The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 4

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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 4
Episode 4
1.
The User Management Team of E-World.
Though the team was called the User Management Team, it wasn’t a department that sanctioned users or interfered with their gameplay.
It was a department that monitored multiple users’ playstyles to prevent any accidents before they occurred, and ensured that gameplay proceeded smoothly.
In other words, it could be called the department that managed user data.
Most of the users they managed were those who had achieved Achievements.
Users who had obtained a steel sword in the tutorial or defeated the scarecrow in a single blow naturally belonged here.
Sung-hyun was one of them.
If there was a slight exception….
“What is this? ‘Unknown Power’? Wait, how is this raising stats? And in the tutorial, no less?”
“W-well, that’s what I’m wondering too?”
Faced with this unprecedented phenomenon, Lee Won-sang tilted his head in bewilderment.
His subordinate, Oh Jin-hyuk, could only scratch his head.
How could Oh Jin-hyuk possibly know something that his superior Lee Won-sang didn’t?
Unknown Power? What on earth was this?
Despite having worked quite a bit in the User Management Team, Lee Won-sang had never seen anything like this before.
Uncertain and puzzled, he left a question for Immortal.
[Immortal, what is ‘Unknown Power’?]
[It is ‘Unknown Power’.]
“…?”
So, what exactly was that Unknown Power?
Frustrated, he wrote out his question once more.
[So what exactly is that ‘Unknown Power’?]
[It refers to a force that cannot be defined by the current Eternal World standards.]
[Is it a bug then?]
[The possibility of a bug occurring in the current Eternal World approaches zero. In this situation, ‘Unknown Power’ is judged to be a user’s ability rather than a bug.]
At this frustrating response, Lee Won-sang finally cried out.
“Then what am I supposed to do about it!!!”
“P-please calm down!”
“Huff, huff.”
For now, since Immortal had classified it as unknowable, they’d move on.
Since it wasn’t a bug, it shouldn’t become a major problem….
“But seriously, how are the stats rising like that in the Beginner Village….”
“Y-yes, that’s what I’m saying….”
“Huff, well, since they’ve been flagged as a management target, let’s keep an eye on what they’re doing. But something’s definitely off.”
Based on previous data, this was clearly a user who shouldn’t have been able to produce such results.
Yet looking at the suddenly increased stats, they had risen to an unnaturally high level.
Then they decreased again, but they were still noticeably higher than before.
Synchronization rate—or rather, assimilation rate—I’ve never seen such a stark difference in these metrics before.
‘…I’m going to have to file a report soon at this rate.’
Oh Jin-hyuk spoke to Lee Won-sang, who was consumed by an ominous premonition.
“Huh? Senior, your numbers went up again?”
“What?!”
How much time has passed for them to rise again?
What kind of person are we even dealing with?
“Even ghosts would weep at this.”
Lee Won-sang had no idea that his unconscious remark was actually the truth.
2.
“Go well! If you ever need help, come find me!”
-Ehehehe! Use it well! It was wonderful meeting you! You’re welcome back anytime!
Master and disciple bowed to each other in similar fashion, and I gave a respectful bow before leaving the Training Ground.
Once outside the Training Ground, I recalled something with a hint of bewilderment.
The spirit’s memories and experiences had assimilated as if they were my own.
In that moment, I felt it clearly.
The rhythm of the sword flowed through me as if I had become a master who had wielded it thousands, tens of thousands of times.
An experience unlike anything in my previous life.
Though the memories weren’t indistinguishable from my own.
Rather, they were distinctly separate.
‘How fascinating.’
I looked down at my hands.
They were pale and soft, as if they’d never known hardship.
Yet the experience and memories contained within them ran deep—profoundly deep.
Was it because I’d moved away from the ghost?
I hadn’t obtained it completely, but quite a bit still remained.
‘Is this how it’s done?’
The moment I grasped the sword, the memories and experiences loaded once more.
Recalling the Former Instructor Ghost’s memories, I could now utilize his talent to some degree.
It was absurd, yet I accepted it as if it were natural.
My ability possessed such power.
Why had I never tried using it in reality?
Well, I did receive help, but had a ghost ever actually taught me anything before?
‘Never.’
In the game, I used it openly—whether muttering to myself, seeing ghosts, whispering to someone, or making calls—but in reality, I hadn’t.
The truth was, hiding my ability to see ghosts had left me with no such opportunity.
Was that the difference?
I found my newfound power fascinating and exhilarating.
‘This is fun.’
The game itself was enjoyable, certainly, but growing stronger through my own ability was equally thrilling.
And in doing so, my game character grew stronger as well.
I realized I hadn’t checked the titles I’d received at the end, so I opened them belatedly.
『One Strike!』
→《Rare》
→A title granted to users who toppled the scarecrow with a single blow.
→On the first attack, an additional 10% damage is added to that attack alone.
『Instructor’s Medal』
→《Rare+》
→A title granted to users who acquired a steel sword in the tutorial and toppled the scarecrow with a single blow.
→All stats +1 increase.
“Oh!”
I let out a genuine exclamation of admiration at the sight.
I’d thought these titles from the tutorial would be nothing special.
I hadn’t checked the hidden pieces I’d forgotten to obtain yesterday, but this was the effect they had.
‘Better than I expected.’
Most people would drool over options like these, yet I simply brushed past them as decent.
I wasn’t exactly normal either.
With 10% additional damage on the first attack and +1 to all stats, I should have reacted more enthusiastically, yet I still expressed my admiration in measured tones.
Whether you’d call it consistency
or peculiarity.
‘So my stats are….’
『Sung Hyun』
『Lv 1』
『Class』
→X
『Titles』
→『Instructor’s Medal (Rare+)』… and 2 others.
『Stats』
→《Strength: 14(13+1)》《Agility: 13(12+1)》
《Stamina: 11(10+1)》《Intelligence: 11(10+1)》
《Wisdom: 11(10+1)》《Spirit: 11(10+1)》
『Bonus Stats』
→《0》
*Currently in Beginner Village.
*Cannot gain experience.
‘Wow.’
These numbers didn’t look like Level 1 stats at all.
When leveling up, you normally gain 5 additional stat points, yet I had 11 more than the base.
That was higher than gaining two levels.
‘The ghost really came through.’
This ability that Immortal classified as an “Unknown Power”.
The stat gain from it was a whopping 5 points.
‘I can get more in the future, right?’
I felt a thrill of excitement at the thought.
My only talent had been seeing ghosts until now.
I’d studied quite a bit, but I wasn’t exceptionally good at it, and my athletic ability was nothing special either.
Just average, maybe slightly above.
That was true until just moments ago.
But now it was different.
‘I can feel it.’
I’d gained the experience and memories of someone who’d trained for decades.
Even if it wasn’t complete, I’d definitely inherited that talent.
If I kept building on this steadily?
‘This is going to be fun.’
I was genuinely curious how far I could climb.
Either way, what I’d gained was real.
I prepared to move on to the next step.
My next destination was the Butcher Shop.
‘They said to learn the Butchering skill here and gather initial funds, right?’
The strategy guides said the best approach was to gather as much as possible in the Beginner Village before leaving and immediately changing classes.
In the Beginner Village, you couldn’t gain experience, but they bought meat and hides at premium prices.
The reason was to let you accumulate money before leaving the Beginner Village.
That’s what the strategy guide I looked up yesterday said.
My older sister Yoo Mi-na told me the same thing.
Though obtaining the Butchering skill wasn’t easy.
To get the Butchering skill, I had to accept a Quest from the Butcher Shop.
It was an essential skill in every strategy guide since it was useful throughout the game.
Sure enough, I could see many users gathered in small groups.
As I arrived at the Butcher Shop, a middle-aged woman’s voice—rough as if she’d been boiling train smoke—blared out.
“That’s what I’m saying!!! Bring me PROPER meat!!!”
The thunderous voice echoing from outside the shop startled me slightly as I peered inside.
I saw a user presenting mangled, ruined meat, and a middle-aged woman scolding them.
It was clearly because of the meat’s condition.
Even I could tell it was in terrible shape.
“She’s really picky.”
“What!?! Would YOU want to eat meat like that!!!”
“But… I don’t have the Butchering skill, so how am I supposed to do it well…”
“So what!?! You call THIS meat and bring it to me!?!!!”
“Ugh! My ears are going to fall off!”
“It’s your meat chunks that fell off!!! Where’s the rest of the meat—you threw it away and brought me only THIS!?!!! I won’t accept it!!! Bring it again!!!”
Her voice was absolutely thunderous—as if she’d boiled a train whistle and swallowed it whole.
Sung-hyun covered his ears slightly and peered into the Butcher Shop with an indifferent expression. He could see a user at the front counter, holding a tattered hunk of meat, shuffling out with a dejected look.
“Ugh. I went through all that trouble for this.”
“I don’t care how hard you worked—bring me proper meat!!! Next!!!”
The moment the Butcher Shop owner shouted, the next user in line glanced at the pathetic chunk of meat in his own hands, let out a nervous laugh, and followed the dejected user out of the shop.
It wasn’t just that one user—most of them left the same way.
The majority were carrying meat that looked absolutely ruined.
For the remaining users, the owner either bellowed at them or grudgingly let them pass, paying them for their meat, but they all whined that the payment was too small.
When a user complained that the money was insufficient, she apparently heard it and snapped back.
“Then bring me better meat!!!”
“Okay, okay! I got it!”
“She’s so picky, I’m telling you.”
“But seriously, isn’t all meat the same?”
“Yeah, once it’s cooked, it’s all identical~”
“Yeah, once it’s in your belly, it’s all the same~”
“You brats!!!”
“Ahhh!”
The Butcher Shop owner let out a sigh as she watched the users flee the moment she shouted.
Why were all these outsiders so incompetent?
She’d asked them to bring meat, and they showed up with rags and scraps.
If the village chief hadn’t ordered her to do this, she would’ve driven them all out and dealt only with the locals.
It was while the Butcher Shop owner was in a foul mood that Sung-hyun stepped forward.
“Huh? What do you want now?”
“Ah, if I bring meat, would you be able to buy it from me?”
“You sure take a long time just to ask for a Quest!!!”
“Ugh.”
At the loud voice of the Butcher Shop owner, Marlen, Sung-hyun frowned and covered his ears.
Marlen frowned at his seemingly delicate appearance.
She’d seen plenty of outsiders like this before.
There were even timid ones who asked how to catch rabbits in the first place.
Marlen suspected Sung-hyun was of that type and glared at him.
Sung-hyun, noticing her glare, tilted his head as if asking what was wrong.
Watching him tilt his head made her feel exasperated.
“Bah! Take the Quest and get out! If you bring me ruined meat, I’ll have words for you!”
“Yes, thank you.”
[Forced Quest, 『Meat Delivery』 has been created.]
『Meat Delivery』
→《Basic》
→Before setting out on grand adventures, it is a time-honored tradition for adventurers to earn their travel funds by selling meat to the Butcher Shop. Hunt rabbits, deer, and the like, and bring their meat here for delivery.
→Reward: 1 Silver per rabbit meat and rabbit hide.
→Warning: If the meat quality is poor, the owner may refuse to purchase it.
→Tip: Please take care when butchering. Perhaps something mysterious might happen?
This quest was surprisingly considerate, complete with both tips and warnings.
Sung-hyun nodded in apparent amazement upon reading it, then quietly exited the Butcher Shop.
Marlen watched him leave with a curious expression.
‘What a peculiar foreigner.’
The contrast between his timid appearance and his composed demeanor was quite striking.
Though he would undoubtedly return with mangled meat like all the other foreigners.
Before the foreigners arrived, when adventurers would stop by before setting out, she could count on one hand those who brought back properly butchered meat on their first try.
Long ago, the adventurers had managed it; now the foreigners brought back ruined cuts.
The foreigners’ skill seemed even worse than the adventurers’ had been.
Occasionally some would bring decent meat, but it was truly rare.
She didn’t think Sung-hyun would be one of them.
In any case, Marlen quickly filed away the slightly unusual impression of Sung-hyun and called out.
“Next!!!”

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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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