NOVEL WEB Chapter 12
Chapter 12. Placement Test(4)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
Thud.
A massive figure with red skin fell to the ground lifelessly, its neck broken; a hobgoblin had been defeated.
[You have completed the mission of the Black Goat Constellation.]
[You have earned 500 achievement points.]
[The Black Goat constellation expresses tremendous satisfaction with your use of human alchemy.]
[An additional 500 achievement points have been earned.]
“Yes!”
Shimun’s previously cool expression instantly brightened.
‘Another 500 achievement points!’
Internally cheering, Shimun snuck a glance at the sky.
‘As expected, Zeus is a cheapskate.’
Back in the tutorial, the mission Zeus set for coming first was a 1,000 achievement points reward. When the tutorial ended, he added just another 100 points, which seemed generous by comparison.
Of course,
‘Well, if you look at the total amount, Zeus gave more.’
Compared to Zeus’s giveaway of 1,100 points at the tutorial, the Black Goat awarding 1,000 now wasn’t much different.
At any rate, adding the recently sponsored 100 points by Zeus to the 1,000 points from the Black Goat made 1,100 points.
The score was the same as during the tutorial.
Yet, there was more.
[You have singlehandedly defeated the hidden boss ‘Hobgoblin’.]
[As a reward, you have earned 500 achievement points.]
‘A hidden boss?’
Despite earning an additional 500 achievement points,
Shimun’s brow furrowed.
‘It wasn’t meant to be defeated, was it?’
Hidden bosses.
These are sometimes freakish beings with power beyond the expected level for their rank.
Of course, there were monster rookies who managed to defeat such hidden bosses.
‘Shihyuk is a prime example.’
His brother, Kim Shihyuk.
Later known as the “Sword Saint,” his prodigious brother had always been different. From low ranks, he was already taking down hidden bosses.
‘Meanwhile, others have to use the Philosopher’s Stone and mythic-grade items to do it.’
Laughing off his brother’s absurd achievements, Shimun received startling updates.
[Galaxy Arena, in the midst of discussing you, is shocked by your news.]
[The Black Goat mocks the Galaxy Arena, saying, “Idiots, look at how they manage things. This is why. I never registered as a constellation.”]
[Your news accelerates the discussions about you in the Galaxy Arena.]
Several messages streamed into the void. Among them, one caught Shimun’s attention.
‘Discussion about me?’
Pondering briefly with a tilt of his head, Shimun soon nodded as if understanding.
‘That’s right, similar things were mentioned when. I created the Obsidian Tablet.’
[Discussions about player Kim Shimun start in the Galaxy Arena following a series of unbelievable achievements.]
It seems the actions taken from the tutorial have influenced the Galaxy Arena in some way. Moreover, Shimun vividly remembered the Black Goat mentioning it was a constellation not registered with the Galaxy Arena.
Shimun rested his chin on his hand.
‘The attention of the Galaxy Arena. Is this a good thing?’
The attention from Galaxy Arena.
In his previous life, he had not known of a player who received direct attention from the Galaxy Arena itself.
Or,
‘Perhaps that player chose not to disclose it.’
Either way,
The attention from the Galaxy Arena did not feel entirely welcome.
‘Let’s think positively. The Galaxy Arena definitely knows how to balance risks and returns.’
Consider this arena alone: a remarkable 5-person cooperation, hosted on a checkpoint map only appearing in platinum levels.
And hadn’t Shimun wiped out all the goblins himself?
The magnitude of the clear reward was unimaginable.
‘No point worrying now. Might as well go and receive the rewards.’
As Shimun turned to leave,
“Ki, keke!”
“Kii…”
About ten goblins sat down, trembling all over. With dozens of their kind slain in an instant and their leader, the Hobgoblin, killed, losing their fighting spirit was a natural outcome.
“Seeing them now, I can’t help but feel pity.”
-Handsome ones do live up to their looks. How are you supposed to use us with such a soft heart, oppa?
Shimun’s musing was immediately countered by the Philosopher’s Stone.
“Do. I appear so?”
Shimun, wearing a carefree smile, continued walking without any further gesture.
“Ki, kiik… Human, you spare us?”
“What a kind human!”
True to their cunning nature,
The goblins trembled even more, their eyes filling with tears.
-Goblins are really something. Don’t fall for it, oppa. They’ll sharpen their knives behind your back. It’s obvious!
“I know.”
Ignoring the sharp words of the Philosopher’s Stone, Shimun walked past the goblins towards his goal.
“Kik! Human! Kind!”
“Kekek! Thank you, human!”
The animated voices of the goblins followed from behind.
-Omomo? Look at this oppa? Really letting them go? For real? Really?
The Philosopher’s Stone sounded shocked.
However, Shimun’s stride did not falter,
“Kekek! We’ve repay you!”
The goblins, too, remained persistent. “The Philosopher’s Stone, you seem to be under some misconception for a while now.”
– Hmm?
Feeling that murderous intent.
“I never once said. I would spare you.”
Snap.
Kim Shimun flicked his fingers.
* * *
With a tranquil light, Shimun returned to his studio apartment.
Before him.
[You have successfully cleared the Arena. ‘Goblin Infested Outpost’.]
[You have killed all enemies alone under a 5-person cooperation condition.]
[The reward for the clear increases according to your performance.]
[A fixed amount of experience is distributed to the bound trait. ‘Philosopher’s Stone’.]
[Your level has increased by 4.]
[The level of Philosopher’s Stone has risen by 2.]
[As a clear reward, you have obtained. ‘Hobgoblin’s Battle Axe’.]
A flood of system notifications inundated him.
[You have defeated the hidden boss Hobgoblin alone.]
[As a reward, ‘Corroded Hobgoblin Serum’ will be granted.]
[You have achieved the hidden achievement. ‘Defeat a Hidden Boss (1/?)’.]
[You received 1,000 achievement points.]
“Wow….”
Rewards that dizzied his eyes.
Shimun immediately opened his status window to check on his level first.
[Status Window]
Title: Pioneer of Alchemy (among others 2)
System: Magic
Level: 7
Affiliation: South Korea
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Stamina: 5
Alchemy Energy: 13
Remaining Stats: 4
Owned Traits – Philosopher’s Stone (E)
Achievement Points – 9,350
The first thing that caught his eye was the achievement points.
A total of 1,000 points as a mission reward from the Black Goat.
Adding another total of 1,500 points from the Hobgoblin achievement, his achievement points, previously at 6,850, jumped to 9,350.
“At this rate, I’ll reach ten thousand in no time.”
Reaching the ten thousand mark would mean he could alchemize another Obsidian Tablet.
Kim Shimun looked down at his chest.
“Philosopher’s Stone, if. I hit ten thousand, I can alchemize another Obsidian Tablet, right?”
– Yes. But as we go further, the requirement and the percentage increase for achievement points will change.
“Is that so? Got it.”
– Huh? Why aren’t you asking why? I thought you would.
“I’ve been in alchemy for years. I somewhat expected that.”
Kim Shimun had already come into contact with a similar item, the Emerald Tablet.
As more significant contents regarding the potion and the alchemy of the Philosopher’s Stone were detailed towards the end.
It would be the same for the Obsidian Tablet.
‘I still have to invest, though.’
Unlike the consumable Astrape.
The Obsidian Tablet was a permanent item.
Moreover, the power of human alchemy granted by the Obsidian Tablet had already been sufficiently experienced, hadn’t it?
‘I need to keep investing to match the growth of my alchemy energy.’
The ability to boost stats and incorporate the characteristics of alchemized races was something no buff could achieve.
It was the best ability for those in the magic system, who lacked a physical component.
Moreover, the most crucial aspect was that it doesn’t consume achievement points.
This was a direct link to his combat power.
– Still, until the second alchemy, a 20% growth rate will still be directly applied.
“So the alchemy cost remains the same up to a 40% completion rate?”
– Yup, yup. Right.
“Good. That’s all. I needed.”
Kim Shimun nodded in satisfaction.
Just calculating by numbers meant that the power of human alchemy would be twice as strong as it is now.
‘It’d be better to save some points and alchemize with a buffer. Achievement points are my main resource, after all.’
Rather than immediately spending it all upon reaching ten thousand.
It would be more efficient to save an additional 2,000~3,000 points before alchemizing.
‘I see that even though the clear rewards increase, no AP is given.’
AP (Arena point).
Scores that could occasionally be obtained as broadcasting or arena clear rewards, frequently used as a substitute for currency.
In the early days after the Arena appeared, those who needed immediate money sold AP for cash.
Those in need of equipment or other armaments used AP in the arena shop.
Now, it was mainly used for transactions between players or in the auction house, considered a currency above dollars.
Fortunately, only the Awakened could possess it.
Thus, a catastrophic scenario where Earth’s currency turned entirely useless was avoided.
‘Well, still in the placement test phase.’
Shaking off his disappointment, Kim Shimun invested all four acquired stats into alchemy energy.
Thus, his alchemy energy reached a total of 17.
Additionally, the Philosopher’s Stone’s level had also risen by 2 from level 5 to 7.
The grade remained at E, the same as when he had created the Obsidian Tablet, but the overall level of alchemy should have improved.
“Now, for the main dish?”
Kim Shimun rubbed his hands together.
In reality, the main dish was the increase in abilities like level up.
But the tangible, material rewards stoked considerable anticipation.
Especially since there was a familiar named reward.
“Inventory.”
A small window opened in front of Kim Shimun.
Much like the items in a common RPG game. In the inventory, there was a miniature form of a double-edged axe and a glass bottle filled with a dark red liquid. Kim Shimun checked the double-edged axe first.
[Hobgoblin’s Battle Axe]
Rank: B
– Increases all slashing attacks by 10%.
– Causes paralysis when attacking living creatures.
– Strength stat +5
Restriction: Level 50, Strength 35 or above.
Upon checking the information, Kim Shimun’s eyes sparkled.
“Wow!”
The Hobgoblin’s Battle Axe.
An item from the Greenskin series preferred by warriors.
Commonly referred to as a. ‘uniform’, it belonged to the category of axe items.
Although Kim Shimun, a mage, was well aware of it, his surprise was for a different reason.
“The item options are exactly like those from a platinum drop?”
The Hobgoblin, despite being nerfed, had appeared.
Of course, being in the placement test section, it was classified as a powerful hidden boss.
Perhaps that’s why?
The [Hobgoblin’s Battle Axe] dropped as a reward without any nerf to its options.
Exactly like those dropped in the platinum section.
“And the strength is +5.”
Normally, the strength stat option comes in 1 to 3, so +5 was considered a top-grade option.
“This is definitely a jackpot. Too sweet to handle.”
It felt like gobbling down a fistful of salt.
With a happy heart, Kim Shimun then checked the glass bottle next to it.
[Corroded Hobgoblin Serum]
Rank: C
The serum of a Hobgoblin.
It became more toxic due to excessive demonic energy.
Though it’s a material item, the precise effects weren’t listed.
“It hasn’t been long since. I returned, but it feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen this.”
Kim Shimun knew the effects of this material better than anyone.
Not just because he was an alchemist.
-“Eh? Oppa, what are you talking about?”
“This.”
Kim Shimun took out the corroded Hobgoblin Serum from the inventory.
As he slowly swirled the dark red liquid, his expression grew complicated.
-“Isn’t this Hobgoblin serum? Why is this… Ah.”
The Philosopher’s Stone sighed softly, expressing its doubt.
As a mythical product of alchemy,
It knew the efficacy of the [Hobgoblin Serum].
-“Oppa, you worked with elixirs until you alchemized me, huh?”
Kim Shimun silently nodded.
The side effects of magic inability.
The physical decline that occurred as the regular arena continued was an indescribable pain.
Kim Shimun had been using a special anesthetic potion each time.
And this [Hobgoblin Serum] was one of the main ingredients in the anesthetic potion.
Since Hobgoblin’s blood itself possessed an excellent paralytic toxicity.
-“But oppa, you even made a potion. Why didn’t you drink it sooner?”
“That is…”
Kim Shimun hesitated for a moment before quietly saying,
“…There were some circumstances.”
-“Tsk! What kind of reason is that? You should take care of your own body first! Well, thanks to that, I was almost perfectly alchemized.”
At that, Kim Shimun let out a chuckle.
“You’re right. If. I hadn’t used the potion as the base for you, this return wouldn’t have been possible.”
The price to recover from magic inability and rewind 11 years wouldn’t have been possible without a significant exchange.
-“That’s true. Regression itself is something even a Constellation can’t do.”
“Is that so? But what did you use to cure me and send me back?”
-“There exists a being capable of it. XXXX is… @#!*”
“What? What did you say?”
The Philosopher’s Stone’s words cut off mid-sentence.
Kim Shimun quizzed, but the Philosopher’s Stone clicked its tongue shortly.
-“Tsk. Seems like. I shouldn’t mention it. Well, it figures, even the Constellations are wary of that being.”
“Now you’re making me even more curious.”
-“. ‘d love to tell you, but you wouldn’t hear it. The Galaxy Arena is going crazy at me right now.”
“The Galaxy Arena?”
-“Yep. Sending me message after message, telling me not to mention it.”
Kim Shimun didn’t see any system window in front of him.
The Philosopher’s Stone had no reason to lie.
“If it can’t be helped, then it can’t.”
Kim Shimun nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders without showing much curiosity.
-“Hehe. As cool as your face, my Oppa! Anyway, what are you going to do with the serum? You don’t have magic inability anymore.”
“True, I won’t need to make it in the form of painkillers now.”
-“But why… Oh my!”
Suddenly, the creature’s voice hit a high note.
There was a shallow excitement in that voice.
-“Don’t tell me you’re going to make an elixir with this poison?!”
“Yes. To an alchemist, poison is also a medicine.”
-“Oh my, oh my, oh my!! I so love this!!”
The Philosopher’s Stone was extremely excited.
Kim Shimun widened his eyes but soon understood the stone’s feelings.
After all, the very purpose of its existence was alchemy.
It must be thrilling to transmute something through alchemy.
-“We’re going to tame its essence to our will, aren’t we? Ah! I’m looking forward to it so much!!”
And so.
-“Given it’s mixed with demonic energy, it’s going to be a fierce one, right?”
“……”
-“Imagine how humiliating it must be for the poison, intrinsically the exact opposite, to be transformed into the qualities of an elixir! Ah… I’m getting excited!”
A grave miscalculation had been made.