Ch.179179. The Passion of the Black Monkeys

[Main Quest 2]

[Chaotic Energy]

[The chaotic energy flowing into the Rift Dimension is the exact opposite of life energy. By tracking its source, you might find clues to purify and stabilize the Rift Dimension. However, the increasingly dense chaotic energy seems dangerous.]

[Find and eliminate the source of chaotic energy in the Level 2 Biome]

[※The chaotic energy discovered in the Level 2 Biome is extremely dense, and merely approaching it may expose you to powerful effects.]

[Reward: SSS+ Grade Life Skill Selection Ticket x1, SS+ Grade Skill Selection Ticket x2, Farming Stat Points 30, 200,000 Farm, Dense Chaotic Energy Fragment x1]

The continuation of Main Quest 2 made me extremely nervous.

“What the hell? Why is it trying to scare me like this?”

Normally, I’d just clear it casually and collect the rewards, but the appearance of a new type of chaotic energy was enough to make anyone tense.

Moreover, this is the first time a quest has explicitly warned me to be careful.

Well, all quests related to chaotic energy are firsts for me anyway.

“The rewards are too good though…”

To think Main Quest 2 would offer an SSS+ grade skill selection ticket.

Of course, it’s not a combat skill but a life skill, yet an SSS+ grade life skill has its own prestige and undeniable value.

In fact, for settlement gameplay, an SSS+ life skill might provide even more overwhelming efficiency.

Right now, I’m focused on hunting and learning combat skills one by one, but when I consider the farming general store I’m currently running, a life-related SSS+ skill could generate much better sales.

Just looking at how the resources produced by Kim Sujeong and Lee Jihyun are selling, it’s clear that the hunting resources I obtain with my SSS+ combat skills account for most of my revenue.

Whatever I choose would be good.

Farming. Alchemy. Crafting. Blacksmithing. Cooking.

Just some options that come to mind.

Even if I choose to learn one of the skills currently being used at the farm, that would be enough.

Obviously, I should be the one to learn this skill.

After all, SSS+ grade is a tier that only I can possess.

“And it’s giving two SS+ grade skill selection tickets too.”

I think this dense chaotic energy might be some kind of occasional event.

Otherwise, even for a Level 2 Biome, these rewards seem excessive.

How high could the difficulty be?

Especially since it mentions continuous exposure to powerful effects from the dense chaotic energy.

It’s worth trying.

I have Divinity, which is the perfect counter to chaotic energy, and even if I’m exposed to powerful effects, I can just purify them.

And at times like this, I always think of Lulu’s previous owner.

Though I’ve never seen their face, they serve as a role model that always appears in my memories to keep me on edge.

While I haven’t heard the complete story or how they died from memory-impaired Lulu, based on my long experience in the Farming World, I can guess what path the previous owner took.

I shouldn’t avoid challenges.

No matter how high the difficulty or how hostile the environment.

So this setup of giving two options and allowing for an easier choice with rewards is a trap.

Somehow receiving the Main Quest reward would provide a stepping stone to the next biome.

Getting an SSS+ skill wouldn’t block my growth, but what’s important is the land and various rewards obtained by directly completing the Main Quest.

Above all, not gaining the purified energy level would create a gap in fundamentals that would become significant later on.

I don’t even need to think that far ahead—just looking at myself now, I’m already hesitant about this “dense chaotic energy” warning, so how must the previous owner have felt when they avoided the Corrupted Forest?

The first avoidance is difficult, but choosing to avoid subsequent challenges becomes extremely easy.

“I’m also curious about what this Dense Chaotic Energy Fragment is.”

High risk, high return is a natural principle of the world.

The harder the challenge, the greater the reward and progress.

So among the two options for the Main Quest, there was no need to hesitate.

I’ll definitely tackle the Corrupted Steam Snake Den.

“Come to think of it, avoiding it would mean missing out on hidden quests too.”

Considering that the explorer hidden quests are quite rewarding, not uncovering the chaotic regions would be like losing half of life’s opportunities.

“No, how did they even get that far?”

The more I think about it, the more I wonder what kind of person the previous owner was.

Though it’s all my speculation, based on what Lulu has told me, the previous owner must have missed substantial rewards, including all the hidden explorer achievements.

Comparing just the achievement points and other fundamentals to my current standards, the difference is considerable.

So my evaluation of Lulu’s previous owner has only increased.

“How amazing of a magician were they… to advance with a magician-alchemist combination without building fundamentals?”

Honestly, my current overpowered specs are the result of methodically collecting all fundamental rewards + the item amplification effect from leveling up the Chaotic Stone Purification Cauldron.

With optimal initial abilities and holy magic that counters chaotic energy well, I’m handling things somewhat comfortably.

Even if they avoided the final bosses of each biome, they couldn’t have avoided them forever.

“…I’d really like to meet them someday.”

Though how would I see the life of someone who’s already dead in the Rift Dimension?

If Lulu’s memories start to unlock bit by bit, perhaps I could hear more details.

Beyond just revisiting the past, there might be some helpful tips.

Even my 10 years of experience in the Farming World isn’t perfect.

[Sub Quest]

[Achievement – Novice Explorer 3]

[The true master of a dimension begins by knowing every map. The final destination of exploring the initial parts of the map. Let’s search and check the map more thoroughly.]

[Uncover more than 85% of the Level 2 Biome.]

[Reward: Achievement Points 3, 20,000 Farm, Farming Stat Points 25, Settlement +30P, Novice Explorer Badge (Common)]

And it seemed this Novice Explorer achievement quest would be the last one here.

In gaming terms, it’s the completion of the explorer tutorial quest.

The rewards have increased slightly, and a Novice Explorer Badge item has been added.

Wearing it probably provides some benefits.

It feels like the tutorial for this vast Rift Dimension map ends here.

My heart swelled.

This anticipation. Tension. Fear. Uncertainty.

I never thought I’d feel these emotions again after 10 years—the same feelings I had when I first started Farming World, gradually uncovering the pitch-black map months after starting the game.

I’m both afraid and curious about what lies ahead.

How terrible will this dense chaotic energy be?

And the snake den covered by it is essentially a den designed to keep humans out.

Can I successfully defeat the Guava Snakes in there?

Despite my slightly trembling body, my hand gripping the Lightbringer Sword remained firm.

Once again, a pile of quests.

As I was about to set out to explore the Level 2 Tropical Rainforest Steam Forest, thinking about the day I’d accept all these quests at once…

“Kiki… Chief.”

The Black Monkeys stopped me.

“Huh?”

“Kik. We want to join you.”

“For what?”

“Hunting snakes. Kikik. We also want to hunt snakes alongside our chief.”

The Black Monkeys made an unexpected proposal.

Or is it unexpected? Maybe not?

In a way, I am their chief, and I’m setting out to solve the Black Monkey tribe’s problems.

It might be natural for the Black Monkeys to step forward to help me.

It was quite a touching offer, but I declined.

Or rather, I was about to decline.

[Hidden Quest]

[Black Monkey]

[The Black Monkeys face threats to their territory and species survival. The Black Monkey Chief is entering the Corrupted Steam Snake Den to eliminate the cause. Black Monkeys do not avoid battle. They do not hide cowardly while sending only their chief. Even if facing extinction, fighting is the way of the Black Monkeys. Let’s win the war against the Guava Snake clan with the Black Monkeys and become the true master of the Level 2 Biome, Steam Forest]

[Reward: SS Grade Life Skill Selection Ticket x1, Black Monkey Tribe Loyalty 100, Farming Stat Points 15, 30,000 Farm, ‘Black Monkey’ Tribe Morale Buff +1 Level]

“That’s right. Black Monkeys are one. Let’s all join forces and crush those snake-headed bastards!”

“Kiki!”

“Kikiki!”

The monkeys’ determination echoed throughout the Balmosoo Forest.