Chapter 16

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 16: Golden Ratio (2)

‘There was definitely something there.’

Yeongwoo gazed at the newly appeared trophy symbol in the corner of his field of vision.

Suddenly, the symbol flashed, filling his sight entirely with a golden hue.

“Whoa?”

「Welcome, User ‘Jeong Yeongwoo07,’ to Achievements!」

「Become a great figure and change the world through completing achievements.」

‘Change the world… what? Become a great figure?’

Yeongwoo felt bemused at the grandiose welcome message, then examined the achievements window that appeared.

Click!

However, unlike the earlier message, the nuance of the first line was different.

〔Your achievement tendency is “Stubborn.”〕

||Achievements Completed: 1

|Caller of the Golden Rain [Legendary] – First

“Huh…?”

Yeongwoo blinked in disbelief. The word ‘Stubborn’ was prominently placed at the top of the solemn-looking achievement interface.

“I’m called ‘Stubborn’? Who decided that?”

As Yeongwoo fumed while examining the achievement window, a list of recommended achievements appeared below.

Presumably, these were the achievements the system recommended for a ‘Stubborn’ individual.

〈Recommended Achievements〉

[Golden Horde]

|Summon the Golden Rain in two or more regions. (1/2)

[Excellent Social Worker]

|Send the mutants back alive.

[Jeweler’s Touch]

|Wear two rings of Hero grade or higher on the index and ring finger each. (1/4)

[Complete Orphan]

|Find and eliminate parents. (1/2)

Reading through the recommended achievements, Yeongwoo was startled by the final option. Not only the directive but also the current status was significant.

‘1/2…?’

In all likelihood, it meant that only one parent was still alive.

In other words, it implied finding and eliminating the last remaining root, whether it was the ‘father’ or ‘mother.’

‘The more I find out, the more shitty this world becomes.’

The fact that such a task was included in achievements was nonsensical in itself.

Just a while ago, weren’t they talking about becoming a great figure through achieving these tasks?

‘Still, these are just recommended achievements. There’s no real need for me to complete them all.’

Since only the recommended achievements were visible, the rest seemed to be in a hidden state.

‘Then, what’s next?’

As Yeongwoo wished to see if there was anything else, the list of achievements automatically scrolled up, revealing the next screen.

[There are 2 unclaimed achievement rewards.]

「Golden Flash」- Legendary Glove

【Steal 50% of the enemy’s Senses during combat.】

【Accumulated Golden Ratio: 1】

*’Caller of the Golden Rain’ special reward.

「Covert Mark」- Artifact Tattoo

【Can conceal titles.】

*Obtained through unlocking achievements.

‘Legendary Glove…’

Even though Yeongwoo didn’t understand this world’s equipment grading system, it was undoubtedly an impressive piece of equipment.

Just stealing 50% of an opponent’s Senses was an unbelievable effect.

‘So, if my opponent’s Senses is 1000, I’d take 500?’

Moreover, ‘steal’ meant depriving, so if the tooltip was accurate, the opponent would have to fight with their Senses halved.

Meaning, no matter who he faces in the future, he’d always have the upper hand in terms of Senses.

‘Next up…’

Yeongwoo’s gaze naturally fell upon the second effect of ‘Golden Flash.’

【Accumulated Golden Ratio: 1】

‘I’m not sure about this one. Maybe there’ll be an additional effect as the number of times the Golden Ratio is summoned increases.’

Since this glove was a reward from the Golden Ratio achievement, it had a certain degree of validity.

The equipment was even named ‘Golden Flash.’

Swoosh.

After some time, the tooltips that had filled his vision disappeared, and a message asking whether to receive the reward appeared.

「Would you like to receive all achievement rewards?」

‘Of course.’

As Yeongwoo nodded with a troubled expression, his hands were immediately enveloped in a golden light.

“…Whoa!”

Despite mentally preparing himself, even Yeongwoo couldn’t help but shiver at this moment.

His hands were being encased in real-time in golden-hued metal gauntlets.

With each touch of the chilly metal pieces brushing against his palms and back of his hands, he felt a tingling sensation.

Clank! Clink!

After about ten seconds, the light that had enveloped Yeongwoo’s hands vanished, leaving behind only the golden metal gloves.

And finally…

Pit!

“Ugh.”

A sharp twinge of pain was felt in Yeongwoo’s left chest.

In response, he pulled down his shirt to look down at his chest.

‘Oh, for real.’

Yeongwoo’s brow furrowed deeply.

As expected, there was a tattoo etched on his skin.

「Covert Mark」- Artifact Tattoo

【Can conceal titles.】

Resembling a spiral-shaped flame, the tattoo was fairly large and embedded in Yeongwoo’s left chest.

To him, who had never even dyed his hair, let alone had a tattoo, this change was unpleasant.

“What’s this now?”

As the questioning gaze of Yechan approached upon seeing the sudden flash of the “Golden Flash,” curiosity was only natural.

“It’s an achievement reward.”

“Achievements?”

“It’s kind of a trade-off for giving up 3 million…”

Yeongwoo briefly explained the achievement system to Yechan.

Upon hearing this, Yechan looked up at the clear sky and asked.

“So, do you have to keep spending money from now on?”

“To keep receiving achievement rewards, I guess so.”

More precisely, to maintain the ‘Stubborn’ tendency.

It seemed that recommended achievements varied according to the achievement tendency.

‘But considering there are higher-tier achievements, focusing on one tendency all along might be wise.’

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Yeongwoo recalled one of the recommended achievements he had seen earlier, the ‘Golden Horde.’

[Golden Horde]

|Summon the Golden Rain in two or more regions. (1/2)

It was undoubtedly a higher-level version of ‘Caller of the Golden Rain.’

So, there was a high chance that…

‘If I complete that achievement, there might be another reward. Something better than this one.’

Of course, Yeongwoo knew well what he might face if he continued down that path.

‘To go to multiple regions and summon the Golden Rain, I’d have to sacrifice a significant amount of Karma each time, and on top of that…’

He’d have to compete for the mutants. With the person who originally defeated the mutants in that area.

For instance, the Strongest Sword in that region… The person who most likely chose the 3 million Karma after defeating the mutant.

“…”

As he contemplated this, the effect of the Golden Flash seemed a bit different.

「Golden Flash」- Legendary Glove

【Steal 50% of the enemy’s Senses during combat.】

【Accumulated Golden Ratio: 1】

‘It’s a tool to target the Strongest Sword in other regions.’

The Covert Mark that allows hiding titles might have been given in a similar context.

Because having the title of the Strongest Sword in another area would undoubtedly draw attention.

‘But is it possible to defeat the Strongest Sword of another region with just a little more Senses value? I don’t think it will be easy.’

Yeongwoo glanced around to see if there were any other mutants in Gumi.

However, he couldn’t spot any other red-glowing pillars. Instead, people were rushing towards him.

“Wh-What’s happening?”

“Do you need anything?”

Though Yeongwoo didn’t know it, they had been watching his every move since a while ago.

Understandably so, considering Yeongwoo was the Strongest Sword and a great figure who had bestowed grace upon them.

Knowing that if he wished, he could easily confiscate the ‘commemorative coins’ given to them, they were cautiously watching him.

“Well, I guess I do need something.”

Yeongwoo was about to shrug and say this when suddenly…

A loud growling noise erupted.

“Ah.”

“…Ph.”

Before he knew it, dusk was setting in.

‘What time is it now? The sun is about to set.’

The reset had occurred around 10 in the morning.

Since then, despite the sun starting to set now, it was strange that Yeongwoo hadn’t eaten anything and had been engaged in battles continuously. He hadn’t felt hungry.

Grumble.

Once again, the sound of trouble emerged.

“…”

Perhaps it was due to the relief of tension, but suddenly, an immense hunger began to surge through him.

“I don’t know if everyone else ate.”

Yeongwoo muttered some words randomly while rummaging through his backpack.

And finally found it.

Swish.

A chocolate bar turned into stone.

“…!”

As Yeongwoo grabbed the gray chocolate bar, the people around and even Yechan focused their attention back on him.

‘For the sake of my quality of life, I need to get rid of these people quickly. I can’t even enjoy a chocolate bar in peace.’

Yeongwoo retrieved a 1000 Karma coin from his backpack and placed it on the surface of the chocolate bar.

Ting.

Then…

[Chocolate Bar: 500]

The price of the chocolate bar appeared.

‘It’s 500 for a chocolate bar… It’s more expensive than I thought. The bicycle was 3000.’

Perhaps the prices were set high for items directly related to survival?

Ting.

As Yeongwoo confirmed the purchase by placing the coin again, smoke emanated from the chocolate bar, and the petrification began to fade away.

Sizzle…

“Oho?”

“Whoa, I’ve never seen anything like that.”

The fascinating sight of petrification wearing off drew the onlookers a few steps closer.

As a result, Yeongwoo instinctively felt threatened and clenched the chocolate bar.

Odd as it may seem, practically, the chocolate bar was an irreplaceable resource in this situation.

And then, simultaneously…

Plunk.

From the air, a tiny coin dropped.

“Huh?”

A bluish-green small coin.

It was the currency equivalent to 500 Karma.

Although it was the moment of discovery of a new unit of currency, no one was paying attention to this small find right now.

What mattered immediately was…

“…”

Yeongwoo was focused on unwrapping the chocolate bar in his hand.

Snap.

Finally, as Yeongwoo tore open the packaging, a chunk of dark chocolate popped out, capturing the attention of the kids who had been observing.

And Yeongwoo, avoiding their curious gaze subtly, took the first sweet bite.

Munch…

The chocolate bar was not melted at all.

The layer of chocolate on the surface was quite firm, almost like it would crack.

‘So the state just before petrification is preserved throughout.’

Feeling the caramel spread beneath the chocolate layer in his mouth, Yeongwoo took a slow breath.

‘Hmm.’

A completely new kind of enjoyment and satisfaction overwhelmed him.

It was the joy one found in the midst of a city where two-meter goblins might rush in, reverting a petrified chocolate bar back to its original state for consumption.

Munch.

By the time he had eaten half of the chocolate bar, Yeongwoo finally began to notice the children.

But not knowing when he might have to engage in battle again, he couldn’t casually give away these precious calories, even if the opponent was a hungry child who hadn’t eaten since morning.

“…”

Yeongwoo stared at the tiny open mouth of a child, but soon shifted his gaze away and finished the remaining chocolate bar.

“Ugh.”

He was still hungry, but his mental satisfaction was tremendous.

[Translator – Peptobismol]