Chapter 75

But it wasn’t over yet. Jun-sang immediately checked the next message.

Congratulations!

You have obtained your first Hero-grade card!

-In praise of your feat, you are granted the title ‘First Hero Card Acquirer’.

[Click here for detailed title information.]

“As expected, it appeared.” Jun-sang immediately checked the detailed information.

[First Hero Card Acquirer]

-A title granted to the first person to acquire a Hero-grade card.

-Effect: When selecting a random card, the probability of obtaining a higher-grade card increases.

-The effect of the title is automatically applied upon acquisition.

“…” Jun-sang nodded. Of course, lower-grade cards had their uses, but it was true that getting a Common-grade card as a reward after level twenty could be quite disappointing.

However, that wasn’t the only title obtained by drawing a Hero-grade card.

[Card Researcher]

-A title granted to one who has acquired a card of a single type across five grades.

-Effect: Special function ‘Card Enhancement’ is unlocked.

-The effect of the title is automatically applied upon acquisition.

“Card Enhancement?” Curious if it was different from combination, Jun-sang looked up the detailed information.

Card Enhancement:

**Card enhancement is a function that creates a higher-grade card by combining three cards of the same type and grade. However, cards of Rare grade or higher have a chance of failure when enhanced. If enhancement is attempted, all cards used as materials will be consumed, regardless of success or failure. If your luck stat is high, a card of one higher grade might be produced.

“Is this also possible?” He wished he could test it, but unfortunately, Jun-sang currently had no spare cards to try card enhancement. This was because he had used up all three spare Bloodbath cards while experimenting with card combinations.

Jun-sang moved on to the next message.

[Pioneer of Card Research]

-A title granted to the first person to acquire the ‘Card Researcher’ title.

-Effect: The chance of failure during card enhancement is significantly reduced.

-The effect of the title is automatically applied upon acquisition.

“Pioneer, huh…” This title was also quite excellent. He didn’t know about now, but later, when his level was higher, he might use card combinations or enhancements much more often. It would be quite painful to fail and lose a Rare-grade or higher card after finally deciding to enhance it.

After checking the three titles, another card, obtained as an additional reward for the EX:Hero rank, finally appeared.

Card Information

Name: Strike (SR)

Level: 1Lv

Experience: 0

Grade: Super Rare

Classification: Skill

Growth: Early Bloomer (Large)

Attribute: Earth

Effects:

1. Gathers strength for a powerful blow. (5-stage charge, Cooldown: 10 seconds)

2. Stun duration reduced by 20 percent.

3. Walking is possible even in charge state.

Cost: 30

Seed: 5 slots

“Oh!” The Super Rare version of Strike, one of Jun-sang’s recently favored skills, had appeared. While the Uncommon-grade Strike allowed for a 3-stage charge, the Super Rare-grade Strike enabled a higher 5-stage charge. Additionally, it had the added effect of reducing stun duration by 20 percent after use.

Of course, as the power increased, the overload on his body after use would also become much more severe. However, if he only used up to 3 stages as before, the stun duration would actually decrease. So, it might be better to use it appropriately for the situation rather than indiscriminately using a full charge.

Furthermore, he could walk while charging. Words truly failed him at how amazing this was.

Jun-sang moved on to the next message.

Congratulations!

You have acquired the special card ‘Inventory’ from the additional reward box (EX:Hero Rank).

-Acquiring special cards allows you to unlock sealed special functions.

-Since the special function ‘Inventory’ is already open, your inventory capacity has been expanded by 5 slots.

-You can currently register and use 15 different types of items in your inventory.

“Inventory, 5 slots…” He had been storing items in a cabinet, so 10 inventory slots had been enough until now. However, as the number of weapons and equipment he used increased, it was starting to feel a bit tight. So, Jun-sang welcomed the inventory expansion.

With this, all the additional reward boxes had been opened, but there was still a page full of messages left. The very first message, as expected, was about a title.

[Hero of Beginnings]

-A title granted to the first person to achieve EX:Hero rank.

-Effect: Increases the chance of new quests appearing and being encountered.

-The effect of the title is automatically applied upon acquisition.

“This is…” Jun-sang knew from his past experiences that the quest list wasn’t fixed but could always be newly updated. In short, this title increased the possibility of encountering situations where new quests, which didn’t exist before, would appear. Considering the current situation where quest rewards were much more lucrative than simple hunting, this was an extremely useful effect.

Jun-sang nodded and moved on to the next message.

“Level-up reward, I guess.” Having checked the message, Jun-sang immediately used his three random card draws.

Card Information

Name: Instant Acceleration

Level: 1Lv

Experience: 0

Grade: Rare

Classification: Skill

Growth: Early Bloomer (Medium)

Attribute: Wind

Effects:

1. User’s speed increases by 30 percent for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 30 seconds)

2. Occasionally, the card’s effect is amplified twofold.

Cost: 20

Seed: 3 slots

“Oh!” A Rare card popped out right from the start. He couldn’t help but feel a little shortchanged since it was the same type of card he had just pulled from the additional reward box. But as soon as he drew the card, new messages popped up rapidly, making that feeling disappear. There was only one reason for new messages to pop up when drawing a card.

Congratulations!

You can combine combo cards.

-Currently available combo cards for combination are as follows:

1. Deandalas Courier [View Details]

-If you wish to combine a combo card, press the corresponding number. If not, press n (1/n) _

Jun-sang first checked the detailed information.

Deandalas Courier

-It is said that the couriers of the ancient Deandalas Empire swiftly delivered the Emperor’s commands throughout the empire with superhuman speed.

[Combination Details]

Sprint, Leap, Instant Acceleration, Instant Acceleration – Effects:

1. Movement speed, jumping power increased by 50 percent.

2. Chance of being hit by ranged attacks reduced by 20 percent while sprinting.

3. Stamina consumption reduced by 20 percent while sprinting.

“Huh…” It was no exaggeration to say this was a combo card of sprints, by sprints, for sprints. Not only did it increase movement speed and jumping power, but it also reduced the chance of being hit by ranged attacks and stamina consumption. This made it particularly useful when he needed to quickly break through dangerous areas, like during a time attack.

Jun-sang checked the next message, but again, no title appeared. He supposed it might be a bit much to expect to acquire all titles related to the first acquisition of a combo card, given that some time had passed.

Jun-sang clicked his tongue and drew his second random card.

Card Information

Name: Double Strike

Level: 1Lv

Experience: 0

Grade: Rare

Classification: Skill

Growth: Normal (Medium)

Attribute: Wind

Effects:

1. Delivers 2 consecutive attacks to a single target with 120 percent power each. (Cooldown 3 seconds)

2. Critical hit chance increased by 10 percent.

3. Occasionally, cooldown is reset upon hitting an attack.

Cost: 15

Seed: 3 slots

“Haha…” Even with the title effect increasing the chance of higher-grade cards, getting two Rare cards in a row was certainly not easy. Perhaps the two kisses he received from the fairies had truly taken effect. As he chuckled at that thought, a new batch of messages appeared rapidly in his vision.

“Another title?” Jun-sang quickly checked the message.

Congratulations!

You can combine combo cards.

-Currently available combo cards for combination are as follows:

1. Hariath’s Mad Dog 2nd Generation [View Details]

-If you wish to combine a combo card, press the corresponding number. If not, press n (1/n) _

“…” Somehow… he didn’t want to open the information. Perhaps the defining characteristic was its intuitive name, which immediately revealed it was a Rare-grade combo card for the Mad Dog combo.

“Hoo…” Jun-sang let out a deep sigh and checked the information first.

Hariath’s Mad Dog 2nd Generation

-The legend of Mad Dog 2nd Generation, who inherited only the superior abilities of a certain undefeated mad dog, is still talked about in Hariath, a region famous for its dog fights. Likewise, it specializes in biting attacks.

[Combination Details]

Bite, Double Strike, Berserk, Bloodbath, Bloodbath (at least four Rare grade or higher cards) – Effects:

1. Additional attack speed increased by 150 percent when ‘Biting’.

2. Additional attack power increased by 100 percent when ‘Biting’.

3. Additional fear inducement chance increased by 30 percent when ‘Biting’.

4. Life absorption increased by 10 percent when ‘Biting’.

“…” It seemed appropriate to understand it as reaching a level where he wasn’t just biting, but practically tearing his opponents apart.

“Ugh…” As soon as he equipped the cards and completed the combo, a new title immediately appeared.

[Once a Mad Dog, Always a Mad Dog]

-A title granted to the first person to successfully combine ‘Hariath’s Mad Dog 2nd Generation’.

-Effect: Additional fear inducement chance increased by 10 percent.

-The effect of the title is automatically applied upon acquisition.

“…” The effect was really good, but the name itself was… Jun-sang silently closed the message and opened the third random card.

Card Information

Name: Will-o’-the-Wisp

Level: 1Lv

Experience: 0

Grade: Uncommon

Classification: Summon

Growth: Late Bloomer (Small)

Attribute: Fire

Effect: Summons 1 fire spirit.

Cost: 10

Seed: 2 slots

Considering that his existing Will-o’-the-Wisp was Common grade, this wasn’t too bad either. Especially for spirits, the more he had, the more advantageous it was due to combo and title effects.

“Whew… have I finally opened all the rewards?” Jun-sang slowly got out of the bathtub and summoned the Water Spirit to dry himself. Then, he emptied the dirty water, roughly cleaned the bathroom, put on a gown, and came out. Only then did he summon the Pocket Squirrel and Heness.

“Huh?” Heness, appearing with a flash of light, looked bewildered upon realizing she was in an unknown place. Then, spotting Jun-sang sitting on the bed in a gown, looking at her, she flinched and turned away.

“W-w-w-where… where on earth…” Jun-sang couldn’t help but chuckle at Heness, who was too surprised to even speak properly.

“First, take off those clothes and go wash up. I’ll take care of the laundry.”

“…” Jun-sang said, handing her a gown and towel provided by the inn. But Heness just flailed around, her face completely unable to grasp the situation. Take off her clothes! And wash up!

But Jun-sang, completely oblivious to the mischievous imaginations bubbling up in this cute girl’s mind, said to her again, “Shall I wash you?”

“N-no! I-I-I can wash myself!”

“Heh…”

Jun-sang stood up and guided her to the bathroom.

“If you press this, hot water comes out like this. This is cold water. You’ve used this before, right? Shampoo and conditioner. This is liquid soap for washing your body. To fill the bathtub, you do this, and water comes out from here… Are you listening?”

“Yes! Y-y-yes, I’m listening!”

“…”

Jun-sang couldn’t help but offer a wry smile at the sight of this completely frozen brown-haired girl.

“Wash up slowly and come out. No one’s going to abduct you.”

“Yes…” Jun-sang closed the door so she could wash, then came out and summoned Dawn Dew, intending to first wash the bizarre squirrel stained with blood and gore.

“Dawn Dew, wash this one.”

Then, water droplets coalesced in the air and began to wash the squirrel’s body. Jun-sang cleared the table and spread out the camping mat, then said to the squirrel, “Alright, take it out.”

“…” The squirrel tilted its head, then emptied the contents of its belly pouch onto the mat.

Rumble…

Jun-sang was momentarily speechless at the huge pile of seeds and items. He didn’t know for sure, but there were easily over a hundred seeds, a dagger, accessories like rings and bracelets, and gold coins. It had been diligently scurrying around on its own and had collected quite a lot.

Jun-sang first picked out two items emanating a faint magical aura from the pile of seeds and checked them.

Name: Viper’s Fang

Level Requirement: 15

Type: Seed

Grade: Rare

Effects:

1. 7% chance to poison on attack.

2. Poison resistance increased by 10%.

3. Agility increased by 8%.

Description: A special seed carried by Guard Captain Anyut.

Can be equipped to items or cards with Seed slots to enhance abilities.

Special function ‘Detach’ is required to separate an equipped seed.

[Click here to equip this seed to an item or card.]

“Poison and agility, huh…” He had killed the monster in its sleep, so he didn’t even know what kind it was, but this seed gave him a rough idea of its nature. Jun-sang equipped this to his Berserk card along with other Rare seeds, then checked another seed.

Name: Evil Eye

Level Requirement: 20

Type: Seed

Grade: Rare

Effects:

1. Evil Eye activation possible.

2. Physical resistance increased by 10%.

3. Agility increased by 15%.

Description: A special seed carried by General Karkash.

Can be equipped to items or cards with Seed slots to enhance abilities.

Special function ‘Detach’ is required to separate an equipped seed.

[Click here to equip this seed to an item or card.]

“Evil Eye?” Jun-sang immediately checked the information.

Evil Eye: The moment one meets its malevolent gaze, the target realizes they are acting against their own will.

-20% chance to induce one of the following status effects upon gaze: Stun, Confusion, Delirium. (Base duration 10 seconds, stackable.)

“Ooh…” The probability itself was lower than the Gaze of Fear, but it induced a wider variety of status effects. Since Evil Eye seemed stackable, like Gaze of Fear, he wondered if it would be possible to use both effects in combat.

“This is also excellent.” Come to think of it, the mid-bosses of this Epic Quest had all dropped one Rare seed each. It seemed that because the quest was large in scale, the items dropped were quite good as well.

Jun-sang again pulled out the dagger hidden in the pile of seeds and examined it. This dagger was in an ornate sheath, and upon inspection, it felt smaller and sharper than the Assassin’s Knife he’d acquired previously.

Item Information

Name: Infinite Chain

Level Requirement: 15

Type: Weapon

Grade: Rare

Attack Power: 11-25

Effects:

1. Can automatically return to sheath after being thrown.

2. Critical hit chance increased by 10%.

3. Critical hit damage increased by 20%.

Seed: 4 slots

Description: A throwing dagger favored by Guard Captain Anyut.

“A throwing dagger, huh…” He was very pleased, as he hadn’t had a suitable ranged weapon, but unfortunately, Jun-sang didn’t have a skill that could properly utilize this dagger. However, as he knew from the example of Dual Storm, if he kept using it, a skill might appear.

Jun-sang then poured all the seeds the squirrel had collected previously onto the mat and began to check and categorize them one by one. How long did he sit on the floor, checking and categorizing seeds and accessories?

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and Heness, having finished her bath, hesitantly appeared. Heness kept covering the front of her gown, clearly uncomfortable with it, but Jun-sang glanced at her once and then commanded Dawn Dew.

“Dawn Dew, dry her off a bit.”

Then, Heness felt the lingering moisture on her body slowly dry. Jun-sang continued to check the seeds and said, “Sit there for a bit and wait. After this, we’ll go eat.”

“Yes…” Heness cautiously perched on the edge of the bed as Jun-sang indicated. Honestly, while bathing, she had been so overwhelmed just trying to control her wildly pounding heart, wondering what to do. Now, seeing him acting as if he barely noticed her, she even felt a strange sense of loss.

Author’s Note

If such a scene were to appear, I would give advance notice, but this is not one of those times.