They were walking toward the north gate that led to the Sahara Plains. The Sahara Plains stretched out in rolling grasslands, wind rippling through tall blades like waves. At first glance it seemed peaceful, but the fields were alive — a hunting ground for low‑level monsters. Hidden among the grass, creatures prowled and burrowed, waiting for careless adventurers to stumble too close.
"Ah right. How many converted skills did you get?" Ji‑ho he calmly asked but edged with dry sarcasm.
Hyun‑soo frowned, disturbed by how casually he was addressed, "Can you please drop the harsh tone?" he said bluntly.
Ji‑ho's lips curved faintly, not quite a smile. "Fine. Then, how many converted skills did you get?"
'He's totally not listening at all!'Hyun‑soo groaned inwardly.
Resigned, he sighed heavily and muttered, "I got five passive skills and one of them is just like what you predicted. Bad."
His voice cracked into a whimper, like an abandoned dog left out in the rain.
"Here," Hyun‑soo looked up at Ji‑ho with exaggerated puppy‑dog eyes and pulled up the system panel.
—————
[ Passive Skill: The Book's Nightmare ]
Knowledge comes at a heavier price.
Effect: Spells obtained through books, scrolls, and secret tomes require double the base learning requirements
Permanent Debuff: Decreases Intelligence by 5
—————
Hyun‑soo groaned, scratching his cheek. "See? It's useless! I'm doomed to crawl through life like a tired old man who can't even read properly."
Ji‑ho's gaze lingered on the panel. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as he scrolled further down. A faint line of text shimmered at the bottom, almost hidden in the interface.
"You didn't read all of it."
—————
Hidden Effect: Slim chance to unlock Forbidden Spells when studying ancient tomes or secret manuscripts. These spells cannot be obtained by ordinary means.
—————
Ji‑ho's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usual composure. "Forbidden spells? But you're a Musketeer. Can Musketeers even learn spells through books?"
Hyun‑soo froze, his grin faltering into confusion, "Eh? Wait, you're right. Musketeers don't study magic. We shoot things. We reload. We pierce with steel. That's it!"
Ji‑ho brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve and let out a quiet sigh, "Then this skill doesn't match your class. It's useless."
Hyun‑soo's ears twitched and pouted, "Don't say it like that! I already feel cursed enough."
Ji‑ho didn't flinch and calmly said, "Complaining won't change the numbers. Show me the rest of your skills."
Hyun‑soo blinked, caught off guard, "Eh? The rest? You actually want to see them?"
Ji‑ho tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "If one is this bad, I need to know how the others compare. Otherwise, you'll drag us down before we even reach the plains."
Without hesitation, Hyun‑soo pulled up his skill panel, though his grin had already begun to fade into disappointment.
Ji‑ho's eyes skimmed the list, "So your overall passive skills lean toward speed. That suits you."
Hyun‑soo pouted, "Yeah, yeah, but it still feels cursed."
They continued toward the northern gate, its towering frame growing larger with each step. Just as they were about to pass through, two knights lowered their spears, blocking the way.
Northern Gate Knight Martin, a man in his early twenties, stood rigid in polished but plain armor. His clean‑shaven face and stiff posture gave him the air of a bachelor knight. Loyal, disciplined, but untested. The insignia of a silver hawk gleamed faintly on his breastplate.
"You can't pass from this gate onwards," Martin said in a monotonous voice.
Beside him, Northern Gate Knight Felix mirrored the same youthful discipline. His short brown hair peeked beneath his helm, his expression stern but detached, as though reciting rules rather than enforcing them. His armor bore the same silver hawk insignia, marking him as part of the order.
"This gate is only for adventurers who passed the trial given by the head knight," Felix added.
A pop‑up screen materialized before Ji‑ho and Hyun‑soo, glowing faintly with system text.
[ A quest 'Find the Head Knight' was created ]
—————
[ Find the Head Knight (D) ]
Difficulty: D
Quest Type: Exploration / Investigation
The Northern Gate knights refuse passage without the Head Knight's approval. His location is unknown, but whispers suggest he resides within the barracks or training grounds. Only by finding him can the trial be initiated.
Quest Clear Condition:
● Successfully locate the Head Knight within the Northern Gate Order
● Initiate dialogue to unlock the gate trial
Quest Failure Condition:
● Leaving the Northern Gate area without reporting to the Head Knight
● Engaging in hostile actions against the gate knights
● Ignoring the quest for too long (auto‑fail after 24 in‑game hours)
Quest Clear Reward: 220 EXP, 50 Gold and unlocks access to the Northern Gate Trial Questline
—————
The pop‑up screen hovered before them, glowing faintly.
[ Would you like to accept the quest? ]
"Yes!" Hyun‑soo blurted out without hesitation.
Ji‑ho, however, remained still, his eyes narrowing at the text.
'I'm a magical class, a spellcaster. Why would I need a quest from a knight? Am I supposed to swing swords like barbarians?'
"No."
Hyun‑soo's ears shot up in panic. "Eh?! Ji-ho, what are you doing?! Why are you declining it?! Are you nuts?"
The system chimed again.
[ You have just declined the quest 'Find the Head Knight' ]
Ji‑ho acted indifferently. "Why would I take a quest from a knight? I'm a magical class user. Shouldn't I be trained by a mage instead?"
Hyun‑soo let out a heavy sigh.
A faint shimmer appeared as Ji‑ho summoned the minimap. The grid unfolded before his eyes, glowing lines tracing the district. His gaze sharpened as he zoomed in.
Ji‑ho's lips pressed into a thin line, 'So there's two entrances. No other way out.'
Hyun‑soo leaned closer, "Wait, only two? You mean we're boxed in?"
Ji‑ho dismissed the minimap with a flick of his hand, his tone clipped. "Exactly. Which means the system is forcing us into their trial. Either the Head Knight at the north or whatever waits at the south."
Then, without another word, Ji‑ho walked away.
"Where are you going?" Hyun‑soo shouted as he chased after him.
"To the Southern Gate. It seems like the only way out."
Hyun‑soo trailed after Ji‑ho, who never slowed his pace.
"Declining a quest that literally points us to the Head Knight? Who even does that?" Hyun‑soo muttered.
Ji‑ho didn't bother looking at him, "I already told you. I'm a spellcaster. Why would I accept a knight's quest?"
Hyun‑soo groaned, "Because it's the only way forward! You saw the minimap! Only two gates! North and South!"
Ji‑ho's tone was clipped, "Which is why we're heading south. Simple."
Hyun‑soo threw his hands up, "Simple?! You're making things harder for no reason! If you'd just accepted the quest, we'd already be halfway done!"
Ji‑ho tapped his shoulder lightly, "Don't worry. I don't want to be understood."
Hyun‑soo's ears twitched furiously, "Forget it. You're impossible!"
Their bickering carried them all the way to the Southern Gate. Fortunately, the gate was wide open, no restrictions, no guards blocking the way. Just beyond the walls, the training ground stretched out, where the Head Knight was visibly drilling adventurers in sword drills and shield formations.
Beyond the training grounds, the southern greens unfolded in vivid contrast to the Sahara Plains. The land here was fertile and calm, a sea of emerald meadows broken by clusters of tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. Wildflowers dotted the fields, their colors bright against the soft grass, and streams wound lazily through the terrain, glinting under the sunlight. Unlike the north, where danger lurked beneath every blade of grass, the south radiated serenity — a place meant for growth, practice, and respite. It was the kind of land where adventurers sharpened their skills before braving harsher trials.
Hyun‑soo immediately headed toward the training ground, muttering under his breath, "Finally, someone sane to talk to."
Ji‑ho, however, veered off without a word, roaming past the walls. His cold gaze softened slightly as he stumbled upon a clearing where translucent creatures bounced lazily.
"So that's a slime," he uttered indifferently.
The creatures were small, gelatinous masses, their bodies shimmering faintly under the sunlight. Each slime pulsed with a faint glow, wobbling as it hopped across the grass.
Ji‑ho tilted his head slightly and narrowed his gaze towards the slimes.
'It looks like jelly… no, more like pudding.'
For a fleeting moment, he imagined the slime wobbling on a porcelain plate, its quivering body resembling a dessert rather than a monster. The thought was absurd, but strangely amusing.
The way the slimes bounced, innocent and rhythmic, made the field feel oddly alive. Ji‑ho's curiosity lingered.
"Now, what should I do?" he murmured, eyes fixed on the pudding‑like creatures.
A pop‑up screen appeared before him.
[ A quest 'Beginner's Hunt: Defeat the Slimes' was created ]
—————
[ Beginner's Hunt: Defeat the Slimes (D) ]
Difficulty: D
Quest Type: Combat Tutorial
Slimes are weak monsters that roam outside the Southern Gate. Their gelatinous bodies make them resistant to blunt force, but their glowing cores are fragile. They are harmless to seasoned adventurers but serve as the perfect training ground for beginners.
Quest Clear Condition: Defeat 3 Slimes
Quest Failure Condition:
● HP reduced to 0
● Leaving the slime field before defeating the required number
Quest Clear Reward: 110 EXP, 20 Gold and unlock skill 'Arcane Bolt'
—————
[ Would you like to accept the quest? ]
Ji‑ho didn't answer immediately. Instead, he summoned his inventory with a flick of his hand. The interface unfolded, listing the pre‑registration items he had received. His gaze sharpened as he noticed something tucked away in the corner — a basic staff.
He clicked it. The staff shimmered into existence, slowly materializing in his hand. Ji‑ho turned it over, examining every detail with detached curiosity.
—————
[ Basic Staff (F) ]
Type: Weapon (Magical)
Class Restriction: Magical Classes (Spellweaver, Sorcerer, Priest, Shaman, etc.)
Equipment Quality: Common
Appearance: A plain wooden staff, lightweight and unadorned. Its surface is smooth but shows faint tool marks, as if carved quickly for mass distribution. At the top rests a small, cloudy crystal orb that faintly hums with mana, barely enough to stabilize simple spells.
Description: A basic staff issued to novice adventurers of magical classes. It offers minimal magical support but is better than casting bare‑handed. Designed only to help beginners learn the fundamentals of spellcasting.
Durability: 30/30
Stats: +15 Magical Attack
Special Effect: None
Character Points: 400CP
—————
He tightened his grip, testing its weight. Light, almost fragile. Functional, but unimpressive.
His lips curved faintly, "At least it's not a sword."
Satisfied, Ji‑ho dismissed the inventory screen. His gaze shifted back to the glowing quest panel hovering in front of him.
The pop‑up screen shimmered again before his eyes.
[ Would you like to accept the quest? ]
Without thinking much, Ji‑ho pressed the Yes button and the quest panel dissolved into faint motes of light.
Ji‑ho adjusted his grip on the Basic Staff and without hesitation, he summoned the skill window. Lines of text unfolded before him, listing the abilities tied to his class. He scanned each entry, analyzing them one by one.
—————
[ Active Skill: Root ]
Type: Basic
Categorization: Control / Immobilization
Rating: F
Skill Level: 1/30
Effect: Immobilizes a single enemy with arcane vines for 6 seconds (+20% due to 'Musical Genius' passive) preventing movement
Mana Cost: 50
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Unlock Condition: None
—————
[ Active Skill: Shock ]
Type: Basic
Categorization: Debuff / Damage Amplifier
Rating: F
Skill Level: 1/30
Effect: Releases a jolt of unstable mana that deals magic damage ( Magical Attack × Skill Coefficient ) and applies a Bolt Indicator to the target
● Bolt Indicator: Target takes +10% additional damage from all sources for 6 seconds (+20% due to 'Musical Genius' passive)
Skill Coefficient: 0.30
Mana Cost: 35 MP
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Unlock Condition: None
—————
The glowing panels flickered shut, Ji‑ho's expression remained unreadable as he lowered his hand.
A slime bounced toward him, its gelatinous body quivering with each hop. Without hesitation, he raised the staff and whispered the command.
"Root."
[ The target 'Slime' has been rooted for 6 seconds ]
Threads of mana surged from the ground, twisting upward like spectral vines. They lashed around the slime's body, locking it in place mid‑hop.
The slime quivered helplessly, bound by spectral threads but Ji‑ho did nothing and he simply watched.
Six seconds passed. The vines dissolved, and the slime resumed its sluggish bounce. Ji‑ho remained still, counting silently as the seconds ticked away.
At the twentieth second, he raised his staff again.
"Root."
[ The target 'Slime' has been rooted for 6 seconds ]
Mana surged once more, the threads snapping up from the ground to coil around the slime. This time, Ji‑ho stepped forward. He raised the Basic Staff and brought it down in a sharp, deliberate strike.
The orb at its tip smacked against the slime's gelatinous surface with a dull thud.
[ You have dealt 37 damage to the target ]
"So I can also use my staff like this," Ji‑ho mumbled as he observed the restrained slime.
Before the spectral vines dissolved, he raised the Basic Staff again and slammed it down against the slime's quivering body.
[ You have dealt 39 damage to the target ]
Ji‑ho repeated the process, binding the slime with [ Root ] and striking it with his staff. The dull impact rippled through the creature's body, and the system popup flashed, notifying its defeat.
[ You have defeated a Slime! ]
[ You have gained 3 silver ]
[ You have gained 6 experience point ]
Ji‑ho lowered his staff, glanced down at the weapon as a new notification flickered into view.
[ Durability Notification ]
Basic Staff: 30 → 29
The plain wooden shaft bore no visible cracks, yet the system's numbers told the truth. Each strike had shaved away at its endurance.
Ji‑ho tilted his head, expression cold and detached.
'So even minor use erodes it. A point lost already.'
Ji‑ho tightened his grip on the Basic Staff. Despite the durability loss, he pressed on, binding another slime with [ Root ] and striking it down with measured blows.
[ You have dealt 42 damage to the target ]
The slime's HP bar steadily drained until the residue shimmered faintly before dissolving into the grass.
[ You have defeated a Slime! ]
[ You have gained 4 silver ]
[ You have gained 7 experience point ]
Another slime hopped forward. He repeated the process — restraint and blunt strikes until its core flickered out.
[ You have defeated a Slime! ]
[ You have gained 5 silver ]
[ You have gained 5 experience point ]
The system chimed softly as the quest window re‑appeared before him.
[ You have successfully finished the quest 'Beginner's Hunt: Defeat the Slimes (D)' ]
[ You have gained 20 silver ]
[ You have gained 110 experience point ]
Ji‑ho dismissed the quest window, but multiple notification immediately flickered into view.
[ Durability Notification ]
Basic Staff: 29 → 27
—————
[ Level Up Notification ]
You have reached Level 2!
Skill Points Gained: 2
Attribute Points Gained: 5
HP Increased: 20 HP
MP Increased: 15 MP
—————
[ The skill 'Arcane Bolt' has been created ]
—————
[ Active Skill: Arcane Bolt ]
Type: Basic
Categorization: Damage / DoT
Rating: F
Skill Level: 1/30
Effect: Fires a concentrated bolt of arcane energy, dealing light initial magic damage ( Magical Attack × Skill Coefficient ) and applying a burning arcane mark that inflicts magic damage ( Magical Attack × DoT Coefficient ) per second for 5 seconds
Skill Coefficient: 0.30
DoT Coefficient: 0.05
Mana Cost: 70 MP
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Unlock Condition: None
—————
'Arcane Bolt.Could be useful against enemies that drag fights out.Maybe I should try it next'
Ji‑ho tilted his head, scanning the numbers on the level up notification.
"So, skill points is for the skills and attribute points is for the primary stats. I'll save them for now. Better to stack up before deciding."
He closed the window with a flick, his gaze shifting back to the slimes hopping nearby.
"Should I try the other skills?" he mumbled.
————— *** —————
On the other side, Hyun‑soo finally finished the quest given to him by the head knight. Almost everyone who accepted the head knight's quest was tasked to hit the scarecrow dummies a hundred times.
He dropped his wooden sword to his side, shoulders sagging, "Ugh, finally done with this dummy hitting. My arms are going to fall off."
[ You have successfully finished the quest 'Basic Training (F)' ]
[ You have gained 100 silver ]
[ You have gained 120 experience point ]
Hyun‑soo wiped the sweat from his brow, finally done with the endless dummy‑hitting. His arms ached, but relief washed over him as the quest window dissolved. He stretched, rolling his shoulders, glanced around the training ground, expecting to see Ji‑ho somewhere among the adventurers. But no matter how far his eyes searched, Ji‑ho was nowhere to be found.
Hyun‑soo frowned, "Where did that ice block wander off to now?"
Still, a flicker of hope lingered in his chest, 'Maybe he's waiting for me. He wouldn't just leave without saying anything... right?'
Driven by that thought, Hyun‑soo rushed toward the Southern Gate. There he found him.
Ji-ho stood alone in a clearing, staff in hand, calmly binding slimes with spectral vines, then striking them with precise, deliberate blows.
Hyun‑soo tilted his head, baffled, "What the... Is he counting seconds?"
Ji‑ho raised his staff again, expression detached, eyes fixed on the glowing pop‑ups. Each strike was measured, each pause intentional. To Hyun‑soo, it looked less like combat and more like a scientist experimenting on jelly.
Hyun‑soo scratched his cheek nervously, muttering under his breath, "That guy... he surely does strange things."