Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

“2-200 million…?!”

Choi Yoo-min’s astonished voice struck my ears.

I quickly put my index finger to my lips.

“Shh, someone might hear us.”

“Ah, sorry. Shh, shh.”

“And it’s not giving; it’s investing. What have you heard so far?”

“W-well… that’s true, but…”

Choi Yoo-min, filled with confusion, didn’t know what to do.

The investment conditions I presented this time were simple. In exchange for being hired as a freelance blacksmith, she would receive various magic materials, auxiliary equipment, and a monthly investment of 200 million won (Korean currency).

I had set a maximum of five equipment requests per month, and the total contract period was one year. In other words, if Choi Yoo-min could produce around 60 pieces of equipment during that year, she would earn up to 2.4 billion won.

‘It’s a bit… burdensome’, I thought to myself. Even for me, this investment was quite substantial. Most of the money I earned this time would be invested, and considering the amount we could get from clearing a dungeon, it wasn’t easy. However, it wasn’t an insignificant amount either. It would be enough.

Thanks to the fact that it was a secret dungeon, it was difficult for outsiders to find out about it, and Professor Tak Won-ho was not at all concerned about additional profits. Therefore, I was practically the owner of the underground dungeon.

‘Well… even just earning money from magic stones should be substantial.’

My current Holder information was only at the D-grade. After clearing the dungeon and growing stronger, reaching the C-grade would not be a big deal. With that level of power, investing 200 million won per month wouldn’t be a problem.

“So, you only need to make five pieces of equipment in a month?”

“Yes. If you demand more than that, you’ll have to pay for any additional requests.”

“Oh, no! I mean, I could make more if you want…”

“Haha. You might regret that later.”

With a monthly investment of 200 million won and five free productions, this was actually quite a profitable business. Right now, it seemed like a loss, as Choi Yoo-min’s equipment, which she could barely sell for 1 million won, was of poor quality due to her family’s financial situation. But after I continued to invest in her, things would change.

If Choi Yoo-min achieved explosive growth, her equipment would become increasingly better, and she could even make rare or epic gear. Especially once she awakened the [Iron-Blooded Night Field] rune and started making rare equipment in earnest, 200 million won would be a piece of cake. She was the type to handle tens or hundreds of billions of won lightly.

The reason I made a significant investment with a short one-year contract was also to establish a connection with her, as she would become a genius in the future.

“Anyway, what I need right now are a sword and a dagger. I’ll subtract two from this month’s count, so make them as soon as possible. If possible, within three days.”

For the re-expedition of the Academy’s underground dungeon, we needed equipment to use. While Choi Yoo-min’s current production wouldn’t have a significant effect, it would still be as efficient as equipment available in the market.

Choi Yoo-min nodded with a bright face. “Yes! I’ll do my best to make them!”

“Oh, by the way, do you know any alchemist-type Holders around here?”

“An alchemist…? Hmm, I think there’s one. I’m planning to buy some basic potions and antidotes in bulk.”

Choi Yoo-min’s younger sister, Choi Arin, would become a top-class Holder in the alchemist category, along with her sister, becoming the best blacksmith. She would be admitted to the intermediate class special category Holder in the next year. Naturally, even as a prospective Holder now, she would have some potions made with her limited funds.

I handed over an advance payment of 50 million won. “If it’s okay, please buy some alchemist products you know of. I don’t have many connections in the special category.”

“Is it really this much?”

“Well, there are much more expensive products out there. Since they are student-made goods, I want to buy them at a lower price. Please deliver them when the equipment is complete.”

“Ah, I see.”

Choi Yoo-min would probably buy her sister Choi Arin’s products. As she didn’t have many connections either, she would want to give her sister an opportunity. Although it would be challenging to secure a long-term contract like me, there were likely enough potions for this dungeon expedition.

“Can I go now? Call me when the equipment is made.”

“Wait a minute! I don’t know your number… .”

“It’s at the top right of the contract. Save it.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Can I go?”

Choi Yoo-min nodded rapidly. She seemed distracted.

I smiled and waved my hand. “See you later, Choi Yoo-min.”

“Yeah…!! Thank you so much!”

I turned my back to her, leaving her expression of gratitude behind.

I had earned 300 million won from this initial expedition. Even though I spent 250 million won, I didn’t feel the slightest regret. After all, I could make more money, and for duel-type Holders like me, earning money was not a difficult task.

But more importantly, I had recruited a future talent. Although Lee Hyun-ho would probably make better equipment at the moment, Choi Yoo-min would grow to become a blacksmith on par with him in the future.

If I could secure a connection with her for 300 million won, it was a bargain.

With a pleased smile, I began preparing for the upcoming middle section of the dungeon expedition.

***

ippotranslations

***

After about a week passed, our party finally began the re-exploration of the underground dungeon. The re-spawned Lizardmen, who were easy to hunt even when we were three, now became astonishingly easy with five party members.

“Chae-eun, Frozen Fog!”

“Got it!”

Kim Chae-eun and I had excellent coordination in battle. As I felt during the previous Sizzling Salamander hunt, we knew each other well and shared bits of our Holder information, making party hunting much smoother.

Knowing which magic to use as support in different situations—she caught onto it better than anyone else, and thanks to that, she always had the right magic ready whenever I shouted.

“Moon Ga-eun! Triple Powershot!”

“Shut up…!!”

Seeing this, Park Jin-woo followed suit with my words. Moon Gae-un cursed him as if annoyed, but she was probably just playing along. If it were Kang Juyeon, she would have used fire magic on Park Jin-woo for real.

Kaaack!!

The enraged voice of the Lizardmen echoed through the dungeon.

Two of us who were attempting to reach beyond D-grade Holders, and three overpowering dealers. The Lizardmen couldn’t get its act together in front of such a perfect combination. While Park Jin-woo and I engaged him with magic and shooting, if he tried to dodge our attacks, Moon Gae-un and I would find openings in his defense.

It was a one-sided battle so overwhelming that it was difficult for him to even use his hands.

Thanks to this, we didn’t need to use the potions we had prepared in advance during the early stage of the hunt.

[The ripple effect deepens as your sword pierces the gap.]

[The level of the rune has risen.]

[You gained 1 strength with the rune’s attributes.]

[Your sword, imbued with the energy of the strong, can now cut and stab anything. The understanding of the sword further increases.]

[The level of the rune has risen.]

The continuous real battles allowed the runes to grow steadily. [Water Sword Technique] had reached level 3, and the slightly neglected [Sword] had reached level 7. As a result, my main stats—strength and agility—were close to 30.

‘But it’s not always rising.’

As I thought, the growth of stats from runes was not guaranteed. When the stats were low, whether it was acquiring runes or leveling up, they would always increase. But as the stats reached a higher level, it became more common for them not to increase.

‘That’s why the Effort of the Seeker is a scam rune.’

Regardless of a Holder’s level, the [Effort of the Seeker], which raised one stat point after 100 hours of training, was a rune that provided the driving force for steady growth even in the mid or late stages. Its effects were overwhelming even among Epic runes; it would have been judged as a ‘Legendary Rune’ or even a ‘Mythical Rune’ if it had been touched by ancient history or the breath of a god.

‘It’s not just for the protagonist.’

Anyway, we conquered the Lizardmen with full force and at a much faster pace than the previous exploration. We reached the end of the early stage.

“We finally arrived!”

Moon Gae-un raised her arms and cheered. It was nice to see that massive rock again after a long time.

The rock was something that couldn’t be budged with human strength alone. When Park Jin-woo approached it in amazement, he tried to push it with all his might.

“So, we have to push this away?”

“Yeah. Without further ado, let’s get started.”

I immediately holstered my weapons and placed my hands on the rock. Moon Gae-un and Park Jin-woo stood next to me. Even Kim Chae-eun, a mage, came up beside us. Kang Juyeon, at first, stayed still, but when Kim Chae-eun got closer, she pretended to approach and joined us.

“One, two!”

I put my energy into pushing the rock. My current strength was 29. With [Strength], it reached 58. If we added the strength of the other four, we could exert a force of at least 100.

The power of five Holders pushing together.

Gruuuuugghhh!!

With that power, the rock gradually moved. We successfully pushed away the rock, which was as hard as a magic stone.

“That’s it.”

“Wow… It actually moved.”

All the party members were in awe. Especially for those who had been together from the beginning of the exploration, their surprise was even greater.

Even with Kang Juyeon’s fire magic, we couldn’t break the magic stone rock, but we managed to push it away with the combined pure strength of the Holders. This was the process of completely leaving the early stage of the Academy’s underground dungeon.

“Everyone, get ready, and let’s go in right away.”

“Got it!”

“Okay!”

I grabbed my sword immediately and walked slowly towards the inside of the cave, which the rock had been blocking.

The middle of the dungeon was much more cave-like than the beginning. There were things like stalactites in it, and water was everywhere as if it was the point where the land and the river meet.

Less than a minute after entering, Moon Ga-eun’s sharp voice hit me.

“Do Jae-hyun! Look!”

Before 10 minutes had passed, peculiar small-shaped monsters blocked our path.

They seemed faster than the first set of lizardmen we fought, and they were moving closer and closer to us. I held on to my sword nervously and looked at them.

Their appearance was strange, but as they approached us, I could figure out their true identity.

“Poisonous Iguana?”

No way… Damn it… More lizards?