The Only Enhancer - Chapter 6

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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 6
Episode 6 – Item Farming (1)
Min-jun wasn’t originally the type to possess such unwavering confidence and overflowing self-esteem.
When I first encountered Sung-jun after my awakening, I had been thoroughly intimidated and cowering.
My school days weren’t much different either.
Inferiority complexes and victim mentality didn’t arise without reason, after all.
But everything changed once my trait manifested.
At first, I couldn’t adapt to it.
Yet I soon came to realize it.
The sheer magnitude of my abilities.
For now, I lacked the strength to reveal it, but if I gained that power?
Power enough to command the world itself!
Perhaps that’s why the inferiority and victim mentality that had gnawed at me all this time vanished without a trace, replaced entirely by confidence and towering self-regard.
There were those whose personalities shifted dramatically after their traits manifested.
The stronger the ability, the greater such changes tended to be.
Whether those changes proved positive or negative.
In my case, fortunately, it was positive.
Had it been otherwise, I would’ve needed to apologize to the others for ruining the atmosphere.
Of course, there were things that bothered me.
‘In the end, they’re just bystanders.’
By standing aside, they were essentially endorsing Lee Sang-min’s words as well.
Choi Jung-min could be understood as deciding not to interfere hastily once I stepped forward, but the other party members were genuine bystanders.
That didn’t mean I needed to ostracize them too, though.
At least, that’s what I believed.
I hadn’t openly displayed any hostility toward them, after all.
Besides.
‘I’m only seeing them today anyway.’
I’m truly only seeing them today.
I didn’t dwell on it much.
I was surprised at how cold and rational I’d become, but I didn’t let it trouble me.
If anything, it was positive—certainly not negative.
At least it meant I wouldn’t be taken advantage of anywhere.
‘So, shall I see what the Han-byul Guild’s tank is capable of?’
0.
If one were to pinpoint the greatest difference between raids in reality and raids in games, it would be frequency.
In games, a character’s health, injuries, and mental stamina could be restored with potions or simply ignored, but real raids were different.
Each monster was something that, in the past, had required risking one’s life to defeat.
Facing such creatures’ killing intent in battle was burdensome, no matter how systematized the process became.
Moreover, maintaining combat for approximately an hour at minimum consumed considerable mental energy.
That’s why real raids never attempted more than two monsters per day.
I couldn’t do it precisely.
But if there was a Healer, things would have been different.
Most people knew this fact, but Choi Jung-min was the only one who had experienced it firsthand.
The Han-byul Guild had several Healers after all.
‘With just a Healer, I could cut raid time by over twenty minutes.’
That meant cutting a one-hour raid down by over twenty minutes.
It varied depending on the Healer’s capabilities, but that was the average.
Moreover, this temporary party had only bought reinforced gear, and since there were many beginners, when considering roughly an hour and thirty minutes per monster, a Healer would be more than sufficient to cut it down to at least an hour and ten minutes.
From this shortened time, I could gauge Min-jun’s capabilities.
Choi Jung-min thought this way as he took the lead and remained vigilant.
There was no need to be overly tense.
This was merely Disaster Zone 1 after all.
In other words, it was a place where only Disaster Level 1 creatures formed the ecosystem.
In a place with only Disaster Level 1 creatures at most, no monster worthy of his tension would appear.
So that’s why he took on the role of scout here.
Of course, the others were different.
Those following Choi Jung-min each followed with tension.
While everyone was tense, Min-jun, the only one maintaining a composed demeanor, observed Choi Jung-min’s figure.
‘He’s quite impressive.’
If Choi Jung-min was preparing to analyze Min-jun, then Min-jun was already observing Choi Jung-min.
A face that showed confidence and composure even while remaining vigilant.
It seemed no one here could defeat him.
Min-jun’s composure owed much to Choi Jung-min.
Having such a skilled fighter in the party, it would be more absurd to be tense.
Besides.
‘That shield appears to be a +2 reinforced item.’
Unlike the other armor pieces that emitted a soft white glow, the shield had a faint blue tint mixed in.
It was definitely the appearance of a +2 reinforced item.
An item capable of blocking even the attacks of Disaster Level 2 creatures without difficulty.
How could one be tense with this?
Then suddenly, Choi Jung-min’s expression changed.
His face stiffened slightly.
But it wasn’t severe.
Sure enough, he raised his empty hand in a stop signal.
Everyone’s bodies stiffened with tension, but Min-jun quickly grasped the situation.
And he could see it.
In the distance, the bushes rustled.
“They’re coming.”
Almost simultaneously with Choi Jung-min’s words, a black shadow rushed through the undergrowth toward the party.
Or rather, it tried to.
If only Choi Jung-min hadn’t been standing at the very front.
Screeeech! Thud.
The sound of something sharp scraping against metal rang out as Choi Jung-min’s legs sank deep into the ground.
Evidence of a considerably heavy attack.
Yet despite this, Choi Jung-min blocked it with ease.
Thanks to that, the identity of the black shadow was revealed.
A creature with black fur and yellow predatory eyes that swept across the party members.
It was a Black Claw Saber, a Disaster Zone 1 level monster that served as one of the apex predators in this region.
Its body length appeared to be less than 4 meters, roughly 3.5 meters, and despite moving on four legs, its height exceeded 2 meters.
Seeing this form, I frowned at the fact that it was similar in size to a rhinoceros I had once seen at a zoo.
A Disaster Zone 1 level monster was this massive.
I was surprised, but not afraid.
‘Body Enhancement.’
As proof, I acted faster than anyone else.
I cast a buff on Choi Jung-min, the tank.
A mystical light settled upon Choi Jung-min.
The effect wasn’t particularly flashy, but Choi Jung-min was so startled by receiving the buff that he turned back to me with an involuntary expression of surprise.
Since Choi Jung-min reacted that way, I was momentarily startled and tilted my head in confusion.
‘Did I make some mistake?’
No, that couldn’t be it.
I cast the buff at exactly the right moment.
It was Choi Jung-min who asked for the buff after the initial standoff, wasn’t it?
The timing was precise, nothing was wrong.
Which meant.
‘Is there a problem with the buff?’
That part did bother me a little.
Precisely because I was an Enhancement Specialist, not a buffer.
But I thought it should be fine anyway.
The Hunter Association Staff member who resembled Ma Dong-sik hadn’t said anything otherwise.
If there had been a problem with the buff amount, that staff member would surely have mentioned it.
So why was he reacting like that?
Meanwhile, Choi Jung-min seemed to realize his mistake and quickly turned his gaze back to the creature.
Taking your eyes off during combat was essentially no different from attempting suicide.
But the shock remained.
‘What… what kind of buff amplification rate is this?!’
He swallowed hard and pushed back the Black Claw Saber pressed against his shield.
Then.
Crash!
“Kyaaaaaaagh!”
The creature, pushed back helplessly while snarling, was indignant.
And Choi Jung-min was genuinely taken aback.
No matter how strong a tank was, even at level 2, to physically push back a Disaster Zone level 1 monster?
Was such a thing even possible?
Unlike dealers who inflicted damage through skills, tanks bore the burden of pressing their flesh against monsters and blocking their attacks.
Perhaps for this reason, tanks without exception possessed superhuman physiques.
In fact, those with bodies stronger than any trait were the ones who became tanks.
Because of this, they knew their own bodies better than anyone.
Choi Jung-min was no exception.
He was certain he could not produce this much strength.
Not until just moments ago.
In other words.
‘This is… this is insane buffing.’
By his perception, it was at least a 50% amplification or more.
Did this even make sense?
His mind became cluttered with distracting thoughts.
With such a buff, of course this was natural.
The creature did not miss this opportunity.
Whoosh!
Dirt sprayed violently as the creature charged forward like an arrow.
It was a moment of carelessness.
Choi Jung-min, consumed by his wandering thoughts, reacted a moment too late to the creature rushing at him.
‘Damn!’
Just as he thought it was hopeless, his body moved faster than his mind could process.
Normally, even at level 2, if he had only reacted after seeing the attack, it would have been nearly impossible to block at such timing.
But just before the creature’s jaws could tear into Choi Jung-min’s throat, his shield arrived in time and they collided directly.
Boom!
He was pushed back slightly since he had hastily braced himself, but only slightly.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been crushed without question.
This truly was insane buffing.
‘Even a level 3 guild healer’s buff wasn’t like this…’
This meant a barely awakened level 1 healer had superior amplification rates compared to a level 3 healer.
Evidence of supreme potential.
As Choi Jung-min swallowed hard, still unable to focus, gripping his shield.
A voice came from behind.
“Aren’t you giving orders?”
It was spoken with a leisurely composure.
A tone as casual as asking where the sausages were in a supermarket—knowing the owner of that voice, Choi Jung-min snapped back to attention.
“I-I apologize. One melee dealer, deploy.”
He apologizes to Min-jun while speaking to Han Dong-jin, who grips his spear with a rather commanding attitude.
After all, even without an order, a melee dealer should have moved if an opening appeared, yet he had not, so this reaction was warranted.
Despite his nervousness, Han Dong-jin found himself more at ease as he gripped his spear—witnessing how effortlessly Choi Jung-min had repeatedly deflected the Black Claw Saber’s attacks.
He charged at the creature Choi Jung-min was holding, wielding his spear with considerably more confidence than before.
“Haaah!”
Whether to shake off the lingering tension or simply to psych himself up, Han Dong-jin let out a forceful shout as he charged—and in that instant, he witnessed a mysterious light enveloping his body.
Simultaneously….
‘Incredible—such overwhelming power!’
His body surged with vitality and strength far beyond his normal capacity, and confidence welled up within him unbidden.
Thanks to this surge, he could thrust his spear with far greater sharpness than usual.
But whether because it was his first attack or because he couldn’t contain the excess power, he forgot to activate his skill and simply drove the spear forward.
Seeing this, Choi Jung-min’s expression darkened as he began to say something.
Thwack!
The spear pierced the creature.
“What?”
Normally, such an attack shouldn’t have landed.
The spearhead had sunk in roughly a third of its length.
Without using a skill, it was hardly a deep wound.
Yet Choi Jung-min stared at the spear with an expression bordering on shock.
‘This is utterly absurd.’
The damage a level 1 dealer could inflict without skills using a tier 1 weapon was negligible.
In fact, a tank’s basic attack would be stronger.
Yet the spear had sunk in a third of the way—which meant the buff was extraordinarily powerful.
The Black Claw Saber lunged toward Han Dong-jin, who had attacked it, but Choi Jung-min, the tank, intercepted.
He quickly sidestepped and blocked the creature’s assault.
Crash!
As the creature’s body collided with his shield, it produced a deafening sound like a traffic accident.
Had he not barely managed to block it, Han Dong-jin would have been crushed flat.
Han Dong-jin, aware of this, trembled with fear.
Though he looked pitiful, Choi Jung-min glared at him irritably.
Such a foolish mistake.
But he kept his words as measured as possible.
Of course, he didn’t forget to point out the error.
“Get back! Focus! You need to use your skill—you can’t just swing the spear!”
He’d nearly lost his train of thought again, but this time he kept his mind sharp and delivered the correction.
Han Dong-jin realized his mistake and apologized with a mortified expression.
“I-I’m sorry.”
As Han Dong-jin withdrew from the front line.
I refocused my thoughts.
I was done marveling at Sung-jun’s buff.
Now it was time to conduct the raid in earnest.
So Choi Jung-min shouted toward the rear.
“If I step back, use magic and arrows.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Got it!”
Choi Jung-min issued his commands with an authoritative tone, and both responded obediently.
Before Choi Jung-min stepped back after giving the order, I calmly cast buffs on Kim Mi-hee and Jung Woo-jin as well.
I wasn’t sure if it would be effective on magic and arrows, but it couldn’t hurt to try.
A mysterious power settled into both of them, and Choi Jung-min distanced himself from the creature.
Perhaps he was trying to synchronize the timing beforehand.
“Power shot!”
“F-Flame arrow!”
Despite being beginners, both unleashed their skills with perfect timing.
Jung Woo-jin’s arrow, empowered by the skill, traced a blue arc as it flew toward the creature, while Kim Mi-hee’s flame arrow traced a red arc in the opposite direction.
Thunk! Boom!
The power shot penetrated more than half the arrow’s length, and the flame arrow struck the creature and exploded.
Both attacks had roughly comparable power.
The power shot had slightly increased damage, but the difference wasn’t significant, and the flame arrow, being a magic-type skill, didn’t seem to benefit from my physical enhancement effect.
Choi Jung-min saw this and understood, but he was actually relieved.
If I could amplify magic-type skills and arrow attacks as well, that would have been absurd.
Meanwhile, I looked somewhat disappointed, but knowing there was nothing to be done about it, I didn’t dwell on it too much.
As the two attacks connected, the Black-claw Saber erupted in fury once more.
Choi Jung-min engaged it again and used a skill to redirect its aggression toward himself.
“Melee damage dealer, go!”
After that, the battle fell into a tediously repetitive pattern.
Choi Jung-min managed aggression, I used skills in the gaps to attack with my spear and retreat, then Choi Jung-min would step back and the ranged dealers would attack.
The cycle was mind-numbingly monotonous, but it was proof of how stable the raid was.
How much time had passed like this?
The creature’s body was now covered in spear wounds, bristling with countless arrows like a porcupine, its skin and fur charred and burned by flames.
The ebony-like nobility it had displayed at first had vanished, leaving only a dying beast in its place.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
With its final death cry, the creature collapsed, and the Black-claw Saber’s body condensed into energy before scattering three items and a mana stone.
And the entire raid had taken only 38 minutes.
Even though Choi Jung-min had participated directly in the raid, he swallowed hard in disbelief as he checked the time.
Then, seeing the dropped items, Han Dong-jin spoke with a regretful tone.
“Ah—. What a shame. Not a single enhancement item.”
All three items were non-enhancement gear.
The haul was nearly worthless, but I, on the other hand, was gazing at the dropped items with gleaming eyes.
And I made a proposal.
“Could I have the non-enhancement items?”

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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
—————