ordinary.

“Perhaps this might be the last time I see you, Mincheol. I sincerely hope my worries don’t become reality.”

“W-wait a minute!”

Mincheol hurriedly tried to grab Ursongbarsong.

But Ursongbarsong had already disappeared into the black hole.

Left behind, Mincheol spoke helplessly toward where the hole had closed.

“You could have at least told me why it’s dangerous before leaving…”

* * *

Returning to his apartment, Mincheol immediately accessed the Hunter Community.

It was to find out what exactly was on the 10th Floor that made even an administrator warn him.

But the Hunter Community was currently ablaze with some hot topic.

-Anonymous : Zero-second Swordsman’s presence is insane lol.

-Round Tofu : I knew he was famous, but I didn’t know it was to this extent.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

Mincheol couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Actually, mentions of him in the Hunter Community had greatly decreased recently.

Perhaps because people were getting used to Mincheol’s existence, he wasn’t brought up as a topic as often as before.

Mincheol put aside his investigation of the 10th Floor for now and began looking through the Hunter Community.

-Anonymous : Where are all the places mentioning Zero-second Swordsman right now?

-Anonymous : It’d be faster to find places that aren’t mentioning him? Helios, Crusade, basically all the famous places have mentioned him.

-Round Tofu : Has a low-floor Awakened One ever received this much attention before?

-Anonymous : Never. Even that Malcolm Bernard wasn’t to this extent.

“I was mentioned?”

Mincheol briefly searched for Zero-second Swordsman.

Recently posted articles popped up like mushrooms after rain.

-Helios responds ‘We don’t know’ about Zero-second Swordsman’s 10th Floor challenge.

-Zero-second Swordsman challenges the 10th Floor! Will it be EX grade again this time?

-Helios reveals they expect Zero-second Swordsman’s continued success, becomes hot topic.

-Crusade’s official Twitter: “We have high expectations for Zero-second Swordsman’s challenge.”

“What, this is all because I’m challenging the 10th Floor?”

From Mincheol’s perspective, it was utterly bewildering.

What exactly was the 10th Floor that just challenging it became a hot topic?

Mincheol returned to the Hunter Community.

-Strawberry Cheese : Of course he’d get attention! It’s not just anyone, it’s Zero-second Swordsman! And it’s not just anywhere, he’s challenging the 10th Floor!

-Anonymous : I’m really curious though. Will Zero-second Swordsman be able to get EX grade on the 10th Floor too?

-Round Tofu : Wouldn’t that be a bit difficult? If it were 10th Floor Area A maybe, but it’s B Zone. I know a lot of Awakened Ones died there.

-King Burger : And they weren’t just any Awakened Ones, they were promising talents that each guild was backing. 10th Floor B Zone is really an antlion pit that devours geniuses.

The more Mincheol watched the community members’ conversation, the more he felt a chill down his spine.

“An antlion pit that devours geniuses…?”

It was a nickname he absolutely couldn’t ignore.

Just as Mincheol’s fear of the 10th Floor was growing.

-Strawberry Cheese : Seol-aeng mentioned Zero-second Swordsman too!

└Anonymous : Even in Seol-aeng?

└King Burger : What did they say?

└Strawberry Cheese : Here’s the link!

Mincheol also clicked on the YouTube link that Strawberry Cheese had posted.

A press conference video appeared.

Many reporters had gathered in one place. All their gazes were focused on the podium.

A young man was standing on the podium.

He appeared to be around thirty years old. His hair was cut short like a soldier’s.

“That’s Lee Ji-hun, isn’t it?”

Mincheol immediately recognized the man’s face. He was that famous.

Lee Ji-hun, one of Seol-aeng’s three great masters.

He was an awakened one climbing the highest floors and a globally famous ranker.

Since Mincheol dreamed of getting a job at Seol-aeng and living a life of contentment, he could recite not only Lee Ji-hun’s face but his entire career.

-Thank you all for gathering here.

Lee Ji-hun said, looking straight ahead.

His eyes were clear and sharp, like looking at the tip of a blade.

-I declare that Seol-aeng has cleared the long-unsolved Hidden Piece on the 32nd Floor.

The reporters began murmuring at Lee Ji-hun’s statement.

-The 32nd Floor Hidden Piece, you mean the Spirit King’s Riddle?

-Isn’t that the place where China’s Qiuchuan Alliance suffered billions in losses when they seriously attempted it?

Click click click-

Questions poured from the reporters along with the sound of cameras.

-This is Park A-reum from Gyeongchung! Was this the work of the specialized team formed last year?

-This is Park Su-hun from Bolyeom News! I’m curious if you’re willing to reveal the rewards!

The reporters’ reaction was enthusiastic.

It was an era where the power of awakened ones directly translated to national strength.

Interest in Hidden Pieces was naturally that high.

Moreover, a long-unsolved Hidden Piece.

It was news that would drive reporters crazy.

-I’ll take questions one at a time. Let’s start with the reporter in front.

Lee Ji-hun skillfully calmed the reporters and continued with the Q&A.

The problem arose with the fifth reporter.

-Yes, hello. I’m Hwang Du-chul from Dismoney. First, congratulations on achieving such remarkable results.

A man with messy hair and an unkempt beard stood up from his seat.

At the mention of Dismoney, Mincheol felt an ominous feeling.

-Dismoney is that media company that specializes only in gossip, right?

It was a notoriously bad place that would create gossip if none existed, just to increase traffic.

They caused trouble wherever they went, so their image was terrible.

-You know about Zero-second Swordsman, right? I don’t think someone of your stature as a Seol-aeng master wouldn’t know.

Lee Ji-hun’s brow furrowed slightly.

-Questions that don’t match the situation…

-You’re a busy person, so if not now, I won’t have a chance to ask, so please understand.

Hwang Du-chul continued his question with a sly smile.

-Famous guilds from various countries are commenting on Zero-second Swordsman’s 10th Floor challenge. But Seol-aeng has been quiet so far. I’d like to hear Master Lee Ji-hun’s opinion on this occasion.

Displeasure spread across Lee Ji-hun’s face.

It was understandable. Wasn’t he asking completely irrelevant questions at someone else’s celebration?

-That’s a question I have no reason to answer at this venue. Let’s move on to the next one.

It was when Lee Ji-hun turned his gaze to another reporter.

-Are you perhaps refusing to answer due to personal feelings?

Lee Ji-hun’s gaze returned to Hwang Du-chul.

-There’s an opinion going around. That Zero-second Swordsman might surpass Lee Dong-hwi.

-What are you talking about…

-The great pioneer, legend of the 0th generation, your grandfather was a hero not just for South Korea but for all humanity.

Everything has a beginning.

The Tower was the same. When the Tower first appeared, humanity had to challenge it without any knowledge or equipment, unlike now.

Many people died. They couldn’t even leave behind bodies, let alone last words.

But even so, there were those who didn’t give up and steadily climbed the Tower, paving the way for those who would follow.

People called them pioneers and showed them infinite respect.

And among the pioneers, the most famous figure was Lee Dong-hwi.

A figure who suddenly appeared from South Korea, which was a wasteland for awakened ones, and stood out like a crane among chickens.

An awakened one who competed with the world’s top-tier and was truly called the strongest.

Though he had now retired and was living a quiet life, Lee Dong-hwi’s presence was still strong.

-But your grandfather didn’t always succeed either. He tasted failure on the 10th Floor. From what I hear, he barely made it back alive?

Lee Ji-hun’s cheek twitched slightly. His jaw tensed from gritting his teeth.

-Ah, of course your grandfather wasn’t the only one who failed. Malcolm Bernard, Michael Alzen, Haruka Miyuki, awakened ones whose names everyone knows also all failed on the 10th Floor. Including you, of course.

Hwang Du-chul lifted his chin slightly. It was an action as if looking down on someone.

-The evaluation of Seol-aeng is getting worse day by day. You’re not reproducing even a bit of your grandfather’s glory. Some people even say you’re living off selling your grandfather’s legacy. Though that’s a bit harsh.

Hwang Du-chul shrugged his shoulders. It was very annoying how he slipped away like this after saying everything he wanted to say.

-In such circumstances, if Zero-second Swordsman succeeds at something even Lee Dong-hwi failed at, Seol-aeng’s reputation would be ruined. So you’re ignoring Zero-second Swordsman’s activities, aren’t you?

Mincheol, who had been listening to Hwang Du-chul’s words through the screen, burst with indignation.

“This kind of person also wears a reporter’s badge.”

This was Dismoney’s method.

They would scratch celebrities’ nerves as much as possible and induce them to cause incidents.

If the celebrity really crossed the line?

They would write all kinds of articles about it. It was a truly vicious method.

-…It seems you know nothing about the 10th Floor.

Lee Ji-hun’s voice became somewhat cold.

Surely he wouldn’t fall for Dismoney’s tactics?

Mincheol felt an ominous feeling. Sure enough, the ominous feeling became reality.

-Since you seem curious about my opinion, I’ll make it clear. Zero-second Swordsman will fail.

At that moment, the conference hall became noisy.

Even the reporters who had gathered to cover Seol-aeng’s Hidden Piece strategy focused on Lee Ji-hun’s statement.

-How can you be so certain?

-Anyone who knows even a little about the 10th Floor would say exactly the same thing as me.

-But considering Zero-second Swordsman’s track record so far…

-I guarantee it. I don’t know who Zero-second Swordsman is or what abilities he has, but he will fail.

Lee Ji-hun’s tone became increasingly heated.

-And you should speak correctly. My grandfather did not fail. He merely failed to defeat the boss.

Lee Ji-hun said definitively.

-My grandfather’s legend can never, absolutely never be surpassed by anyone.

The video ended there.

Mincheol fell into thought, mulling over Lee Ji-hun’s statement.

“What on earth is on the 10th Floor that makes him speak so definitively.”

Mincheol returned to the Hunter Community.

The Hunter Community was buzzing because of Lee Ji-hun’s statement.

-Anonymous : Who does Lee Ji-hun think he is to judge Zero-second Swordsman so carelessly?

└Anonymous : That’s what I’m saying lol. If it weren’t for his grandfather, he wouldn’t even be in that position.

Public opinion was flowing negatively toward Lee Ji-hun.

The reason Hwang Du-chul could scratch at him so openly in such a public setting was largely because public opinion wasn’t favorable to begin with.

It was because he couldn’t even come close to matching the achievements of Lee Dong-hwi, the first master.

Just then, he noticed a post where the comment count was increasing in real time.

【Title: Zero-second Swordsman is fucked, he’s definitely gonna die this time so pray for his soul in advance.】

-Author: Hae-dal

The title itself was ominous.

And the author was problematic too. It was a troll who constantly picked fights with Mincheol.

“This guy’s acting up again.”

The answer to trolls is to ignore them.

But Hae-dal’s posts kept getting bumped up, so he couldn’t help but see them naturally.

-Hae-dal: Lee Ji-hun said something right. EX grade is fucked, he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t die lol.

-Hae-dal: You bastards cursing Lee Ji-hun, have you even tried climbing the Tower?

-Hae-dal: I’m not gonna bother explaining what the 10th Floor is like to idiots who don’t know lol.

“This guy went into hiding after getting cursed out last time, and now he’s at it again.”

What he learned later was that this user called Hae-dal had mocked Mincheol, saying he wouldn’t be able to challenge B Zone, then ran away as soon as the record appeared.

That same troll was now acting up again without any shame.

“Does this guy have no sense of embarrassment?”

Or maybe it meant the 10th Floor was just that dangerous.

Mincheol posted a question on the Hunter Community.

-Top Newbie: What’s on the 10th Floor that makes Zero-second Swordsman such a hot topic?

-King Burger: Ah, well that’s…

A reply came quickly.

It was a warm reply from King Burger, whom Mincheol had always respected so much.

-King Burger: The 10th Floor is that thing.

-Top Newbie: That thing?

-King Burger: Boss battle.

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