Chapter 29: Unexpected Windfall (4)

Four hours until the attack begins.

Han-seong returned to his original officetel through the warp gate. He needed to gather necessary items in preparation for the battle.

‘The most important thing is potions, of course.’

Without potions, his mana would be depleted before he could use all his current skills.

Han-seong stored the potions he had placed under his desk in his inventory. He had also put the Gu Poison Egg in his inventory just in case.

At that moment.

Grumble!

A loud noise came from his stomach.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything today. As he looked around, the cereal and soy milk on the table caught his eye.

After finishing a simple meal, he felt drowsy as he leaned back in his chair.

‘I still have some time…’

Maybe he should get some shut-eye.

Han-seong yawned and closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. Soon, he felt his whole body relax as a wave of drowsiness washed over him.

How much time had passed?

“…Mmm.”

Han-seong opened his eyes. And he was startled.

It felt like he had only dozed off for a moment, but the room was already dark. It even looked like the sun had set, so he hurriedly glanced at the clock.

Then he let out a sigh of relief.

‘It’s not time yet.’

The current time was 7:30 PM.

30 minutes left until the attack begins.

Han-seong stretched to shake off the drowsiness. Then, out of habit, he opened the map to check his surroundings.

‘No particular changes.’

The monsters had filled up Jamsil Bridge again, but not as many as before. Other than that, there were no noticeable changes…

“Huh?”

A change had just occurred.

A blue dot suddenly popped out of the shopping mall. Then it started approaching the officetel where Han-seong was.

‘Who could it be?’

As he was about to use Precise Observation out of curiosity, the blue dot moved quickly and arrived in front of the officetel.

Then came an energetic shout.

“Hello, Mage-nim!”

It was a familiar voice.

When he slightly parted the curtains to look outside, he saw a girl in gym clothes. A face as familiar as the voice. It was Seo Ha-eun.

‘Why did she suddenly come here?’

Is she here to propose a trade like last time?

Or does she have other business?

As he tilted his head, unable to think of a reason why she would come looking for him.

Ha-eun’s shout continued.

“I came to give you something! As thanks for the skillbook you gave me last time!”

To think she came for such a reason.

Han-seong smiled awkwardly.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

The skillbook he had given Ha-eun wasn’t something he expected anything in return for. It was simply repayment for the help he had received in the past.

But what could she be trying to give?

‘Food? Or coins?’

Whatever it was, he would politely refuse.

After finishing his thoughts, Han-seong wrote a refusal response in his notebook and handed it to the Collector. Just as he was about to send the Collector down.

Her next shout caught his ear.

“It’s a skillbook called Enchant Fire that I just got! It’s a 2nd Tier skillbook, and it has the effect of granting fire attribute to the target!”

“…A skillbook?”

An effect that grants fire attribute?

Then what would happen if he used that skill on the Collector? Would it set things on fire with every attack?

“I’ll wait here for 30 minutes!”

Ha-eun promptly sat down.

Seeing this, Han-seong narrowed his eyes.

If she had really come just to give the skillbook, she would have left it on the ground and disappeared.

Ha-eun should know that Han-seong can remotely collect items.

‘But the fact that she didn’t do that means…’

She must have other business as well.

Though he didn’t know what it was.

Whatever it was, he could just send the Collector to find out, so Han-seong focused on the skillbook again.

‘Enchant Fire.’

A skill that grants fire attribute to the target.

To be honest, it was tempting.

Especially now, facing the battle with the Vampire Tree.

After pondering, Han-seong decided to retract his initial thought. He decided to accept the skillbook Ha-eun had brought.

‘But it doesn’t feel right to take it for free.’

Though he heard it was repayment, his debt to Ha-eun had already been cleanly settled last time.

So it would be right to pay a fair price and purchase the skillbook. It’s better to keep accounts clear. That would make him feel better too.

‘According to market prices, a 2-Star skillbook is 500 coins…’

That should be enough to give.

Han-seong sent the Collector downstairs.

To deliver the coins to Ha-eun through Ji-hye, and receive the skillbook she had brought.

Near Jamsil Naru Station, in an apartment complex.

Suddenly, a blue blade rose from the shadows of zombies wandering the parking lot. The blade spun rapidly, grinding the zombies to pieces.

Whoosh! Crack!

They fell like leaves without even putting up a fight. Soon after, a girl in gym clothes appeared in the area full of corpses.

A girl holding combat knives in both hands.

It was Seo Ha-eun.

“Phew, looks like it’s mostly cleared up.”

Ha-eun had started hunting zombies alone a few days ago. She now had enough ability to do so, and above all, it was much more comfortable to fight alone.

“That’s…”

She spotted an unusual zombie.

A zombie with vines wrapped all over its body.

Ha-eun knew what this was.

‘A minion of the Vampire Tree.’

Commonly known as a ‘Parasitic Vine’.

On the surface, it might look like a zombie, but the reality was different. If it were a zombie, it would have collapsed after being hit by Eun-ji’s Turn Undead.

But Turn Undead didn’t work on this creature, and through this, Ha-eun realized that the true body of the vine zombie was the vine itself.

‘The target should be the heart.’

More precisely, the core of the vine.

It was located near the back of the zombie’s head. Ha-eun narrowed the distance while concealing her presence.

Slowly, so as not to be detected.

Finally, when she was about 5 meters away.

[Activating skill.]

[Surprise Attack: Blink Attack]

Suddenly, Ha-eun’s body disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, she approached behind the target and swiftly swung her knife before the vine zombie could even react.

Slash! Stab! Crack!

A motion as smooth as flowing water.

It took less than a second for the combat knife to pierce the core of the vine zombie.

The moment she took it down.

She felt a refreshing sensation and her body becoming lighter. A signal that her level had increased.

“Status.”

[Name]: Seo Ha-eun

[Job]: Shadow Assassin

‘Just a little more and I’ll be 3-Star.’

Then she would become even stronger, and the day she could go to Kangil Girls’ High School would be brought forward.

A smile spread across Ha-eun’s face.

Feeling motivated, she was about to turn around to look for other prey when.

Suddenly, a book fell from the vine zombie.

Thud!

Loot. A skillbook.

Ha-eun’s eyes widened at this unexpected windfall.

In the past, when they acquired loot, they would dispose of it for coins and split the proceeds among everyone. However, this rule had disappeared at some point.

‘Probably…’

It seemed to be since the survivors from the underground mall joined the group. In other words, this skillbook was entirely her possession.

Ha-eun picked up the skillbook with an expectant face. Hoping it would be a type of skill she could learn.

However, her expectations were dashed.

[Skillbook: Enchant Fire]

▷Grants fire attribute to the target.

▷Duration: 30 minutes

▷Cooldown: 100 minutes

▶Grade Restriction: 2nd Tier, 2-Star

▶Acquisition Job: Mage, Sorcerer

“Mage?”

The moment she saw the jobs that could acquire it.

Ha-eun unconsciously looked to the southwest. Where the Mage’s officetel was located.

‘I haven’t seen him since that day.’

To be honest, there wasn’t particularly any reason to see him.

Especially since the Mage had kidnapped the Alchemist. Even now, Tae-min would grind his teeth at the mention of that time.

‘But I…’

Owe a debt of gratitude to the Mage.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was able to grow stronger so quickly thanks to the skillbook she received from him, Shadow Doppelganger.

A skill that became the foundation of her growth.

Ha-eun looked at the skillbook in her hand and was conflicted. After a moment, she made her decision.

“Alright. Let’s go give it to him.”

To repay the favor from that time.

And to ask about the kidnapping of the Alchemist. Ha-eun put the skillbook in her backpack and moved towards the officetel after finishing her hunt.

Past 7 PM.

Upon arriving at her destination, she called out to the Mage like last time. Along with saying she had brought a repayment. Then she sat down and waited for him.

‘Ah!’

A familiar figure appeared at the entrance.

The Collector. The monster controlled by the Mage.

Ha-eun stood up with a bright expression. Just as she was about to take out the skillbook from her backpack.

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

She noticed that someone else was with the Collector. And when she confirmed the other person’s face, Ha-eun was shocked.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

Lee Ji-hye, the Alchemist.

The person who was said to have been kidnapped by the Mage appeared together with the Collector. Faced with this unexpected situation, Ha-eun froze in bewilderment.

But only for a moment, she quickly regained her senses and asked Ji-hye:

“Why are you here…?”

“I’m acting as the Mage’s representative.”

Representative? What does that mean?

Ha-eun couldn’t understand the situation.

“But you were kidnapped…”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t kidnapping. The Mage saved me. From a terrible environment where I was confined and forced to make potions.”

“C-confined?”

Ha-eun asked back in shock.

Seeing this, Ji-hye’s expression hardened. Then came an ice-cold voice.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t know.”

“No, I’m not pretending! I really don’t know! All I knew was that you were kidnapped by the Mage…”

“Who told you that?”

“Senior Tae-min.”

“Hmph, how shameless. To think the very person who confined and monitored me would say such things.”

“What? S-senior did…?”

Wide eyes.

Quickened breath and a flustered expression.

It doesn’t seem like she’s acting or pretending not to know. Ji-hye narrowed her eyes.

“…Could it be you really didn’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t understand what’s going on at all…”

Ji-hye let out a sigh.

Then she listed the things she had experienced.

Being confined to the top floor of the shopping mall, continuously making potions without rest. Even being watched by zombies to prevent escape.

As her story continued, Ha-eun’s face grew paler. Finally, after revealing all the truth, Ji-hye spoke with a cold smile.

“Do you understand now?”

“If it weren’t for the Mage, I probably wouldn’t be here now. I would have ended my own life, suffering from exploitation.”

Ji-hye looked towards the direction of the shopping mall.

Her eyes lowered.

“So don’t ever mention kidnapping again. If you insult the Mage, I won’t stand by quietly.”

Ha-eun couldn’t respond.

She was still in shock. Ji-hye sighed as she looked at Ha-eun.

Then she said, holding out her palm:

“Let’s get to the main point.”

“…Huh? Yes?”

“The skillbook for the Mage.”

Right. She originally came to give the skillbook.

Ha-eun, coming to her senses, hurriedly handed over the skillbook. And in the process of receiving it, Ji-hye suddenly grabbed Ha-eun’s hand.

“Huh? Why…?”

“Open your palm.”

Ha-eun opened her palm in confusion, and Ji-hye’s palm overlapped hers. Soon, a familiar notification message appeared.

[You have received Coins.]

[Acquired Coins: 500]

Suddenly receiving coins.

Ha-eun was startled.

“Wh-why are you suddenly giving me coins…?”

“The Mage asked me to deliver them.”

“No! I didn’t give it expecting anything in return, I just wanted to repay the favor from before…!”

“I’m just doing as I was asked. If you don’t want them, you can just throw them away. Or give them to that man.”

After finishing all she had to say.

Ji-hye turned around. As she walked towards the officetel, she glanced back at Ha-eun and said:

“You should be careful too.”

“That man is the type who would use even his companions as tools if it’s for his own benefit.”

With those final words, Ji-hye disappeared.

Along with the Collector who had accompanied her as an escort.

Meanwhile, left alone, Ha-eun still had a blank expression as she mulled over the story she had heard from Ji-hye.

‘Senior did such a thing?’

It was true that managing the survivors from the underground mall was Tae-min’s role. Recently, he had been going on zombie hunts with them too.

But suddenly, confinement?

It was too sudden a story to easily accept. However, Ji-hye’s words didn’t feel like lies either, which bothered her.

‘…What should I do?’

Should I ask him directly? Did you really do that?

No, he could just deny it. Or he might evade the situation by giving other reasons. Given Tae-min’s personality, that’s entirely possible.

Then what should I do?

As she pondered, Ha-eun came up with the easiest way to resolve her doubts in the current situation.

‘Right, I’ll tail him.’

She could judge by watching Tae-min hunt together with the survivors from the underground mall. Whether he was really exploiting people or not.

Concealing her presence was one of Ha-eun’s specialties.

The level gap with Tae-min wasn’t big either, so she shouldn’t be easily detected. Having made her decision, Ha-eun turned towards the shopping mall building.

Meanwhile, at that time.

Ji-hye, who had successfully completed her errand, placed the skillbook in front of the front door.

“Mage-nim, I’ll leave the skillbook here.”

Having finished her task, she headed downstairs, and after confirming her presence was gone, Han-seong picked up the skillbook placed in the hallway.

Then he immediately learned the skill.

[Learning Enchant-Fire.]

[Target: Remote Support Mage]

[The skill will be modified to fit the job.]

Up to here was no different from usual.

But then.

Suddenly, something unfamiliar appeared.

[Please select the skill type.]

▷Support: Enchant-Fire

▶Enhance: Enchant-Fire

“Huh? This is…?”

A type of choice he had never seen before.

Moreover, what’s the difference between support and enhance?

Han-seong tilted his head.

But the question didn’t last long. Soon, a message appeared explaining the difference.

[Support]: Grants fire attribute to the equipment of all targets within the designated range.

[Enhance]: Grants fire attribute to all skills possessed by the Remote Support Mage.

“…It adds fire attribute to skills?”

Han-seong’s mouth fell open.

So does that mean fire attribute would be added to Magic Arrow, Wind Cutter, and Call Lightning too?

If so, that’s the best effect.

It means he doesn’t have to go through the trouble of finding and learning fire attribute skills. Han-seong chose the enhance type without even needing to consider.

[Enhance: Enchant-Fire (Lv.4)]

-Grants fire attribute to all skills possessed by the Remote Support Mage. Skills that already have fire attribute will have increased effect.

▷Mana Cost: 300

‘I’ll have to try it out to know for sure, but…’

Just reading the effect, it’s very satisfying.

This means fire attribute will be added to all skills except Tinder. If he sets up Magic Field on top of this, his chances of winning increase even more.

At that moment, the cuckoo sound came from the wall clock. A sound that rings every hour on the hour. It was the alarm signaling 8 PM.

‘Alright. Preparations are complete.’

Shall we start the attack now?

Han-seong immediately set up a warp gate leading to the temporary base. Soon, a gray rift appeared, and just as he was about to move his wheelchair.

Tap tap tap tap!

A familiar sound of footsteps was heard.

The sound of someone running up the stairs. The one who arrived, out of breath, was none other than Ji-hye.

“Ma-Mage-nim!”

She knocked on the door urgently.

What’s the matter? As he was making a puzzled expression, Ji-hye revealed the reason she had come looking for Han-seong.

“Outside! Look out the window. The Vampire Tree…!”

“What? The Vampire Tree?”

Why suddenly the Vampire Tree?

Moreover, the Vampire Tree can’t be seen from here.

Yet Ji-hye’s mention of the Vampire Tree gave Han-seong an inexplicable sense of unease.

As he parted the curtains and looked out the window.

His eyes widened in shock.

The Vampire Tree, which wasn’t visible before, came into view at once. There was only one reason. It had grown much larger compared to before.

[Using Precise Observation.]

[Sharing field of vision.]

Han-seong hurriedly examined the Vampire Tree.

And he was surprised again. He realized that even at this very moment, the Vampire Tree was still growing.

“Why suddenly…”

Did this happen?

As he was bewildered by this unexpected situation.

The Vampire Tree, which had grown as large as a skyscraper, suddenly tilted rapidly to the east.

In the direction of Kangil Girls’ High School.