Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented

Smirk smirk.

Touchy touchy.

I touched the red horn sticking out from above my head, grinning widely.

I really liked how the small horn, fitted to my frame, peeked out between my white hair.

[Demon’s Horn]
[Head Decoration Item]

As if to commemorate my first clear, I had received a very rare decoration item exclusive to the Elite Dungeon.

While the decoration item didn’t fill my belly, it was nice to dress up.

Of course, a weapon dropped too. Although it wasn’t suitable for my class.

The elite weapon acquired from this strategy, ‘Sealed Demon’s Yin-Yang Gem’, was already listed in the auction house at a reasonable price.

“Crisis averted.”

I took several deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

I was glad I checked the cash-to-gold ratio right before listing it in the auction.

At this point, with many people entering the second area, a substantial amount of currency had been released.

The gold price that had been 1 gold to 1 million won in the previous area had already dropped to 200,000 won per gold.

Except for the 1 gold weapon I’d foolishly posted, the first weapon sale from the ‘Orc King’s Cave’ elite dungeon was going for 5 gold, which was a staggering 5 million won in cash.

Given this, at the current rate, I should get at least 25 gold for that weapon to break even.

Ding!

While I was touching the ‘Demon’s Horn’ decoration item and taking a few screenshots with the lava lake in the background, the auction house notification chimed in.

Looking at the sale notification in the auction house, I couldn’t help but smile with glee.

“2, 25 gold…!”

Even after deducting the fees, that’s 24 gold.

Around 5 million won in cash at current exchange rates.

An enormous amount I had never held since my return!

But just as quickly as the joy came, I sighed.

“I wish a sword had dropped though.”

Even just completing a circle around this dungeon had drained an immense amount of mental energy. It took a whopping six hours.

The terrifying HP of the Named Enemy, along with its ruthless patterns, left no room for complacency.

Would I have to keep soloing for hours until I could get a weapon?

“Huh?”

After receiving the sale amount, my dazed gaze fell on an item in the auction house.

[Sealed Demon’s Sword]
[Elite Grade]
[Attack Power 120]
[Increases 30% Moonlight Slash damage on Block Success]

The price was 25 gold.

“Gasp…!”

A sword that was my class’s weapon.

It even had the additional option of boosting my primary skill, ‘Moonlight Slash’.

It seemed to have come from another clear party.

“I… I want it…!”

Using that weapon could let me run through this dungeon twice as fast!

I had 25 gold.

The cash amount from selling the Yin-Yang Gem, even after fees, was 24 gold.

I felt like I’d be losing a bit, but I could invest about 1 gold.

But 5 million won, though…

Could I really spend such a large amount just to run the dungeon faster?

Shake shake.

I shook my head vigorously.

Think wisely, Rain.

I might have cleared this dungeon quickly due to leveling up, but look back at the ‘Orc King’s Cave’ stage.

Now that the ‘Sealed Demon’s Weapon’ was on the auction house, it would soon flood the market and prices would plummet.

Those farming in parties were way faster than me, and I wouldn’t have long to solo farm nectar.

Using that weapon would help boost my farming speed.

Doubling the speed means selling two for profits.

Making back that 25 gold wouldn’t take too long.

With my judgment made, I hurriedly placed my hand on the purchase button.

In this brief moment of hesitation, someone could snatch that sword away from the auction!

With my eyes tightly shut, I bought the weapon.

[You have purchased ‘Sealed Demon’s Sword’ for 25 gold]

“Hah…”

I exhaled heavily and dropped to the ground.

My hands and feet were trembling.

This was my first time spending such a large sum. It wasn’t good for the heart.

Suddenly.

But I got up after a short while.

I didn’t have time to calm my heart.

I needed to quickly start the second strategy to make back the 25 gold.

Equipping the ‘Sealed Demon’s Sword’, I satisfactorily confirmed my increased attack power while heading toward the dungeon exit, when I suddenly felt something strange in my body.

“Huh?”

Stumble.

My head spun and the world began to whirl.

Why?

I soon realized what the strange sensation was.

A prolonged leveling session with minimal sleep.

The brain, overworked from the maximum concentration exerted during dungeon exploration.

That fatigue had hit me all at once, a wave of tiredness I hadn’t felt during the clearing.

My frail body was demanding a break desperately.

“Ah, no.”

I struggled to lift my drooping eyelids and trembled.

25 gold.

I just spent 25 gold.

If I was this fatigued, I would surely sleep for an extremely long time, just like last time.

Imagining what the price of the dungeon weapons would be when I woke up was terrifying.

My 25 gold.

The 25 gold I invested in buying the sword.

If I didn’t make back that 25 gold soon…

…….

“Cooh.”

[User’s sleep state detected. The game will automatically exit.]

*

[Title]
‘Strategies for Lesser Demon’s Tomb’ 1 Named Enemy Unlocked.txt (+1,061)

[Content]
When you enter the boss room, there are skeletons around, right?
The crossbow weapons lying next to the skeletons are ‘Wyvern Killers’.

They don’t deal much damage, but when the special pattern starts flying, just shooting four shots will immediately take down the Named Enemy.

Once the Black Wyvern falls, little Wyverns will flee back into the hole they came from, and you can start 10 seconds of free damage.

[Comments]
– Wow! Skeletons!
– Sounds like a prank.
– For real? I’m trying it immediately.
– LOL this would be so easy if it’s true. I’ve heard only the ‘Chris Raid’ and a few top raids were getting the sweet rewards, but I was told the 2nd and 3rd Named Enemies aren’t really hard. They all get stuck at the 1st.
– Dude, if this really works, LOL!
– Wow, it really fell; I mean, the difficulty of the 1st Named Enemy was just absurd.
– Look at how fast the prices of the Sealed Demon Weapons are dropping in the auction! LOL! I was bitter about how top raids were the only ones reaping the benefits.
– They did a great job on the game! Isn’t this the first time they’re using environmental gimmicks?
– I’m going to touch all the structures whenever I enter the Eldan from now on.

*

Splash splash.

I dipped my bare feet into the central oasis of ‘Philia Village’ and kept splashing.
Is this oasis used by the village residents for drinking water? Then, shouldn’t I be doing this?
Pfft, who cares.

Sniffle.

I wiped away the tears that had unknowingly gathered.

I felt incredibly sick inside.

I fell asleep again.

For an entire day, I slept without a care.

In the meantime, the price of my weapon had dropped again.

I looked at the ‘Sealed Demon’s Sword’ tied to my waist with a frown.

My 25 gold weapon.

You’re different from the others.

While other demon weapons are 50 silver weapons, you’re a 25 gold weapon.

You’re 50 times more precious.

Splash splash.

I didn’t turn in for accessory farming again and got it done without going around several more circles.

Still, I was hard at work to make back the gold I’d lost.

Soloing took a long time to complete a round. So far, I hadn’t even made back all 25 gold.

But feeling mentally exhausted, I was soothing my mind and body by dipping my bare feet in the village oasis.

“……?”

I sensed a presence nearby.

As I turned my head, a woman came into view.

Flaming red hair, looking like it was on fire.

Beautiful yet slightly cold, she had a sharp look.
In contrast, she wore a warm smile that curved pleasantly at her lips.

Her white skin, exposed by a slightly revealing outfit, showcased an alluring figure.

It was the beautiful and well-proportioned Sister Chris.
It was my first time meeting her since receiving the ‘Desert Admiral Outfit.’

My mood was slightly lifted, but it plummeted again when I saw the ‘Sealed Demon’s Yin-Yang Gem’ hanging from her waist.

She seemed like a frontliner too; had she farmed that herself?
No, the weapon prices had dropped faster than expected. I’m sure her weapon was a 50 silver one.

’50 Silver Sister’ approached and sat next to me, puffing up her cheeks in a grumpy manner.

I shifted my bottom slightly to the side, not wanting to share space with a 50 silver.
Not caring whether she knew my feelings or not, Chris smiled brightly and spoke to me.

“Rain, why did you turn off your message reception function?”

“…I was farming.”

I had turned off everything aside from essential combat alerts or auction notifications.
If I see pointless regional announcements or system messages popping up in front of me, it breaks my concentration and immersiveness.
Of course, I had turned off the message reception function too.

Still, she was the one who had generously given me a 1 gold outfit.
If I hadn’t received it, I wouldn’t have felt bad about ignoring her, but I did take the outfit, and it felt wrong to completely disregard her.

“Oh, so you’ve already finished demon farming? I wanted to farm together. I was so eager to run dungeons with you that I funneled my accessories to the party tank to graduate ahead of time.”

“You… you don’t have to worry about me.”

I felt burdened.
Why does she want to be so nice to me?

Chris continued to smile gently as she looked at me.
Stealing glances at her, I moved my focus back to the oasis.

Swipe.

“EEK!?”

“Ah, did I startle you? I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar sensation swept over my head.
It was Chris’s hand.
Startled by the touch, I flinched and she withdrew her hand from my head.

“That horn, is it the Demon’s Horn? You must have picked it up while farming, haha. So cute.”

“I-I’ll be going now!”

She’s way too familiar!
I stammered, hurriedly putting on my discarded shoes and quickly fleeing.

Pitter patter!

---