[Blood Stone of Hob Goblin]
Grade: Epic
I held the Blood Stone shining red and entered the recipe conditions.
[Searching for a recipe matching 'Hob Goblin's Blood Stone Refining'...]
['Hob Goblin's Blood Stone Refining' Recipe]
[Materials]
[Blood Stone of Hob Goblin] [Purifying White Crystal] [Angler Grass (Agwipul)]
"Oh...! It is used here."
Then if I just get Angler Grass, I can refine it?
I immediately searched for Angler Grass on the Exchange.
[No search results.]
"Uh-oh? Not selling? Is there no supply..."
I immediately logged into [Tower Gallery] and searched, but.
There was no information here either.
The capability of the all-knowing gallery failed here.
"...Should I post a question again?"
Nope, can't do that.
Didn't I hurriedly delete the question about Pale Moon Stone last time just in case?
Asking a question about an item people don't know right now is no different from advertising: 'I am that currently hot Maker~'.
"Well... It's not like I need fertilizer right now, so I'll just put it away."
More than that, coming out after clearing the 2nd Floor, the gallery was in chaos again with the guide video post.
[Title: 2nd Floor mob level, is this for real? That's a Goblin Warrior?]
[Author: oo]
(Scene of Barcode dodging the Warrior's axe and splitting it in half)
I know because I ran the 2nd Floor yesterday.
The size difference was huge though?
But he slices that with a single basic attack.
Attack power makes no sense.
└ oo: Damage was crazy... And it would be death if grazed, but he goes in without being scared.└ Analyst: That weapon is 100% SW Pale Moon Sword. Could be Unique grade. Cutting power makes no sense.└ oo: Wow... Pleasure is immense. If I had a sword like that, I'd climb the Tower right away.└ Inferiority Complex Explosion: It's all gear carry. Acting like gear carry is skill, sickening.└└ oo: Being a hater is ugly. Gear is also skill. And the guts to swing without being scared in that situation can't be done with gear.
I felt somewhat proud that people recognized the power of my sword.
The view count on the next post was exploding.
[Title: What is the identity of the red guy at the end...?]
[Author: Sword Saint Aspirant]
(Scene of fighting Hob Goblin and finishing with Sword Ki)
Wow... Dope.
That red skin, it's a Hob Goblin right?
Doesn't that start appearing from Epic grade?
Couldn't see the movement but he blocked and reacted to that.
And did you see the blue Sword Ki going out on the last hit.
Is it a skill? It's romance itself... I almost came really.
└ oo: Exactly why does a Hob Goblin appear on the 2nd Floor?└ oo: What is that Sword Ki skill name... It's really pretty.└ oo: Lord Barcode... Just what is your true identity.└ oo: Please party with me just once... I'll give plenty of bus fare.
Reading the posts, the corners of my mouth went up uncontrollably.
But after seeing the last post, the smile disappeared a little.
[Title: I don't need anything else, I cried at the last scene]
[Author: Emotional Bug]
(Back view of Barcode covered in dirt silently burying corpses)
Usually when climbing the Tower, people are busy killing monsters and taking rewards.
Not caring whether NPCs die or not.
But Barcode spent time collecting and burying every single corpse.
Silent prayer with the villagers... Something touched my heart.
Skill is skill, but he seems like a person with real character.
└ oo: For real... I felt solemn watching it too.└ oo: There should be more Hunters like that... These days everyone is crazy about money.└ oo: That's not hypocrisy. People wouldn't do that sh*t just because time is precious. It really came from the heart.└ Head-broken-Barcode: Being a fan of Lord Barcode from today... Skill, character, everything is perfect.└ oo: Makes me reflect... I should look around a bit next time too.
My face burned hot.
It wasn't because I had some great sense of duty.
Just... because people died.
It was just because it felt uncomfortable to just pass by after seeing that terrible sight.
People praising me to this extent made my nose tingle for some reason.
"Maybe I'm... a pretty decent guy?"
Sales were completely stopped because I hadn't solved the tax issue yet.
So I knew posts asking why I wasn't selling more equipment or potions kept coming up.
But this time...
[Title: Mr. SW... I am leaving this post shamelessly]
[Author: TowerGPTA]
I know how big of a discourtesy it is to point out a specific person in a public place.
You can curse at me for writing this post breaking gallery rules.
But right now, that potion is too desperate for me.
If you put it back on the Exchange...
I am willing to buy all of it no matter the cost.
Please set the price as you wish.
If you are in a situation where you cannot sell due to personal circumstances or unexpected events...
Please, I wish you would contact me even through private chat.
If materials are lacking, I will get them for you.
If facilities are needed, I will support you with top-grade ones.
I can match all conditions.
If by chance you are worried about identity exposure...
I definitely promise anonymity guarantee on my name.
Please... I ask for your contact.
└ oo: Wow... First time seeing Brother TowerGPTA talk like this. Did something happen?└ oo: Real... He always acted cool, seeing him beg like that makes me feel pity.└ oo: Normally the moderator instantly deletes friendship or sniping posts, but must have panicked... Leaving it without deleting.└ oo: Is someone in his family sick... Seeing he doesn't care about money, it must be really urgent.└ oo: SW... Just what is your true identity. Making a Named user kneel.
As soon as the post went up, view counts exploded.
An appeal from 'TowerGPTA', who usually only wrote cool-headed and objective information posts.
Moreover, it was the first time seeing such an emotional and desperate post.
"I did receive some help from Brother GPTA..."
Of course, as the difficulty was set to Legendary, the guide posts became somewhat useless.
But 0 and 1 are different.
Because the difference between knowing absolutely nothing and knowing even one thing was huge.
So inwardly, I was feeling gratitude.
"Should I contact him to solve the tax problem as well...?"
He seemed like a hardcore veteran among veterans.
If I explain my current situation, wouldn't he give a solution?
But trusting what?
Anyone can write slick words.
As expected, I...
In a certain large mansion.
—Bang...!
A table carved from top-grade marble was crushed into powder by invisible mana.
A woman with blonde hair hanging down to her ears was standing there.
Her red eyes were glaring at the hologram screen in front of her as if to tear it apart.
[1st IIIIIIIIII 15,309 pts]
[2nd Celine 1,426 pts]
Her lips trembled.
"I can't admit it.... This kind of thing is skill...?"
She swept back her hair nervously.
Celine let out a fishy hollow laugh.
In her eyes, the existence called Barcode looked like nothing but a nouveau riche who got lucky and picked up a hidden piece.
"If it were me...."
The air shimmered as she clenched her fist.
"If that situation was given to me... it wouldn't have ended at that level. Villagers? I would have cleared it more perfectly without letting a single person get hurt. Do you know who I am...!"
She was a noble who had everything from birth.
Most perfect talent.
Most noble bloodline.
She thought even the Tower was a stage existing for her.
But some guy like a bone rolling from somewhere dared to step on her head and rise.
"Arrogant... To see lowly things running wild without knowing their place."
It was then.
A personal maid entered with a cautious knock.
"My Lady... I brought snacks."
Celine's expression changed in an instant.
She, who had been emitting ominous mana as if to destroy the world just now, returned to the cold and haughty face of a noble as if nothing happened.
"Come in."
The maid pushed in a cart with a silver tray skillfully without showing surprise even seeing the smashed table.
A dome-shaped silver cover was placed over the tray.
"Put it away and leave. I feel nauseous because of a video I don't even want to see."
She spoke coldly, lifting her chin.
An attitude as if she had no interest in food or whatsoever.
"But... It's made with top-grade chocolate specially procured by the chef for My Lady...."
"You're noisy. You brought me something kids eat right now?! Can't you take it away?!"
"...Understood. I will withdraw."
The maid bowed her head and pushed the cart with the silver tray back out of the room.
As soon as the sound of the door closing was heard.
Celine killed her footsteps and approached the door.
She put her ear to the door and checked if the presence in the hallway had completely disappeared.
"...."
She quickly ran to her closet.
A huge closet where hundreds of fancy dresses hung.
She pushed aside a mink coat hanging in the furthest corner and fumbled the wall.
When she pressed a hidden button, the wall rotated with a whirring sound, revealing a small secret space.
"Hua..."
An exclamation leaked from her mouth.
There, all kinds of sweet snacks she had secretly collected were piled up like a mountain.
Limited edition macarons from famous bakeries, handmade cookies, to cakes dripping with honey.
They were much sweeter and more stimulating things than what the maid brought.
"How do I resist this...."
She looked around.
Only after confirming no one was there did she take out the cake hidden deepest inside.
There was no such thing as elegant noble dining etiquette.
She scooped a generous amount of cake with a spoon and shoved it into her mouth.
"Mmm...!"
As the rich sweetness spread in her mouth, her brow smoothed out and an ecstatic expression appeared.
It felt like the blood pressure that soared due to Barcode just now was melting away softly.
She mumbled the cake until her cheeks puffed up like a hamster hoarding snacks.
Whipped cream got on her mouth, but she didn't care.
But her gaze was still glaring at the ranking on the hologram.
"Munch munch... Barcode... You were just lucky...."
She spooned at the screen while emptying the cake militantly.
"Next time... Gulp... I definitely won't lose. I will... Nom nom... reclaim my spot."
Even while swallowing the sweet cake, her two red eyes were burning with competitive spirit.
The World Ranking No. 1 with whipped cream all over her mouth.
She was devouring the secret food supply more seriously and fiercely than ever.
At that time, rooftop of the Association building.
The wind was blowing fiercely, but the man sitting on the railing didn't even budge.
South Korea Ranking No. 1.
Ruler of Swords, Kim Yu-seong.
He was wiping the sword blade very carefully with a white cloth.
A middle-aged man who approached behind him lit a cigarette in his mouth.
It was Park Seong-hun, the Association Management Team Leader, who was like a real brother to Kim Yu-seong.
"Phew..."
Park Seong-hun exhaled smoke long and asked.
"Is that the sword made by the Maker everyone talks about these days?"
Kim Yu-seong checked his own face reflected on the blade and nodded.
"Yes... Luckily, I bought it immediately when a Rare grade one came up."
Park Seong-hun chuckled.
"Looks like you cherish it more than the sword you bought for about 1.2 billion last time."
Kim Yu-seong smiled bitterly and sheathed the sword.
"Well, the durability on that one is a bit... It chips if I swing it a few times, so it's hard to use it comfortably."
"True... You do swing a bit brutally."
Park Seong-hun leaned on the railing and looked at the distant sky.
"Anyway... Did you see the 2nd Floor guide video this time?"
His voice lowered a little.
"Because of that, the Association President and the higher-ups are in an uproar right now... Because of that person called Barcode or whatever."
"I saw it."
Kim Yu-seong's answer was plain.
"He seems like a skillful swordsman... If he just climbs up in floors, I think I can beat him easily."
—Drop
The long cigarette held between Park Seong-hun's fingers fell to the floor.
He doubted his ears.
Possibility of defeat coming from the mouth of the man called South Korea's Strongest.
That was something hard to hear even as a joke.
"...Is he that good?"
Kim Yu-seong didn't deny and nodded quietly.
You see as much as you know; that concise and perfect sword path seen in the video.
If he shows that level of performance even with the restriction of Level 1... The destructive power when he grows was unimaginable.
"Sigh... Why are there so many monsters in the world."
Park Seong-hun rubbed out the cigarette dropped on the floor with his foot.
Scratching his head as if it hurt, he waved his hand.
"Let's go eat, I'm hungry."
"Yes."
Kim Yu-seong answered brightly and stood up.
Park Seong-hun paused while walking toward the elevator and looked back.
It was an expression of having an ominous premonition.
"You're going to eat Kimchi Stew again, aren't you."
Kim Yu-seong's expression became serious in an instant.
It was a face more solemn than when discussing swordsmanship.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"...Sigh, forget it, let's go."
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